Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Guest Post: Happy Release Day to Lynn Viehl!

ETA:  The random number generator did its work and chose EMILY to win the giveaway! Emily's winning comment:
This post was hilarious! I used to celebrate a lot with food, but as part of getting healthy and stuff now I buy books. Or yarn. Or books about yarn. Or fabric. Or books about....well you get the idea! For really big stuff like our 10th anniversary my husband and I love to travel. Hawaii is our favorite so far.
Emily--please email me with your contact info, so I can pass it along to the lovely and generous Lynn.

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Lynn Viehl, AKA Paperback Writer is one of the most hard working, gracious, and generous writers I know. Not only does she write entertaining and engaging fiction (Her Stardoc books remain favorites of mine), but she is open about sharing her process, encouraging other writers, offering dialogue with her readers, and just being an all around wonderful human.

I am proud to be her 'net friend and was thrilled to have her talk about the debut of NIGHTBOUND, her latest Darkyn novel. I hope you will help her celebrated her book birthday.

(Oh, and there's a giveaway, too!!)

Welcome Lynn!



Today is the official release date for Nightbound, my latest Darkyn novel, and that means I have a lot to do. You might think that once a book goes on sale the author's work is done, but in reality a release day is one of the busiest in a writer's life. To give you a behind-the-scenes look at what I'll be doing today, here's my morning schedule:

6:00 am: Wake up, walk the dogs, make a pot of tea, turn on the computer and look for my good-luck green socks with the little leprechauns on them.

6:30 am: Find only one lucky sock. Decide the washer has eaten the other one and kick it a few times.

7:00 am: Log on to the Internet in anticipation of answering dozens of congratulatory e-mails from the agent, the editor, colleagues, friends and family.

7:30 am: Delete dozens of e-mails from online pharmacies, Amazon.com, porn site traffickers and desperate widows of deposed African royalty wishing to exchange nine million dollars for my bank account information. Answer one e-mail from Mom asking for ten copies of the signed book for her friends at church, as long as the guy on the cover isn't naked again and there isn't too much sex in the story.

7:45 am: Take aspirin.

8:00 am: Greet the family as they wake up. Go back to bed and wait for breakfast to be served on tray with rose.

8:30 am: Get out of bed and make breakfast for everyone else. Drop a few a hints about what day it is. Wash dishes, feed dogs, and start the laundry while waiting for the celebrations to begin.

8:45 am: Say good-bye to family as they leave for the day without saying a word about the new release. Remember I forgot to tell them today is release day. Kick washing machine a few more times.

9:00 am: Take second aspirin for stubbed toe.

9:30 am: Dress in artful disguise of old T-shirt, ripped jeans, faded baseball cap and cheap sunglasses. Put on second-best pair of lucky socks with little frogs on them. Drive to the only book store in town to see the new release on the shelves.

10:00 am: After not finding new release anywhere, look for book store clerk to ask why. Get into brief conversation with another customer, who mentions books are much cheaper at Goodwill, there's a job fair down the street and her church feeds the homeless every Saturday in the park. Realize artful disguise might be a little too good.

10:30 am:
Find book store clerk on the phone with customer who wants a book but doesn't know the title or the name of the author.

11:00 am: Help the clerk with the title and author of the book the customer on the phone wants. Ask about the new release, which clerk can't find on the computer but thinks she saw back in stock room last week. Ask for clerk to retrieve one copy from stock room (to buy for good luck.) Clerk promises to look after answering phone call from second customer who doesn't know the title or author of the book they want.

11:30 am:
Go home without book.

12:00 pm: Make supersize hot fudge sundae with extra sprinkles and have private release day celebration with dogs, one of whom brings over the missing and now-shredded lucky leprechaun sock to play tug-of-war.

On second thought maybe I'll hang out here for the day. I brought with me a giveaway for one of you, which includes this handmade quilted tote, a signed set of all three Lords of the Darkyn novels, Levenger's Scheherazade Storytelling Game, a Treetops blank journal from Chronicle books, a cool combination pen and touchpad stylus and a pretty bookmark.

If you'd like to win all of it, in comments to this post name a fun way you like to celebrate special days in your life by Friday, May 10th, midnight EST.  Lisa will draw one name at random from everyone who participates and I'll send the winner the tote and books with all the goodies. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, so please join in.
 

72 comments:

  1. Really sorry about your lucky sock. Congratulations onthe release of your new book!
    (and really, your family should know without you telling them!)

