The "IT" Factor
What is that special quality, that you can't describe but that just attracts people? I wish you could bottle it, I really do. This is Daniel Craig, the new Bond and I gotta say, he's got it. David Beckham has it. Tom Cruise had it. Sandra Bullock has it. It's that invisible quantity that can't be measured but that people want to be around. We've been house-hunting in our family and we've seen a lot of houses. Some are just weird. Some are too perfect. I'm so sick of the taupe look with bland granite, stainless steel appliances and no personality. No "it" factor.

We bought a house this weekend. It doesn't have a gourmet kitchen. In fact, it doesn't have a kitchen at all, we'll have to put one in. It wasn't the biggest we looked at, but it's got a very warm feel to what's there. It's not really landscaped, but has great potential. But it's so interesting because we took the kids to nicer, bigger houses and yet they all agreed, nope the yellow one is it. Isn't that strange that they'd get it to?

My husband was skeptical. Of course, he's seeing weekends gone. But I, as his wife, know it just means we'll do it over time because he's not a handyman. He CAN be, but he's not. Just like I CAN be a cook, I just choose other pastimes. So while you're thinking on the "it" factor, let me know who you think has it. We move in mid-March. : ) Kristin

If I could cut my head off, I would not only lose ten pounds of dead weight (if you tell my husband I said that, I’ll deny it), I’m certain I would feel better.

Lots of writers suffer with migraines, and I happen to be among them. There are many different things that can trigger them, and everyone is different, but I’ve found two of my triggers are changes in barometric pressure and hormones. Being 51 and living in the Midwest, well, that just puts me in a bad place, that’s all.

I handed my husband my new prescription for Zomig and said, “If you want to get rid of my dark side, you might want to fill this.” He kicked up dust so fast, a small tornado formed in his wake.

I’m beginning to understand that whole hibernating bear thing. Ever noticed the disposition of a bear? Exactly. That’s why they hibernate. It’s God’s way of separating the good, bad and the ugly. Now I’m not going to tell you which category I fall into right now, but let me just say, it’s not the first one. Please tell me you’re surprised.

I should be caged—or at the very least strait-jacketed. My husband, bless his heart, feels my pain (literally) and wants to make life easier for me. His current plans are to stuff me in a sandwich board that reads: “Give me chocolate. I won't hurt you. Your choice," and then dump at the nearest street corner. Cold, I know, but honestly, it works for me.

So what do you do for your headaches?

WII WHEEE!
My sweet Donna has coined a new word in the Coble household: Wii injury. (The Wii is pronounced like WE). My baby girl Kara was the first to experience this phenomenon. She'd overdosed on Wii by bowling ALL DAY until late at night on the day after Christmas. When we went shopping, I had to rub her shoulder because she had a big knot.

The kids got me a Wii game for my birthday and we've been playing it every night. Watching my husband bowl, you'd think he was actually the bowling alley. He takes the stance, brings the controller up to his chest, turns his feet exactly the way he does in the alley. As the ball strikes the pins, he leaps and kicks his foot out like the ball is kicking over to get that last pin. It's a riot!

My own technique is a little more sedate. I also find myself taking my typical bowling stance. I loft the ball down the alley. And I also happen to the be the reigning champion of the Wii bowling game in our family. It's kind of cool to actually be GOOD at something! LOL

You want to hear something REALLY cool? Wii is supposed to help you lose weight and I HAVE dropped three pounds since Christmas. Now I am actually watching what I eat, but I'm choosing to believe it's all about the game.

And the fact I'm beating everyone's butt in bowling. LOL

My name is Kristin and I have a book addiction. Easily taken care of by the free library down the street you're thinking. But unfortunately, I also have this weird thing about library books. I cannot help but think of George Costanza in the bathroom with that giant book on Seinfeld and the library...well, I just can't do it. I can't read someone else's book (unless a friend gives it to me, that's different.) I don't know where that book has been. It's not mine. I can't drop it into the bathtub. I will have to pay as much for it because I will probably lose it, so I have sworn off libraries and with as much as I read, it's an expensive addiction. I went to Barnes & Noble the other day. There was a new Thomas Hardy biography. I led with this, "I'm just going to go in, get the Hardy biography, nothing else and come out..." Much like an alcoholic says he's going to a bar and going to have a Pepsi. I cannot be let loose in the bookstore. $110 later, i was done. And here's the really bad part, I'm half way through with all the books and I haven't read the Hardy one yet!

First, I saw this cover of a nerdy kid and it said, "Kick Me". Just made me laugh, then I find out that it's from the writer of "Freaks & Geeks", one of the best, albeit short-lived TV shows on television. I HAD to get that. Then, I'd been investing so I had to know how women should invest. I bought the book, "Nice Girls Don't Get Rich". I thought, hey, I'm not that nice, I'd like to be rich, that book is for me. It goes on from there with my book choices and in the end, I hope I will be better for them, but the reality is, I really should deal with my library issue.

