My Not-Quite-Daily Blog

Check It Out

2008-02-16T04:48:00.001-08:00

I've moved my blog to my website: www.JeanCGordon.com, click "blog." Let me know what you think and get a chance to win a copy of Candy Kisses.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T07:03:00.001-08:00

Best wishes to all for a happy and prosperous 2008.

And the winner is . . .

2007-11-17T17:08:00.000-08:00

Here's the lovely Caelin drawing the winning entry for a copy of Kinley MacGregor's Knight of Darkness. The winner is Eva. Please email me your address.

New Contest

This week's giveaway book is Undercover Protector by Molly O'Keefe (http://www.molly-okeefe.com/). To enter, send me an email with the first word I learned to read. Put My Lady Viking Contest in the subject line and agree to be added to my email announce list.

Jean
JeanCGordon@yahoo.com

My Lady Viking

2007-11-09T15:22:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the release of my first historical, My Lady Viking, during the month of November, I'm giving away books by popular authors. This week's book is Knights of Darkness by Kinley MacGregor (http://www.kinleymacgregor.com). For a chance to win, email me the name of my first published book with permission to add you to my new release email list.

I'll draw a name from the correct entries and post the winner here next weekend — along with the details for next week's give away.

Good luck.

Jean
JeanCGordon@yahoo.com

Take a Poll Follow-up

2007-11-07T15:58:00.000-08:00

Aemelia: I need you to email me so I can send you your excerpt.

Coming Soon

2007-10-14T16:45:00.000-07:00

No cover yet, but My Lady Viking is on the Coming Soon page at Cerridwen Press. Release date is November 7. Read an excerpt on my Web site, www.JeanCGordon.com.

Let's Get Together

2007-09-24T15:30:00.000-07:00

WHO: You and Me

WHAT: Booksigning. I'll be signing Candy Kisses and all my backlist.

WHERE: New Jersey Romance Writers' Put Your Heart in a Book Conference, the Sheraton at Woodbridge Place Hotel

WHEN: Saturday, October 6 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

HOW: Would you like to stop by and say "Hi!"? It's open to the public.

Anyone surprised to know that my BA is in journalism and my first job was with a local daily newspaper?

Take a Poll

2007-09-16T11:56:00.000-07:00

My writing seems to be taking a new direction. As part of my exploration of this change, I have two short polls for you.

1. Do you like your romances:

Sweet, Savory, or Spicy?

(Chaste) (Subtle) (Explicit)

2. With all the variety available in romancces, I've heard some readers say they wish they could find more "just plain" romance. What's your take on that?

As a thank you for everyone who comments, I'll send you an excerpt of my November historical from Cerridwen Press, My Lady Viking. And, no, the historical isn't the new direction I seem to be headed.

Barnyard Babies

2007-09-12T16:20:00.000-07:00

I know this is supposed to be a writer's blog, but we have more barnyard babies and they are so cute, all nine of them.

And look who stopped by the bird feeder the other morning.

And the Winner Is . . .

2007-09-04T06:14:00.000-07:00

Midnight

Suggested by LauraP. Laura, email me your mailing information and the book you want:

Bachelor Father
Love Undercover
Mandy and the Mayor or
Candy Kisses

Thanks to everyone who entered and look for future win-a-book contests.

Name the Bunny -- Win a Book

2007-09-03T16:33:00.001-07:00

My contest judge is unexpectedly out of town, so I won't be able to post the winner until tomorrow.

Name the Bunny -- Win a Book

2007-08-26T07:11:00.000-07:00

We have a baby bunny at our house who needs
a name. Post a suggested name in the blog comments and you'll be entered in my contest to win your choice of any one of my four books. You can check out the books on my website,
http://www.jeancgordon.com/.

Breeder Caelin and baby's mother Spotty will choose the name next Monday, Labor Day, and I'll notify the winner here.

