I've got a Confession...Confessions of a Party Crasher is out today!

I've got a Confession...a new book is out and there are more subscriber treats! Open the newsletter to find out more... Happy Spring, everyone!! If you hang out with me on social media, you'll know I've already been out in the garden and working out at camp! I love this time of year!!  Especially when I have good news. Are you ready?   Confessions of a Party Crasher is out today!! ...and I have a confession, the party is just getting started! Morgan Miller is out of work and out of luck. She’s moved back home to Pittsburgh to try and put her life back in order. When she agrees to attend wedding reception with her mom for she's appalled to learn her mother’s invitation is far from legitimate. Her mom has turned her into an inadvertent party crasher. When her friends agree that party crashing is a great way to meet men, Morgan's life goes from crazy to completely crazy. Wedding photographer Conner Danning keeps shooting her swoon-worthy glances and Morgan's ex is trying to de-ex himself. Coming home and falling in love might just be the one party Morgan doesn’t want to miss as she discovers that sometimes what you think you want isn't what you want at all!   Reviews: "...a funny tale of falling in love when you least expect it, best friends, and off-beat mothers..." We Write Romance "...a sweet, entertaining romance..." ~RT Bookclub "Hilarious situations, deep emotions, and lots of love make this one party you won't want to miss." ~Cat Cody, Romance Junkies "Confession of a Party Crasher is an entertaining frolic. I know whenever I see Holly Jacobs name on a book I can be guarantee that I am are going to have one laugh after another..." Writers Unlimited "Confessions of a Party Crasher is a book about relationships and life. As always, Holly Jacobs uses plenty of zany humor to enhance the story and make it dazzle." ~© Kelley A. Hartsell All rights reserved. "CONFESSIONS OF A PARTY CRASHER is a charming romantic story, where love is made even more special with laughter." Cataromance.com  Buy Confessions of a Party Crasher!! Last newsletter, subscribers were given a free short story, The Book.  It's up now for sale. If you missed it, or enjoyed and want to pass it on and/or review it, you can find it at: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2kJfWWx Nook: http://bit.ly/2kwL3nv Kobo: http://bit.ly/2l7sk3K (Yes, I listened to you all and I'm trying to publish more books for other platforms!) BIG NEWS!! By Popular Demand, the entire Everything But... series is being published in audio! Here are their release dates. They're all available for preorder now! Everything but a Groom - 5/2/2017 Amazon, Audible, BN and iTunes Everything but a Bride - 5/9/2017 Amazon, Audible, BN and iTunes Everything but a Wedding - 5/16/2017 Amazon, Audible, BN and iTunes Everything but a Christmas Eve - 5/23/2017 Amazon, Audible, BN and iTunes Everything but a Mother - 5/30/2017 Amazon, Audible, BN and iTunes Everything but a Dog - 6/6/2017 Amazon, Audible, BN and iTunes Here's a treat for all of you! My friend, Susan Gable, has a free book out now as she relaunches her Hawkin's Family series!  You can pick it up here.   That's it for now!  There are more books coming out this year, so you'll hear from me shortly!  Thanks as always for all your support! I hope you enjoy Confessions of a Party Crasher and that you pick up the Everything But series...on audio! Holly PS. You can get my newsletters directly by signing up at http://eepurl.com/4OPQL. Not only will you never miss a new release, you'll be eligible for all the subscriber giveaways and specials!

My Novel Freshman Experience—Part 1

I am a Novelist?  No, that sounds pretentious.  A Romance Novelist?  No, not really accurate since I sometimes kill people, too.  (Don't gasp...I'm talking cozy mysteries, though I've killed people in romances, too. Bwah ha ha.) Author? Still pretentious.

I am a Writer.

Yes.  That's probably an accurate description.  I've written a lot of books and those books have gone to more than twenty-five countries now.  I've written short stories, novellas and novels.  I've written articles and poems even.  Yes.  I'm a writer.

