How To Be Exhausted and Pumped All At the Same Time…
Or: I Have Discovered the “Thing More Tiring Than Conference” and They are My Children.
I’m so excited today to introduce our guest blogger, JULIE KENNER! Now, most of you already know that I’m a huge fan of her books and of her as a person. Maybe it’s the shared first names, but the minute Julie and I meant, I knew we were destined to be friends. We just clicked. Which made it all the sweeter when I read her work and loved every word. You can’t imagine how thrilled I was, then, to be in a special promotion together back in my Pocket days, when her book THE GIVENCHY CODE and my book, DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS, were released together (along with Gena Showalter and Shari Shattuck, both of whom I admire beyond words) as the Naughty Girls of Downtown Press. A few years ago, Julie even bundled up her adorable child and drove all the way to San Antonio where I was vacationing so we could all go to Sea World together.
So it is with great enthusiasm that I introduce her to the Plotmonkey readers!!! And in keeping with this week’s conference theme, she’s going to clue us in a bit on her life. You will all, I’m sure, join me in the total amazement that this woman not only writes, but writes well when her life is so full of constant movement and activity. She’s my hero.—————————————————————————————————
Like most of the Plotmonkeys (we missed you, Leslie!), I just returned from the RWA conference in Dallas, which is the Romance Writers of America conference for those of you who are acronym-challenged.
Now, I’ve been going to RWA every year since I sold my first book in 1999 (when Janelle, Carly and Julie took pity on me and let me follow them around like a puppy dog, asking really stupid questions about how publishing works), and each year, I come home to the startling realization that after conference, I’m tired. (This, I say firmly in a “duh” voice, because RWA is very much a go-go-go kind of experience. It starts with a signing to benefit Literacy – during which I invariably lose my voice chatting with folks who are buying my books – and ends with a big awards ceremony. In between there are wall-to-wall workshops and cocktail parties and dinners and meetings. This year, I brought the kids. Yeah, I know. I’m weird.)
Anyhoo, the point being that I’m always tired after conference, so this year I expected it. I rarely go to sleep at conference before, oh, 3:30 a.m., because I stay up chatting with my partners-in-crime and critique partners, Kathleen O’Reilly and Dee Davis. This year, though, these fabulous ladies bugged out on me. (That is SUCH a lie … I was the one who said I wasn’t going to RWA, but it reads so much better to say they abandoned me, don’t you think?) No, the real story is that I was going to go to Disneyland, but ended up at RWA instead. (No, seriously). By that time, Dee had decided to take a year off, too, so she was out. And since I was planning to go to Disneyland, I had kids and husband in tow. Kathleen is a great friend, but shockingly she didn’t want to share a suite with us. I mean, why? A few skittles in the bed and naked children bouncing on the sofa. This is a bad thing??? Apparently she thinks so, because she got her own room. The nerve.
But back to the point that I seem to be unable to keep in front of me: this year, I wasn’t exhausted! No 3:30 mornings. I stayed up, but not unreasonably late. Yes, I did the cocktail parties and dinners, but I did them “light.” The first night, I dined with Brenda Chin and a fabulous group that included Janelle and Carly and Julie – and we had a ton of fun. Brenda actually hired a limo to take us to dinner (okay, so we guilted her into it) and it was a hoot. Here’s a picture of the limo:
I had the chance to catch up with Jules, which is great, and although Janelle and Carly were at the far end of the table, I still had the opportunity to covet Carly’s iPhone, so the important stuff was covered. The next nights were a mix of dinner and cocktails, and then one late evening trip up to the revolving restaurant, that one with my girls.
Here’s a picture of the girls’ trying to figure out Daddy’s magic trick (he was pulling bits of paper out of their ears) while we were in the Dome restaurant. Daddy’s bits of napkin were more fascinating than the restaurant’s revolutions..
It was a rather surreal conference experience, but I have to say it was loads of fun.
And since I wasn’t getting up early to do conference stuff (we did the zoo and the Dallas aquarium instead), I was nice and rested by the time Sunday morning rolled around. It was, I have to say, an interesting way to experience conference. But, interestingly, the exhaustion didn’t come (not from the con, anyway…stay tuned).