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    1. Thanks, Sandy (and the lucky sock can be darned, I think, lol.) With Prom and graduation coming at us like a freight train I think the family is just preoccupied -- but then it's still early; I might get taken out for dinner tonight. :)

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  2. Congratulations, Lynn, and Happy Release Day!!

    I like to celebrate with bubbly and good food but, like you, often find that my family's schedule doesn't stop (or even slow) for my big moments, which is understandable but disappointing. So I've devised a new strategy. When I hit a milestone, meet a goal or achieve something I've been working toward for a long time, I'll buy myself roses... at the nursery. I'll get a varietal I've been ogling or pick one with a thematically attuned name and plant it in my garden. Whenever it blooms, I'll be reminded of the day I bought it and can stop to sniff the sweet smell of success. ;)

    I hope you get your dinner out tonight!

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    1. You have a great attitude, Lisa -- and what a wonderful way to celebrate your landmark moments, too. I plant a tree in remembrance of lost loved ones every year on their birthdays; my grandmother has a lovely little woods of her own now.

      My real splurge today will be a couple hours of sewing just for fun. I might even make myself a new jacket. :)

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  3. Congratulations on release day, Lynn Viehl! This post had me absolutely in stitches!! When I celebrate my own milestones, I must admit I go for retail therapy. Online or at the mall, I'm a shopper. Best of luck to you!!

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    1. Thanks, Marci -- and hey, there's nothing wrong with retail therapy. I might be stopping by Etsy today to pick up something neat (I love Etsy. Actually I want to live at Etsy, lol.)

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  4. Congrats on release day! I was very happy to see your book, preordered for my Kindle, was on my iPad for reading this morning :-). I celebrate special days with decorations around the house

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    1. I appreciate you investing in Nightbound, mk. I've been trying to think of how we might decorate the house for my daughgter's graduation in a fun way; the black-and-silver grad things they sell in stores seem a bit gloomy. Since she loves anime I might go with that as a theme. :)

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  5. Congratulations Lynn and best wishes for this wonderful accomplishment. You are a great and talented woman. This post confirmed it for me. I usually plan a special dinner at home which tests my culinary skills.

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  6. Can I come over to your house tonight, traveler? Lol. Cooking a special meal is a great way to celebrate -- I love trying new recipes, too.

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  7. Congratulations on your release, Lynn. I needed this post today after waking up with vertigo. I would celebrate with plans for a outing somewhere unique and uplifting.

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    1. Oh, no, petite -- hope you feel better.

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  8. Congratulations on your newest release.

    How do I celebrate? I like to lock myself away in my laboratory with my secret to-do list. Then, I will cross of my latest accomplishment with a red felt tip marker. Normally, at this point one of the lab mice will speak up and ask, "Gee, Brain, whaddaya wanna do today?"

    Please see this video for further explanation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYvAYwpUDv8

    Okay, serious answer, I'll celebrate it with my wife and daughters by going out to eat at as nice of a restaurant as the girls will tolerate on that day.

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    1. Now I want a laboratory, John -- but the talking mice would probably annoy the cat, lol.

      I spent many a special occasion in Chuck E. Cheese with my kids when they were young. I'd get a salad while they devoured that awful pizza, and then challenge everyone to pinball. Which, being a seventies kid, I always won. :)

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    2. My wife employs the same salad eating strategy when she's forced to endure eating at Chuck E. Cheese.

      I came along a little behind you and spent my quarters on Asteroids, Space Invaders, and all of the other great games from the 80's.

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    3. Well, then I could probably kick your butt at pinball, too. :)

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  9. My guy and I are like that, Arizela -- when the kids are off doing their own thing we'll go to our favorite diner (we love little Mom and Pop places off the beaten track) and then cruise by the lakes. Lately we've been parking the truck and walking as much as possible while the weather is still cool and the bugs have yet to make an appearance.

    I used to dread the same kind of hoopla with our extended families, especially with my birthday, until a few years ago when I decided I was old enough to do what the heck I want. So now I go to a different theme park (my big guilty pleasure) with just my guy and our kids. Instead of a cake we visit an ice cream parlor after the day of fun at the park and have gigantic sundaes. For the first time in my life I now actually look forward to turning a year older. :)

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  10. Congratulations on the release!

    How do I celebrate milestones? I go someplace new. Or I do something I've never done before. Like go to a Brazilian restaurant or walk through a new park somewhere. Anything counts as long as I've never experienced it before.