Add to that, I am a lifelong learner.  I know little bits about lots of things.  And most of those bits find their way into my books.  Let's see, I'm a closet science geek who celebrates Pi Day every year.  I am a basketweaver.  I've worked with breastfeeding moms and taught about it (remind me to tell you the story about a certain Monday when I was guest-speaking in a college freshman psych class about the psychological benefits of breastfeeding...uh, I'm pretty sure the football team was in the front row. SIGH.)  I'm a baker, a gardener and according to my kids, a hippie.  (Geesh, put in a rain barrel, compost pile, a dual flush toilet and an organic garden and you get labeled.)  I know how to fingerspell and a bit of ASL and braille.  I'd say I know French, but mainly I can ask if you have a friend in French class and ask for a cheese omelet, so I'm not sure that counts.  I am a sci fi/fantasy nerd.  Oh, and I loooooovvvve Broadway (just saw Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen...totally awesome)!!  Sometimes I'm a public speaker.  I'm always an advocate for my city (Erie, PA...it rocks!).  And last, but honestly at the center of all of that, I'm devoted to my family. My family has always been at the heart of everything I do. 

Thursday, April 13th that list is expanding...today, I'm a college freshman!! (I know...I buried the lead on this one!)  Well, I'm a college freshman on paper at least.  I don't start classes until fall.  And to be honest, I'm only taking one class.  

Why just one?  Because honestly, I don't have time for even one, but here's a basic truth I learned a long time ago...no one has enough time.  When you want something, sometimes you just have to stretch time to make it accommodate it.  Einstein said that time was relative.  (He said it much more technically however.)  I hang onto that thought when I'm trying to fit one more thing into an ever-jam-packed calendar.  Time stretches. So yes, I'm starting back to school after years away.  

I put my application in last month.  After some run-around with the transcript (my theory was the high school had transcripts that old in the sub-sub-subbasement) my paperwork was done and I was in.  I went up today and signed up for that first class.

What class you asked??

Drumroll please...

Ceramics.

I wanted pottery but there wasn't a class scheduled for fall.  I keep telling Himself I want a degree in pottery.  He says I can have an art degree, but probably not pottery.  SIGH. He's so logical.  LOL  Seriously, I have no idea what my eventual diploma will say, but I feel like a kid in the candy store.  So many classes to try.  So many new ideas to discover.  I'm so utterly jazzed!

I met with adult admissions today.  He was very nice as he talked about orientation this summer, web access, and my student ID. As we looked through the fall schedule, I realized that this is going to be such a fun adventure.

I've never stopped learning. You all remember my recent beer adventures?? (I'm moving my second batch of beer to the other carboy Sunday.) What I learn doesn't get graded. But to be honest, I'm not worried about grades in my new classes either.  If I learn something, I win no matter what grade a teacher gives me.

Maybe that is a huge advantage to coming back to the classroom later in life (not that I'm late in life...I'm decidedly middle in life, thank you very much).  I realize that how a professor weighs and measures my success in a class really doesn't matter. (To all my teaching friends, I apologize...I love and adore you and I hope that all my professors consider me a delight and success in their class!)  But what really matters is what I get out of a class. That's what has mattered in every class I've taken and every lecture and workshop I've attended over the  years.  It's what has mattered in every book I've read (and there have been a lot) or written (a lot of those, too).  Coming into college as an adult student gives me a unique perspective.  I have a career that I love.  I don't need a degree for that work to continue.  More than a career I love, I have a family I love and adore.  I'm coming at these classes just for me.  Just because I love to learn new things and skills.  So what I walk away with at the end of a class...that's how I'll weigh and measure my success.

And yes, I'm starting with ceramics.  I have this idea for something I want to make.  I've been spending time at the Erie Art Museum the last few months and this idea has been nagging at me.  So stay tuned.  I thought I'd keep a running section in my blog about My Novel Freshman Experience.  Get it..novel??  LOL 

Oh, man, I hope I can avoid that Freshman Fifteen!  LOL

Holly . . . who's not sure the University is fully prepared for this experience with me!
PS. Keep an eye out for some of my books (now that I'm a poor college student it's even more important LOL) and if you've read one recently, please take a moment to review it!

Just One Thing

Words of the Heart Series

Confessions of a Party Crasher

Carry Her Heart
These Three Words
Hold Her Heart

Everything But...series
(audiobooks next month!)

Same Time Next Summer
Not Precisely Pregnant
I Waxed My Legs for This?

And if you're looking for those people I killed, try:
Can't Find NoBODY
Maid in LA Mysteries

Something that shows short stories don't lack emotion...
The Book (check out my science geekiness in it!)
13 Weeks

My Erie...

Last night, I went to a launch for a new book on Erie Mayor's...

