Quick Trips are Good....

I read something a little while ago about the importance of having fun. I don't know if it's the lingering snow or the amount of time I've been sitting at the computer lately, but this last week I've been feeling a little, well, unfun, so I decided it was time to stir things up and take a small trip.

So on Monday, the fam and I left the High Desert for a few days and went down into the "Valley," over to Portland, to see Kathleen Edwards play at the Aladdin.

Kathleen Edwards was absolutely amazing! It was the kind of concert that you walk away from feeling lucky that you were there, a part of something that was really special. She sounded incredible, her music and words were beautiful, and her passion was stunning. It'll be a night I'll always remember.


She played one of my favorites, A Soft Place to Land, a song that must be included on the 44 soundtrack. If you haven't heard it yet, go here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vV1J3cQnj0


We also were able to go to two fantastic restaurants while in Portland. The two are connected, owned by the same guys and WOW, they were both excellent! Before the concert, we stopped by Toro Bravo for dinner:

Above is the Sherry Chicken Liver Mousse that would make even Hannibal Lecter cry. That was just one item we all shared....

And then, the next morning, breakfast at Tasty N Sons...

If you're in the Portland area and are interested in going to either of these restaurants, make sure to get there early or bring some patience as both places are popular and crowded. We arrived at Toro Bravo ten minutes after it opened and got the last table.

It was a great trip. And when we got home, there was even some more fun as we watched the Barcelona game. It was a big one...playing AC Milan for a spot in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Barca won, and I know it made Abby happy.


Well, it feels like the fun trip worked. I came home happy and refreshed and am ready to dive right back into Book Four (which will be released next month around Mother's Day).

Hope you all are having a great week and have some fun plans brewing!

Jools

That's Entertainment...

Wow, things have gotten way fun over here lately, one of the reasons being that some of the best shows have returned this week! So who cares if it's snowing in April! Here's a list of some of my favs of the season...and why you'll find me glued to the screen lately~

Mad Men
I love this series for a lot of reasons, although the snappy, witty dialogue is what I love best. I was so excited that after a 17-month hiatus it returned last Sunday night... and the brief scene of Peggy dancing at Don's birthday party alone made it worth the wait.

"One day you're on top of the world and the next some secretary is running you over with a lawn mower."
  --Joan


Game of Thrones
I have to admit that it surprises me how much I love this show, as I'm not usually a huge fan of fantasy. But it's fantastic and I can't wait to see what happens in Season 2, which begins tonight. 

"As impossible as it seems, there was once a time I was unaccustomed to wine."
--Tyrion

Justified
Amazing show. Excellent characters, storylines, dialogue, and humor. Raylan and Boyd play off each other so well. Season 3 started up a little while back but if you haven't already, jump right in!

"I hope you enjoyed your stay, and you never forget who packed your bags."
--Boyd Crowder




Downton Abbey
 I've arrived a little late in the game on this amazing show, having only discovered it a few weeks ago. But within that short period of time, I finished up both seasons and now find it painful that I will have to wait until January 2013 to continue.


 "What is a weekend?"
--Lady Grantham


Hope you all are having a great weeke....well, Sunday!


Jools

Well, Not Quite Yet....

 

This was the same chair I was sitting in just a few days ago, sipping coffee in the sunshine and thinking about summer.
Oh well.
Happy spring!
Jools

Last Day of Winter

I love the first day of spring, even though here in Bend it often means gray skies and cool weather. That first day feels important though, that we all made it through something. Maybe it's because I've been through some real crazy winters here, like last year. Once in a while, I really like those insane winters, especially if I can hunker down and write. Last year as the snowfall was breaking records, I was writing the first 44 book and all that white powder I watched pile up outside really helped me create the atmosphere in the book.


This year has been practically the opposite. Except for a few dramatic snowstorms, our winter has been mild, with a lot of blue skies. We've even had some warm days where I was able to sit out on the deck and sip coffee. My kind of winter...

But even with the mild weather this winter, I'm still really happy to welcome spring and even happier to be putting the snow shovel back in the garage.

On another note, 44 Book Four will be out in early May sometime. I don't have the exact date, but I'll know soon. Thank you to those who have asked! I love writing this series and it's a thrill that there are fans out there waiting for Book Four.


Happy last day of winter everybody, and hope you all are having a great week!

Jools

On The Road With Abby and Jack

As I was finishing up Book Three last month, writing about the Puget Sound, I decided that it was time to take a little vacation. I still had quite a lot of work ahead of me, so as the days and hours went by the idea became an obsession. I wasn't sure where to go, but I knew it was time to take a little break from the computer and get out of town for a week or so.

And then it came to me. Why not go up north like all the characters did in Book Three? I've always liked it up in the Puget Sound area and used to go up there quite a lot. And even though it's a little chilly this time of year, I realized that it was the perfect place for a little vacation.

So last week, we made our way up to Seattle and then on to Orcas Island (about 113 miles from the city).

Up above is the Space Needle, as Abby might have seen it from the backseat of Jack's truck. And down below, fresh ingredients from Seattle's Public Market, probably a place where Simon would like to go every day....

I thought that I may have seen that small, expensive island on the ride over to Orcas Island, but I'm not sure. There were some large beautiful houses on the islands we passed and possibly a "guest" house as well.

Abby would have been pretty happy to have found this, even though it was closed for the season...

A pizza that Simon would have been proud of served up at Roses in Eastsound on the island....

Back to the mainland.....

And then back to Bend!

Hope you're all having a fabulous weekend~
Jools

44 Book Three Now Available

44 Book Three is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. (Coming soon on other sites and in paperback.)

Thank you so much everyone for your comments and emails!

Hope you are all having a great Valentine's Day! :)

Jools

Just a few hours away!

I'm SO excited to announce that 44 Book Three will be available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble in just a few short hours!

Happy Valentine's Day, everybody and happy reading!

Jools