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    1. You have an adventurous soul, AJ. My dad was a chef, so I love discovering new-to-me cuisine, but my guy is a bit more conservative. Our daughter is like you, and last year for Father's Day she took him to her favorite Asian restaurant in the city. He was very brave about it at first, and then after trying the food decided he liked it. :)

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  11. Everyone needs to start the day off with an aspirin or two, and I can't wait for the new Darkyn book! <3

    I celebrate by treating myself to a nice (and expensive) coffee-pastry combo at my nearest Starbucks which is usually the one inside the Barnes & Noble. I also tend to let myself go overboard buying books and notebooks. I worry about my paycheck and bank account AFTER I make my immense purchase. Then I go home and enjoy my day/loot. Materialistic - yes. Fun as hell - still yes.

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    1. You should live near me, Alyssa -- I'd be your Starbucks buddy so I could have all the chai I want. :) They have this amazing cranberry bliss bar they only offer during the holidays; it always sells out fast, too. So I looked online until I found a clone-recipe posted by a former barista, and now I make that version whenever I want. Theirs still is the best, though. :)

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    2. Haha, I could use company when I go off on my coffee hunts. That sounds amazing. Living in Alabama, it's not often we have special holiday "thingies" like that. That's the policy with almost everything. Sure, I can make my own sandwich, but it tastes SO much better when someone else makes it.

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  12. Happy publication day! I will now start the mailbox countdown until my Amazon order is delivered.

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    1. Thanks, Sandy, and hope it doesn't disappoint. :)

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  13. Congratulations, Lynn!! I was rolling, laughing at your "red-carpet" day!! Flippin' HILARIOUS!
    I've got it all planned out...the day I get the big news about my multiple-million dollar book deal, it'll go something like this..
    Call the family. Tell them to meet me at the airport.
    Fly everyone to an exotic beach locale.
    Hire hunky security guards to fend off all the rabid fans.
    Eat buttered steamed lobster, while getting massage from hunky guard.
    Drink Dom Perignon on the plane to Hollywood, to meet with my director, Steven Spielberg.
    Smile shyly at the cameras on Oscar night.
    Fly out to my Scottish castle, and tell the butler to bring up buttered (yep, more butter) scones and strawberry jam with my Earl Gray.

    Then I will wake up in my lumpy, stained lay-z-boy as my husband grouches that I've been mumbling in my sleep again.

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    1. Janet, I want you to dream for me for awhile -- your dreams are way better than mine.

      All that butter will make you sick on the plane. Best go with a winde reduction. ;)

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    2. winde = wine. I'm excused from all typos today, right? Ha.

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  14. I like to celebrate extra special occasions by cooking one of my favorite treat meals and sharing it with the cats. One of my favorites is sauteed chicken livers and mushrooms in sour cream over rice. I know 99% of you will go YUCK!!! And ues, enough fat calories to last me for a month, so I only get it once a year or so. But it's one of my forbidden treats.

    Thanks for the giveaway, Lynn!

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    1. That actually sounds a lot like one of my dad's chicken and rice dishes, Lisa, except I think he used onion and garlic in a roux versus the sour cream. That man could do things with chicken livers that would make Julia Child swoon.

      Good luck with the giveaway. :)

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  15. This was hilarious. I have yet to celebrate a release day (my first one is coming up in July!!) but other celebrations around my house usually involve pizza and specialty cupcakes from my favorite local bakery.

    Also? They invariably include stepping in cat puke, barefoot, on the way to the bathroom at 5am. Because NO special day is complete without the accidental-cat-puke-between-your-toes dance. Yeah. That.

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    1. I hear you, Susan. Although I must say, our senior citizen cat has the good manners to cough up his hairballs in the exact same place every time: under my guy's desk, right where he puts his feet down.

      On the other hand, no one is safe from my dogs when they get over-excited. So far they've thrown up on pretty much every member of the family, two of my neighbors, half my quilting guild and the minister (three times.)

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  16. I like to celebrate with a nice dinner, a special drink and a chocolate treat!
    Congratulations on the release and thanks for the giveaway!

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    1. Thanks, Briana. And have a chocolate treat for me, will you? I'm allowed to have one only on my birthday and Christmas, both of which seem very far away now . . .

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  17. Happy release! Like to celebrate with a meal at a restaurant

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  18. I celebrate by spending time with my husband.

    Also, in your timeline you didn't include "receive congratulations from dozens of fellow writers who are thrilled for you!" :) Congratulations on the book release!

