It's Not Easy Being Green

So the word of the year is "green". I watched a "House Hunters" the other night where a couple in New Mexico who lived in a four bedroom, three bath house with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, was looking for a "green" vacation home in Oregon, on the beach. When they saw one house with an older "stainless" fridge that wasn't Energy Star compliant, they wanted to change it out for an efficient one.

Okay, people, are you following this? How are you green if you live in a HUGE house and you buy another HUGE house for a vacation home? You have an energy star appliance in both places and so you feel good about yourself? My point is, you can't live the way you want, big and large and be green. You have to make some choices about how much of a footprint you leave.

SO let's do the math. To get to Oregon, they will have to take a plane. (Unnecessary travel -- Bad for the environment.) Their house was in the mountains of New Mexico and big (upsetting the natural balance in the mountains -- bad for the ecosystem.) A house on the beach is about as ungreen as you can be. I'm sorry, but God isn't making any more shore (unless we have a big earthquake, maybe). But how can you build along the ocean, take up shoreline and call yourself green? How can you throw out a new refrigerator into the landfill and call yourself green? Is it really better for the environment for you to throw away laminate countertops in the landfill so you can go with recycled glass counters? Seriously, the less impact, the more green you are. It's just a fact, but it's become a sales pitch, like BUYING MORE STUFF is going to fix the environment. I mean, is it me? Two people with two houses across the country are not really as green as they believe. Now I'm not faulting the people for living the life they want to live, but don't delude yourself and say the environment is your primary concern.

To me, it's like being a Christian. You can't continue on in life just as you please and call yourself one. There has to be some action that accompanies the title. All I'm saying.

A NEW MESSIAH?
I love Oprah. Really I do. She's done a lot of great things for people. I almost think of her as a neighbor since we're 3 hours from Chicago, plus she has a lake house about an hour from me. I think she's super at encouraging people to take charge of their lives and change them for the better. But even Lucifer can masquerade as an angel of light and I'm afraid we've all been blinded by Oprah's sweetness and light.

So this serious post when we're usually light-hearted really pains me. I always knew she had a little different take on spirituality, but it's only been recently that we've seen just how far afield she's strayed. She's very deceived now, and if it's bad enough that she's standing on the edge of a cliff, but she's drawing millions of people there with her. According to today's bestsellers on Amazon, FOUR of the top five titles are by her new guru Eckhart Tolle.

In church Sunday our pastor showed this video of Oprah herself telling what she believes. What had me shaking my head was when she said she was in church and it just didn't FEEL right that God would be a jealous God. Hello? That's what the Bible says. Since when is truth based on feeling? The Bible tells us to hold what we're told up against the light of the Bible. THAT is truth, not feelings or impressions or dreams or prophesies. The Bible is the litmus test.

Here is the video I'm talking about. It totally grieves and surprises me. Did you know she was heading this direction? I didn't see it coming, not in this awful way. http://mywisegeneration.blogspot.com/2008/04/oprahs-new-age-religion-contradicts.html

Labels: heresy, New Age, Oprah

Impulse buys.

Congratulations to the winners of the autographed copies of The Convenient Groom! Your copies are on their way!

My next book is just shipping to stores. It's an Amish suspense called Anathema, and it's set in Parke Co., Indiana, the covered bridge capitol of the world. It's already garnered a Romantic Times Top Pick. My publisher is running a very special offer--a special price AND it's signed by me! Go here to preorder the book and be one of the first 250 to get that signed copy. Isn't the cover gorgeous? Here's a short blurb:

Heart-racing romantic suspense meets heart-warming Amish ambience in this major novel from award-winning author Colleen Coble.

Welcome to Parke County, Indiana,
land of peaceful farms and covered bridges,
Amish quilts and horse drawn buggies . . . and murder.

After years of running, Hannah Schwartz has finally built a life for herself. Far from the insecure husband who bullied and abused her. Far from the close-knit Amish community who raised her, then shunned her. Still haunted by nightmare memories of her parents’ murder . . . and the guilty secret that made her an anathema—a true outcast—from her friends and family.