So why, then, am I sitting here in my house, completely wiped out (when I need to be writing about 10 pages per day?). Have I written 10 pages tonight? No, I have not. Instead, I’ve watched Seinfeld, King of the Hill, That 70’s Show (which I never watch, so why was I glued to the sofa?), and Malcolm in the Middle. Now, this was under the pretense of folding laundry, but I was done with that by the time Kramer presented Jerry with Fusilli Jerry, and well before the Ass Man came on the scene. There are still bags to be unpacked, for Pete’s sake! (The downside of traveling by mini-van…lots of luggage). So what is up with me?
I’ll tell you: Ten days of being on the road with 2 small children.
Yes, folks, we not only did conference, we did vacation and then conference. We packed two adults and two kids into a minivan and headed to Oklahoma.
Here are the girls ready to leave Texas, just to prove the point (don’t they look energetic?):
We had a great time, but the primary purpose was to give our five year old to visit the seven year old friend she’d made in China when we were over there adopting Isabella and our new friends were over there adopting Joe. So this was a very kid-activity oriented trip. We went to the Children’s Museum –
– we hung out with our two kids and their four, we went to the pool, we went to their grandparents’ and rode horses and toy cars, we went to playgrounds … and, yes, we also did a book club meeting featuring Carpe Demon (okay, the kids weren’t involved in that – they got a night at the grandparents’ for that). That was also an exhausting day because I’d managed to catch some sort of nasty stomach bug, so while I had a lovely time chatting about the book (and houses and kids and the town in general), the ladies probably thought I had a second job as a jack-in-the-box I was up and down so often. (My friend said they probably thought I was efficiently taking care of the children, the two little ones who’d chosen to stay with us. Works for me!)
All in all, we had a fabulous time in beautiful Enid Oklahoma. Fabulous and busy … and thus after a 5ish hour drive to Dallas (with my husband driving and me nursing my tummy) we arrived at conference with me already tired. So much for Conference Lite.
Conference is also always fun during a release month and (here’s the commercial part of the program) this month is the release of DEMONS ARE FOREVER, the further adventures of Kate Connor, demon-hunting soccer mom. I gotta say, I love Kate! She’s not me because, ick, sticking things in demons’ eyes? But she’s like a best friend – smart and funny and able to kick butt when need be. And the cool thing about conference is that I get the chance to meet readers who love Kate, too. And, you know, that’s really pretty great.
And, yes, here’s the cover of DEMONS ARE FOREVER, just so that you’ll notice it when you trip over it at your local bookstore:
Here’s the other thing about conference: It’s inspiring. I rarely go to many workshops (and this year with the kids I went to none at all), but I did give one speech. That – and the RITA stuff – was pretty much the extent of my overwhelming participation this year.
For that matter, here’s a picture of me before the RITAs with Kathleen O’Reilly and Julia London:
Even so, there’s something about conference. I think it’s that many writers in an enclosed space … it’s good for generating ideas. So – even though I just sold the first three books of a new series (Yay! Hooray! Hubba hubba!) – I still walked away with a plethora of ideas stewing in the back of my mind … one of which I really, really, really like.
So, just like every conference, I got my great story idea. But despite doing “conference light,” just like every conference, I’m too tired to do anything with the idea. At least right now.
Maybe tomorrow.
Maybe after a pot or two of coffee…
Maybe after a week of sleep …..
Julie, welcome! It’s always a pleasure to have a friend of the Plotmonkeys come out and play, and to talk about their books. I know you’re quite a fan favorite, yet I haven’t read any of your books…yet. I do have at least one in my tbr pile, and I apologize for not getting to it sooner.
I’m always amazed to hear about women who combine their writing with raising a family, both very time-consuming yet joyful occupations, at least from what I hear - I’m neither a mother nor a writer - and I give you a lot of credit for managing to pull it off and still have a little time for fun. Your daughters are just adorable and look incredibly inquisitive. I bet they keep you on your toes at all times *g*
Anyway, it’s great having you here and I can’t wait to hear more about your demons…in your books LOL.
Comment by Stacy ~ — July 18, 2007 @ 6:21 am
Welcome!
I love your books by the way.
Comment by barbara — July 18, 2007 @ 7:18 am
wow, traveling like that with kids.. i can see why you are tired..lol.. welcome to the Plomonkeys i really enjoyed the interview…Jolene
Comment by Jolene — July 18, 2007 @ 8:58 am
Welcome Julie. I love the Kate Conner books and can’t wait to get Demons are Forever(although I’m with you on that sticking things through the demon’s eyes). Good luck with catching up on all your sleep. I had my 3 nieces for a week at the beginning of the month(for my vacation) and I still am trying to catch up on sleep.