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    1. I did neglect to mention all my writer pals and colleagues who have left messages, sent e-mails and offered such nice congrats. Thanks to you all, C.J.

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  19. Ew. Lucky socks need to be protected from dogs (as do lucky baseball caps -- my grandson just lost his to the dog... sigh...)....

    As for celebrating special days, I like to (a) go to the bookstore (I admit it, I'm an addict!) and (b) go out to eat somewhere that's a bit off my beaten path.

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    1. I have one lucky baseball cap, Anderyn, which has Tigger on it. When I caught the puppy chewing on the back clip I put it away in a safe place . . . and promptly forgot where that is, exactly.

      Bookstores are great places to go for any reason. Sun up? Sky still blue? Gravity still working? Bookstore trip!

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    2. Isn't that the way of it? You put something away to keep it safe, and it's safe from you, in particular! (I have a lot of craft stuff I did this with -- now I have to unearth it all. sighs.)

      Yes. Bookstore trips are actually like breathing -- I don't get one, I feel cranky.

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  20. Lynne, you're hilarious! I can't tell you how much I needed to read a post like this! With the release of my debut coming in January, I'm so very nervous/excited/sick to my stomach every time I think of it, and, like you, I'm planning a big celebration in my sweatpants in front of the computer. Ha ha! That darn family we love so much can soak up much of the excitement. No really, I'm hoping for a nice dinner out with the family, bonbons, and one glass too many of champagne!

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    1. January is a great month to have a first release, Heather (my very first novel came out way back in January 2000, and despite all the nerves and butterflies and last minute panic attacks, it was amazing.)

      One bit of advice: have your family with you at your very first book signing. Then once you've done all the author stuff, take some group photos with your crew. I generally hate every picture I've ever taken, but this one still makes me smile and remember that day with great fondness, even if my daughter was eating all the candy at my signing table:

      http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh289/LynnViehl/Paperback%20Writer%20III/MeampKat2000_zpsd3e25129.jpg

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    2. Thank you for the words of wisdom, Lynne! I love this photo. It's so sweet. I'll definitely do this with my family.

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  21. Well I hope you've learned your lesson... lucky socks are NEVER to be washed! To celebrate special days.... I buy socks :-)
    Congratulations, and good luck. (just in case the socks don't work)

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    1. I need you to go shopping for me, Laurie. Ha.

      I do have a backup lucky green shirt I've been wearing all day. It's not quite as powerful as the socks, but I'm hoping it'll attract some good vibes.

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  22. Congratulations on the book release, Lynn! Your line "Go back to bed and wait for breakfast to be served on tray with rose" had me cracking up. I do this all the time at home, but usually the hubby just starts making noise, and I lay there thinking, "Dude, you think I'm asleep...why are you choosing now to vacuum?"

    When it comes time to celebrate, I usually crack open a bottle of the cheapest wine I can find, wear the comfiest clothes I can find (ratty sweats or PJs are perfect), and then drape myself in half the contents of my jewelry box. Tiara, ten necklaces, chandelier earrings, you name it. It's ridiculous, but it makes me feel special...and like a kid playing dress-up.

    Congrats again, and thanks for this amazing giveaway! (Fingers crossed.)

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    1. I totally get the dress-up celebration, Jenni -- or even putting on some fun clothes for writing. Don't tell anyone, but I wrote almost the entire StarDoc series while wearing my old surgical scrubs. :)

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  23. Congratulations on this your newest of release days! How is it you function that early in the day? My brain doesn't click on until 8 or 9, and only then with the assistance of caffeine.

    I buy materials or a project I've been lusting after or I convince my hubby that I really deserve to be taken on a date night. Sometimes both. ^_^

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    1. The kids trained me to get up before first light if I wanted to get in some writing. Now that I don't have to anymore, I can't stop, but I comfort myself with the thought of them having to do the same with their little ones. My mother put such a curse on me, and that curse _works_.

      I hit the fabric store on Sunday to pick up some closures so I could alter a Prom gown for a friend's daughter, and some idea-ology stuff accidentally fell into my basket. Terrible how often that happens. ;)

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  24. Happy Release Day, Lynn. We like to celebrate big events by going out for dinner or if we're looking for a quieter evening we'll stay in for dinner and pop up some champagne.

