kairarouda

We've had a long summer at our house. I won't bore you with the details, but we've had a string of medical issues that have made me realize the blessing of good health. Sure, I have my issues - we all do - but when a near-death experience hits close to home, it gives you pause.So this isn't a post about a new book or really anything book related. This is a post reminding you, if you are like me and forget sometimes, to cherish every day. Breathe deeply. Be thankful for the little things, and the big. Your heart. Your lungs. Your ability to read and to talk, to think and to love. These are the things we can take for granted, until we don't have them any longer. One of my son's best friends was in a catastrophic accident this spring, leaving him confined [...]

The last time I checked in via my blog, it was Mother’s Day, the first weekend of May. And now, it’s June. Wow! I’d love to share some of the wonderful things that happened in May. It was a great month, and I hope it was for you, too! May 3rd: The Goodbye Year launched. And then went into a second printing. That was fun! Thank you if you bought a copy. If you haven’t, of course it isn’t too late! And while you’re at it, enter this great summer giveaway! Kate Spade beach bag and hat, The Goodbye Year, and The Admissions, by my cover blurb friend, Meg Mitchell Moore! Good luck! May 12th: The debut of The Goodbye Year Gimlet at the Laguna Beach Books event celebrating the book! So much fun with family and friends! (We’re doing it again in Columbus, Ohio, on June 8th, [...]

New moms, grandmoms, soon to be moms, and want to be moms! No matter the season, this day is for you! Enjoy!I found this photo of my mom, standing next to me, looking into our future. So weird to think about all that is planned, all the dreams you have as a mom for your children. Looking together at what will unfold, with the only known constant being our forever connection of love. To commemorate my own current stage of momdom, I wrote a piece that appeared in Redbook magazine describing what it’s like for a newly empty nesting mom. I hope you enjoy it.What an Empty Nesting Mom Knows About Mother’s DayWhen your kids are little, Mother’s Day is celebrated with a flourish. The teachers at school orchestrate heart-felt celebrations, making sure gifts and special poems and crafts arrive home from even the tiniest [...]

It has been my experience that my best novels are rooted in the most painful real life experiences. Saying goodbye as you child heads off to college is tough, especially the first and the last child. Since I was young the way I would deal with emotions, particularly sadness, was to write about it. I was a committed daily diary writer, and even once I was an adult, one of my first bosses, noticing my chagrin over a business associate, advised me to write down my feelings. I already had that planned. Throughout my life I’ve turned to pen and paper, and then my computer to work through things. It’s what I do.So I guess it’s no surprise that when faced with my youngest son’s senior year in high school last year, I had no choice but to plow my emotional angst into my latest [...]

Today was the pub day for THE GOODBYE YEAR!! It has been a great day, filled with warm wishes from family, friends and readers; from authors and book bloggers; and at the end of the day, from an original cast member of The Real Housewives of New York! Jill Zarin posted a photo reading THE GOODBYE YEAR while sitting in a window cuddling her dog, Ginger. It was so fun to see that pop up in my feed!I hope you had a great Tuesday, too. And, if you feel like curling up on a window seat with a good read, why not follow Jill Zarin’s lead and pick up a copy of THE GOODBYE YEAR! (Here’s a link to the post!)