Only love can bring her home again. Love for a child she had feared was lost forever. And love for the peaceful people who shaped her life. But can love heal old wounds . . . or keep the community safe from a deadly danger?

If you order the book and do a review for Amazon, Barnes and Noble or CBD, I'll send you one of my out of print early books. They're small Harlequin size romances but I doubt you've read them because they haven't been available in several years. I've got a limited number and this special may clean me out, but that's okay. Send me the link where you ordered the book and I'll trust you to do a review and send out your freebie book anyway. You can't beat a deal like that!

Okay, now to another matter. Ahem. In recent edits on Lonestar Secrets, my editor questioned the fact that Shannon was wearing her watch after taking a shower. I wear my watch to bed and thought everyone did. Um, maybe not. Am I a total weirdo (don't answer that honestly. LOL) Poll time. Vote yes or no for wearing your watch to bed. I like to know what time it is. I guess I got into the habit because I could never see the clock at night because of poor eyesight but even after Lasix I still wear it. On a happy note, my mom just got a cataract taken off and she is ecstatic at how well she can see!

So I've been in L.A. this weekend. May I just say that is the cleavage capital of the world? If you've ever felt flat in your life, L.A. is not the place to be. Honestly, there is no limit to what is acceptable down there. Women boast what looks like a tanned bum hanging out their shirts at 3 in the afternoon! What was it Mamie said about showing your bosom before five o'clock? And really, when your bosom is bigger than my bum, maybe you shouldn't show it at all. The force on these shirts defies the laws of physics.

Anyway, put the girls away, Los Angeles! Save something for the imagination.

I'm home to the geeks of Silicon Valley (Praise God!). I got a copy of the "What a Girl Wants" screenplay and I just love it! It is fabulous and funny and so weird...because people who write screenplays just seem to know which scenes to include into a movie. It's wonderfully exciting to see and I just hope it makes it to movie format because I think the writers did a fabulous job! Happy Monday all, I'm off to my facial this morning in desperate need of an Ashley morning after a week off with the kids, and a minivan, and a drive to Los Angeles.

Chocolateathon!!!!  Whooohoooo!!!

There's really very little I don't like about getting older. I think my grandmother did it with such grace and I've already told you my mother doesn't have a vain bone in her body. And as I get older, I'm finding I wear what I like, do what I like and what is bad about that? Sure, your skin gets weird, but you can cover it with fabulous Christian Dior Air Spray and you can cover that with Jane Iredale powder. Could you afford that when you were young? No, you were at the mercy of good skin days.

Hair? You can get it done in a salon. I feel cool driving my sun-roofed minivan. I have a view from my office window. I feel comfortable with power tools and home improvement. Getting older just brings peace. And, I finally got my own dog, after a good run carrying a pet zucchini to embarrass my parents into getting me one (it didn't work, even though I took it to my dad's boss' house!) Apparently, they were used to my tricks.

I was reading in "Us" this morning about all the women in there do to starve themselves to stay emaciated-looking and gain acceptance. Hello? Embrace yourself. Eat! Live the Italian way, put people first, and all else is cake! What do you like about getting older?

Vote!
Hey, Kara is losing ground on the voting! If you have a minute, please go vote again. You can vote once a day. Go here then click Pets. Follow the link and click Grooming Shops. Her's is See Spot Clean. Thanks my friends!

SOME HUSBANDS
I'm still sooo excited about our baby girl who is coming soon! We got 3D ultrasound pictures but I couldn't get my scanner to work so these are generic ones. But you can see her tiny feet and hands, her face, and uh, the fact that she's a girl. I was sick yesterday so Dave of course took the pictures to church to show off. Everyone is excited for us and he was proudly showing them off. The preacher talked about staying away from sin like off-color jokes, pornography, etc. Good message Dave said.

