I have a lot to do in the next two days. A LOT!!! I leave for my vacation on Saturday morning at 4:00. Before I leave I need to do grocery shopping for the people who are taking care of my children, clean the house because my mother-in-law is coming on Friday, write notes to the kids’ teachers, do the laundry, change the sheets, set out new towels, take the girls to dance class, take my 4 year old and her friend to Chuck E. Cheese, clean the litter box, water the plants, wind the clock, make dinners, do a list mommy day at EC, go no mail on all my groups, send out thank you notes from the 4 year old’s birthday, by a birthday present for her friend’s birthday, go to Weight Watchers, go to the bank, return the library books. . .

Okay, I can’t even think about all the other things I have to do. That’s why I have lists.
I LOVE lists!
I have lists for what to pack, what to pack at the last minute, what I’m going to wear, what I need to do, what I need to buy, who I need to talk to etc. Right now on any given surface of my house there is a minimum of one list. Sometimes two.
Writing down what I need to do, and better yet, checking items off as I do them gives me a great deal of satisfaction. I feel like if I write it down I won’t forget to do it, so that takes the stress off.
Well, some of it anyway.

And, on that note, this will probably be my last blog entry until I get back from the cruise. Tomorrow is insane so I doubt I’ll get much computer time and then I’ll be sitting on a beach chair in the Caribbean sipping fruity drinks with mini-umbrellas. Hope you have fun without me, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. . . that gives you A LOT of leeway!!!!

Take care everyone!
Ari

A release day! My release day! Yayayayayayayayaya!!!!!
My book BEHIND THE ENCHANTED DOOR is out today!!!!!!

I’m a little excited, can you tell?

It’s been a YEAR since I’ve had a single release. I’ve been in two anthologies, but nothing solo since last January. This release is especially nerve wracking for me because it’s different from anything I’ve ever written before.

I had this particularly vivid dream one night about trying to get through this mysterious door that took me to a land filled with fairies, dragons, and flying horses. (Pegasi? Pegasuses?) When I woke up I knew I had to write it. So, as soon as I finished the book I was in the middle of I decided to start in on this story. The entire time I had to wait the characters clawed and scratched at my brain waiting to get out.

When I finally got the chance to write the darn book, it wouldn’t come out right. I had to scrap the first three chapters and start from scratch. It was like the characters said, “Well thank heavens, it’s about time!” and the story flew from my fingertips in no time at all.

Then the wait came. Would my editor like it? It was different from my futuristics that she’d liked. What if she didn’t like it? I was a wreck. Thank heavens for some good friends (Big shout out to Jewell and Leigh!) who talked me of the ledge of insanity. I can honestly say I was a pain in the ass.

I have so many people to thank for getting this book out, my friends, my editor Bree, my publicist Dorine who believed in me and also had to listen to me whine. Writing a book is definitely a collective effort!

Hopefully they’ll take as much joy in the release of this book as I do!!!
Ari