The Chicken or the Egg

2007-08-22T06:28:00.000-07:00

Photos today are courtesy of Dru.
The first hen in our spring chicken flock laid her first egg on our front porch the other day.

Carrie the agronomist says that first eggs are often strangly misshappen. But not this one.

When Being a Writer Is Fun

2007-08-11T10:44:00.001-07:00

Good writer's week this week. I received a fan email and WOWed the young women at the check out desk at my local library -- RCS Library, Ravena, NY -- by donating a copy of Candy Kisses to the library.

Their excitement that I was the author of the book gave me a real boost. I wanted to rush right home and write, rather than catch up on all of the other tasks I put off to the weekend.

So, how was your week?

Blantant Self Promotion

2007-07-01T07:15:00.000-07:00

Check out the review for Candy Kisses on BookPage http://www.bookpage.com/0707bp/romance/romance.html:

In the appealing, adorable Candy Kisses by Jean C. Gordon, Candy Price is burdened with a community of brothers who all think they know what's best for her—and she'd love to prove them wrong, but first she needs to figure out what the right choice is. Stuck in Albany for the summer with only her landlord, the very handsome and cheerful Mike Wheeler, she decides to take on a challenge: She's going to find Mike a new girlfriend and, in the meantime, they can share pointers on the dating scene. Candy is about to find out what love is all about, but first she has to learn how to stand up to the boss who takes advantage of her all the time and learn to let other people help her. Candy Kisses is an upbeat romance about two good people who need to make that love connection.

By Barbara Samuel, nonetheless.

And check Candy Kisses out at your local library or bookstore.

Happy Fathers' Day

2007-06-17T05:54:00.000-07:00

In honor of Fathers' Day, here's the alpa father in our nuclear family, along with Red Cat, who just had to get in the picture.

Just Call Me Farmer Jean

2007-06-09T13:30:00.001-07:00

The "little" family is on vacation in Colonial Beach, VA, and guess who gets to take care of their ducks and chickens . . .

and Oinkers and Benny Pig Pig, along with Lightning, Spotty, and Snowy bunnies, and the tiger cat twins, Little Cat One and Little Cat Two?

All Alone

2007-06-06T16:19:00.001-07:00

I should be writing. It's my usual writing time. But, I have the house all to myself. No little people running over from next door to visit me. No dh asking what we should watch on TV. It’s so nice and quiet. I should be writing, but I'm not. I'm luxuriating in the aloneness.

More Tulips

2007-05-19T16:19:00.000-07:00

These photos from last weeks's Albany Tulip Festival are just too gorgeous not to share.

Of Mother's Day and Tulips

2007-05-13T15:47:00.000-07:00

Today (Sunday) is Mother's Day, of course. I started the day off right with breakfast at the Free School Cafe, courtesy of Dru and the second/third grade. He doesn't always look like a troll (his mother's words), only in photos.
Today is also the 59th annual Albany Tulip Festival. My son-in-law's mother is the city gardener and, as usual, she's done a fabulous job, wouldn't you say?

About Time

2007-04-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

Spring has finally arrived in Upstate New York.

Get a Life

2007-04-14T05:09:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you have too much life?

I have my author life: working on my current story, final line edits on my historical due out later this year, promotion, serving as Treasurer for the Capital Region Romance writers, working with my web designer to update my website. Wait until it's up. It is going to be fabulous.

I have my financial planner/editor life: 7:30 to 5 face time at the office Monday through Friday, stuff home on weekends when deadlines loom.

I have my home life: Today started off going to the credit union with Nate to cosign his car loan, then Dru's bowling league, birthday lunch with Caelin, chapter business meeting. I skipped the presentation to take Caelin and two friends birthday shopping. Add in usual housekeeping tasks and home maintenance.

I have my love life: My dh would be high maintenance, if I would let him.

I have my social life for what it;s worth: Church and lots of online groups.

How about you?

Take a Look!

2007-03-09T10:53:00.000-08:00

My editor sent me my cover for Candy Kisses today. Don' you love it? I do.