Coming to you live from my new Apple Computer. I've made the switch and so far, so good. Kristin

I couldn't take it. What good is having Susie here if we can't show off her cover. Dang, this is a cover! Kristin

Hey bloggers, I'm happy to post a blog from our friend Susie Warren. Her new book Reclaiming Nick is just coming out. It makes it especially fun to post today because it's also my birthday. Shh, I'm 55 but don't tell anyone. Holy cow, I feel old today!
Colleen

Just a cowgirl…

When I was little, I had a horse named Sun Dancer. He lived in my basement, in the corner, and his springs squeaked when I rode him. He ate things like Cheerios and potato chips, and on him, I galloped the rolling hills of Montana, chasing down them varmints who stole my pappy’s land.

Yeah, I wanted to be a cowgirl. But it ain’t easy to emulate Annie Oakley when you live in the suburbs. So I read a lot of Louis L’amour and dreamed of the day when I’d move west and start my dude ranch.

But my vision of ranching was Bonanza, and little Joe, and cute cowboys in Stetsons, and horses. It was Oklahoma and square dancing and rodeo. Boiled down, I thought ranching was a country music song.

I got news for you. It ain’t. I know because I spent a week playing cowgirl on a real ranch, helping the owners dig a water line, and riding fence. It’s hot, smelly work, with cows who don’t like being told what to do, and horses who’d just rather go home. And not only that, but the ranch, well, it was on the backside of nowhere, over the river and through and through and through the woods until we came to a place not on any map. I got a big red star in the middle of Montana when I Mapquested it.

And being there, I learned something. Sometimes the dream is better than reality. Sometimes the smell of the pumpkin-nutmeg latte is better than the taste, the look of the leather pants on the mannequin better than in the two-way mirror. Which, frankly, is why I like to read books, why I like to write. My imagination is richer. It contains a soundtrack, and lots of handsome, tan cowboys. Besides, no one really wants to hear about the hours spent watering the bulls. We want to cut to the fun parts, like when the bull chased me into the truck. Or when the stars came out over the Montana night and seemed close enough to pluck from the sky.

I had dinner recently with a friend who says, “I never read fiction because it isn’t true.” Yeah, well, that’s why it’s called, uh, you know, FICTION. But he says he doesn’t like to spend time focusing on things that don’t let him engage in the world. (He reads a lot of theology and political books – way too much brain food for me).

Here’s me saying that sometimes I don’t WANT to engage in the world. Like when the washing machine seal breaks and floods my basement. Or when the dog eats all the chocolate cake and his face blows up like a balloon. Or when my husband gets food poisoning and is sick in bed for two days. I need to close my door to the world and escape into Montana, or Alaska, or even the Lifetime movie channel. Because, hello, no one is sick in my imaginary world. It’s cleaner. And less smelly.

In short, give me my fiction, some chocolate and close the door behind you when you leave.

So, here’s to handsome cowboys and Bonanza and the FAKE world of ranching.

Now, I wonder what it’s like to be a fire fighter….

Susan May Warren let her imagination run wild in her new suspense/romance book, Reclaiming Nick, the modern-day story of a prodigal who heads home to his Montana ranch to face secrets, right old wrongs and restore the Noble legacy. Read an excerpt at http://meetnick.susanmaywarren.com

Is it just me, or is it NOT news that Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump are in a fight? First off, I wouldn't watch the View if you stapled me to the chair. I cannot stand to watch people in conflict and that show is women yelling over each other. Hate that! If it's going to be conflict, give me smart conflict like the Charlie Rose show. Or reality TV conflict, like Simon & Paula going at it. Rosie talking about Trump's comb over? Trump calling Rosie an animal? I need this in my life, why?

Today, I was listening to the Hannity show on the radio and I had to hear it. We've got people in Iraq, Pelosi making laws about minimum wage and Hannity is taking his political show where? Okay, I'll admit, I will seek crap stories out. I'm not above wondering why Justin Timberlake broke up with Cameron Diaz. Bring it on, but high-profile people calling each other names? People who should know better? I'm embarrassed for them. I want to bury my head in the sand until it goes away. Make it stop!!!
www.KristinBillerbeck.com
Faith, Froth & a California Attitude

BOOKS!

Midnight Sea is shipping to stores now, and I got my first two advance copies on Friday. Ami was gone so I couldn't call her and cry. I had to just sit there and hold it and cry by myself.

It's always a little bit surreal to hold a book in my hands. It's something I worked and slaved for months over, but by the time it arrives, I've usually written at least one other book, maybe two.

This one was special because it's a Women of Faith book AND it has a sticker for a $5 rebate when you buy it. The cover has changed several times, and when it finally came to this one, I screamed. (There's a lot of noise involved at any excitement in the Coble household.)

