Spring and another good book
Spring is definitely on its way. It should be, it's the month of April already. My kids are so ready to get outside for some fresh air - and skateboarding, baseball and picking beautiful flowers. Today's forecast - sunny and 50. No doubt my youngest son will be out in shorts and a tee today. That's still a wee bit too cold for me but soon, yes soon, I'll be unpacking summer clothes and putting away the long underwear and winter boots until next October.
I started reading a new book this weekend - yes, another Jodi Picoult novel. It's her latest release Change of Heart. I'm not that far along yet, maybe page 50, but so far, I'm hooked. Check out Jodi's news at http://www.jodipicoult.com. She is one incredible woman, mom and writer.
Our spring issue of Mom Writer's Literary Magazine is out featuring Publisher Nancy Cleary - awesome issue. I learned some wonderful news the other day for MWLM. Our MWLM site was chosen for the third year in a row as one of the 101 Best Sites for Writers by Writer's Digest Magazine. Yippee! Thanks to everyone who voted for us - we appreciate your support for mom writers :)
Oh, check out this great site http://www.birthonlaborday.com/home.html. The founder of BOLD, Karen Brody (BirthOnLaborDay) and Playwright of Birth is an amazing woman. Lots of great things happening there...
OK, time for this mama to scoot. Have a super week and enjoy the sunshine!
~ Paula
Bloggers Choice Awards
So have you heard of the Bloggers Choice Awards? I just recently heard about this great site http://www.bloggerchoiceawards.com as two of my blogs, MWLM blog and What Did You Do All Day? blog were both nominated in four categories each. Fun! They offer tons of cool categories for bloggers - even an animal blog. Check it out and if you are a blogger, all you need to do is register (takes a minute) and you can vote to your hearts content - and maybe YOUR blog will even get nominated :) I have a few favorite blogs I enjoy perusing when time allows. How about this mama blog - BECAUSE I SAID SO! Ouch. Now this is a mom you'd better listen too. And this one - Wiping Up Snot Love that title. How about this one - Dooce OK. And finally... Don't Get Me Started which is written by my pal Linda Sharp. There are endless other great blogs I have bookmarked. So many great blogs, so little time!
I was reminiscing the other day, looking through old family pics and came across our family Thanksgiving pic from 2006. Here's my gang last turkey day. Note the big smiles as we are about to STUFF!
Count down to Turkey Day 2007 - 9 DAYS! :)
Have a good one,
~ Paula
Pirates and the Today Show
Well that third and final Pirates movie was quite interesting...and LONG. (However Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom are easy on the eyes :)). I took the boys to see the Pirates movie the other day and throughout the entire show I was trying to figure out what the hell was going on - as were the boys. It was confusing as we had heard from many others, however, we were happy that Elizabeth ended up with Will and that Jack Sparrow was alive and well. Overall, we enjoyed it along with the popcorn. Disney has done it again.
Again for those who have asked, here is a link to the Today Show. It was great fun and I have heard from many friends and family on how they enjoyed it - thanks again to the NBC producers and camera crew who were such fun to work with - you're the best!
http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=3aada3ce-2355-4ac1-a7cd-04a819e673d0&f=05&fg=rss
Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Watch for the launch of Mom Writer's Lit Mag out Monday, June 25th with the one and only Janet Evanovich!
~Paula :)
Today Show excitement and Rock Star Momma
So I'm reading another outstanding novel by Jodi Picoult entitled Second Glance. It's one of her earlier books with ghosts and ghost hunters in the Vermont Green Mountains. :) Really good book, again. Thanks Jodi!
I'm so excited...as you may know my magazine Mom Writer's Lit Mag has gone to print and it launches on the 25th of June! Two of my local papers will be announcing the good news next week Monday and Thursday - check out The Burlington Free Press and The Herald with the big news!
