I Love the 80s

Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it. ~William Feather

I'm so ashamed. I forgot to post a happy thought yesterday.

((hangs head))

I'll make up for it now.

Time for day twelve of:



I'm happy with the weather! It's been just gorgeous -- highs in the low eighties and no humidity. Makes me want to do the Dance of Joy.



I'm also happy so many of my favorite shows from the eighties are coming out on DVD!

DH just bought the first season of "Hardcastle and McCormick".

I'm more of an A-Team fan myself.



But we both like watching "Magnum P.I.".

That makes me very happy.

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Thanks for all your comments on "A Christmas Curse" yesterday! It was a hoot to write, and I hope it will be even more fun for you to read. I don't have a release date yet (I only finished the first round of edits yesterday), but I imagine it'll come out sometime in November.

Don't worry, you can get a sample of my goofier writing when "Pregnancy Cravings" is released this coming Wednesday. If you read both "Pregnancy Cravings" and "Magic" (also out on Wednesday) you're going to think I'm seriously bi-polar. They are completely different types of stories.

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Groovy asked in comments yesterday whether LASR pays its reviewers. No. I wish we could! They do an amazing job... but their only pay currently is the free eBooks and, eventually, the free print books that they review. We have plans, OH do we have plans... But for now, we are DESPERATE for reviewers.

So, come on folks... come for the books, stay for the fun -- we have a great group of ladies!

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In Pillar Place: Monarch, Clarisse has made her "J" and will most certainly become a chrysalis today. These lovely butterflies will make the journey to Mexico in a month or so -- they actually live about 9 months and migrate a gazillion miles. When they reach their overwintering destination, they will mate, lay eggs and eventually die. Their children will be the ones who return next year and start another year of Pillar Place. Monarchs are one of the longest living butterflies, and I believe they are the only ones who migrate.

Amazing.

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Your Summer Ride is a Jeep

For you, summer is all about having no responsibilities. You prefer to hang with old friends - and make some new ones.

What's Your Summer Ride?

No responsibilities? So why am I getting ready to launch a new website? Speaking of which, stay tuned tomorrow for more news!

Available: Your Very Own Pillar Place

We should give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers. ~Seneca

Ironic, isn't it: when it rains, it pours. I got the release date for my story, "Magic". It's AUGUST 15TH! Not that I'm not excited, but that means I have TWO stories being released the same day.

I wonder if that is better or worse for me?

In any case... mark your calendars! August 15th will be a crazy day. Especially since on August 13th I'm going to ... well... I can't tell you YET or it would take all the fun out of it.

But don't forget to check back.

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Pillar Place is quiet still. I'm beginning to grow worried that my last swallowtail pupa, Jill, is planning to overwinter that way. This doesn't make me a happy person. I've done that once, I don't want to do it again, and swore I wouldn't this year. Ha. Jill is snickering inside her skin, isn't she. *sigh* It's not as though I could just throw her away. Botheration.

I have an idea, however. My milkweed plants, and the ones down the road where I've been harvesting leaves, are PACKED with seed pods. I certainly don't need any more milkweed in my small butterfly garden, and the existing plants will spread without seeds anyway, so I wanted to offer to send them to people.

Anyone want to start their own Pillar Place? If so, I'll send you milkweed seed pods and directions on how to cultivate it. It will need A LOT of space, so I don't recommend planting it unless you have a bit of room.

I may also throw in some seeds for flowers that butterflies love: coneflower, zinnia, etc., if I have enough. And some parsley, rue and dill seeds for swallowtails.

If you're interested, email me at marianne (AT) mariannearkins.com with your address.

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Time for day nine of:



I'm happy my friend, Allie Boniface had two books accepted for publication this year! And, to celebrate my happiness, I'll share her book trailer with you. It's as classy and well created as her books are.

Booking It Multiple Times

A book is to me like a hat or coat - a very uncomfortable thing until the newness has been worn off. ~Charles B. Fairbanks

It's Thursday, so let's book it:


Do you have multiple copies of any of your books?

No.

If so, why? Absent-mindedness? You love them that much? First Editions for the shelf, but paperbacks to read?

See above.

If not, why not? Not enough space? Not enough money? Too sensible to do something so foolish?I have been known to read a book until it falls apart, at which point I'll buy another one... but I don't see the point in keeping more than one copy. Can anyone tell me why you would?

WAIT. Stop the presses!!! I DO have two copies of one book: One of Nora Roberts In The Garden trilogy books (I don't recall which one). I had purchased the book, and then a friend of mine (HI PAM!) saw her at a conference and got one autographed for me. Nora wrote MY NAME. That one is on my autographed shelf and will never be read. I touch it now and then, hoping the magic will rub off.

And, hey, if you're looking for something to buy two of, you can check out the book reviews here.

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Time for day eight of:



You know, I didn't love "My Best Friend's Wedding", but I've watched it several times for one scene. In the theater, I died laughing and even now it makes me chuckle.

I give you -- my favorite scene (and now that I've found it on YouTube, I can come back and visit it whenever I want):


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No news on Pillar Place.

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Got my galley's in the email inbox this morning and will get those done ASAP. The DD (that's "dear dog" not "dear daughter") was restless and whiny all night again. I think something was outside, because I finally took her downstairs and crashed on the couch, but opened the back door cuz it was so freakin' hot inside. She galloped over and whined, so I joined her. And sure enough, something was crashing around out there... it sounded like they were on my DD's (yes, that's "dear daughter") swingset, but I turned the like on and didn't see any glowing eyeballs.

Raccoons?

Bears?

Deer?

The Boogieman?

You decide.

Regardless, I am once again... tired.

Have a lovely Thursday.