One Year

It's my birthday. I love my birthday!

As an August 1 baby, I'm a Leo, which can be good
or bad
It means I love attention, but since I was raised by lovely parents who taught me manners, 364 days out of the year I feel rude and evil if I walk around with "ME! ME! ME!" attitude.

But on my birthday I feel like I get a free pass to say "this is what I want and we're doing it." It's 24 hours of guilt-free selfishness. Hurrah!

Today's agenda - going to Twins game and dinner at my favorite French restaurant in St. Paul. Tomorrow we're heading up North to visit my parents and spend some time on Lake Superior.
This year has given me a lot to reflect on. A year ago I didn't have a book deal. I was on pins and needles while Nightshade was out submission.

This week I received pictures of the photo shoot for the cover of my second book, WOLFSBANE (I'll be posting photos at the end of next week), and got an amazing editorial letter in response to my third book, BLOODROSE.

That all of this has happened in the space of one year is phenomenal. And on my birthday next year, NIGHTSHADE and WOLFSBANE will both be in bookstores!

Most people don't know that August 1 is a holiday. Lughnasadh, or Lammas, is the pagan harvest festival. It's a day to celebrate the bounty of the earth; it's joyful and full of hopeful possibility. I can't think of a more appropriate celebration as I have so much to be thankful for.