Erie, Pennsylvania Mayors

150 Years of Political History

by Dr. William Garvey.

It was published by Jefferson Educational Society, a wonderful Erie asset that offers a full spectrum of classes and talks.  From the history of Erie to the history of beer class I took last month.

Back to last night. Dr. Garvey was a professor at Mercyhurst then the president.  He's spent his career studying my favorite town and this book was the culmination of that work. I can't wait to dig in!

I'll confess, as I looked at the crowd and saw educators, reporters, government officials all talking about their love of our town, I was struck by the realization I am a part of that.  No, I've never held a government position or worked as a reporter (though I've written Erie reporters in Not Precisely Pregnant), but I have brought my love of Erie to readers around the world.  Carry Her Heart has been on Turkey's bestseller list recently.  I have introduced readers in that country to our city and all it has to offer.  I've often had that pinch-me moment as that realization sinks in...in addition to readers here in the state, readers in more than twenty-five countries have 'visited' our town.  

So last night, I felt a sense of connection as I listened to former Mayor Joyce Savvocchio, "We believe this is a marvelous city."  I am one of those "we" she spoke of.  I do believe in Erie.

And Dr. William Garvey, spoke about the book and how he came to write it.  He said, "Erie needs to know who it is."  Then followed with, "If you don't know who you are, you don't know who you could be."

I had one of those deje vu moments.  Here was my instagram post from earlier that day..
 hollyjacobsauthor I found a copy of a letter from Geo. Washington to one of my ancestors last night as I worked on my family tree! It's so easy to get lost in the past. I like to think all the people who came before me are part of every book I write. Just One Thing is set at our camp, which is close to an ancestor's homestead.

Some times I'm just on the right wavelength.  LOL

It was a lovely evening, listening to people honor Dr. Garvey's life's work and praise this city that I've used as a setting in so many of my books.  I love Erie.  I love to share that love with millions readers around the world.

So congratulations Dr. Garvey and everyone who worked on this book.  Before you leave, check out this new video talking about all the reasons I love this town!

Holly

Another Day of Beauty!!

Today was a running around day.  I went to the nursing home, picked up a form and had to run it downtown... While I was there, I decided to give myself a beauty break.  Uh, no, I'm not talking about a day at the salon. I'm talking about a visit to the Art Museum.  I went to the museum for that talk with Ohio artist, Susan Shie, a couple weeks ago.  She's amazing. I wanted to see the full Earth Stories exhibit.  Here are a few pics in no particular order...

 And here's Susan Shie's piece in the collection.  Uh, if you read my first Day of Beauty, you'll remember how much I like making myself part of the art (see my shadow?).

After the visit, I went next door to Glass Growers.  If you've never been...go.  I drop in every time I'm down that way because they always have something new and cool.  I've mentioned before that I love to collect Erie stuff.  We have a number of prints.  Well, today I bought a cool picture of Beach 10 on Presque Isle by Jason Floyd Lewis.  (You can see my reflection in it as well! LOL)

If you're one of my Erie friends, head down to the Art Museum and then stop in and check out Glass Growers.

This isn't a paid endorsement...I just love my city! If you're not in the area, I hope you enjoy visiting through my books and blog.  And if you're in the area, drop in for a real visit!!

Holly

Confessions of a Party Crasher

Everything But a Groom

PS.
Confessions of a Party Crasher is live on Amazon for pre-order and if you haven't heard, the Everything But... series is going to audio and the first sample's up!

The Art of Writing

I went to a wonderful lecture about quilting tonight called Earth Stories at the Erie Art Museum with Susan Shie.   I've made a few quilts.  Not good ones.  But I made them with enthusiasm.  The family favorites are jeans quilts.  They're super heavy and warm.  But tonight's presentation was by an artist.

When I started writing I kept hearing about "the rules of writing." (Susan Gable and I have done workshops together called We Don't Need No Stinkin' Rules...so yes you can imagine how I felt about those rules.  LOL)  One of the rules was no writers or artists heroes/heroines.  Pip in Carry Her Heart was a writer, and Lexie in Just One Thing was an artist, though she didn't think of herself as such.  I think what fascinated me last night was both storyteller and artist so tangible in Susan's quilts. She mixes quilting, sewing, painting, writing, journaling into something beautiful and memorable.