The only thing that could have made it the teeniest bit better was if the dog actually looked like Fisher, the golden retriever in the book. The dog that fit the cover was obviously a German shepherd. LOL You wouldn't believe the trouble the cover designers have to go through to find dogs for the covers. When I wrote the Rock Harbor series, they actually did a photo shoot to try to get the right look for Samson (though it still didn't end up right) because he was such a main character in the series.

How big a deal are the covers when you buy a book? What catches your attention first--the cover, the title, or the author's name? Right now we're working on the cover for Abomination, my first hardcover. I was crazy about the first cover they came up with but this new revision is just fabulous. Here's a peek though it will probably be tweaked some. What do you think?
Colleen

Justification:
I have often joked that I could justify anything, just give me a minute to think about it. Never has that been more true that when I plunked down $80 for a computer mouse. That's right, just the mouse, but it fit my hand perfectly. It was like...it was like trying on a two carat diamond ring and knowing it was meant to be yours! Reason didn't factor into it.

Though, here we go with my excellent justification skills. I spend at least eight hours a day with my trusty mouse. I know it intimately. It's more than a job, it's a relationship. Surely, he needed me like I needed him. We clasped hands and it was meant to be! Secondly, it was a Logitech mouse. My husband worked for them for years. Logitech bought me a house, they paid for my kids' private school, even funded my espresso habit. I OWED Logitech. It was the least I could do.

But see, this kind of justification gets me into trouble. I buy Joe's Jeans. They're expensive, but worth every penny. I won't bother justifying them here, but trust me, I could. But I did have to justify the little girl versions for my husband. Oh my gosh, to see my Elle in little Joe's Jeans. It was a moment, I tell you!! She's like a little blonde Kristin strutting down the street. Anyway, I'm on a spending diet this month. Of course, that was after the mouse (Dec. 31), but so far, so good. I have some accountability partners and everything!

God rewarded me for this spending diet too because my friends, the Yaos, bought me a black Prada for taking care of their dog. (Yes, I know! But that's the kind of friends I have!!) Anyway, if anyone ever wondered why I write chick lit. Here it is: I have the justification gene.

Oh what do you think of my new cover? Kristin

MEET MISS BETTY

I gave my husband a GPS unit for Christmas, but really, I gave it to myself. We decided to give it a whirl on the trip to Kansas City to brainstorm with friends Deb Raney, Nancy Moser, Hannah Alexander (Mel & Cheryl Hodde), Till Fell, Judy Miller, and Steph Whitson and her husband (Dan and Steph Higgins).

We thought we might have an issue or two along the trip. We had no idea the trouble would start right here. We confused her first by turning her on when we were already part way out of town. She was determined to make us do a U-turn. Dave was just as determined not to. Then she wanted us to go down 31 to Indianapolis, which takes 1/2 hour longer, as any self respecting Wabashonian knows.

I watched the war of the wills play out in front of me, but I had no doubt who would win. Dave of course. LOL Even when we got to Indianapolis, Betty was determined to route us around on 465 instead of I-70. But once we got through our own fair state, Betty performed without a hitch.

And she found me coffee! That made her worth every penny. There's this neat little POI thing, Points of Interest, and you can tell Betty what you're looking for and she routes you to the nearest one. We even found her electronic voice rather comforting.

What I didn't find comforting were the changes this trip to Starbucks. Has anyone else noticed they've cut the number of shots they put in drinks? A venti peppermint mocha used to have 3 shots in it. I always added one to make it four. Now I have to pay for TWO. My peppermint mocha cost me nearly six dollars! And they've started giving me heartburn and a headache. Did they change their chocolate already? I'm all for the no trans fats, but with the reaction I had to the mocha (tried a regular mocha too), I'm wondering what other evil chemical has taken its place!

I'm home now and back to work. Had a great time with my buds, and we didn't try to make Deb slash any paintings this time around. LOL

Entertainment

I want to be entertained. Not preached at. Not sermonized to (unless I'm in church where that's the point). Not shown a Prius and told I'm the devil if I drive a SUV. I want to be entertained. Seriously, if we preached in our Christian books as vehemently as Hollywood seems to be doing lately, leaving behind story in favor of doing a "higher work". we deceive ourselves. My calling is to write a STORY. Of course, my Christian values will be imbedded because that's who I am. But let me tell you this, it's not my calling (and for some of you it might be, but it is SOOO not my calling to preach at people!)

The scenario:

We meet friends for dinner and a movie. My boys get to go to "Night in the Museum with the dads, but me? I have to sit through "Happy Feet". First impressions: CUTE AS THE DICKENS until they start singing one of my favorite, albeit highly sexualized "Kiss" by Prince. Kids' movie people! I want to cover my daughter's ears. But the penguins -- they dance. The animation is fabulous. The story is darling. Happy Feet can't sing. Singing is how you get the girl. He can only dance so he must go on a journey to find his voice.

