It's fun to compile Pinterest boards for each of my books, but I had to exercise some SERIOUS self-restraint when picking photos for the RETREAT TO LOVE board. 

I'm so madly in love with quilt art, and would fill the entire board with it, but I am trying to highlight a couple of other things about the book, as well. Also I want to ensure accreditation - everything I've pinned was linked through the International Quilt Association, which brings the Quilt Show to Houston (where I live) every fall, and it's the best time of the year. The work on display there is simply stunning. 

(I personally am not a very deft quilter, much less a fabric artist, so writing Ashlyn was some very serious wish fulfillment on my part!) 

Ready to Roll is set just about entirely within Miguel's shotgun house in Houston. I love the history of shotgun houses, how well-suited to the (less than hospitable sometimes) climate of the city they are. 

It was a lot of fun to use one as the stage across which Miguel and Janice move during their date. Made me want to move in to a shotgun house of my own! I bet my pets would love racing through from front to back doors, maniac pets that they are. 

As I'm sure you can imagine, one of the delightful parts of creating a character like Serena who is obsessed with getting a home of her own that she can decorate just the way she likes, is getting lost online looking at decorating photos and imagining exactly what Serena's dream home will look like. I get to do all the planning and none of the painting! Win-win! 

While the photos I pinned for Serena's house aren't exactly what she created as her haven, they definitely hit the mark. And for a little contrast, I included Dillon's only home decor items of note. :) Well, I guess I could add a pic of a bookcase overflowing with second-hand sci-fi novels, but I think his posters convey the gist of his decorating priorities. 

He totally loves those posters.

Hmm, I wonder what Serena would do with them in her perfectly decorated home? In the bedroom because at least they match the color scheme? Or would she reframe them in antique gilt frames and hang them in the dining room? Perhaps persuade him they'd look great in his office? 

(True confessions time: that 'these would be great at your work' ploy worked for me / my beloved's prized prints!)

One of the fun takeaways from the RWA 2014 conference was my introduction to Pinterest. 

I mean, it's not like I didn't know what Pinterest was. I just hadn't explored it much, or created any boards of my own. Well, that has now changed!

First of all, here are the critters I hang out with all day - Patrick the tabby cat & Eve the shepherd-collie-whatever mix. Aren't they great? 

(Oh, and please follow me! I'll have book-related boards, too, and you never know what else.)

Today is Launch Day (in my head; it's been up for a day or two) for ROCKET MAN!

What does that mean? Well, of course it means the book is available everywhere. (Correction: ALMOST everywhere. If you're an iBooks person & just totally want it RIGHT NOW, leave me a comment below. I'll alert you when it's up & also if you're the first person to comment, I'll give you a copy free.) (That free copy thing applies to all formats. Know what? It's launch day, I'm feeling dandy - first three comments get a free ebook.) (I'm feeling dandy, and also like I wish people would comment. I love reader comments.)

What else the launch means:

• My super cover & illustration (not MY cover & illustration, those I paid for) & awesome formatter have all pulled together to make ROCKET MAN look gorgeous. 
• People are buying the book, and most of them aren't even my mom! (Hi, Mom!) (Mom bears no resemblance to Serena's mom, for the record.)
• I'm shivery-nervous, although the first review was a good one, so that's exciting & encouraging.
• I'm prided up to my priding bone (that's an inside joke I just let out) that I managed so many moving parts to the non-book-writing aspects of self-publishing. I've learned so much! The next book will be easy to publish!
• I'll be going on a bit about this book on FB & Twitter & elsewhere on the web. Marketing types will tell you it's because I'm trying to build buzz for my book. I'll tell you it's really because I'm too giddy to shush, or talk about much else right now. (I promise I'll go on about how cute my dog is soon. Because she really, really is.)

So, when you see me out & about online today, wave. (Or, you know - comment, tweet, thumbs-up, etc.) I'm delighted to be sharing ROCKET MAN with you, and the whole wide world, as well.