I wrote about My Day Of Beauty a few months ago.  It's rare that I take a day off from work and family obligations but that day inspired me then and now.  Well, tonight inspired me as well.  Like Lexie in Just One Thing, I feel presumptuous saying I'm an artist, but if writing is my art, then words are the medium with which I express it.  And I loved that I put art into Just One Thing...blurring the lines a bit like Susan Shei's quilts. She takes both cotton, thread and paint and weaves words into them, producing something hybrid and unique. 

Oh, it was a lovely night.

By the way, as a remembrance of My Day of Beauty, I took another shadow picture as I walked back to the car last night!  I love that art can be found anywhere and we all have the opportunity to become part of it.

My life has been crazy again lately. Writing and life keep bumping into each other and I have to scramble to juggle it all.  I found an hour for this lecture and am so glad I did.  Sometimes we just need to take a moment, surround ourselves with beauty and just breathe.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Holly

Cooks and Books with Author Holly Jacobs, Pi Day!

It's Pi Day!!  And it's time for another Cooks and Books video!  Hope you're celebrating my favorite math holiday of the year...and I hope you're eating some pie!!

Holly

Nook
Kobo
Kindle

A book...

Some of you know that I collect antiques.  I love going to antique stores and house sales, looking for some neglected treasure. I found a cranberry harvester at one.  (Erie's Presque Isle used to have cranberry bogs...I wish it still did!)  But speaking of harvesters, I went to a house sale recently and found a copy of Gene Stratton-Porter's The Harvester.  (Notice how nicely I segued there...LOL)  I'm a huge fan and loved A Girl of the Limberlost.  I'd never read this one, so I picked it up and when I got home...this is what I found.  I was crushed.

I spent a few days talking about it on Facebook and everyone started guessing what might have been in the cut out.  And as they talked, I started to have an idea.  And a short story was born.

Writers find their inspiration everywhere.  Even in a sad book that someone cut up.  I gave the story to my newsletter subscribers early (I have other special gifts for them this year...you can join here) when I announced my newest release, Not Precisely Pregnant (and the heroine is definitely not precisely pregnant...don't you wonder how that happened?  Check it out here) and have put The Book up for Kindle, Kobo and Nook.  I hope you'll check it out! 

Holly

Just in time for Valentine's...Holly's February Newsletter

Not Precisely Pregnant is this month's release!  It's out this Tuesday!!  I pitched this romantic comedy to my editor as Shrek meets Pollyanna!  It features two reporters...one who covers hard hitting news stories and one whose reports use the tagline Nice News Matters. To be honest, I do love nice news and think the world could use more of it! Here's the blurb: Nice News matters to reporter Paige Montgomery, aka Pollyanna Paige, reports on news that makes you smile. When she finds herself (not precisely) pregnant and in trouble, she’s rescued by an unlikely savior...cynical newsman, Riley Calhoon. Paige is intrigued with this unprecedented heroic streak, but Riley prefers to keep that particular scoop to himself. Riley might doubt Paige’s reporter’s instincts, but she’s following his story with a tenacity that even he can admire. The problem is, whenever she’s around he finds himself being assaulted by hockey pucks, killer cats and even a run-away trucks. He either has a chronic case of heartburn… or maybe it’s love? Reviews: "...guaranteed to provide plenty of entertainment, and more laughs than should be legal." ~Kelley A. Hartsell, Love Romances Reviews "Holly Jacobs returns with NOT PRECISELY PREGNANT, a wry, warm-hearted screwball comedy featuring an appealing pair of lovers...and an attack cat." ~Romantic Times "Ms. Jacobs has done it again!...Her books are lighthearted joy to read..." ~Carol Carter, Reviewer "In "Not Precisely Pregnant", Holly Jacobs spins a marvelously funny tale about love, ratings, sex and stubbornness." ~Women on Writing "I picked up this book with the intention of reading the first couple of pages to see what it was about. I didn't have time right then to read it. Well, it got read sooner than I thought! Ms. Jacobs grabbed my attention and kept me reading. " ~Lydia Funneman, Writers Unlimited

