Busy Monday

Currently Reading: Started Garrison Keillor's Leaving Home last night. A funny collections of stories around Lake Wobegon, Minnesota.


Calling Bobby Flay...

We celebrated the toddler's birthday at a favorite steakhouse in Terre Haute yesterday. Everyone's meals were fine, except for my oldest son's T-bone. He ordered it 'rare'; it arrived 'medium'. So he sent it back. And chowed down on his cheese fries. His new steak arrived; he cut into it; great! It was 'rare', just like he likes it.

But three bites in, he noticed it was very salty. His dad tried it; his grandmother tried it. Both agreed the salt content was extremely high. So we waved the server over and sent it back again.

By the time the kid finally got his steak, he had snacked on his second round of cheese fries; everyone else at the table was finished; the toddler was opening up his presents. Steak #3 arrived, with another side of cheese fries (K said each pile was bigger than the first!), but cooked correctly and not overly salty. But after three bites, the kid was full! So it came home in a doggy bag, and he ate it later that night. He's 16 and has hollow legs!

The manager was very nice and only charged my father for the one steak, and offered us free desserts, which I chose cheesecake and my mother, daughter, and toddler went with small chocolate sundaes. She seemed concerned about losing us as customers, but like we told her, we ate there back in December with no problems, and will most likely return in a few months or so.

You just never know where you're going to find potential readers...

Moral of this snippet: Always carry business cards! Why?

Mom and I had visited the facilities and we were discussing books. She loved the two I had given her last August, and I filled her in on the one I was reading (more on this in a minute). As I'm washing my hands, a woman comes out of the next stall and asks me about the book. I whipped it out of my briefcase; she looked it over and said she'd have to remember it. I promptly pulled out my business card, adding that I was also a new author, and wrote Jamie's information on the back of it. She then asked what my books were about, so I told her. My mother, who by this time has washed her hands, pipes up, "And I wish they would be required reading for every high school senior!" and starts singing my praises!

So you just never know....

Introducing Jamie Carie:)

A brand new Indiana author, Jamie Carie's first book, Snow Angel, is a fantastic story about a woman who is determined to find gold in the Yukon Territory. Her problems are numerous...unfamiliarity with the harsh climate; secrets she holds from the past; even larger issues with trust. Set in the late 1800's, this story will keep you turning the pages as you follow Noah and Elizabeth on their journey from strangers, to friends, and ultimately to love.

Snow Angel is available at www.amazon.com and her second book, The Dutchess and the Dragon, is coming in April.