Fall Bounciness

Tonight is forecasted to be the first real frost--I'll have to get out there and cover our fledgling pumpkins with sheets, bring the hanging strawberries into the garage for the night. You'd think this would make me sad...the end of our perfect summer weather.

It actually makes me bouncy.

I adore Fall. It's my favorite season by far. Why?

• The light changes utterly. It slants orange across the yard, across my daughter's face as she helps me water. It's friendlier, calmer than strong summer light. It tells me things are changing.
•  The wardrobe switch! By the end of August I'm tired of my small rotation of tank tops and capri pants, and ready to dive back into my massive pile of sweaters, jeans, and colorful stripy wool socks. Plus buy a few more, here and there. (my husband's cry: "Like you need any more sweaters!" Yes, I do.)
• New boots. I discovered I really could wear high-heeled boots instead of flats last year (who knew?). Just got my third new pair to replace ones I wore out last year. LOVE them!
• The scents. Break out the Spiced Cider, Hot Toddy, and Pumpkin Vanilla scented candles! I am READY. But beyond that, fall itself smells fresh to me. Leaves, wet pavement, browning grass, pencils. Aaah.
• Candy corn! But mostly, Jelly Belly's Autumn mellocreme mix. YUM.
• Most of all, it's a new start. For my daughter school starts, of course, but also art classes and dance, and this year, clarinet lessons. Since I work on a college campus, everything starts up around here too, and the whole place is busting with energy and excitement. Plus sports: football! Volleyball! Basketball! Our schedule goes from nearly empty to packed full.

I do think of the tragedy of September 11 today, of course, like everyone. I remember that day very clearly. I was pregnant with my daughter, and I was petrified of the future she was going to be born into very soon. But she is here, and happy, and doing well. And with Fall comes HOPE. I feel like I can start again, and succeed. Everyone gets a new chance, including me. Including you.

Happy Fall!

Winner winner chicken dinner

**AND THE WINNER IS....**

Sandy!!

Congratulations, Sandy!! Email me your address at susan (dot) adrian (at) yahoo (.com), and I'll get your prize on its way to you. I KNOW you'll enjoy it. Especially since you picked Billy. ;)

IN A FIX release day + giveaway!!

GUYS. Today is a VERY EXCITING DAY.

It's the *release* (book birthday) of the debut novel by my very good friend and crit partner, Linda Grimes!

WOOOHOOOO!!!

Linda and I have been online friends and writing compatriots for...10 years? (or more) We connected on Compuserve Writer's Forum back in the day, both nestled into a small writer's support group (Kickass Writer Chicks), and then both moved on to a different but also amazing small writer's support group (Team Sparkle). We've emailed each other through many books, queries, agent-crises, submission-crises, writing highs, plot craziness, and personal Stuff. We've met twice, on two different coasts, and had a few phone calls, some in tears. I was one of the first people to read IN A FIX and fall in love with Ciel (and Mark and Billy). I am SO VERY proud and excited to see her book out there in the world, where everyone else can read it too!

To celebrate, and to thank Linda for all her support, I'm going to give away a copy of IN A FIX to one lucky winner.

To tantalize you, here's the book blurb from Goodreads:

The start of an original new urban fantasy series starring human chameleon Ciel Halligan

Snagging a marriage proposal for her client while on an all-expenses-paid vacation should be a simple job for Ciel Halligan, aura adaptor extraordinaire. A kind of human chameleon, she’s able to take on her clients’ appearances and slip seamlessly into their lives, solving any sticky problems they don’t want to deal with themselves. No fuss, no muss. Big paycheck.

This particular assignment is pretty enjoyable... that is, until Ciel’s island resort bungalow is blown to smithereens and her client’s about-to-be-fiancé is snatched by modern-day Vikings. For some reason, Ciel begins to suspect that getting the ring is going to be a tad more difficult than originally anticipated.

Going from romance to rescue requires some serious gear-shifting, as well as a little backup. Her best friend, Billy, and Mark, the CIA agent she’s been crushing on for years—both skilled adaptors—step in to help, but their priority is, annoyingly, keeping her safe. Before long, Ciel is dedicating more energy to escaping their watchful eyes than she is to saving her client’s intended.

Suddenly, facing down a horde of Vikings feels like the least of her problems.

 Doesn't that sound fabulous? So here's all you have to do to win:

1. Comment below, saying (even if you haven't read the book) whether you think you'd be Team Mark or Team Billy. BOTH ARE GOOD CHOICES.
2. Have an address in North America where I can send the book.
3. Enter by 5 PM Mountain time TOMORROW, September 5th. That's right, you have TWO DAYS to enter, and that's it!

I'll send you a copy direct from a lovely online bookstore!

**contest is closed!!** winner will be announced TOMORROW!