Decorating for Halloween

Okay, so who has the best decorated house this Halloween? This year, it's not me. Not that we ever have the best looking house on the block - one of our neighbors had an actual pirate ship in his front yard last year! There's no way we were going to beat that, but we usually do pretty good.

I love Halloween and I usually get my fix of spooky fun and creativity this month. The kids and I pull out all the scary stuff and make the front yard look like a grave yard. hang windsocks from my trees, put out all the screaming gadgets and the ones that jump out at kids (those are great!). But this year, with a book release in September, I just didn't have time.

While on my way to a book signing a couple of weeks ago, I called my husband and asked him to help the kids get the decorations up. He did a good job, but I think he only put up half. My house doesn't very look spooky.

This year, I guess we'll be that house that just gives out lots of candy. But next year I plan to go all out. I used to have a friend in high school who would get together with her neighbors and create the best haunted house. I've always wanted to do that, and I think my kids are old enough to help now. So, I'm writing it in my planner for next year!

And by the way, this is the time of year I wish I wrote those awesome suspense books or paranormals, but I don't. Luckily, my good friend, Caridad Pineiro does and she has a new book out this week (and have to give her a shout out) called SINS OF THE FLESH. This will be my treat for Halloween. Tomorrow night, I'm going to pass out candy then indulge and begin reading it. Check it out, it's getting great reviews!

And tell me about your Halloween decorations. What do you do to your house? What can I incorporate into my haunted house next year?

Julia

Closet Space

I have this silly dream that I'll be able to organize my kids' closets and once they have a place for everything in their room, it will once and forever stay clean. I know, foolishly naive of me, but I'm a dreamer, what can I say?

So, after four weeks of being gone every weekend on fabulous book events, meeting people, drinking way more coffee than I should, this weekend I will have one day to completely transform my daughter's closet. I'm so excited. Today, we cleared all her things out and they sit in a huge pile under her loft bed.

Previously, I got an estimate on what it would cost to have someone else do the job. But the look on my husband's face quickly let me know that I'd be doing it myself. The really awesome thing is that Closet Maid has this handy dandy computer program where you plug in all the dimensions and it tells you what you can buy for that space. So, it doesn't seem that difficult to do the job myself. I guess we'll see. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

And if this closet works, I'll do my son's next. Of course if it doesn't work and I find her junk still piled all over her room, my next solution will be a trash bag.

A Day in the Sun

So, when's the worst time to get a cold for an author? If you guessed when your book has just been released and you actually need to be in front of people, you guessed right. And so this week, I've been battling this annoying cold. But, luckily it wasn't anything too horrible, just enough to make my nose red and my eyes reject even the passing thought of make-up.

But luckily it seems to be on it's way out. Yesterday, I spent a great day with my kids on boat out in Oceanside collecting ocean specimens and examining them. I'd signed up for this field trip weeks ago, and had no option but to go. I was dreading it, but aside from the hint of seasickness, it was great! My stuffy head actually cleared up and I was able to enjoy embarrassing my kids by taking pictures of them pretty much continually. And yes, I took pictures of the local wildlife. We saw sea lions, dolphins which were hard to photograph, pelicans, and many crabs, shrimp and plankton.

I'm heading out to Long Beach today to have lunch with a friend and visit a few more bookstores. Since the coastal weather agrees with me, I can't wait.

This weekend, if you live in the Los Angeles area you'll have the chance to meet some great authors and listen to fantastic panels at the Latino Book and Family festival. I always tell people that you don't have to be Latino or speak Spanish to enjoy this book fair. You just have to like reading or writing. I'll be here on Saturday for sure (maybe Sunday) to sign books and speak about writing women's fiction books. Come out and see me if you can.


Hugs!

Julia

Tuesday I participated in a radio blog interview with Grand Central. Funny, I'm not much of a phone person anymore. I used to be. I remember sitting on pay phones talking to friends for hours, because my father wouldn't allow me to use the house phone. Then there was college and chatting with boyfriends (how come guys talk so much when you date them, then stop when you get married - okay, something to ponder another time). Anyhow, these days when I get on the phone, I want to say what has to be said, and get off. I've switched to email - writing over talking - big surprise.

So, I wasn't sure how I was going to talk for an hour straight for this blog radio, but I'm always up for a challenge. I'm happy to say that it was easy. First of all this was less than an hour, and secondly it was an interview so thankfully the host, Miriam Parker made it painless for me. Having only emailed her, for me it was great to put a voice to the emails. Her questions were great and made me think.

So, if you didn't catch the interview live, you can listen to it now. Hope you enjoy!



Hugs,

Julia