Start of Something New

So I was thinking about when I first started blogging. I used to write these reaally looong posts, and besides JRM (my husband) and a few close friends, there were only like five of us suffering through them. (LOL!)

You're on the sides;
I'm in the middle holding on. :o)

Hart appeared first, then Rayna/Natasha (b/c we all have the same birthday), then Carolyn, then Matt--b/c I asked him to comment on my boy books post (link)--then Vickie and Anne, Stina and Katie, Jessica, DL, you...

Some have stopped blogging; some are doing other things. I've cut back to once a week...

But this is how we found each other and started supporting each other and critiquing one another's work. Blogging became this amazing writers' circle that I love and miss so much when I'm swamped.

Back then I was so focused on finding an agent, and now... well, just LOOK at how much has changed!

Feb. 2010 Leigh would never have dreamed I'd be where I am today, doing what I'm doing. But one thing I would have predicted is how important you guys would remain to me.

SO I've decided to start something new!

The first Monday of every month, I'm going to spotlight a writer-friend! I don't have a model for how, but my goal is to make it funny and different--little-known facts revealed in an entertaining way--to catch up and see what everybody's doing now.

(I need a name. Ideas? You say I don't need a name?)

Kicking us off is my prolific writer-friend and amazing cover designer Jolene Perry (Because I sorta stole this idea from her "Friend Friday"s)! Let's see what Jo's been doing...

Jolene
(Her name is often sung
to her... don't.)

LTM: Shortly after we met, I learned you live in Wasilla (AK), which to me says your life is a mixture of "Northern Exposure," "The Proposal," and "Insomnia." How much of each? And are you raising Ryan Reynolds' secret family?

JBP: YES! My life is exactly like those, which is crazy since NONE of them were actually filmed here... My life is much more "Northern Exposure" than anything else, but Wasilla IS a little bigger than Sicily, Alaska - we have a Target ;-) And Ryan Reynolds. He's hot, but a little needy... I know, you wouldn't think that. But it's true. He's always asking me to pet his abs, and the first few times it was pretty hot, but it's getting old...

(LTM Note: JBP's a bit braggy about her secret husband. Sorry.)

LTM: Sarah Palin can see Russia from her house, so of course, you can, too. When you go ice fishing, do you spy on them? What are they doing in Russia? Which one of your books is most popular in the former Soviet Union?

JBP: Night Sky (link) is the most popular in Russia because the ebook cover is sparkly... :-/ Fishing with Sarah - you know, you'd think she couldn't be more annoying when she's not on TV, but I'm here to tell you that ain't true...

(LTM Note: JBP did not deny being a spy.)

I've read it; get it!

LTM: You've co-authored several books with writers like Steph Campbell (My Heart for Yours), Nyrae Dawn (Dizzy), and Janna Watts (10 Weeks). All but one of those is a pen name... Which of these authors is a fake person?

JBP: HA!! I'm going to throw you here, because they're ALL real people. One of them just happens to be a recluse. Her true identity will remain faithfully hidden...

LTM: (follow up ignoring previous answer) Since one of these authors is really your split personality, what makes her easy and hard to work with?

JBP: I'm assuming you're referring to my reclusive friend, and I will say that if she and I were smooshed together, we'd almost make a fully functioning person ;-) Honestly, she's not online much, but she's like a sister and made of awesome.

(LTM Note: Smooshed is not a real word.)

LTM: It has become evident you have a shoe full of book babies. Tell us about your newest baby! And why you love her more.

JBP: Last night I pulled up four manuscripts that I've started and have half mapped out but haven't had time to write. One of my girls was running through this hilarious monologue as the teacher at her private Christian school prayed to baby Jesus and I laughed so hard I woke up my husband.

Haven't read yet; get it!

And after reading through what I had of those four, and telling myself - WORK ON ONE OF THESE NEXT - I fell asleep thinking about a different book... Yeah.

BUT the elusive Janna Watts and I are working on a book that we've both (separately) wanted to do for a while, so when she mentioned her idea, and I was like - OH! I've totally had that same idea! We started to throw it together - 3 SIDES TO A CIRCLE - is the working title of our college-age romance, and maybe I'll slap it up on GR, just for fun :-)  Man. Ask me about my babies, and you're gonna get an earfull... Right now I'm so thrilled that people are loving Dizzy. I adore Dylan and Ziah - and we all know that Nyrae Dawn writes a great boy. They play off each other so well, and the only other book I've written that's made me laugh this hard is Misplaced, which Nyrae and I wrote together, and will come out with Entangled Teen in Fall 2013.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME LEIGH!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you, my friend~

(LTM Note: Jo's books are seriously amazing. Every one I've read, I've LOVED.

Get FALLING: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Get DIZZY: Amazon * Barnes & Noble)

Up next month is the prolific, sci-fi indie superstar Susan Kaye Quinn! Mark it, Jan. 6. A Do Not Miss!

* * *

Finally, this week's my blog tour for ROUGE, which is 99 cents TODAY ONLY (link)! Here's where all I'll be (link). Wish me luck!

Click here for the schedule!

And have a great week, reader- and writer-friends~ <3