When I was a kid my dad made sure we had the fastest boat on the lake. Dad loved boats. He built boats before he became a masonry contractor and he owned a boat until the day he died. One of the last trips my dad and I took after he had to go into a nursing home with Alzheimers was to a lake to boat.
I inherited my dad's love of boats and quite frankly, it's a curse.
But how could I have avoided it given that I was named after his father's best friend, a boat builder and grew up in boats from old aluminum fishing boats to fancy jet boats. My earliest memories are in boats. I still recall fondly falling asleep to the gentle rock and the lap of water when I was small enough to sleep sideways in the bottom my dad's an old aluminum fishing boat.
When I was really little, Dad tied me to a milk jug so if I fell over they could retrieve me -- which they once had to do. I grew up on a lake and as a teenager spent many hours in a boat or being dragged behind one.
So is it any wonder I'm cursed? I see a big fast boat and I itch to get behind the wheel. One of my dreams is to take out a cigarette boat and see how fast it will go.
But this weekend I spent all day on a pontoon boat with my husband, my step-daughter, son-in-law and our four grandchildren. The boat didn't go fast. It moved like a barge. It couldn't even plane. But I'm sold. I want a pontoon boat.
All of us were able to be aboard, including the youngest who is not even a year old yet. The canopy provided shade and yet there were plenty of seats for those who wanted the sun. We could walk around easily without rocking the boat and of course we had to jump off and swim when it got nice and hot out.
It was the perfect day -- and the perfect boat for grandchildren. Our two Springer Spaniels would like it, too, if they got to come along, which they would sans the babies.
I remember our neighbors on Hebgen had a Flote boat. As a teenager we made fun of it. Pontoon boats were for old people. Funny, how now I remember the "old" people sitting around under the canopy laughing with a cold drink in their hands as we zoomed past them.
Well...I'm ready for mine. Not that we will get rid of the motorboat. I still like to race across the water and feel my hair blow back -- even if it isn't as fast as half the boats I grew up in.
I can make a good argument for another boat and it isn't just my love of boats or my need to be out on the water summer mornings. I need this boat so I can write.
Seriously, I've found it really helps my writing. Last summer I got way ahead on my deadlines. And that's not all. You'd probably be a better judge of this than me, but some readers have told me that I'm finally hitting my stride evidenced by my last three books making Borders top ten bestseller list. More proof: I wrote those last summer after spending the mornings on the lake. Clearly it is of upmost importance that I spend as many mornings as possible on water.
And I could write on a pontoon boat. :)
Heck, now it is just a matter of convincing my accountant that a pontoon boat is a writing deduction.
If my dad was still alive I know what he'd say. He'd tell me to buy myself a brand new one today and not worry about how to pay for it. That's what he would have done. Dad understood the importance of boats till his dying day. That and credit. :)
While I live enough like my dad that it's scary, I'm afraid I'm going to have to look around for a used pontoon boat. Sorry Dad, but don't worry, I'll be on the water one way or another. After all, thanks to you, it's in my genes.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Some people you will always miss
I just got the heartbreaking news. My favorite fan died.
Uncle Norb read all my books. If he couldn’t find them on the shelves, he ordered them. He loved books. He read all the time and loved talking about books.
He was my kind of guy.
He wasn’t always my uncle. I got him when I married my husband some 13 years ago. He always called me B.J. and he always wanted to know if I was writing another book and when it would be out. He was my biggest fan.
He was almost 90 when he passed away. I know he was in pain and ready to go but still it is awful to think I will never see him again.
Two years ago in Florida he said I probably wouldn’t see him again. But I did this past March. He was skin and bones but his mind was still sharp. We talked about the latest books he’d been reading. I thanked him for hanging in until I got to see him again. I think we both knew it would be the last time.
I’m going to miss Uncle Norb. I’m going to miss talking about books. I’m going to miss his enthusiasm, his encouragement, his love of reading.
He was a good man with a big heart and I’m glad I got to know him – even for such a short time.
Uncle Norb read all my books. If he couldn’t find them on the shelves, he ordered them. He loved books. He read all the time and loved talking about books.
