Karen Foley
Lynn Raye Harris
Ellen Hartman
Diana Holquist
Samantha Hunter
Shirley Jump
Dee Tenorio
Jeannie Watt
Things To Look Forward To
Morning everyone. :) It's a sunny day here in Syracuse, and it's been a good week. Lots of writing done, and enjoyed the weather a bit, got my hair done, and going to lunch with a friend. All in all August is shaping up to be a nice month so far. Of course, in a few weeks, we have the Great New York State Fair, which if you've never heard of it, is quite an event. It's one of my very favorite places to attend each year, and takes some of the sting out of the end of summer.
The Great New York State Fair is one of the oldest and largest State Fairs in the country, hosting a million visitors each year. The first one was in 1841. It lasts for 12 days, and no matter how many times you go, for how many years, there's always something new. I've seen a lot of great concerts at The Fair, most recently James Taylor, Counting Crows, and Hootie and the Blowfish. Those were ticketed concerts, but for free, you can see some amazing acts, too. Ray Charles, among others performed for free at the Fair. Foreigner put on a fantastic free concert, and this year I'm excited to see 38 Special, Rick Springfield, and the Oakridge Boys, all for the price of a $6 ticket to get in the gate.
And the food -- don't even get me started on the food. When the time comes, I'll try to post some pictures, because you can't really experience The Fair without being there... but it's pretty amazing. Some people make it their entire summer vacation, coming here to camp out and fill up hotels for the entire 12 days -- it's that good. :)
A few other exciting things are going on this month as well. My Online Read, Caught by Surprise starts on Monday! This is a FREE linked book to my October release that you can read at eHarlequin.com (I'll post the link when I have it), and I'm very excited about it -- it will run, one chapter a day, M-F, through Sept 20. I would be thrilled to see my Cigars friends stop by and read and chat with me.
Then, there is the release of Tawny Weber's Feels Like the First Time, which is the kickoff to our Dressed to Thrill miniseries (my book is the Oct book, Caught in the Act, and the books, all four (Tawny, Me, Karen Foley and Lisa Renee Jones) each have an extra story in the series -- you get a mini-romance that runs through the prologues and epilogues of each book, but to have the whole thing, you need all four books. So, just a heads up. :)
I'm looking very much forward to this series, and to my Oct release, as well as attending my second conference, NINC, in St Louis, at the end of Sept.
Then, there is the new Fall TV season to look forward to - I'm happy to see some shows I loved last year coming back, like Lie to Me, Big Bang Theory, Chuck and Castle, and new shows like The Forgotten with Christian Slater, whom I have missed since the unfair cancelation of his prior show, My Own Worst Enemy.
And if you haven't noticed already, we've added another new blogger, Lynn Raye Harris, who writes for Presents, will be joining us for one day a month, and maybe more as time goes on, so say a hale and hardy hello to Lynn, who was just here with a guest blog, actually. :)
I'm looking forward to a little time off -- I still have to work, but maybe a little less, as my husband takes vacation and I'll join him to play for a bit, and having family visit, probably for the fair.
So, I can stave off dread of winter with all of these things to look forward to. What are you all looking forward to right now?
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welcome Lynn!!
Sam, i'm looking forward to tomorrow. As me, my mother and my brother and sister, uncle and all our accompanying spouses and children will be going to the beach for a late summer vacay. 15 people in one house, but were so excited that i can't wait to get up uber early tomorrow and leave.
im sure ill come back sunburned, i always do but i'm so ready for a week of sun, beach, and goofing off with my family. plus my five year is excited to see the beach for the first time. can't wait.
and for you, rick springfiled. lord that brings back memories. I had the biggest crush on him in school. but didnt everyone??
have a great time
jody
Seasons
Funny that I just responded to a Facebook post by Sherrilyn Kenyon that I am looking forward to reading one of her upcoming releases and the next post I saw was yours asking what are you looking forward to!
Right now I'm looking forward to this year's marching band season. My daughter is a junior in high school and plays the clarinet in her 270+ member marching band. I chaperoned band camp and will be going to games with the kids. They are a terrific group!
As much as I love summer, I am looking forward to the cooler days and nights of autumn, and hearing about the adventures of my older daughter who is beginning her freshman year of college.
Another thing I'm looking forward to is having windows I can actually open! We have to replace the windows in our home this fall.
It's great to be here!
Thanks for inviting me to join in from time to time! I'm looking forward to it -- and thanks for the welcome, too!
Gosh, your post took me back. Rick Springfield and .38 Special. I saw them both in concert in the 80s. Gracious, I can't believe how time gets away. Rick is like 60 now or something.
I'm looking forward to Castle returning as well! And looking forward to getting the cover for my next release, hearing from my editor on the proposal I just sent, and maybe sandwiching a vacation in sometime this fall. Hubby has mentioned a cruise....
Ooh!
Lots to look forward to, Sam! Less than two weeks before school starts ;) Almost done back-to-school shopping! And I'm definitely looking forward to the Dressed to Thrill series! Very exciting!!
Visitors!
We have two of our dearest friends coming to visit next weekend and then two weeks later my youngest sister is spending a week with us. Woo hoo! :-D
Hi Lynn! Welcome. :-D
Sorry...
We were down all day. Ugh. Bluehost apparently had problems. Back now. :)
Sounds like some great things coming up!
Sam
See my sig line!
Hail to the Redskins!
Looking forward to the NFL! Need I say more? And Survivor!
Ah Survivor... :)
Yes, how could I forget?
As for NFL... football has never been my favorite, and I'm glad Vick is suspended, but I'm very angry he has a contract at all. And half of whatever he makes, at least, should be donated to animal welfare... Grrrr.
But it's not the Redskins. ;) I may boycott Philly for quite some time, though...
Sam
Lots of good stuff coming up!
Can't wait to read your online read, Sam! I downloaded Tawny's story tonight to get myself ready. ;)
And you're so right...lots of wonderful things on the horizon. I'm heading to the Fair twice this year, once to see the free Sara Evans concert. Quite a deal! But I'd love to see just about any of the free concerts...Springfield is a beautiful man, undoubtedly. ;)
Great to hear Lynn will be here more often!
Cari
http://cariquinn.blogspot.com/
Michael Vick
Hail to the Redskins!
I do hope he donates part of his salary to animal welfare. I'm glad he's not with the Redskins. I don't think our owner wants that kind of publicity. The coach at Philly did say if Vick gets out of line he's gone. Donovan McNab is willing to give Michael Vick a chance and I think he'll help keep him in line. When Philly comes to Washington, Vick will be booed more than Dallas! (and we boo Dallas pretty loudly, lol)
Good Things
Sam, I think my family and I need to make a road trip to New York for the fair; you've raved about it for a couple of years now! We love the Topsfield Fair (the oldest continuous agricultural fair in the country...I think), but it's pretty much the same every year.
Things I'm looking forward to...
1. My youngest starts middle school, so will finally be on the same schedule as my older daughter. This is a Big Deal in our house for logistical reasons.
2. The Brimfield Fair...a mile stretch of country fields filled to overflowing with antique dealers and vendors from all over the world. FABULOUS!! I can't wait! I buy hundreds of beads from this one guy every year...gorgeous lampwork beads from India and Tibet.
3. Autumn...I know it's been a short summer and I should want it to last but I LOVE Autumn!!
4. Fringe, the television series, returns next month. Can't wait!
5. Football season...I am a die-hard Patriots fan!
6. The release of our Dressed to Thrill mini series!!