21 Comments
Is come out of the woodwork and comment like crazy. Wow! Was I overwhelmed at how many of you took the time to enter my contest. Keep those comments coming because they all count. What also overwhelmed me was that so many of you have said that you can’t wait for Tempted by the Night to come out, and believe me I really, really appreciate hearing that. You don’t know how much such bubbly praise makes an author’s day.
Nor should I tell you that I have a copy of the book sitting on my desk–I usually get a few early copies–because I really don’t want to start a housebreaking riot here in my neighborhood. So rather than incite a mob to resort to larceny, I thought I’d share an email I got from Rachel this week. We were chatting about knitting and crocheting and our respective grandmothers and she said (without any prompting from me),
I’m sure I’ll enjoy Tempted!! It’s going to be my way to unwind after a frenzied baking spree, since my husband’s birthday is the 24th, and my other grandmother’s and brother-in-law’s birthday is the 26th. My family recently designated me the Official Birthday Baker, so I’ve promised the DH and Grandma Boston Cream Pies (at their requests), and I need to figure out what will ship well from northern Pennsylvania to the D.C.-area of Maryland for the b-i-l. So my plan is either to grab Tempted the morning of the 26th and take breaks whilst things are in the oven, or stop by the bookstore in the evening and enjoy it with a bath and a cup of tea after the celebrations are over and the kids are asleep. We’ll see how the day goes. But it’ll almost be like an un-birthday present for me, amidst everyone else’s birthdays, lol.
Now I’m no expert on baking Boston Cream Pies, let alone shipping them, but what really got to me was that Rachel, bless her heart, amidst all that mayhem was planning on how she was going to get her copy of Tempted by the Night and wedge in the time to read it. I’m lighting a candle to the patron saint of bakers (Saint Honorius) and postal workers (Gabriel the Archangel) that Rachel’s pies turn out fabulous and ship perfectly.
Keira also mentioned that the 26th was her birthday in my last posting, so we all know she’s celebrating the date as well. And Keira, if you want to think that HarperCollins chose the date just to commemorate your natal anniversary, I won’t argue the point. We should all be free to celebrate any way we choose. Bubble baths, cake (preferably chocolate), bubbly drinks, or just a few quiet moments after the kiddos are down for the night.
So to get the comment party started, tell me how do you celebrate when you get a book you’ve been waiting for? How do carve out that time?
Preview: Today I covered what Readers Do, and On Monday I’ll go into the angst ridden world of writers and tell you, What Authors Shouldn’t Do
August 14th, 2008 at 5:56 am · Link
Oh geez, it all depends. . . if it’s something I’ve just been dying for, I read it as soon as possible. So that might be the next day or when I’m done reading what I’m reading, especially if I’m going through all the books of an author’s series. . .
ah, let me shorten this ridiculously long answer to just a simple ASAP! LOL 🙂
Lois
August 14th, 2008 at 6:08 am · Link
While I don’t usually wait to buy the latest releases by my favorite ‘auto-buy- authors (of which you are one), I’m weird in the fact that if the book is part of a series, I wait until I have all of the books in the series before starting to read them. The only exception to that rule are the Cynsters books by Laurens. Those books were read as they coume out.
August 14th, 2008 at 6:36 am · Link
The day the book is released, I’m at the store 10 minutes before it opens. I’ve already scooped out where the book is located through the windows and I head straight to that book. Pick it up, pay the cashier and try to read a page or two while I’m walking back to work. Then throughout the day, I’m taking sneak peeks at the book until the wonderful one-hour subway ride home where I read to my hearts content and will finish this book before I start dinner. It’s all about the book at that moment.
August 14th, 2008 at 8:00 am · Link
Thanks for the good wishes!! My sister just suggested cupcakes for the b-i-l, which will definitely be easier to ship. 🙂
Usually, when I get a book I’ve been waiting for, I sneak in the first few paragraphs before I’ve left the store, then am on tenterhooks until I get home. On those days, housework gets put off as I use the kids’ naptime to read (and sometimes, they get longer naps than usual, lol); and I plan on being up late that night! 😉
August 14th, 2008 at 8:05 am · Link
Keira’s not the only one who’s birthday’s on the 26th! I just found out hubby will be heading to Texas that day so sitting down and reading once the kids are in bed is looking like the plan!
When there is a book I have been waiting to read, I don’t take a peek until dinner is finished. I let the kids pick a DVD to watch, then I make myself a cup of tea, sit down and start. I’ll stop long enough for the bedtime routine, but then won’t stop again until it’s finished even if it means staying up half the night.
August 14th, 2008 at 1:35 pm · Link
It depends. I will usually try to send to kids to my mom’s and just read. If I can’t then I try to get them excited about something else so I can read.
Never really thought alot about it though.
hugs,
WendyK
August 14th, 2008 at 3:03 pm · Link
Thankee for allowing me to retain my illusions about how Avon decided to link me to you in such a fundamental way. 😀
A few days before, I’m twittering about it or e-mailing friends who are likewise just as excited about it’s release. I avoid all reviews where the story, pros, cons, and the reviewers’ off-the-wall opinions are hashed and rehashed.