But midway through the story, something horrific (storytelling-wise) happens! He gets the girl and he REJECTS her!! Why you ask? Because there is fishing going on in the Antarctic and the Emperor Penguins will all die if us evil humans, who put cute little penguins in zoos, aren't stopped!!! Now, the filmmakers stop the animation at one point and actually put UN footage in to show that little Happy Feet is changing the world! And a fishing circle being carved out around Antarctica.

Can you imagine if I stopped my book and said, "COME ACCEPT JESUS RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW!!! PUT THE SILVER FISH ON YOUR CAR AND YOU WILL BE SAVED." Instead of finishing my romance storyline? Would I not tick a few people off? For a very important reason, you're doing a bait and switch. I promised you some romance and you're getting my belief system crammed down your throat.

People are at the movies to watch dancing penguins, to be entertained, do we NEED a message? Must it come at the expense of penguins who can tap dance? It was Sunday, I already did my time. (No offense Pastor Dean, fabulous message on breathing the Name of God -- See, I was listening!!)

But it doesn't stop at the movies. I tape Oprah on Tivo. I can honestly say I haven't sat through an episode in eons. Oprah seems intent on changing the world, and you know, she's got more money than Moses, go for it, but must we be subjected to it? Every time Oprah does something nice, does it warrant a show and a trip? Newsflash: Most of us housewives doing the laundry are not tuning into Oprah to learn about Darfur, but we'll take another show on what jeans make our butts look smaller. And here's the really sad thing. Most of us will just turn off the "world is evil" shows because we're...we're tuning in to be entertained. We know the world is terrible, that there are monsters out there who seek to kill and destroy, that's why we want to be entertained!!

There's a time and place for news and sermons and information. If Oprah wants to use her hour to give it, go for it, but I'm choosing my hour too. And I vote with my TIVO. HELLO UGLY BETTY!!!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Ugly Betty! Now go forth and be entertained.

A TIMELY RIDDLE

Everyone has me, in some shape or form.

You can't see me.

Some find me comforting, others find me boring.

Denise's is different from yours. In fact, no two are alike.

You can change me or take a break from me, but this time of year many moms miss me.

What am I?

Click on "Comments" for the answer!

PIGS CAN FLY
Okay, I admit it. I thought when pigs could fly, I might get nice jewelry as a gift from my darling husband. And it was okay for a lot of years. He's such an excellent husband, I could overlook his lack of romantic gifts.

He made up for all those years this Christmas. I got TWO major pieces of jewelry! I'm bedecked like a queen. The one thing I've really wanted is one of those circle diamond necklaces that slide around on my Omega chain. They're expensive but I really love them. I placed a subtle hint, oh back around the summer.

Fat chance I thought. I told my sweet daughter-in-law what I wanted thinking just maybe she could sway him when they went shopping together. She took him shopping and he had already planned it all and knew just what he wanted. He not only got me the necklace, he got gorgeous white gold hoops as well.

To really understand how big this was, let me take you back to our FIRST Christmas. We'd been married two months, mind you. TWO MONTHS. I was expecting a piece of jewelry, perfume maybe. Something pretty. I got a BLENDER. That was all. A blender. A lump formed in my throat as big as a rock and it was all I could do not to cry. Was that what he thought of me? That now I wasn't a sweetheart--I was a COOK? The next year I was prepared so at least I didn't cry when I got a toaster. LOL!

I'm not quite sure what has caused this departure from his practical gifts, but I've been watching the sky with suspicious eyes. And I was glad to see my son got his new bride a piece of jewelry as well as the heated Harley gear. LOL

Labels: jewelry, practical gifts, present

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Whoohoooo!!! Another year! This year I’m going to lose 35 pounds, exercise more, spend less time on email, read more, eat less, cook more, study more, and give up chocolate.

Okay, so I lied.

I’ll slug along for another year, hopefully lose the same five pounds I’ve been tossing around for the past ten years (and ignore the other thirty pounds that have been following me since 1995). I’ll cut my email down by, oh, I don’t know, maybe one and a half minutes a day. I’ll walk on the treadmill, say, once a month (hey, it beats my current physical workout of walking to the refrigerator). As to the chocolate part, it ain’t gonna happen. Chocolate has been my friend for years, and we’re not about to part company now.

Still, the truth is I do have some resolutions planned. I plan to laugh more, feel more, smell more, see more, dig deeper into spiritual things and just plain enjoy the journey more this year than ever before.

So how about you? What kind of resolutions are you tackling this year? Please, don’t anyone tell me you’re giving up chocolate. It would depress me, and well, this is New Year’s Day and all.

P.S. Hot Tropics & Cold Feet just hit the store shelves! Free copies to the first five people who email me privately at: diann@diannhunt.com.