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    1. Thanks, Jane, and if you ever need someone to cook for I'm available. :)

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  25. Congrats on Release day! I usually celebrate by my husband & I going out somewhere. For example, my husband's birthday is tomorrow so we're going to see the new Iron Man movie. :)

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    1. That movie looks spectacular on the previews, Miranda -- and Robert Downey Jr. is so perfect in that role I think he'll deliver a great performance. Enjoy!

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  26. Celebrating my special day not a special thing at all.

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    1. I gave up celebrating anniversaries a while back, William. I think after almost thirty years my guy and I are allowed to stop counting them. :)

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  27. I like to make keepsakes ... right now I'm really into little shadow boxes (printer trays) with miniature items & momentoes of the special event.

    - Bonz

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    1. I've seen artists at the local festical who turn those printer trays into amazing pieces, Bonz -- they have such a unique look, and I imagine you can make them very personal.

      One day I'm going to find an old tin watercolor box and do something like this, maybe with some of the old mod jewelry I've saved from the seventies:

      http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh289/LynnViehl/Paperback%20Writer%20III/Paintshadowbox_zps058c1395.jpg

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  28. This post was hilarious! I used to celebrate a lot with food, but as part of getting healthy and stuff now I buy books. Or yarn. Or books about yarn. Or fabric. Or books about....well you get the idea! For really big stuff like our 10th anniversary my husband and I love to travel. Hawaii is our favorite so far.

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    1. Hawaii is one place I've never hadf the chance to visit, Emily -- although growing up down the road from Fort Lauderdale wasn't too much of a hardship. :)

      Don't get me started on yarn -- I bought a share of Juniper Moon's CSA so I could try some lovely natural wool straight from the source. Now I simply have to figure out what to make with it when my share arrives. I'm thinking a huge wonderful shawl for cold winter nights.

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    2. Emily--the random number generator fairy picked your comment as the give-away winner!!! Can you please send your email address to me: Lisa at ljcohen dot net?

      CONGRATS!!!!

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    3. Thank you very much, I sent you an email!

      A shawl is a great idea. AZ is too warm most of the year for them, but once in a while it gets super cold (for my thin blood, haha) and it's great to have something fluffy to wrap up in. I love the look of wool but can't stand to have it next to my skin, it's itch city. I am sorta jealous of wool-wearers! I use wool for cloaks for costuming though, it just gets lined. :-)

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  29. My washer is evil, Robin -- honestly. I think the water sensors and high-efficiency panel have instilled it with AI -- the 2001 Hal kind of AI.

    Bubble baths are wonderful -- and very therapeutic. I'm just waiting for them to come up with a waterproof e-reader and I might end up living in my tub. :)

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  30. It's time for me to go curl up with my guy, but before I turn in I want to thank Lisa for having me as a guest, and all of you for providing such fun comments. It made this release day much less stressful, too. Take care, and good luck with the giveaway!

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  31. I like to get up at the buttcrack of dawn and do laundry. Spend the day with my dog and family (in that order most times :) ) have a cup of coffee and relax. Then go to the bookstore and buy the newest releases and go home to sit on my back porch in the sunshine and relax.

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  32. Great post! My favorite celebrations tend to be with family getting together for a cook out or something. They tend to be loud and tiring, but so much fun. My private celebrations I prefer to curl up with a good book and some sort of snack (dark chocolate is always great).
    Congrats on the new release!

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  33. Ha! Thanks for introducing us to your friend, Lisa! Lynn you're a crack up!

    I celebrate everything with a theme party. Professed theme party maniac right here! Dress up in character, decor matches theme, food too. Love it. Any reason to throw a theme party is a good reason. Doesn't have to be a big occasion like a BOOK BIRTHDAY, Tuesday will do. Tolkien Tuesday, Wuthering Heights Wednesday etc...

    Congratulations on the release of NIGHTBOUND, Lynn!

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  34. Hi Lynn. Congrats on the release of Nightbound. Love your books. I like to go on a date with my husband to celebrate.

    Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  35. Congratualtions again, I love your books. To celebrate special days, I like to go out with family to celebrate. As long as I receive recongnition from family, that makes the day all the more greater.

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  36. Congratulations on the book release. I celebrate with a good book and lots of chocolate.

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  37. Congratulations!

    I like to celebrate special days by having dinner with my (extended) family.

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  38. I celebrate special days by coming home, plopping on the couch, drinking a real Coke (as opposed to diet coke) and watching my favorite movie the Mummy. I don't do any more work for the rest of the day and just chill for a couple of hours doing nothing more than staring at the tv. Of course, after the movie's over, I start reading and just indulge that way for another hour or so.

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