Better Late Than Never??

Despite the fact that the day is half gone, I wanted to drop in!!

I made my submission deadline for Sensations with a whole 24 hours to spare - that was cutting things too close, even for me! I'm thrilled with the final product and, once again, owe Kat a GIANT thank you for her insight, hand-holding, and much needed sense of humor!!

Last night I got my old lady freak on at the Motley Crew/Poison/New York Dolls show. I had a ball, but damn, having to be at work at 7am was tough.......oh yeah, that's why I arrived at the office at 9:30!

Have a glorious and safe holiday weekend everyone!

Tessie

www.tessiebradford.com

iWeb iCry

This week was a very busy week. I’m beginning to think this entire summer is going to be more of the same. I should be better organized. I’m doing a poor job of keeping up with dull but important things and I admit I’m not saying no to any of the fun stuff! If someone is kind enough to offer me the smallest distraction—I’m off!

Today I got tired of waiting for a miracle to happen, as in IT angels descending from heaven and building me a new, fresher website. I faced the fact a miracle or even a pity intervention wasn’t going to happen, and I had to do this on my own. I’m not very clever with this stuff so I really had to bite the bullet and watch the many web builder tutorials, which assured me it was all so simple…

I started rebuilding my website in another format because I hated how cumbersome and hard to change my first site was, so I started a Mac iWeb site. I got several pages built today and was eager to publish but I discovered if I wanted to add my book trailers to my site—and I do, I have to upgrade to OSX Lion, which doesn’t go on sale until July. Finding that out was a bummer because my old website is a rumbled mess that’s not presentable to polite company. I feel like I’m standing around in public half-dressed. It’s not good. I can’t add to my old website anymore and summer contests are coming up that I would love to be prepared for. Hopefully when Apple said OSX Lion goes on sale in July—they meant July 1^st.

They always say this stuff is so simple, “build a site in minutes”, I was shocked to look at the clock last night and realize how many hours had past on collecting simple things like book covers, photo searches, reviews and fussing with type fonts. Who could build a real website in minutes? Do they say these things to make people like me feel inadequate? It’s totally working.

Has anyone else out there built a website lately?

XXOO Kat

New Contract

I'm happy to announce that Loose Id offered me a contract for a book called I Wanna Sext U Up. Now I have to finish writing the book! :) So while I'm vacation for the next 12 days I'll be writing.
We'll also be taking in a Red Sox game, going to the beach one day and if all goes well a few other day trips.
Not sure if I'll be here next week, if not Happy Fourth of July!

Writing and writing...

Trying to finish a new erotic Regency romance and I am crazed to get it off for editing!
But I will send kisses to all of you who have bought LADY VARNEY'S RISQUE BUSINESS! This book is so well received by all of you and I am tickled.
Another similar one coming soon starring a lady spy and her oh, so mysterious spymaster, Monsieur Noir.
Weeks away from the shelves, this book is LADY STARLING'S STOCKINGS.
And the cover, she said with a blush, is Out of This World Yum.

I'm Still Here!

I didn't want another week to pass without posting something!!!

My self-imposed (and accepted by the publisher) deadline for submitting Sensations is a week from today - suffice it to say I'm not filled with confidence! If I didn't have a full-time day job, family, house, animals, need to sleep.........you all know exactly what I'm talking about!!!!

I'm thrilled to announce that I have another grand baby on the way!! My daughter-in-law is about eight weeks along and 'enjoying' morning sickness while keeping up with a 2 1/2 year old! I so wish they didn't live clear across the country from us!

My daughter is doing everything humanly possible to find her post college graduation career job while working two part-time jobs. She's had a number of interviews, and has been turned down both because she's "over-qualified" and because she "doesn't have enough experience"! My heart breaks for her with each rejection.

I hope to post next week, but if not, I wish everyone a very happy 4th of July holiday!!!

Tessie

http://www.tessiebradford.com/

It's a Beautiful Day!

Tuesday was the summer solstice, the longest day in the northern hemisphere, but we’re still riding its wave.

In human terms a solstice is the time to seek and accumulate energy. Think of a tree finally sending its sap to the outermost leaves and collecting the sun’s energy. This is the moment to learn something special and take-in new ideas. Think ahead and put a few key bits of information aside for this winter. If your thoughts are brewing on a new writing project or a change of plans, today is a great day to jot those ideas down so they won’t be forgotten.

A solstice is a turning or tipping point that signals the time to let go of the pervious direction and head toward a new one. Refuse to allow these exciting times to intimidate you.

On another note last Friday’s U2 concert at the Anaheim Angels Stadium was an amazing experience. I loved every minute of it, especially loved having the chance to dance with my son at his first big concert.

One of my favorite moments was an appearance on the big screen of Commander Mark Kelly from the International Space Station, introducing “Beautiful Day” and telling his wife, Gabby Giffords he loved her from space. “Beautiful Day” was Mark Kelly’s “wake-up” call on shuttle missions. It was Gabby and Mark’s song long before they were married and it means even more now. (I read) Mark hummed it to Gabby in the hospital when her situation was touch and go.

U2 is my touchstone. That’s what U2 has been for me during these many years of fandom. They’re part of my life and they’re there when you need to be lifted up.

There was a distinct paradox about being in a crowd of over 90,000 people, in the presence of this huge show and still feeling connected and intimate with the group. I got a big dose of loving energy that just slammed into me 48 hours after the concert was over. That’s how overwhelming it was. It took a couple of days to fully process it. I’m so grateful I was able to be there and add another voice to the crowd.

XXOO Kat

Life Changes

Last night I got to hold my new niece who was only 10 hours old. As I looked down into that precious face I realized how much life is a gift. For some of us it can be short, while some are lucky enough to live to a very old age. It’s important to live life to the fullest because you never know what tomorrow will bring.
With our daughter arriving in 6 short weeks I’ve been thinking a lot about how I’m going to juggle a full time job, writing and raising a newborn. I was lucky enough to stay home until my two oldest went to kindergarten. With you youngest I had to work, but my then lazy ex-husband didn’t work. He didn’t want to. Instead I worked three jobs and went to school, to support a family of five.
This time I have a great husband who will share in the raising of our daughter, but we both have demanding jobs. I worry that she won’t get the attention she needs. Yes, I have a wonderful mother in law who retired so she could take care of her two granddaughters, but I want that time with her.
So I decided that’s what I’m going to do. I’m not going to mop around. I’m going to take the bull by the horns and make my future. I’m going to focus on building a career that will allow me to have more time with our child, yet give me the income to live the lifestyle we’re used to – or should I say pay the bills! LOL
Now I have to sit down and put a game plan together! :0)