On Reading

2007-03-06T09:28:00.000-08:00

Have you ever read a book that had just one wrong fact that you couldn’t get over, that made you enjoy the book less? I did recently.

The problem? The heroine was being urged to invest a large sum of money she’d inherited in an individual retirement account — an IRA. But, the most you can invest in an IRA this year is $4,000 — $5,000 if you’re age 50 or older, which the heroine wasn’t — plus another $4,000/$5,000 for your spouse. A grand total of $8,000/$10,000. These amounts have never been more.

I’m sure the author thought it was a minor point. It IS a minor point. I probably fixated on it because I write about retirement planning a lot in my day job. Some of what I write goes into the education sections of 401(k) plan enrollment books. (I may have written the “how to invest” section of your employer’s retirement plan enrollment materials.) Since I educate people about retirement planning, I hate to see inaccurate information out there.

Otherwise, I really liked this book. But I could have loved the book if this small point — a point that no one else probably noticed — hadn’t bothered me so. And now I’m bothered that I could do the same thing to one of my readers.

Valentine's Day

2007-02-14T13:38:00.000-08:00

How could a romance writer not post a Valentine's Day message? Mine is about a romance in the making.

Last night Caelin, 9, and Dru, 7, were making valentines for school. Caelin created works of art for each of her girl friends -- all of the girls in her class and a few in other classes -- and plain cards for the boys in her class.

Dru made only one which he brought to me for help. "How do you spell Helen?" He wrote it down. "How do you spell like? He wrote away again. "You?" More writing. Then, he put his card in an envelope and sealed it. "How do you spell Helen, again?" He made out the envelope. Then, he swore me to secrecy and entrusted the card to my coat pocket in case school was closed today. Couldn't take the chance his sister might see it. School was closed. We're having a blizzard. So, the card is still in my pocket waiting to go to school tomorrow.

Yeah, it's been forever . . .

2007-02-11T07:46:00.000-08:00

I've been slaving away, writing, writing, writing. Unfortunately, it's all been for a client's guide to lifetime giving. You know, saving gift tax, estate tax, income tax -- all that. My current book in progress, Mara's Move, hasn't moved all month.

But I have managed to get a new excerpt from Candy Kisses up on my website, www.JeanCGordon.com

Blatant Self Promotion

2006-11-26T08:56:00.000-08:00

For anyone who's interested, I have an excerpt from my upcoming Avalon romance Candy Kisses on my website, www.JeanCGordon.

I'm going to post a new excerpt from either Candy Kisses or my Cerridwen historical My Lady Viking each month until they come out.

Belated Thanksgiving Wishes

2006-11-24T10:09:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a great day yesterday with friends and family.

I've been scarce lately, busy:

Writing new scenes for My Lady Viking, formerly Milady Viking (Cerridwen Press, 2007)
Filling out cover copy forms for it and Candy Kisses (Avalon Books, June 2007)
Writing cover copy for Candy
Updating my bio for both
Putting together a list of reviewers for my Avalon editor
Contemplating updating my website. I may have an excerpt from Candy up in a day or two.
Heading up a project at my day job, writing ten financial planning workshops and workbooks.

By the end of the weekend, I hope I have it all together. And you probably thought writing the book was the hard part.

Guest Bloggers

2006-11-10T16:22:00.000-08:00

Welcome my guest bloggers Kym and Caelin.

Have you seen the movie Cars?

If you haven't seen Cars, you should.

Kym: My favorite character from the move is Lightning McQueen.

Caelin: He's my favorite, too.

Kym: Cars is funny.

Caelin: Now on DVD.

Candy Kisses

2006-10-31T17:35:00.000-08:00

Achoo! The dust had piled up in here again. But I've swept it away to announce that I have a publication date for Candy Kisses. It will be out in June 2007 from Avalon Books.

I'll see if I can get Candy to stop by later this week and introduce herself.

