31 August 2016


  1. My book Manifesting Destiny is in print!!! You can buy it here.

That really pretty much counts for all three.

30 August 2016


  1. Working again on the sequel to Manifesting Destiny.
  2. A nice, informative session of Coffee with the Principal at the kids' school.
  3. Making my kids laugh. I love doing that, and today it was especially needed.

29 August 2016


  1. A day without any errands or appointments.
  2. Interesting Radio Lab podcast (Georgetown, TX was even mentioned!).
  3. Figuring out how to reserve my hair and makeup appointments for InD'Scribe. I've begun having dreams about this conference now. I'm both excited and stressed out.

28 August 2016

27 August 2016


  1. Kubo and the Two Strings
  2. Popcorn
  3. Chatting with my mom (on her birthday)

26 August 2016


  1. Getting more writing done.
  2. Family walk.
  3. White noise machines.

25 August 2016


  1. News that Manifesting Destiny will be out in paperback soon!
  2. Also finding that Manifesting Destiny is now available on most e-book platforms.
  3. My oldest son blossoming before my eyes into a responsible young adult.

24 August 2016


  1. A fellow writer friend posting about Manifesting Destiny.
  2. Really helpful people in the form of booksellers doing me a huge favor.
  3. Hitting 2k followers on Twitter. Though the way followers come and go, I don't know if it will last. I'll enjoy it while I can.

23 August 2016


  1. Writing again! I'd barely done any over the summer, so it feels so good to stretch those writing muscles!
  2. A reviewer agreed to look at Manifesting Destiny. It's been very difficult to land reviewers; they're all so swamped.
  3. Kids continue to enjoy school. Sure, it was only the second day, but I feel like setting the tone early goes a long way toward having a good year overall.

22 August 2016


  1. First day of school! And the kids all loved it.
  2. Walking. I really have missed my daily walks.
  3. Workout. Time to get back into the routine.

21 August 2016


  1. Phone chats with my parents.
  2. Lasagna and ice cream.
  3. The last day of summer vacation. Thank God for school starting!

19 August 2016


  1. Clean checkups for my daughter and  youngest son.
  2. Getting in a walk. (When they go back to school next week, I'll be able to get back to regular walks. Can't wait!)
  3. Such support on my author Facebook page!

18 August 2016


  1. Did not have to go anywhere. No errands or appointments.
  2. Made mini sodas with Rob's new soda shop toy.
  3. Booked Evie's birthday party.

17 August 2016


  1. My youngest's birthday. I took him to the store to pick out a cake, and he chose breakfast for dinner.
  2. Getting entrenched in an astrological report I was writing for a friend. It took a while, but it's not work when you're enjoying it.
  3. I'm also really enjoying Wolf Hall (the novel). Found a copy of it at Half-Price Books. Glad I gave it a go.

16 August 2016


  1. Back-to-school shopping, which I always find a bit fun, plus it means the kids will finally be going back to school!
  2. Getting the kids' classroom assignments, and also running into other moms I haven't seen all summer.
  3. Winning wine in the raffle! Really, this school seems intent on giving me wine. Last spring I ended up with more than our cabinet could hold and now there's more!

15 August 2016


  1. Being home.
  2. Crowley's last vaccinations (for the year).
  3. My blog tour started! Very exciting! You can follow along here and even enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card!

Writer's Digest Conference Edition

It's not that nothing good has happened the past few days, it's that I was away at a conference in NYC. And lots of great stuff happened! So here's a partial list of all the positive things I'm grateful for these past few days:


  1. Extra legroom on the plane.
  2. Sitting next to French people and surprising them with my (very rusty) French.
  3. A short taxi line.
  4. Being made Guest of the Day at the hotel, which got me a great upgrade, free wifi, and access to the Executive Lounge.
  5. Meeting fun new people.
  6. Not having to pitch.
  7. Lots of great information and advice.
  8. Running into Steven James in the elevator and him giving me advice for when I do my first panel in October.
  9. Kwame Alexander telling me he loves my hair.
  10. Lots of other people telling me they love my hair.
  11. People telling me they think my chrome toenails are cool.
  12. Drink vouchers.
  13. Views of Central Park at dawn and dusk and during a lightning storm.
  14. Dr Pepper in the hotel cafe.
  15. Invitations to dinner with fellow writers.
  16. Discovering Ippuku.
  17. Learning there's an Ippuku in Berkeley.
  18. Upgrades to the exit row for the flight home.
  19. Being sent to TSA Pre-check and not having to take off my shoes.
  20. Surreal 4-way stops between shuttle buses and 747s.
  21. Coming home.

08 August 2016


  1. Half-Price Books.
  2. Habit Burger.
  3. A morning out with the kids that was just grand.

07 August 2016


  1. Twix ice cream bar.
  2. Perfect weather.


. . . I'm at a loss for #3. It wasn't a bad day but also wasn't anything special. Though I suppose I should count every day as special just because I'm alive and well. I'm mostly feeling anxious about my new book. I'm desperate for it to do well, and that's coloring my mood at the moment.

06 August 2016


  1. Gilroy Gardens with the family.
  2. Good review for my book.
  3.  . . . Gilroy Gardens counts for two? We really did have a great day.

04 August 2016


  1. Book release! (Technically on the 5th but was out late this evening.)
  2. Beauty night! Hair and nails at the salon. Feels good to be prettied up.
  3. Caught a Meowth? Yeah, I'm seriously reaching for the third good thing. But . . . new book! That counts double, right?

03 August 2016


  1. Scott stayed home.
  2. Nice visit with the in-laws.
  3. Mr. Pickles sandwich.
  4. Swimming.

02 August 2016


  1. My publisher continues to roll out publicity for Changers. An excerpt has been posted on ARe Cafe.
  2. More Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
  3. Finally got to watch the Preacher finale, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

01 August 2016


  1. Caught more Pokemon? I mean, I guess that's good . . .
  2. Snickerdoodles.
  3. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.