Other News: Honor Roll: I'm so excited to announce that I'm on Romance Writers of America's Honor Roll now!!  And I want to thank you all...I'm there because of all your support and all the books you've bought,  Thank you! Subscriber Only Giveaway:  I'm so glad that everyone enjoyed the giveaway last month!!  I wanted to do something for all my subscribers this month, not just a lucky few.  So, I've put up a short story that only you can read for free before it goes up for the general public.  It all started with a book.  I went to a house sale and found a copy of Gene Stratton-Porter's The Harvester.  I've always loved her books and had never read this one.  Imagine my excitement!!  I picked it up, took it home and found...   I know...sad, wasn't it?  But, this maimed book did inspire a story.  And I knew I wanted to do something for all of you, so you're getting it for free.  How?    If you get my newsletter, you know how to find the story.  If not, join my newsletter this week and I'll give you the instructions. Then I'll take the "Secret" page down and put the story up for everyone else. I hope you enjoy my gift!  It's just my way of saying thank you for all the books you've bought and reviewed!  Really, you all are the best! So what's up next?  Confessions of a Party Crasher.  It's an older book that Harlequin bought for a line that was in its death throes before Party Crasher ever went on sale.  So it made it to very few bookstores, which means it's probably new to you.  So let's call it a new old book! LOL  More on that soon! Hope you're having a great start of the year!  And hoping 2017 is one of your best years yet! Holly Recent Releases:

Cooks and Books #4, The Wild Baby Book

It's  National Reading Day! I dug out an old post with one of my family's favorite books, The Wild Baby Book.  I've read it so many times that I can do most of it by heart.  

I think one of the reasons I made Pip (Carry Her Heart) a children's book author is that I so strongly believe in the importance of reading to children.  For years, like Pip, I was a Kindergarten Book Lady.  I came in once a week and read and sang song, from Grey Squirrel to Boa Constrictor.  

Today I thought we could share our favorite children's books.  

Here are a few of mine:

The Wild Baby

The Book with No Pictures

Where the Wild Things Are

Bedtime for Frances

Rain Makes Applesauce

Kind Bidgood's in the Bathtub

Oh, and my favorite first chapter book...Wolf Story!

Most of these are excellent stories that engage the children.  They can shout about rain making applesauce, or understand why a book with no pictures makes grownups say ridiculous things.  They become participants.  And learning to engage with a book...well, that's what it's all about!

Please add your favorites!!

Holly

The Same but Different

When I walk, I spend a lot of time thinking.  So here's today's thought process...

When I wrote Just One Thing, my editor and I were discussing what I should write next and she said she wanted books that were the same, but different.  And thus my Romance + series, Words of the Heart (Carry Her Heart, These Three Words and Hold Her Heart) was born.  The stories were all centered on a woman's journey.  A journey that included romance but romance wasn't the reason for her journey, nor was it her ultimate destination.

So I was thinking about my current Romance + story...more on that sometime soon.  And that phrase same but different stuck in my head.

From there my mind jumped.  I've been updating my iPod with some new CD's and had just loaded Simba La La, a lovely CD that the Erie Art Museum put out.  And so that was on my mind as I walked.  A CD of songs from around the world...songs countless mothers have sung to their children.

I'd just been singing Grey Squirrel with one of my favorite one-year-olds the other day.  And as I walked, I felt a connection to all these other mothers from around the world.

And my circular thoughts led me back to that phrase, same but different.

I realized that I loved this little CD that was so very global because it emphasizes the sameness in all of us.  Mothers around the world love their children.  They sing to them.  They want to give them opportunities, peace and joy.  We're all the same but different.

I'd been talking to readers about the fact I write romantic comedies (Not Precisely Pregnant's out next month), Romance + stories (Words of the Heart), and cozy mysteries (Can't Find NoBODY) now.  It seems like a wide range of styles, but to be honest, every book I write is the same at its core...it's about love and family and the need we all have to belong.  They're all the same but different.

That need for love is universal, but if every love was the same, the romance genre would have one book.  She met him.  He met her.  They fell in love and lived happily ever after.  No, every relationship comes together differently.  So despite the fact love is universal, every love is different.  And that's why the romance genre is one of the most popular and enduring.  That's why my books have gone to more than twenty-five countries...where despite different cultures, readers can embrace the stories.  Because love is universal.

It's the same...but different.

And that was how my morning's walk went.  To be honest, it's how most of my walks go. One thought chases another.  Thinking about my work-in-progress intertwines with other things that are happening in my life.

So every walk, in essence is...the same but different!  LOL

Holly

PS. I'm still counting steps on my FitBit...today's thoughts were on a 5,000 step walk!  I'm halfway to the day's goal!