Well I was suprised to get an email the other day from Skye Hoppus's publicity agent. Skye is married to Mark Hoppus, formerly with the band Blink 182, now +44. She wants to be interviewed - woo hoo!! How cool is that I ask you?! Her new book Rock Star Momma: The Hip Guide to Looking Gorgeous Through All Nine Months and Beyond (Atria) sounds so awesome-I can't wait to read the copy they are sending me. My guys LOVE +44 (and they also loved Blink 182). Can't wait to chat with Skye - you won't want to miss it :)
About the NBC Today Show thrill...How Fun!!! One of the Today Show producers and a camera crew came to my home in Vermont for the day on Wednesday the 13th and we had a great time! The segment is on "puntually challenged moms" (ME) and it is to air next week Thursday the 21st! The author of Never Be Late Again, 7 Cures for the Punctually Challenged, Diana DeLonzor, will be talking about how to improve the lives of the punctually challenged (can't wait to read this book too!). So if you are a late mama, this is the book for you :)
Time for this mom to hit the sack-jack. That's all for now. Have a jazzy weekend!
Ciao,
~Paula
I'm back...
and what a wonderful time I had!!! I love visiting NYC! I have to mention that on Wednesday I chatted with Jodi Picoult and we had our picture taken together...what an awesome mom writer and person :)
I also got to meet Christina Katz, mom author of "Writer Mama" which is an excellent book to check out this summer. There were endless literary agents and editors that I was thrilled to meet and talk with AND Mom Writer's Literary Magazine was a huge hit! I brought along hundreds of our premier issues (June) and they were gone by 10:30am and the organizer for the conerence asked me if I had brought more :)
What are you reading lately? Anything good and juicy?! I just finished (during my trip) Alice Hoffman's new novel Skylight Confessions. Really good book. I enjoy her writing style so check this one out.
So now that I am back from the city it is back to work. Fun, fun! Summer is just around the corner...
Enjoy!
~Paula
My magazine proof arrived from the printer...
and it is awesome!!! I am so excited, and proud! Mom Writer's Literary Magazine is IN my hands today in print! You are all going to love it - honestly :) The 6,000 copies will be going out in June so order your subscription today! Janet Evanovich looks lovely on the cover :)
So, my son, Tony, at UMASS has one week left to go (finals week - yikes!). I have been thinking about him the past few days at 2 in the morning when I can't sleep - that is my worry time - 2am, 3am and sometimes even 5am. I don't just worry about Tony. I have 5 kids remember? It is constant, take your pick on what kid I am worrying about on what night. Anyways, good luck Tony with your finals - your mom is thinking about you :)
Well last week I mentioned the middle school spring concert and the Battle of the Bands for Phillip and Joseph right? I am one proud mama. Joseph did awesome in the spring concert (and he was sicker than a dog that night with some tummy thing). He was rockin' the crowd for sure. Then long story on the Battle of the Bands night - let's just say we all know who the real 1st place winners were :) My guys band came in 2nd place and that is only because the 4th grader who was one of the members of the other little kids band had both his parents as judges - GO FIGURE. Here is a pic from Battle of the Bands evening - Rock on boys! They were SO good!
Oh, and this I've just got to show off - here is my son Nick and his friend Jen (she's a doll) :)
Now if I could only get a pic of Tony with someone...:)
Until next week - enjoy!
~Paula
Spring has sprung
That's right. Finally spring shows it's face here in Central Vermont and it's about damn time. It's sunny and 60 degrees today - beautiful. So why am I sitting here, inside, at my desk? I'm thinking about moving my laptop out on the front porch and get cozy in my rocking chair with my yellow lab at my feet and a fresh squeezed lemonade....sound good? Oh yea, cancel that. I just looked at the clock and remembered I need to pick up one of my sons in an hour for a doctor appointment and I have piles of laundry that need to be folded before that. Such is life.
