THIRTEEN THINGS I’M THANKFUL FOR
1. My husband who brought me home a bouquet of exotic flowers when I got the offer on Vegas II this week.
2. My kids are, well, my kids and they’re all alive and full of kid-type goodness. My oldest is obsessed with Pokemon. And in that way a 10 year old boy can be obsessed which means it drives me insane. He starts telling me about this dream where he’s in a cave and suddenly it’s all about Pokemon and I groan.
“Dude. No Pokemon stuff.”
“But mom, it’s for school! I wrote an assignment about it.”
“No way. Don’t wanna hear it. Tell me about math.”
He tells me about Pokemon anyway!
“DUDE! I said no. I can’t take it. I’m going to have a seizure.”
“But it’s for school!”
3. My friends. I’m very blessed in my friends. People who have been with me even when things get rough, who celebrate when things are good and give me love when things are bad. Friends who’ll totally tell me if I have spinach in my teeth (metaphorically too) or if my dress is bunched in my tights. I’ve been making some new friends recently and that’s wonderful too.
4. My readers. Wow, what can I say? You are all so good to me and I wouldn’t be here celebrating all these contracts without your support.
5. Vegas II - I’d been in sort of a blues/funk space with my writing, or rather the publication aspect, feeling a bit stuck right on the verge. It’s not an eight book, six figure deal, but it came along right when I needed it and helps me continue to believe in myself and my work.
6. The cover for Vegas I - I can’t stop looking at it. I am jonesin to show it to everyone. All the authors in the anthology are so thrilled with this cover. It’s fun, sexy, young and sooooo pretty!
7. Music - I was talking to Ann Aguirre yesterday about MC Solaar and how much I loved French hip hop and now I’m on a renewed MC Solaar kick. I listened to Ben Oui over and over as I wrote last night. This novella will have a dance music oriented soundtrack. His stuff is hard to get here in the US but you can grab some of it at iTunes or find imports.
Here’s a bit from youtube - not a video but you can hear the song.
8. Wonderful books! I’ll talk about some of them tomorrow for Friday Booktalk
9. This writing gig in general. Five years ago I wouldn’t have imagined I’d be writing and making a real go of it.
10. TVGASM - I love their recaps. Since I don’t watch a lot of TV to make space to write, I can follow stuff by reading the hilarious recaps.
11. Planning for RT. I like dressing up. I like hanging out with readers and other authors. It’s one time I get to be Lauren without other contexts. I don’t have to worry about my kids and their schedule. I can just do my own thing and it’s a lot of fun. We’re hosting a reader party on Friday this year so I can’t wait.
12. Clive - He’s so pretty and yet, so masculine and there’s SUCH a bad boy in there. Yum. He inspires me.
13. Little things make me happy. Sure I want a big book deal, sure I want to win the lottery to pay off all our student loans so we can move into a bigger house, etc. But little things can still make me happy - a note from a friend, hearing an old song on the radio, pictures my kids draw, the smell of fall in the air, cupcakes.
Congrats on the Vegas offer :)
I’m assuming your love of buttercream frosted cupcakes falls under #13?
by Lorelei James September 20th, 2007 at 10:00 amNice positive list!
by Natalie September 20th, 2007 at 10:02 amI need cupcakes. Or donuts. I see a trip to the store in my future.
Glad Vegas II came along right when you needed a boost!
by Charlene September 20th, 2007 at 10:25 amGreat list. I always love TT13’s about this because you learn so much about a person.
by Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen September 20th, 2007 at 10:25 amHi, it seems I messed up my first attempt at commenting, sorry
If you’d like to hear more French hip-hop and go beyond MC Solaar, I produce a free podcast in (heavily accented) English to educate Anglophones about the joys of French hip-hop.
http://www.yolala.org
Shows are arranged in themes, so you can avoid the gangsta stuff and go straight to female rappers for example. I hope you like it :)
by Thomas September 20th, 2007 at 10:57 amCongrats on the offer!
I’m making cupcakes tonight.