Jean

Write and Bowl

2006-09-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

You may have heard of rock and bowl? Well, I'm a fan of write and bowl. Dru has started bowling in a kiddie league on Saturday mornings. This morning,I brought along a pad and pen. Between cheering for pins down and commiserating with him over gutter balls, I got a page written on my motocross reunion story.

It's like traveling back in time. I wrote my whole second Avalon romance at bowling alleys when Dru's Uncle Nate was on the local travel team and not yet old enough to drive himself to matches.

BTW, I found out how much top motocross racers can earn in a year -- a million or two.

Motocross Anyone?

2006-09-17T15:32:00.000-07:00

I am trying to find out what a top motocross racer earns in a year. Anyone know? It's for a reunion story I'm writing.

Only in America

2006-09-13T04:47:00.000-07:00

PREFACE: I mean the title in a good way. I am not a particularly political person. I have my opinions and I vote in both national and local elections. I also listen to political commentary and read about candidates before elections so I can make informed choices.

On my way to work this morning I was listening to primary election results. The winner of one congressional primary is likely to be the first Muslim elected to Congress. This made me smile. But what made me think "only in America" was the newscaster saying what state this congressional district is in.

Do you know? It wasn't New York.

School Days

2006-09-11T16:18:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of school for the kids at our house. It's the first year they've taken the school bus. Other years, Mom or Dad were able to drop them off on the way to work. But Dad has a new early work schedule and Mom has early nursing classes. I was all set to take photos of Dru and Caelin stepping on the bus. But the bus came 15 minutes early and all I managed to do was scoot them out and off.

Now that I'm long out of school -- and don't have to fear being uncool -- I can admit that I loved school. I still enjoy going to the continuing education courses required for my financial planner designation and, of course, the workshops at writing conferences. One of my favorite parts of my day job is the research, keeping up with tax and law changes and new investment strategies.

How about you?

Labor Day

2006-09-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

In honor of Labor Day, here are our labors for the weekend. My son-in-law built a new work table for his workshop over the garage and

connected the electrical service to the garage.

Caelin created a wire woman.

The dh and I installed a tin ceiling over the wood stove in our living room.

And Sweet Pea perfected her trampoline stick fetching.

MIA

2006-09-01T05:39:00.000-07:00

This week totally got away from me. I spent a lot of time transporting and hanging out with the youngest generation at our house.

Firewood, anyone?

I even took a hiatus from my book. But, it's a new month. Back to the grindstone. I'm going to try dividing my writing time between the single title I've been working on and my next chick-lit for Avalon.

I also thought I'd start sharing my other persona with you -- financial writer -- with periodic tips. Here's the first one.

September Financial Tip of the Month: Don’t wait for a “better” time to invest for your retirement. Instead, start now — and don’t stop until you reach your goals.

Loose Change Calendar

www.Newkirk.com

What Was the Name of That Book?

2006-08-25T05:11:00.000-07:00

Back to what I'm reading -- have read, actually. Wednesday Marie Bellevaux asked on the Cerridwen authors' blog "what is the book that you most remember now? What book/author left a big impression on you that you still remember today?"

For me, The Bride by Julie Garwood immediately came to mind. It was the second romance I read. I love her historicals for a fun read and have to admit that I have not read any of her contemporaries for fear that they wouldn't be as fun. Second, I thought of Mary Jo Putney's (a continuing theme here) The Rake and the Reformer, for emotion. I read the original version and have it on my keeper shelf. Then, an historical I judged in RWA's RITA contest a couple of years ago came to mind. But, I can't for the life of me remember the author or the title. Bad Jean.

I'm pretty sure it opened in Vienna. The hero was Eastern European/German state nobility. The heroine probably was, too, although she was living in England. Maybe had a son. It was a reunion story. What I do remember is that it had rich historical detail and historical intrigue. I couldn't forget. I meant to save the book and look for more by the author, but, apparently, I donated the book to my library's annual book sale.

Anyone have any idea of what book I'm remembering.