He was my kind of guy.
He wasn’t always my uncle. I got him when I married my husband some 13 years ago. He always called me B.J. and he always wanted to know if I was writing another book and when it would be out. He was my biggest fan.
He was almost 90 when he passed away. I know he was in pain and ready to go but still it is awful to think I will never see him again.
Two years ago in Florida he said I probably wouldn’t see him again. But I did this past March. He was skin and bones but his mind was still sharp. We talked about the latest books he’d been reading. I thanked him for hanging in until I got to see him again. I think we both knew it would be the last time.
I’m going to miss Uncle Norb. I’m going to miss talking about books. I’m going to miss his enthusiasm, his encouragement, his love of reading.
He was a good man with a big heart and I’m glad I got to know him – even for such a short time.
Monday, June 15, 2009
I'm a dreamer, but I never dreamed this
I grew up daydreaming.
Because of that I was never alone. An only child until I was six, I had every kind of pretend playmate -- including the kind that chased you back to the house. Or waited for you in the dark.
When we lived at our cabin near Lava Lake in the Gallatin Canyon, we had to make the trip to the outhouse at all hours. For a kid, it was pretty far -- especially at night. I would race out there, throw open the door, check to make sure no one was inside waiting for me, then quickly jump in and lock the door. The return trip was worse because you knew that they knew you were in there.
My parents probably thought I was afraid of bears. I feared something much scarier -- my own imagination.
I always imagined writing stories someday and having someone publish one -- though I had no idea how it worked and there was no one to ask.
But that's as far as my daydream went. I never equated the publishing part with someone giving me money for a story. I just wanted to see it in print and for another person to read it.
So when it finally happened and I got published, I was blown away. It was amazing. Someone had read my story and Woman's World magazine was going to publish it. I believe their circulation at the time was 1.3 million. I figured out that if even one-third of the readers read my story that would be...unbelievable. Not only that, they paid me $1,000 for my short story. I couldn't have been happier. It was way beyond my expectations.
Then I sold my first book to Harlequin Intrigue. It got a 4 1/2 star review (out of 4 1/2 stars), something else I hadn't expected because I hadn't even thought about reviews. Then I found out about conferences and met other writers who became good friends. Then there were the fans who wrote me wonderful letters, some of those fans from my first book still keeping in touch as book #44 hit the shelves last week. And then there were awards and now the first three books of my Whitehorse: The Corbetts have made Walden-Borders top ten bestseller list for series.
It's small potatoes in the big scheme of things. But it's more than I ever dreamed. I feel so blessed. I have met such wonderful people along the way, learned more than I ever wanted to :) and had so much fun doing what I love.
My book Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch was chosen to represent the Intrigue line this year to celebrate Harlequin's 60th anniversary. The book is being offered in ebook free at www.harlequincelebrates.com
I understand the printed version may also be given away during the Romance Writers of America conference held in Washington, DC in July 15-18. More on that later. (I will be at the Wednesday evening book signing, signing Whitehorse books, sorry these won't be free, but if you're in the neighborhood, drop by and say hello.)
I'm still amazed as I was when I sold my first short story. As I finish up my 47th book, sometimes I have to pinch myself it feels so much like a dream.
Except it's so much better than I ever dreamed and I feel like it's just beginning. :)
Because of that I was never alone. An only child until I was six, I had every kind of pretend playmate -- including the kind that chased you back to the house. Or waited for you in the dark.
When we lived at our cabin near Lava Lake in the Gallatin Canyon, we had to make the trip to the outhouse at all hours. For a kid, it was pretty far -- especially at night. I would race out there, throw open the door, check to make sure no one was inside waiting for me, then quickly jump in and lock the door. The return trip was worse because you knew that they knew you were in there.
My parents probably thought I was afraid of bears. I feared something much scarier -- my own imagination.
I always imagined writing stories someday and having someone publish one -- though I had no idea how it worked and there was no one to ask.
But that's as far as my daydream went. I never equated the publishing part with someone giving me money for a story. I just wanted to see it in print and for another person to read it.