Well what does my husband do? After church he goes up to Preacher and says, "Hey, you want to see a picture of a naked girl?" The pastor's face sags, and he says, "I just preached about that!" I think he thought Dave hadn't been listening and was about to tell an off-color joke. LOL Dave whips out the pictures of Princess (he calls her Princess Porkchop because we called her Porkchop before we knew she was a girl) and shows them to Preacher who started to laugh.

Some men's humor. LOL

Colleen is going to try and get that grandbaby in pink. It didn't work with Kara, but she's bound and determined, she's going to get someone in pink. May I dare suggest she get a puppy because this is me at 4. Note the lingerie. Note the expertise with which I powder my nose.

My mother never wore a stitch of makeup. If she wore lingerie, I thankfully never saw it -- but I did see the Moo Moo flannels each morning. I did notice she was completely gray by thirty and never thought of dye. So where I came from is a complete mystery, but I can tell you, that baby is knit together and if she doesn't want to wear pink? Well, she's not going to let Grandma stand in her way.

My daughter has Geox $60 sparkle shoes, the same day I bought her a Hannah Andersson outfit for Easter, complete with hat, but not a dress, so completely wearable to school. That girl is bound and determined that she will never ever leave this house matching. Does she wear it? Heck no. If I get her an outfit that is coordinated from head to toe? She will put on striped colored tights with it, just to make certain she hasn't missed a color in the rainbow. Rather than her sparkle shoes, she wears her Payless Shoe Source shoes just to get my goat. I know she does!

So my suggestion for Colleen is to give baby Coble yellow and wait for pink to be her idea. Do you not see that I was vain at four? This should scare you.

I want to eat healthy, I really do. I hear seafood is a good place to start. Now, call me weird, but  I'm thinking anything that looks up at me from my plate deserves to live.

BABY GIRL!!

My kids just called and we're having a baby girl! I get to buy PINK!

Kara said, "oh no," when I said I got to buy pink. I marked the poor child for life. I so wanted a daughter (I grew up the only girl of four kids) and I went a tiny bit overboard in buying pink. She refused to wear pink for at least ten years. I told her I'd try to buy some navy and red to mix it up. LOL

I HATE MY NECK
I've hated my neck since I was a teenager. Fooled you, didn't I? You thought I only hated it now because it's starting to sag like a turkey neck. LOL But no, I've always hated it. It's not a long, slender neck like a ballerina, which is always what I wanted. Instead it's this strong column and you can see my adam's apple. HATE that. And it's doubly ugly now that is IS starting to sag like a turkey. Something else that's happening since I'm starting to age is those doggone age spots. It's all from tanning when I was a teenager. I burned sometimes too--freckles were the bane of my life. So on my arms, legs and face I'm getting some dark spots.

And even more worrisome, I've got some scaly patches of solar keratosis. The doctor gave me some high powered cream but there are side effects with it so I haven't used it yet. Dave has those things too so I went on a quest to find a more natural oil or cream that would help and found--EMU OIL. Now don't wrinkle your nose at me--it isn't becoming. Did you know Oprah and tons of movie stars swear the stuff is a miracle? I didn't either but now I know why. I bought the Dremu brand (I just ordered a less expensive brand and I'll let you know if it's just as good. The other stuff I ordered is Longview Farms brand.)

The stuff is a miracle in a bottle. No kidding. Those solar keratosis things? Nearly gone in a WEEK! After TWO DAYS all the age spots significantly lightened. And the turkey neck? Let's just say I haven't started gobbling yet. LOL My skin is looking more luminous and tighter. It is supposed to work for acne, psoriasis, eczema, all types of skin problems. I'm sold on it. I sound like a commercial, but it's only because I'm excited at how well it's working.

You should see Dave screw up his face when I come at him with the eyedropper of oil. LOL He's like a little kid submitting to a face washing by his mother. But it's working on his spots too. A little more slowly because I'm only doing his face at night. I put it on my spots twice a day.

So there's my favorite beauty product. Care to share yours?