Oh, and can I say fangirl squee! (you went to my blog!)
by Seeley deBorn September 20th, 2007 at 10:57 amI swear if one more person brags about fall coming I’m going to commit weather murder. It is so hot still, out here. Sigh.
And AMEN to the Pokemon thing.
“mama, I want to tell you something”
“is it about pokemon?”
“uh”
“go away”
Tee hee.
by Amelia June September 20th, 2007 at 10:59 amOh my goodness, my eight year old is totally obsessed with Pokemon too.
All hours of the day, he comes in: “Mom, my Whoseewhatsis just evolved!”
“Uh, what now? Is that contagious?”
“He’s level 7 now! I’ve had him since he was level 3.”
“Uh…”
by Ann Aguirre September 20th, 2007 at 11:39 amI’m so thrilled for you about the new sale, Lauren. That cupcake picture - yum. I must go and get some breakfast!
by Shelley Munro September 20th, 2007 at 12:40 pmI get Yu-Gi-Oh, not Pokemon. I’m not sure I’m better off.
Lauren, I’m thinking of coming to RT; even if I don’t, I’d like to drop by and see all my blogging authors at some point (it’s being held in my backyard) and take you guys out for the world’s best ice cream.
I know, it’s not a cupcake with buttercream icing, but trust me. It’s worth the sacrifice.
by Susan Helene Gottfried September 20th, 2007 at 2:53 pmThank God my son finally got over Pokemon. I couldn’t take that Jiggly Puff song from the cartoon.
Great list, Lauren! Congrats on Vegas II!
by Nicole Austin September 20th, 2007 at 3:55 pmThomas, thanks so much for the link! I have so much to learn and your site seems a great place to do it.
Lauren
by laurendane September 20th, 2007 at 4:10 pmOOoooh, you have a new cover? Show, show, Lauren Dane. Stop teasing and show us some eye candy!
I’m with you on Clive. Um. Inspiration.
And I just finished your ENFORCER. I feel like raving so much about it I’d take up your whole blog, lol!
But I’m sending you a looong email tonight with the juice. Thank you for writing such a wonderful book, I LOVED IT.
Now THERE’S something I should be grateful for. Lauren Dane. OH YEAH.
by Red Garnier September 20th, 2007 at 4:11 pmLorelai - you betcha! And thanks!! Dude, um, I need some more hot cowboys, what’s in the works for you?
Natalie - I have a lot to be positive about. Sometimes it’s good to remember that.
Mechele - thanks!~
Seeley - you’re so sweet! I try to get by more often but get sidetracked.
Amelia - amen
Ann - yes, now the 6 year old is into it too and the 3 year old wants to be like them. I’m developing a tic
Shelley - thank you!!
Susan that would rock! I’d love to meet you and hello, ice cream is always welcome!
Nic - thanks hon!
by laurendane September 20th, 2007 at 4:16 pmThanks for the reminders. My list wouldn’t be identical to yours, but I should review it every now and then.
by Lisa Andel September 20th, 2007 at 4:16 pmRed, sweetie pie, you are SO good for my ego. I don’t have the official go ahead from harlequin yet. When I do you can bet I’ll post it from here to the ends of the earth.
by laurendane September 20th, 2007 at 4:17 pmLisa - it’s so easy to get caught up sometimes in all the stuff I don’t have or all the negative crap, I feel like I need to always remind myself what’s important.
by laurendane September 20th, 2007 at 4:19 pmGreat list. Congrats on Vegas II!
by Ann September 20th, 2007 at 6:05 pmWonderful news about Vegas II. And this is a great TT! Grateful for Pokemon spouting kids made me laugh out loud and smile inside.
by julia September 20th, 2007 at 8:03 pmMC Solaar — Something about how if Prince Charming wants her he better let her go shopping for Prada and dress in her in silk clothing.
And then dude loses me because he sings too fast. LOL.
I’ll have to refer him to James.
by Anya Bast September 21st, 2007 at 6:00 pm