Summer’s Comin’…
This summer, I have a lot to look forward to. First, I won’t be on a tight deadline. I’m on a deadline, but not a tight one…unless, of course, I futz around and don’t write steadily everyday, in which case, I’ll be back on a tight deadline (as is usually the case) by summer’s end. But I’m going to try really, really, really hard to write everyday for at least two hours…more, depending on what my daughter is up to that day.
Well, except for two weeks in July which will be a total bust. There’s the RWA conference. That always cuts into my writing time.
And then of course, there’s this:
Two weeks of Harry Potter bliss…the release of the movie and then the book. I don’t know what I’ll do with myself without Harry to look forward to after this…except, of course, at least there will be two more movies. Still…July will be all Harry, all the time.
And in August…I have this to look forward to:
Isn’t it scrumptious? The Art Director listened and did exactly the cover I suggested, all the way down to the bare-chested, buff guy (I didn’t request Ben Affleck bulked up, but hey, it could be worse) and her red gown and short hair. This is the first book in my St. Lyon Witches series for Harlequin. I’m so excited!
So…what are you looking forward to this summer???
I always look forward to longer days, being outside, possibly hanging by the lake, relaxing and enjoying life. I haven’t read Harry Potter so whatever on that, but the 3rd Pirates movie is on the top of my list.
Julie, the book looks fabulous. I feel a Blaze glom coming on….
Comment by Stacy ~ — May 9, 2007 @ 6:25 am
Cover looks great. I love the Harry Potter movies. I’ll just be glad when my son’s out of school. He’s had a hard time this year.
Comment by Stacy S — May 9, 2007 @ 6:35 am
The same thing as you–Harry Potter!
Comment by Rhonda Nelson — May 9, 2007 @ 7:32 am
Very nice cover, Julie! Can’t wait. (I lurve witches.)
Comment by Heather Harper — May 9, 2007 @ 7:44 am
I am looking forward to both the Harry Potter movie and last book(although very sad that the story will finally come to an end). My oldest niece and I already have the book reserved and plans for the big party at B&N. I get all 3 of my nieces for a week in the summer and we are already making plans for that too. I also have more energy as the days are longer, so I’m excited about getting through some of my TBR pile. BTW-awesome cover…hot, hot, hot!!!
Comment by Liza — May 9, 2007 @ 9:02 am
Definitely more daylight hours. My trip to Cancun (my first) the sounds of kids playing outside - the music of Al the ice cream man - cookouts - pooltime, and hopefully time to catch up on all my reading.
Comment by Barbara-Jo — May 9, 2007 @ 9:08 am
This summer is going to be awesome!!! I’ve got my first RWA this summer to look forward to, as well as the Harry Potter book and movie. I think I might do a long weekend in Boston, too.
Your STRIPPED cover is amazing.
Comment by Julie S — May 9, 2007 @ 9:22 am
the Harry Potter Movie and Book. I can’t wait. That and Pirates 3, but that is far sooner than my Harry fix…
did i mention that i saw Equus in London recently…
Comment by Cail — May 9, 2007 @ 9:49 am
Holy Cow, Julie. I am looking forward to that book….what a cover…seriously, I am looking forward to hanging out in the afternoon by the kiddie pool, while my three boys run amuck. I am a little sadistic.
Comment by katie — May 9, 2007 @ 9:57 am
I’m looking forward to not having a schedule! We don’t have any plans, I don’t even know what we’re doing for our family vacation in July (going to visit my mom in AZ if I can talk hubby into it). But other than that nothing major.
But I don’t do well with schedules: dinner, bedtime, etc. So I love the summer when we’re just free to do whatever, whenever and not have to watch the clock! And no getting up at 6:00 - yippeeee!!!!
Comment by Jodie — May 9, 2007 @ 10:08 am
One question: When does everyone’s kids get out of school. We don’t get out until June 8th, because we don’t start until the end of Aug. Just curious if everyone is that late, or if others get out much earlier.
Comment by Jodie — May 9, 2007 @ 10:09 am
I just love everything about summer! The smells, the heat, the longer days, etc. And one of my most favorite things to do is reading a good book by the pool. Julie, by the look of that book cover I’m going to need the pool just to cool off!
Comment by Carol R — May 9, 2007 @ 10:22 am
Cail…uh, NO! You mentioned no such thing! Do tell us more!
Comment by Julie Leto — May 9, 2007 @ 10:25 am
Jodie, our school board is adjusting our summer break, so this year, the kids get a full three months. We get out May 24th or 25th (the Thursday) and don’t go back next year until late August (we usually go back by August 2 or 3). Next summer, our release date will be in June to jibe with other counties.
Comment by Julie Leto — May 9, 2007 @ 10:27 am
Mmm..summer…for me it’s nonstop WRITING. I have a couple of books to do in order to meet our family goal of falling a house we’ve fallen in love with by the end of summer. So ready to get back on track; I hope that’ll be motivation enough when the warm breezes are calling…
And Jodie, mine get out around June 12!