So, I have lots going down. The magazine is coming along great - getting closer to sending it off to the printer (in about 2 weeks)! One would never even imagine how much work goes into putting together and launching a print magazine. I thought the online mag was a lot of work and time - it doesn't even come close to the work and time involved in getting out a print issue. BUT, I LOVE it! The launch date is June 25th, however, my printer will have them ready one month ahead for the premier issue as I will be in NYC the end of May at the Writer's Digest Conference with MWLM on display and complimentary copies for all guests...I know, I know, so cool! Then there is BEA the following few days - so much going on. We are also planning MWLM launch party! At this time plans are set for Boston at the end of June but I will announce more when the plans are finalized. This is a party you DON"T want to miss.
Anybody reading a GOOD book these days? I read The Mother-Daughter Project which was excellent. I highly recommend this book to mothers of daughters and to older daughters. Great info. I just started reading Writing Motherhood by Lisa Garrigues who is in the hot seat at the moment and so far so good Lisa. Then I am looking SO forward to reading Jacquelyn Mitchard's upcoming novel STILL SUMMER. Jackie sent me the ARC (advanced reading copy) last week and along with it was this teeny tiny message in a bottle with shells and sand inside - so cool, I love it! (Oh, it kinda goes along with the fiction story) :)
Better run - the laundry and foot doctor are calling...
Ciao, Paula
Has it been two weeks?!
NO, this is not me responding to the hubby last night...
It's been two weeks, I just realized, since my last post! Well, here I am tired as hell, but I'm here. I've been a tad BUSY. Between all five kids winter breaks (staggered of course) and with WORK! I would kill to get five straight hours of shut eye (with BOTH eyes shut).
I do have exciting, BIG news that I'm just all bubbly about (but not supposed to say anything about just yet)...OK, it has to do with my online magazine for mom writers and authors. WE ARE GOING TO PRINT!!! Oh, did I say that? Oh well, hell yes, I said it! Here's the scoop.
MY online literary magazine for mom writers and authors (Mom Writer's Literary magazine) two year anniversary is coming up this summer in June. Our print issue will be launching on June 25th so please check out www.momwriterslitmag.com starting with our online spring launch (March 26th) to pre-order your subscription (and get a 25% savings!), or check out Amazon.com soon or your local Independent bookstores :) If you enjoy creative writing that's intelligent, complex, penetrating and raw - and sometimes a bit humorous, then MWLM is the mom magazine for you...or your bestest friend, your mother, your sister and so on and so on...
OH, and one more thing -- our summer cover story is the one and only...Janet Evanovich :) You DON'T want to miss this! And our author profiles...let's just say that the BITCHES are in the house!
I'll be in NYC the very end of May, early June with more news to come on the magazine so stay tuned...
Wanna hear what I'm reading? I just bought Jodi Picoult's latest novel - Nineteen Minutes Though this story will rip you apart inside and leave you feeling for all the characters involved, Nineteen Minutes is a brilliantly told thriller, compelling and a winner for Picoult, once again - Thanks Jodi :)
Gotta run for now ~ be good!
Chow Mamas, Paula
Good news and sad news
For the sad news first...
My son who is in high school and his girlfriend have broken up! I am devastated. I know this may seem crazy, but I am so sad and feel for both of these kids. I know I am just "a mom" and I should not get involved or have feelings (as the kids think), but I am TERRIBLY sad :( They were such a cute couple and she was so sweet and good for Phillip. I want to send her a card or sneak her a phone call but I know that is NOT this moms place to do something that far out, but Ohhhhhhh, I do hurt for them.
OK, get a grip Paula.
For some happier news...I recently was approached by Real Savvy Mom and I have signed a contract to be a part of their team as a MOM BLOGGER - how cool is that?!!! Watch for me and my Mom to Mom Blog coming soon :)
And...I can now get down my friggin' driveway! (which is like a mile long) After our BIG snow last Wednesday we could not go anywhere because our plow guy's plow was broken and we had no back up - of course. So, we found another plow guy and we are in business! It feels SO good to get out. YES.
Oh, I just have to show this - here is my son Phiilip's basketball team pic for this year. He is the handsome one next to the coach #12 - Congrats St J's!