So when it finally happened and I got published, I was blown away. It was amazing. Someone had read my story and Woman's World magazine was going to publish it. I believe their circulation at the time was 1.3 million. I figured out that if even one-third of the readers read my story that would be...unbelievable. Not only that, they paid me $1,000 for my short story. I couldn't have been happier. It was way beyond my expectations.
Then I sold my first book to Harlequin Intrigue. It got a 4 1/2 star review (out of 4 1/2 stars), something else I hadn't expected because I hadn't even thought about reviews. Then I found out about conferences and met other writers who became good friends. Then there were the fans who wrote me wonderful letters, some of those fans from my first book still keeping in touch as book #44 hit the shelves last week. And then there were awards and now the first three books of my Whitehorse: The Corbetts have made Walden-Borders top ten bestseller list for series.
It's small potatoes in the big scheme of things. But it's more than I ever dreamed. I feel so blessed. I have met such wonderful people along the way, learned more than I ever wanted to :) and had so much fun doing what I love.
My book Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch was chosen to represent the Intrigue line this year to celebrate Harlequin's 60th anniversary. The book is being offered in ebook free at www.harlequincelebrates.com
I understand the printed version may also be given away during the Romance Writers of America conference held in Washington, DC in July 15-18. More on that later. (I will be at the Wednesday evening book signing, signing Whitehorse books, sorry these won't be free, but if you're in the neighborhood, drop by and say hello.)
I'm still amazed as I was when I sold my first short story. As I finish up my 47th book, sometimes I have to pinch myself it feels so much like a dream.
Except it's so much better than I ever dreamed and I feel like it's just beginning. :)
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
The most asked question by readers
I get quite a lot of mail from my readers and the question I get asked the most is: where can I get the books I missed.
The good news is that there are copies out there. Most of them are used since the line usually sells out and is like bananas: they're only on the shelves for a week or so.
The place to start is eHarlequin.com If you haven't been there, stop by. Intrigue now has its own blog where Intrigue authors will be discussing all kinds of things and you can talk with other Intrigue readers.
eHarlequin discounts its books so that is the best deal in town for recently released books. Often times they have a deal going on as well. Like my latest in the Whitehorse series: The Corbetts. Those are being offers at a special rate, so check that out.
Otherwise, try Amazon.com There is always used books there, if not new ones of the series.
You can order the books, Amazon handles everything, but they will come from a variety of different used book suppliers. They usually come quickly and are discounted. I noticed though that the harder to find ones cost more.
To download a list of all my books and the different series I have out, go to my web site at www.bjdaniels.com
I hope that helps. I greatly appreciate that many of you are looking for my previously published books. I'm sorry I can't keep enough copies to supply them to each and every one of you.
The Whitehorse series continues this month with BIG SKY DYNASTY out this week. It's one of my favorite books so check it out. The series hasn't been staying on the shelves long, which I am also thankful for. :)
Hope your summer is starting off well. It's beautiful here today in Montana! Now back to work...
The good news is that there are copies out there. Most of them are used since the line usually sells out and is like bananas: they're only on the shelves for a week or so.
The place to start is eHarlequin.com If you haven't been there, stop by. Intrigue now has its own blog where Intrigue authors will be discussing all kinds of things and you can talk with other Intrigue readers.
eHarlequin discounts its books so that is the best deal in town for recently released books. Often times they have a deal going on as well. Like my latest in the Whitehorse series: The Corbetts. Those are being offers at a special rate, so check that out.
Otherwise, try Amazon.com There is always used books there, if not new ones of the series.
You can order the books, Amazon handles everything, but they will come from a variety of different used book suppliers. They usually come quickly and are discounted. I noticed though that the harder to find ones cost more.
To download a list of all my books and the different series I have out, go to my web site at www.bjdaniels.com
I hope that helps. I greatly appreciate that many of you are looking for my previously published books. I'm sorry I can't keep enough copies to supply them to each and every one of you.
The Whitehorse series continues this month with BIG SKY DYNASTY out this week. It's one of my favorite books so check it out. The series hasn't been staying on the shelves long, which I am also thankful for. :)
Hope your summer is starting off well. It's beautiful here today in Montana! Now back to work...
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