Comment by Leslie — May 9, 2007 @ 10:28 am
Great cover, Julie! I’m just now learning how to write a book on a “normal” schedule. My first was written in that pre-sale bliss when I had all the time in the world to perfect it. My second was written in a frantic 6 weeks. I now feel like the one I’m working on is my first “real” book as a published author, and I’ll admit, finding that perfect balance isn’t as easy as it seems. You almost have to discipline yourself more to write on a reasonable steady schedule than to be forced to sit down and crank out 50 pages a week do or die.
But congrats on your summer release. I look forward to being shelf mates with you. Long live bare chested men!!
Comment by Lori Borrill — May 9, 2007 @ 10:39 am
Julie,
Wow! That cover is smokin’ Love it.
For the summer, we had planned to go hand at my mom’s in Arkansas for 6 weeks until, we found out the dreaded aunt will be there four of the six weeks…..so not so sure about that anymore.
We(the kids) get out for the summer June 7. And start back like August 20th or so. Since I work at the school, I work both 10 days later and 10 days earlier.. Gotta get ready for those brats.
Also, I will be walking lots, trying to lose some weight, and to balance out all the hours I spend reading.
Have a super day!
Comment by Debbie — May 9, 2007 @ 10:44 am
P.S.
Julie, will there be a contest t o win an advance copy of the book?
Will there be a reward for the idea?
Comment by Debbie — May 9, 2007 @ 10:45 am
I’m sure there will be a contest sometime in the summer! Right now, Liza won the ARC, which I’m hoping to get out this week now that I have a pretty cover to slap on it!
Comment by Julie Leto — May 9, 2007 @ 10:49 am
I’m looking forward to sleeping late. going to the movies, taking a couple of trips. Julie the cover for the new book is hot. When is the release date?
Comment by Jennifer Pace — May 9, 2007 @ 11:24 am
Love the cover off your book.. cant wait to get a copy of it. I was looking forward to spending mothers day with my grandma and take her to the movies, to see Georgia Rule, however she passed away a week ago in her sleep.
But im looking positive now. 
Im looking forward to Spiderman 3, Shrek 3, Harry Potter book and movie, and Pirates of the Carribbean.
Comment by Elisa V — May 9, 2007 @ 11:33 am
Cail-please tell more…I would love to pass on info to my niece who is totally in love with Daniel Radcliff. She was so mad when Idol cut his speech due to tech. problems.
Comment by Liza — May 9, 2007 @ 11:38 am
All the new books coming out!
That’s a smokin’ hot cover!!
Comment by Susan — May 9, 2007 @ 11:39 am
I’m looking forward to conference
This is my first one and I’m super excited about it. Also, some Saturday morning walks on the beach. I love the early morning at the beach. Seems to cleanse my soul.
Julie - I didn’t know that about the school year. From someone who worked as a registrar in a huge HS in New Tampa having our school system line up with everyone else’s will be such a help for registration.
Love, Love, Love the count down. And you all ready know that I love the book. The candles, the red, the guy, yep all of it.
Comment by Vicki — May 9, 2007 @ 11:40 am
OK, one thing I’m NOT looking forward to - hurricane season!
I can’t believe there’s already a named storm -even if it is subtropical - the wind has been blowing here like crazy since Sunday. We’ve been without power once, trees and limbs have fallen all around the area, and there’s already significant beach erosion.
OK, thinking positive - maybe the season is just stomping it’s foot at us, trying to make us nervous, but it’s not really gonna charge.
Comment by Jodie — May 9, 2007 @ 11:48 am
I’m looking forward to the RWA conference, too. This will be my very first one as well.
I’m excited and nervous at the same time about it.
My kids get out May 24, I think. Next year they won’t start until late August. Thank goodness TX got smart. It’s too darn hot to start school August 3. They are finally back to the way it used to be before they let school districts schedule early starts and a millions days off in the middle. Best part of that? NO EXCEPTIONS GRANTED!
I’m looking forward to Harry Potter, too. Although, the first of June, Mr. Robert’s with Kevin Costner, Dane Cooke, and Demi Moore looks like a good summer psycho thriller. I already talked about Stardust that comes out in August a few days ago.
Comment by Lynn Matherly — May 9, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
Wow now there is a cover to make one QUIVER!:love2:
Comment by jeannie — May 9, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
Julie, great cover! Can’t wait to read the book.
At this time I don’t have any real plans for summer, just enjoy myself. I’m not a summer person! I don’t like hot, it makes me cranky! I love the fall that is my favorite time of year. Summer does have some pluses like Farmers Market, ours here started last Saturday. I got the yummiest strawberries, you can smell them when you walk up to the table of that vendor! I love all the fresh fruit & veggies.
Comment by Donna M — May 9, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
That is an amazing cover, Julie! And my son gets out after June 15 (we start in very late August).
