Monday, September 24, 2012

Very High Cool Beans Factor

December 2012
Pardon the corny title.  But I just wanted to share a few very cool things happening in my life right now.

First, get a load of that cover!  THREE COWBOYS is the holiday Intrigue anthology I wrote with Dana Marton and Paula Graves.  It'll actually be out November 27, even though it's a December book.  (Harlequin releases their series books every 4 weeks, so every now an then there's a month--like this November--where 2 sets of books are released at retail outlets)  Of course, it's available Nov. 1st at www.harlequin.com.  (In case you didn't know, Harlequin releases their books their first of the month PRECEDING its retail release date. So you can buy December releases in November, 2013 releases in December 2012, and so on)  But I digress...

For me, the big thumbs-up/cool beans/squeee! award goes to seeing my name on the cover of my 46th book.  Yes, the cowboys are nice.  (Okay, so I grouse a bit that none of them looks like I envisioned my hero--though they all have elements of the description I gave the art department for my hero, Virgil McCabe: black hat, white shirt, knows the ranch better than anyone, big and brawny)  Again... digressing, Julie...  But I'm humbled, thrilled and grinning with delight to see "USA TODAY Bestselling Author" in print over my name for the first time.  Makes it real.  Motivates me.  Thank you to all my readers who put me there!

But there are other cool things happening, too.

My mom (and best friend!) is visiting for a week or so.  Got to drive down to Kansas City to pick her up and drive back together. (always good research!  Let me tell you that driving narrow, twisty, tree-lined, back-country Lee's Summit Rd. at night is going to show up in a book somewhere! Scary drive, especially at night at high speed with bad guys chasing after you ;))

Directing his section at Band Camp 2012
My son's birthday is tomorrow.  We'll be driving over to his college campus to take him out for dinner and presents and a bit of spoilage.  Ruby Tuesday's chicken & broccoli pasta is his favorite, so I'm guessing that's where we'll be.  Love that guy.  I remember him toddling around the yard, plucking dandelions and giving them to me to put on the table, and thinking a roll of toilet paper was a nifty toy.  I remember learning all the names of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers, and how to assemble various Transformers.  I remember two-tone hair in middle school.  I remember bawling at the honors and awards he earned in high school. I treasure all the hugs he's given me his whole life and know that I'm truly blessed to have such a fine, funny, sensitive, talented, hard-working son. 

I have a totally cool editor, whose patience and guidance helped me learn to love a book I'd really struggled with.  I'm equally thrilled to be writing a book now that's going much easier!

So many cool things are happening in my life right now.  I'm making the effort to notice and appreciate every one of them.  I'm a lucky woman.

So... what's something cool happening in your life? Big or small, meaningful to you if no one else?  Please share the good feeling.  Or ask a question.  I like to chat. ;)  I'll give away a copy of one of my back list titles to a lucky poster.

Julie Miller

39 comments:

  1. I was out of the office Thursday afternoon and all day on Friday. I come into the office and there is this beautiful professional plaque on my desk for a project that I worked on last year to the beginning of this year. I'm a technical writer and this was a very challenging project so this award means a lot to me.

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    1. Congratulations, BW! It's so nice when your peers recognize you at work.

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  2. Good morning,Julie. We are near Deckers, Colorado, at our daughter's home. Though we are getting ready to head back to Nebraska this morning, I always hate to leave but thinking on the Nebraska grandbabies pulls me back.

    This has been an up and down year for all of us. Cancer, back surgeries, and job changes are very scary but we are praying through it all.

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    1. I think it's cool that you're such a fighter, Lilsis. What's cool about it is that you remain so hopeful and full of smiles and laughter. Your family is in our prayers, too.

      Safe travels! I'm sure you had a wonderful visit.

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  3. I will be looking anxiously forward to Three Cowboys where three of my favorite authors are all in the same place.
    Congratulations on the USA Today best selling author award. And all the other cool things happening in your life.

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    1. Thanks, Ellen! THREE COWBOYS is cool, I think--it's like a mini continuity series. 3 authors, 3 stories, good stuff!