On the day of, once my writing and exercising’s done, family’s been rushed off to everywhere they need to go, anything that will prevent house from collapsing is taken care of, then it’s to my favorite bookstore I go, which involves a drive of 30-40 minutes. My loyalty to that store stems from my loyalty to the bookseller who is a marvelous supporter of romance and an advocate of the books in the area.
In the afternoon, I coerce kid to watch a few DVDs, play quietly, etc. all with the promise of pizza for dinner, so that I can read in peace. 😀 I’m done with the book before I sleep.
August 14th, 2008 at 3:13 pm · Link
To fully enjoy a book, I like to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea. I don’t want to be in a room with other people because they might actually expect me to have a conversation with them!
Of course, if it is a book that I am dying to read, I don’t wait for the perfect set-up. I start reading immediately, squeezing in reading when I can. I will read while I am stirring something on the stove or putting clothes in the washer! 😉
August 14th, 2008 at 5:51 pm · Link
First I do this unnatural-highschool-cheerleader squeal that completely annoys my husband. Followed with a bouncing/happy dance thing that should never be seen by others. To top it off, I sing a little song: “Oh yeah, Oh yeah! I got the book! Oh yeah!!”
At this point my husband’s eyes have completely rolled into the back of his head from my ohmygoodness-I-could-die moments.
I then fluff my pillows (stealing the hubby’s to make it even better) and set to reading, tuning out everything else in the world.
Sometimes I break for a few moments to email the author special little highlights that I’ve enjoyed. As if they didn’t know I’d enjoy these bits. Cause ya know, it’s not like the wrote it or anything.
Elizabeth, now you know how I acted and what I did when I read Tempted.
To everyone else…
I sent Elizabeth THREE special emails with highlights of all the things I loved from this book.
After I finish a book, I heave a heavy sigh of total satisfaction and place it on my shelf. Giving it one last loving glance and a giggle of delight. And then I annoy the husband again with random details of what made THIS book so special to me.
He has firmly stated that I think all my books are special. I just tell him I have a big heart hehe.
August 14th, 2008 at 5:53 pm · Link
Keira, I think we should celebrate our Bday’s together. Since mine is the 20th and your’s the 26th.
Oh what fun we could have!!
August 14th, 2008 at 11:00 pm · Link
Or, what mayhem we could create in our quest for fun. 😀
August 14th, 2008 at 11:10 pm · Link
CARVE is the key word. I carve the time to read by letting other things slide…like the dishes, cooking dinner, taking a shower, paying attention to the kids (oops, did I just admit to that out loud?):-) I grab my reading moments when I can or I give up sleep, which makes me completely worthless the next day but it’s so worth it!
I can’t wait for Tempted!
August 15th, 2008 at 3:06 am · Link
As soon as I get my long awaited book I very calmly make a cup of tea or pour a big glas of Pepsi and lay back on my couch and read till I’m finished. Because after raising 7 children I have the most wonderful gift of total silence in my home…sigh…No one to be responsible for and no one to interrupt…finally…. after 40 years…..:)
Carol
August 15th, 2008 at 8:46 am · Link
I’m with Rachel. I start the book in the store – even before I’ve paid for it, while waiting in line – and continue to sneak peeks on the ride home.
My darling husband indulges my serious reading addiction by driving me to the store right after work that day [why oh why does this stuff always come out on TUESDAYS rather than a day when I could get there in the morning? she whines] because I’ve bored him silly for the past several days with my chattering on and on and ON about how good it’s going to be. Then I read through dinner, after dinner and long into the night. Who cares if I have to work the next day? I’ve got my fix and I’m gonna enjoy every minute of it!
There aren’t many authors on my auto-buy list, but Elizabeth is one I always eagerly anticipate ~
LynneW
August 15th, 2008 at 2:45 pm · Link
The book sounds great… and the cover is great 🙂
Does your neighbors ask you to sign copies of their book, if they happen to be romance readers?
August 17th, 2008 at 8:03 am · Link
I carve out the time through sheer force of will. If it’s a book I really want to read, I’ll make the time. It helps that I read quickly.
August 17th, 2008 at 8:08 am · Link
Hey, Elizabeth, I just read a terrific review of Tempted by the Night on Romance Novel TV! 🙂
August 17th, 2008 at 5:46 pm · Link
These posts are so much fun to read though!
August 18th, 2008 at 11:53 am · Link
Haven, I got to agree!
August 24th, 2008 at 1:41 pm · Link
I get all excited and can’t wait to get everything I need to do done so that I can read without interruptions. WHich is rare at my house. LOL
August 25th, 2008 at 12:53 pm · Link
Kyaaaa a CONTEST????????
here I leave for a while (working – no holiday -_-“) and you’re making a constest!!!
To answer the questions: if I was to receive the book I would probably stop what I was suppose to do this day (if it’s school if it’s work well I will go but resent the boss for it all day! :p) and stay home to read the book; cuddle in my bed with nutella not to far away… and I’ll read straight to the end. oh and of course I will tell my friends (hohoho), nagging then promising to review the book (they love when I do).
To wait hopefully I’m working, and I have to review my lessons from last year to be sure everything will be ok in the Uni.
well blabla I’m writing & writing but I’m not so sure it’s written correctly. So if you read the whole stuff thanks ^^
byebye