I have the lovely
Sun Chara
on my blog today, talking about her love of stationery..., particularly
her love of the glittery notecard! Take it away Sun...

Living in the Hollywood area might explain it, but I love a touch of glitter...that lovely sparkle on most everything; from the shimmer on a T-shirt design, to the shine on eyeshadow, to the sheen on a cheekbone with a dab of blusher...to sparkly stationary.

"Stay--what?" a teen might belt out, "What's that?"

Stationary is a word rarely used these days, since the most popular mode of communication is digital: iphones, ipads, email, online chats, Skype, facetime...24/7/365. I smile, because it is so evident that the digital future is upon us, and as much as this electronic phenomenon has overtaken the teen age, it has also swept the globe for all ages: from grandma with her iphone, to the toddler with her "Kitty" ipad, to the corporate mogul juggling 2-3 digital devices as he dashes to his car.

But oh! So lovely to see that digital stationary has a touch of glitter, a bit o' shine! The amazing techie geniuses have given us fun digital stationary to create our own unique style when corresponding with family, friends, colleagues...everyone. From using emoticons, to emails, to facebook posts, to tweets, websites, to e-cards. Oooh! Especially at this time of year, Christmas and New Year cards are sooo glittery and with even a jingle or two! Really love getting one of these greeting ecards! But sssshh! I'm still learning how to return the e-greeting!

As much as I enjoy the speed and simplicity of digital there is something so special about receiving a greeting card in an envelope with a real postage stamp. So now I'm thinking where can I get a visual sample of this glitter stationary to include with this article...

The other day I happened to be working at the Disney Studios on the TV series, Neighbors, and during lunch break, I walked around the lot and bumped into the Disney store. Well, I had to go in...and it was enchanting! I turn an aisle and Oh! There they are! Glittery note-cards! Perfect!

I took out my phone, snapped several photos, turned to go and oh my! Was that Mickey Mouse winking at me?!

The very talented Sun has two books out (one of them is available for pre-order). Check out the book details:

Available for
pre-order:
Amazon US

Amazon UK

And you can also see a booktrailer for her first book on You Tube: here

Or visit her FB authorpage

So last week I said that I had some other news coming...but that I had to wait until it was formally announced...

Well, for those of you who didn't hear me screaming with excitement on my Facebook Page...
 
I can reveal that I have signed a three book publishing deal with HarperCollins HarperImpulse!!!!

It's hard to put into words (which, for an author is a bit strange, I know) how I felt when I received the call offering me the contract. I think fantasmagorical just about sums it up!!!

To add to the excitement I got to attend their autumn fete at the amazing HarperCollins building and meet the wonderful staff and some of their fabulous authors, which made it all seem properly real--and look, Hunter-Gatherer bought me the most gorgeous bouquet of autumn flowers to congratulate me.

So now it's winter and the news keeps getting better because my first book comes out with them in January--January, folks! That's, like, only weeks away! And do you know what's also rather great? You'll be able to download the first chapter of my book in a FREE sampler that the brilliant peeps at HarperImpulse have put together. Simply click on the cover for the link.

Cover real and blurb for my book will be coming in the next few weeks. Look out for the details here and on my books page :)

So, I've been a very busy little bee the last few months, which has definitely kept my out of trouble, but it occurs to me that I haven't posted for a while about what I've been up to.

The first piece of news is that I've signed another contract with:

for my next book with Entangled imprint:

To be published in 2014. Yay! And even more yay because the book is going to be part of a continuity that I've set up with two other fabulous authors. Squee!

The series features a fantastic cast of heroes and heroines who work for a company that specialises in providing state of the art security products. The first book in the continuity will be set during The Great Exhibition of London in 1851 and the second and third books will be set in present day and centre on a mystery that ties all three books together. Mine will be the second book in the trilogy.

The plotting for this continuity has been tremendous fun and I cannot wait to start writing about my deliciously alpha-geek inventor hero and his reformed bad-girl personal assistant! Watch the website for a dedicated page to the continuity next year.

The SECOND piece of news...I can't actually reveal until after it is formally announced next week!!!! I know - what a tease!!! But I'm super excited about it and can't wait to share the news with all of you. Don't forget to pop back next week to read all the details.