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  4. Congrats on all the "cool happenings" in your life right now, Julie!

    As for here, let's see now ... we're expecting my sister and her husband here next week (to stay for at least one week), so that's always fabulous - especially since my BIL likes to fix things, and my list has 22 things so far (two years ago I had 13 things on my list when they got here, but he fixed 32 things instead, including re-siding my garage and back-of-house to match) ... my self-employed work was quiet for the summer (always nice) and is revving back up again now (money is nice too) ... and my house is pretty well ready for above-noted company. Not too shabby. Life is good. (You just have to focus on the good things and not the bad.)

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    1. I agree, Laney4--focus on the good things. And how cool to have a BIL who's such a handyman. That's nice that he's generous with his time and expertise to help keep things in top shape.

      Congrats on the relaxing summer with work, and the money, too,l now that things are getting busy--always nice. ;)

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  5. Raising my three grandsons, there is always something going on in my life. The latest...because of his excellent art work, my oldest grandson (8th grade) was chosen as one of the students to design a Christmas ornament for the 2012 White House Christmas tree representing Oklahoma.
    Congrats on your many successes. Love reading all three authors that worked on this book so can't wait till it comes out.

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    1. Congratulations to your grandson, Brenda! What a nice honor. I can hear your buttons busting with pride.

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  6. Hi Julie,

    I cannot wait for Three Cowboys. Love the cover and you got top billng!!! Happy Birthday to your son. What books do you have planned for 2013???

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    1. Thanks, Tammy! Yeah, the cover makes me blush. I'm proud and awestruck and humbled all at the same time.

      Let's see... I'll have 4 new books out in 2013--continuing and completing the Precinct: Task Force miniseries:

      TACTICAL ADVANTAGE-March 2013
      ASSUMED IDENTITY-June 2013
      *TASK FORCE BRIDE-Sept. 2013
      *YULETIDE PROTECTOR-Dec. 2013
      (*working title)

      Plus, I just got word that they're finally going to reissue (in ebook format only for now) my National Readers Choice Award-winning book, ACCIDENTAL BODYGUARD. That's set for the "second quarter" of 2013. I think that will make all my books except for my very first Intrigue, ONE GOOD MAN, digitized and available to readers again.

      I suppose I'll be writing new books in 2013, too, although I've got so many ideas, I'm not sure what I'll do yet.

      Thanks for asking!

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    2. Hooray - so many books to look forward to reading. And today is my Dad's birthday. I lost him to cancer in 1998, but he would have been 77 today. I still miss him.

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    3. Sorry to hear of your loss, Tammy. But it's nice to remember our dads, isn't it?

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  7. Today's my mom's 76th b-day. She never thought she'd make it this long since she's had 5 different episodes of unrelated cancers starting in her 40's. It really pays to have the recommended tests done when you're supposed to.

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    1. Happy Birthday to your mom, Anne! Sounds like you all have lots of reasons to celebrate. And that's great advice about getting things tested. I know regular physicals helped my dad get his cancers diagnosed early enough so that treatment could help.

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  8. Hey Julie! Other then talking to Jenny on the phone over the weekend it was really quiet. My daughter was gone all weekend and now she tells me she will be gone again this up-coming weekend. I did get to see an old friend that I haven't seen in 10 yrs. We talked about alot of classmates we had. Then I went to a great/ grand nephew's third bday party and had fun watching him open all his gift's that had something to do with cars! Good thing I picked out a Hot Wheels car not knowing! Can't wait for this new novel and especially since it features cowboy's!

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    1. Those kids get busier and busier as they grow up, don't they? That's cool to reconnect with an old friend, too. I bet you two had lots to catch up on.

      Hope you enjoy the cowboys, too!

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  9. Hi Julie. Love the cover for Three Cowboys, can't wait for it to be released. I'm just waiting for the holidays to come around. They seem so much closer now since autumn is already here.