Contests

2006-08-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

Who has an opinion on writing contests? Good? Bad? Ugly? I've had three experiences. The first was very good. The second was pretty neutral. The last was ugly.

Library Day

2006-08-16T16:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was library day. I picked up the kids from Chess Club.

And we picked out our books.

Yep, more Mary Jo Putney for me. I also put in a request for the next two books in Beverly Lewis' Abram's Daughters series, The Betrayal and The Sacrifice. The only ones on the shelf were the first one, The Covenant, which I've read and the last one. I want to read them in order.

What Are You Reading?

2006-08-13T06:05:00.000-07:00

I just finished book four of Sara Donati's Wilderness Series. The books are historical romantic sagas set in post-revolutionary northern New York. Part of the fun in reading them has been recognizing the various settings in the stories. I've been to almost all of them.

They are all very long -- in the 600-page range -- and I've noticed a pattern. About half to three quarters through, my interest flags a bit. But I keep reading because the endings always leave me satisfied, but longing for more. I'm looking forward to the fifth book due out this fall.

What am I reading next? Mary Jo Putney's Bartered Bride. I don't know how I missed this one when it first came out. I've read all her books. A bit of trivia: Mary Jo grew up in the next little village over from where I grew up in Western New York.

The Work Continues

2006-08-11T16:04:00.000-07:00

It seems our renovations are in sync with my writing. Three windows in, three pages written, and, drum roll, ta da: one new door.

That's my lovely daughter displaying the door. It opens into her kitchen.

Let the Work Begin

2006-08-08T17:17:00.000-07:00

Here's Druhan, age six, giving Uncle Michael a hand . . .

making sure everything is nice and level.

Good thing someone is working. I've been so excited about selling Milady Viking that I haven't written much of anything new since last Thursday.

Travel Back to Tenth Century Scotland

2006-08-03T18:11:00.000-07:00

Here it is, my next book. Milady Viking (working title).

Cerridwen Press offered me a contract today.

Milady Viking pairs would-be Viking warrior Kara Thorddatter with Scots Warlord Aedan Machakon on a quest for a Viking hoard hidden in the Highlands of Scotland that proves love is the real treasure.

More details when I have them.

This Old House

2006-08-03T11:35:00.000-07:00

While I'm waiting for my Cerridwen contract and revision letter:

We live in a 170-year-old farmhouse that we're renovating and restoring. Is that an oxymoron?

The project for this summer is seven new thermal windows and

two new insulated doors. They are here and ready to go. Work starts in earnest today.

Summer Days

2006-07-31T17:28:00.000-07:00

We have an excessive heat warning in effect for today through Wednesday evening with highs of 100 and lows of 75. I know other places routinely hit 100 in the summer. But this is Upstate New York where hundreds of inches of snow are more common than 100 degree temperatures and summer highs are often 75. Not to mention the fact that lots of houses -- ours included -- don't have central air.

You may have figured out that I'm not nearly as excited about this heat wave as Caelin Eve, who gets to spend all day cooling off at the village pool.

Lazy Hazy Sunday

2006-07-30T06:01:00.000-07:00

Since I mentioned them the other day, I thought Oinkers and Benny Pig Pig might like to stop by and say "hi."

But they were too busy.

So, I checked with Red Cat

and Colassus. They couldn't be bothered, either.

But Sweetpea, as always, was ready and willing.

My Glamorous Life

2006-07-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

Guess what wild and fascinating thing I just did. Give up? I slopped the hogs -- pigs, really. My daughter and her family are away this week and I told my nine year old granddaughter that I would feed Oinkers and Benny Pig Pig. Now, lest you're picturing cute little pet pot belly pigs, let me set you straight. Oinkers and Benny probably top 500 pounds between the two of them.

Next, I get to feed and water my granddaughter's and grandson's bunnies, Snowy and Lightning. They're white dwarf rabbits who live upstairs in the kids' bedrooms.

When that's done I'm treating myself to a trip to the RCS Community to pick up the last two books in Sara Donati's historical series set in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York.