HELP APPRECIATED!!
Isn't my grandpup Parker adorable? You have a chance to keep him in kibble. See Spot Clean, my daughter's dog wash, has been nominated as the best groom shop. It would mean huge exposure for her if she would win. You can go here and vote for her! Click on Pets after you click the link, then groom shops. You'll see See Spot Clean on the list. You can vote once a day. Thanks so much, friends!

Whoever said money can't buy happiness clearly doesn't own a pair of Donald Pliner Shoes! Of all things, Donald came to his San Jose store. Oh my gosh, I was so excited!! I think I've mentioned his shoes in nearly all of my books, since I am slightly obsessed. They are the only heels I can wear because he's this mixture of artist and function -- and it shows in the shoes.

Just to give you a small idea of my obsession, my daughter (7) didn't know the words from Grease's You're the One that I Want, "I got chills, they're multiplying..." Elle sang, "I got shoes, they're Donald Pliners!"

So he signed my new silver Salya's!! I brought him a book, and you won't believe this, I was brave enough to give it to him. I signed it TO him in the car, so I wouldn't chicken out. Yay me! Oh and get this, I saw my muse for Ashley Stockingdale when I was at Santana Row and I said, "Are you here for Donald Pliner?" She said no, she was getting her brows done. Still, a very Ashley thing to do, but come on, it's not the Donald! So isn't he sweet? He took his picture with me and my book. Everyone in the store was dressed to the nines, I had my typical white T and jeans, but I did pair them with fabulous Donald Pliners. Shoes do make the outfit -- hopefully.



Kristin Billerbeck
www.KristinBillerbeck.com

Labels: Donald Pliner

A GOOD AGENT
A good agent is like a good spouse: always looking out for your best interests, there to balance out your weaknesses, one who cheers you on when you're down but who knows how to put her size five boots in your backside when necessary. I have an agent like that: Karen Solem. She's not for everyone because she doesn't pull her punches. But she is TIRELESS in her pursuit to work hard for me.

I had that brought home to me this week. The project she took me on for was a historical. Or as Robin Miller would say, a HYSTERICAL. LOL It had some suspense, some romance, some women's fiction things, and some true historical facts in it. It is set during the Revolutionary War, never a great period to sell in CBA, on a Maine lighthouse. But boy, did Karen try hard to place that! Back in 2000, she sent it everywhere. And everyone turned it down. So it's been sitting on her self for EIGHT, count 'em, EIGHT, years! She has a contact with a publisher who sells mass market books through CVS drugstores. Just on a whim, she sent Freedom's LIght to the editor. Who LOVED it and wanted to bring it out. We had to get permission from my publisher and I'll be using a pen name for it (because it's a bit out of my brand, being a historical,) but oh the vindication of finally selling that book! And vindication for Karen who always believed in that story. And a fresh reminder that my fabulous agent is my friend, my advocate, my butt kicker. LOL

I reread the book for corrections and was amazed to discover I still love the story after all these years. But it brought home to me that if you're a writer you can NEVER quit. Be like Churchill and determine to NEVER give in to doubt and fear. Never, never, never. It took me seven years to get my first offer on a book. I'll never forget the day I found out Barbour wanted to publish Where Leads the Heart. I screamed so loudly the cat hid under the bed and wouldn't come out for hours. For days, he flattened his ears if I came near. LOL Those seven years of holding fast to the dream were worth it. And this wait was worth it. It might not be a lot of money and few people will know it's my book, but I know. And Karen knows.

Give me a tough, tenacious woman like Karen every time. If you're looking for an agent, don't settle for just anyone who offers to represent you. Find the right agent for YOU. She/he is out there. Don't give in until you find the partner who will go to the mat for you. If you're not a writer, find a friend like that. One who is there through rain and shine, mud and snow.

Thanks, Karen. Oh that your tribe might increase!

How about you? Do you have a dream that you've been afraid to voice? Or even to think about too long? Find someone to come alongside you and encourage you. I would never have made it without my husband and kids. They're still my wonderful cheerleaders. Follow that dream. Hold it tight. See what doors God will kick open for you. But you have to take that first step.