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    1. I know. This year seems to be zipping by awfully fast for me, too, Yazmin. Here in Nebraska we had such a beastly hot and dry summer. Now we're having mild weather (though still dry). It's like we went to bed one day in summer, and woke up the next and it was autumn. Fast!

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  10. Love the cover Julie! Congrats on your 46th book and for everything else! :) It will be nephew #1's b-day this week... party time! Can not wait to see him open his presents!

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  11. Thanks, Colleen! Happy Birthday to your nephew! They're so cute at that age. Have fun!

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  12. First I'm excited to read this book. 3 of my fave authors in one bundle. There is no way to be disappointed. Second, things are good in my life right now. I had two agents accept a full proposal on one of my YA non-fiction books. Now, we all now that doesn't mean they will jump to bite the hook, but it's nibbles that keep writings going strong.

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    1. Congratulations, Teresa! That's exciting news about the agents wanting to see the proposal! And you are so right. Writing is such a tough business--so competitive, so many ups and downs, so many emotional highs and lows. I agree with your philosophy of celebrating all those good things that happen along the way. Best of luck!

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  13. Last week I got a new puppy. She is so adorable, and already 2 months old. My sister got her for me as a replacement for one of my dogs who died recently. I love the cover.

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    1. I love puppies, AviJ! Hugs on losing your other pet. But it's an exciting time to get a new member of the family. What kind of dog is it?

      And thanks for the cover kudos!

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    2. She is a German shepherd puppy and cute as can be .

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  14. Happy to hear about your good news. Happy birthday to your son! I finished cleaning the house.

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    1. That's always a good feeling, isn't it? Personally, I hate doing it, but I love having it done. Very cool.

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  15. Congrats on the lovely cover, Julie and Happy Birthday to your son. I've been doing a little online shopping and am enjoying the sales.

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    1. Yes, it's a great time to catch all the end of one season/back-to-school/pre-season sales, isn't it? Love a bargain!

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  16. Loves 2 Read Romance - LauraSeptember 24, 2012 at 8:30 PM

    Happy Birthday to everyone who has a birthday coming up. I saw a few mentioned. The biggest thing in my life right now is that my brother's wedding is less than a month away. October 12th will be here before we know it. I will have to pick up a copy of Three Cowboys! Congrats on making the best seller list! I can't wait until the next task force series.

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    1. Thanks, Laura! Yes, October 12th will be here before you know it. Hope you have a wonderful time and everything goes smoothly for the wedding. Enjoy!

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  17. Life is humming along nicely for us at the moment. That's a pretty big achievement.

    THREE COWBOYS - yes please!!

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    1. "Humming along nicely" is a good thing, I think, marybelle. ;) Enjoy it!

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  18. I guess you could say the coolest thing going on in my life right now is that my granddaughter might get out of the hospital today. She has been in there a week and the poor thing wants to come home. She's 3 by the way. Otherwise, I'm trying to get over a lung thing and there's not much else going on. Oh, on a bright note, my sister just bought an old historic looking house and she can't wait to move in.

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  19. I'm sorry to hear your granddaughter is in the hospital, Linda--but that's terrific news that she's getting out soon. Hope everything is okay. Hope you feel better, too. "Lung thing"s can be quite serious, so make sure you're taking care of it. And cool about the house--I'd love to take a house with historic character and fix it up--modern conveniences, but still keep the history of it, which makes it unique.

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  20. And the winner is... BW!

    Congratulations, BW. Normally, my dog Maggie picks out the winners, but in honor of my mom's visit, I asked her to pull the winner's name out of the hat. (But rest assured, Maggie was supervising!) Please send me an email with your snail mail address, and the title of the book from my backlist you'd like to receive (there's a complete list of all my titles a www.juliemiller.org). Then I'll get the book in the mail to you ASAP.

    If you can't reach me here, you can always contact me through my website.

    Thanks to everyone for stopping by!

    Best,
    Julie Miller

    P.S. Brenda Rumsey--send me an email, too. I see you were a winner from a previous blog of mine, but w/o a mailing address, I can't send the book.

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  21. Thank you so much!!! I sent you my info.

    Lori

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