Comment by Fedora — May 9, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
Oh, I agree with Jodi. I’m not looking forward to hurricane season at all. I never do but this year they kept talking about how much worse it may be.
Comment by Vicki — May 9, 2007 @ 2:03 pm
Wow in NY the school year starts the first week in September and ends the last week in June. But my son is graduating from 8th grade this year so his last day is June 15th and that is what I’m looking forward to the most this summer…NO SCHOOL!..Which means, no homework, no book reports, no projects, no studying…NO STRESS…lol
Yeah summer!
Comment by Tina Martinesi — May 9, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
Am looking forward to days full of sunshine and warmth so I can be outside enjoying working in my flower beds, going to the lake, having picnics with family/friends, relaxing on our porch with a good book or just enjoying each day while Summer lasts.
Comment by Shari C — May 9, 2007 @ 2:46 pm
Julie, Wow! Great cover. Am certain that the story will come up to it.
It’s the middle 90s right now in L.A., so, it appears, summer has already already arrived here. As I do not do well in heat (convulsions from the heat at age 4-l/2 in my history), I’m trying to stay comfortable.
Patricia A.
Comment by Patricia — May 9, 2007 @ 4:57 pm
Jodie…we are weird over here in the West Coast…we don’t get out of school until JUNE 21st (okay, we had ONE snow day to make up, so it would have been the 20th). We start the day after LABOR DAY. Just call us weird. No air conditioning in our schools! My oldest will have summer school in August, though (Thank goodness). Basically, I just have to worry about entertaining him in July, but then, I have two more to contend with!
Comment by katie — May 9, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
Katie - I’m trying to figure out what to do with mine over the summer. He went to a day camp last year that he absolutely loved. It was a working farm and he said he wanted to do it again this summer - all summer.
It’s a 2 week camp, which means I’d have to pay like 5 different times for him to be able to go all summer. They knew how much he enjoyed it, and how good it was for him, so they said they’d work a deal with us, but I’m still not sure that I’m going to be able to swing that.
But then again, I have to ask: “How much is my sanity worth?”
Comment by Jodie — May 9, 2007 @ 9:17 pm
Cali- You are being awfully quiet about Eqqus!!
Debbie- I use audio books to walk with. Gets both the reading in and makes me want to walk so I know what is going on. Motivation. I borrow them from the library and copy them to cd and onto my ipod.:cocktail:
Julie- I love the cover. I can’t wait for the book. i will be watching when I unpack the boxes!!
I am looking forward to just putzing around the house. So far I have put in a small patio, put a gazebo up around it and fenced in the bottom of the neighbors ugly, useless fence. Mainly to keep his pitbull from my doxie. We are going to the Jersey Shore for a week with the kids and grandkids. Puppies have to go to the vets for the week. I don’t like that. On the other hand, I will get to shop.
Daughter has her last final next week and one incomplete to finsih a paper for. Then summer classes.
None of the primary and secondary schools around here in NY are air conditioned, so I am glad they are getting out soon.
Comment by ev — May 9, 2007 @ 10:24 pm
and yeah, I am looking forward to harry’s releases. I think we are going to the IMAX to see the movie- in 3D!!
I can’t wait for the new Die Hard movie- and I won’t care how bad it is either. We are doing Spidey at IMAX saturday.
I will have to work the midnight sale for HP, I think. But the night after is the Meat Loaf concert (again) and this time I have front row seats right in front of Paul Crook. Be still my beating heart.
Then there is the new Shrek movie. and so many other things to do.
Comment by ev — May 9, 2007 @ 10:33 pm
Maybe I’m a little wierd but, I love having my kids home
I always love summers just because we spend so much time as a family, even if its just sitting around watching a movie. I love the freedom to just pick up an do a day trip or a weekend and not have to worry about school. Weekends are usually spent with grandparents or aunts and uncles and we just have fun. I’ve never worried about what to do with them, I’ve always just enjoyed having them home
Comment by Tina Martinesi — May 9, 2007 @ 11:00 pm
Ooooh Donna, I’m with you on the fruits and veggies!! Summer = Fruit Salad:love2::love2:
Comment by Tina Martinesi — May 9, 2007 @ 11:05 pm
The pool, great summer reads and relaxation.
Comment by Patty L. — May 9, 2007 @ 11:15 pm
Great cover!
Comment by barbara — May 10, 2007 @ 7:50 am
damn hot. there is a wedding and parties looking forward to.
Comment by kim h — May 10, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
I’m looking forward to reading your book! Yowza that looks hot. I’m also looking forward to a day at the spa on my birthday next month, going to a local water park (we have 3 here!) and checking out some movies: Shrek 3, Fantastic 4, The Transformers, Harry Potter, and Pirates 3
Comment by Celise — May 11, 2007 @ 12:44 am
Sexy cover
Summer vacation,no class, a whole lot of reading and beacin it a couple days a week with munchkins.
Comment by danette — May 11, 2007 @ 3:45 am