Can you beat that for excitement?

Almost There

2006-07-26T14:53:00.000-07:00

No comments from Bonnie at critique group last night. Hmmmmm. So, here it is -- courtesy of my new digital camara -- ready to go out tomorrow. Wish me well.

Two Reads Done; One To Go

2006-07-24T16:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the encouragement, Melissa.

Things got a little rough yesterday. Well, actually, some of my manuscript was pretty rough. I had to add a scene at the end of Chapter Ten and rewrite the first five or six pages of Chapter Eleven.

But my read through is done, as is Chris' and all the revisions are made.

Wonder what Bonnie has for me. Guess I'll find out at critique group tomorrow.

Page Seventy and Counting

2006-07-23T07:02:00.000-07:00

I made good progress yesterday and Chris sent me her comments on the first half. I'm please -- surprised -- at how well it read. But, I know it's the last few chapters that are the weakest. On to those today.

A Mission

2006-07-22T08:05:00.001-07:00

I have a mission. Okay, so I really have four thousand two hundred and eighty six missions. But for the next few days, I have a writing mission: reading and editing my Viking historical, Milady Viking. An editor at Cerridwen Press has requested to see the full manuscript. My critique partners Bonnie and Chris are reading, too.

Page 140 and counting.

Attention Historical Romance Readers

2006-07-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

I'm toying with an idea and would love some feedback. What would you think of an historical written in chick-lit-like first person?

Busy, Busy, Busy

2006-06-08T08:22:00.000-07:00

Whew! Is it ever dusty in here.

I'm knocking down the cobwebs to report that I've been busy. My historical Milady Viking has passed a first read at Cerridwen Press and is with an acquiring editor. Earlier this week, I mailed my chick-lit/romantic comedy Candy Kisses to my Avalon editor. I also just sent a proposal to do a workshop on synopsis writing at the STARRWA conference in September.

Now, I get to wait, wait, wait. To fill the time, I'm working on a single title reunion story — working title Time To Heal.

So, what have you all been up to?

Long Time, No Blog

2005-11-20T06:55:00.000-08:00

Like the header says, long time, no blog. I've been taking part in the Nanowrimo.org book in a month challenge. Is anyone else? Let me say right off, I am not going to have 50,000 words by the end of November. But it has prompted me to write every day. That's what I've been doing instead of blogging. Working on my Chick-lit-like romantic comedy. Anyone want to see an except?

Halloween Nails

2005-10-28T16:52:00.000-07:00

I have Halloween nails! Orange, black, orange, black, orange. This afternoon, I went to the aesthetics school my son attends and he did them for me as part of his practice requirements. My new nails will be going with my grandchildren and me to a Halloween party at church tomorrow. Then, off to my "Halloween" management meeting at work on Monday. What are your Halloween plans?

Pets and Computers Don't Mix

2005-10-27T04:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday while I was stoppping at Best Buy on my way home from work to buy a new A/C adaptor for my laptop because my daugher's dog Pooh Bear had chewed the old one, my grandkids dog Sweet Pea was knocking the laptop off the couch and damaging the wireless network card and internal connection for the card -- with some help from my grandson, I suspect. I had left the laptop in the cupboard where I store it when I'm not using it.

So last night, I had to dig through all my spare computer parts to find a UBS wireless adaptor. I'm a closet techie. I have boxes of old, spare parts. Then, I spent all evening trying to reconnect to the network, impeded by Red Cat, who likes to sit on the wireless access point because it's warm and disrupts the signal. Yes, I am sure she does it on purpose. Finally, this morning, three adaptors later, I am back online.

Do you have any computer-pet stories to share?

Take Some Time for Romance

2005-10-23T15:21:00.000-07:00

I added a tagline to my website: Take Some Time for Romance. What do you think? I considered a couple of others first: Old Fashioned Romance and Where Romance Reigns. What do you think? Better? Worse?

Jean