Until we meet again!
Chow, Paula
Mom Writer's Talk Radio Blog Tour
Bye-Bye Boardroom: Confessions From A New Breed Of Stay At Home Moms
By Rachel Hamman
Capital Books, 2006; $16.95
THE AUTHOR
Rachel Hamman is not your ordinary soccer mom. She has been named one of the Most Remarkable Women by Barbara Walter’s ABC show, "The View." Rachel has been featured in Glamour Magazine for her philanthropic advances and has also been recognized for her ongoing community endeavors by being tapped as one of the "Eckerd 100 Outstanding National Volunteers."
It is Rachel’s current position, however, that is her most challenging and provides her with the bulk of her material. She is a happily married stay-at-home mom with two, beautiful children. Her dreams for the future are to keep others around her laughing and to have her children grow into motivated, competent adults who require as little therapy as possible.
THE BOOK
Bye-Bye Boardroom, written in diary format, provides insights into the hearts and minds of almost 30 women who left the comfort of corner offices for the chaotic and most challenging positions of their lives–-becoming full-time, stay-at-home moms.
Bye-Bye Boardroom enables women considering leaving a career to be full-time mothers to catch a glimpse of what is in store for them and how to cope with the change. Women who already are stay-at-home moms (whether full or part time) will be entertained by the tales of other women like themselves and realize that they are not alone in this journey.
Bye-Bye Boardroom features personal stories from 28 women from 14 states and the Republic of Germany.
Praise for Bye Bye Boardroom
"If you plan to exchange your attaché case for a diaper bag, this book will
help get you there. “Bye- Bye Boardroom; Confessions Of A New Breed Of Stay –
At- Home Mom” shows women how they can lead fulfilling lives as they raise their brood. The book represents what thousands of well-educated, ambitious women have experienced once they replaced million dollar mergers with muppetry and Gerber. You will laugh, you will cry, and we'll be there when you do."
Christine Louise Hohlbaum
MWTR Blog Tour with author...Jean Hanff Korelitz
I am SO happy and excited to be a part of the Mom Writer's Talk Radio Blog Tour. MWTR is the weekly radio show I host with Alana Morales.
This tour stop features author Jean Hanff Korelitz. Her book is now available in trade paperback entitled, The White Rose (A Miramax Books Trade Paperback; January 2006; $13.95). It is a sophisticated, intelligent, and immensely appealing romantic comedy: a novel that proves Korelitz to be a writer with a keen understanding of modern mores and manners, a tender approach to love - and great comic timing.
About the book:
THE WHITE ROSE is set in Manhattan, where Marian Kahn has a full and comfortable life. At 48, she is long married and living on park Avenue, and a tenured professor of history at Columbia, not to mention a very successful author (with boxes of reader fan mail to prove it). Yet she risks everything when she falls passionately in love with Oliver, the 20-something son of her oldest friend and the owner of a chic flower shop in the Village - The White Rose. Their affair is crazy and Marian knows it, but she can't seem to find her way out of it, and she isn't sure she wants to.
Enter Barton, Marian's snobbish cousin, and Sophie, an heiress and a student in Marian's department, whom he is engaged to marry. It's a truly unlikely match and one that Sophie begins to question when she meets Oliver, who personally delivers flowers to her door (ordered by Barton). As the relationships between these four become increasingly entangled, the effects are both comic and tender, and the lesson - that love is seldom straightforward, but always a gift - is applicable to all.
Ever since she first saw Richard Strauss's opera, Der Rosenkavalier, Korelitz has ruminated on its themes of love and the passage of time, themes which, she admits, only resonate more as she ages. With THE WHITE ROSE she has cleaverly carried the opera's preoccupations forward to a modern day setting, and produced a provacative, gratifying and entertaining novel for our times.
About the author:
Jean Hanff Korelitz is a novelist who lives in Princeton, N.J., with her husband, the Pulitzer-Prize winning poet Paul Muldoon, and their children.