Comment by Liza — July 18, 2007 @ 9:04 am
Welcome Julie…I enjoyed “CALIFORNIA DEMON”. I just got Carpe Demon and I can’t wait to read it. I am so much like Kate…trying to juggle it all (okay, I don’t have the demon hunting part). I feel the Mommy guilt, just like her and I stay at home with my three boys (I don’t think I could have an outside job…they keep me busy enough!). What’s so fun about your book was that I am totally NOT into paranormal-type books, but that’s not really what it was about.
Keep it up.
I can totally relate to your travels. In the last month, we have been home for about a total of two weeks (currently, we are visiting my folks). This trip it is me and the three boys. I don’t know how I would have time to do anything else.
Comment by katie — July 18, 2007 @ 9:18 am
Julie so sorry I missed out on meeting the munchkins! Sounds like a wonderful always-to-be-remembered family time.
But I’m tired just reading about it.
Thanks for being here!
Comment by Leslie — July 18, 2007 @ 9:25 am
Thanks everyone!! Today is a miracle as there is No Place We Have To Go. Not only that, but it’s 8:26 and the girls are both still asleep (miracle of miracles).
Ah, bliss
Comment by Julie — July 18, 2007 @ 9:27 am
Hi Julie! I was in Dallas (my first conference) and had the great pleasure of meeting you at the Literarcy signing - thank you for your kind words and autograph.
I love, love, love Kate Connor and your Demon books and just finished Demons Are Forever last night. OMG - it was great and it’s going to be so hard waiting until next summer for Deja Demon! Being a mom too, I can totally relate to some of the things Kate goes through, and sympathize with your travels these last couple of weeks too. Hope your able to get some rest this week
Can you tell us more about your new series?
You mentioned you also have some great new ideas. Being an aspiring writer can you share what happens after you have a great idea (and how you come up with them)? Do you do research, have things around you to help you write, or does everything just come from your head?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and thanks for the terrific books!
(And thanks Julie for introducing me to such a wonderful author.)
Comment by Robin — July 18, 2007 @ 9:52 am
Welcome, Julie — It’s great to finally have you here. Enjoy your “easy” day today! As we all know, they happen often enough.
BTW, Danielle (my 16 year old) LOVES your Demon books!
Comment by Janelle — July 18, 2007 @ 10:22 am
Hi Julie!
It was so great to see you at the conference. Congrats on the new series! And the girls are both beautiful!!!!
Comment by Kimberly Raye — July 18, 2007 @ 10:35 am
Hi Julie and welcome to the plotmonkey’s playground. It was such a pleasure to meet you at conference. Not that I’m expecting you to remember me since the signing was totally full of people.
This was my first conference and I loved every bit of it. Meeting yourself and other authors was such a treat.
The kids are adorable. A family vacation and conference. Wow! And still you write such kick a$$ books.
Kimberly - I do have to add that it was also wonderful to meet you as well.
Comment by Vicki — July 18, 2007 @ 11:29 am
Hi Julie,
Your blog today was inspiring. With two children of my own I find that it’s hard to work in time to write with the running around, but after your story I now have the motivation to work a little harder.
Your girls are beautiful and I am sure their worth all of the exhaustion that you feel after vacation.
Comment by Patty L — July 18, 2007 @ 11:49 am
Welcome Julie!
And it is great to have our plotmonkeys all back:love2:
Leslie now you’ll be able to write that “moving” story
Comment by jeannie — July 18, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
Welcome Julie, I enjoy your books. Congratulations on the sale of your new series!
Your girls are cutie pies!
Comment by Susan — July 18, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
Hi Julie K, welcome to the Plotmonkeys.
No wonder you are tired! Two weeks of traveling with 2 children, that would tire anybody out! Lucky you that the girls are sleeping late. May your day go well so you can get ready to jump back into writing!
Thanks for coming to visit with us. I have enjoyed reading some of your books, Essence of Midnight & Night Moves are a couple.
Comment by Donna M — July 18, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
Julie Leto, I just started reading Stripped. It is promising to be very interesting!
Comment by Donna M — July 18, 2007 @ 1:16 pm
Julie: I forgot to ask…what is the order for the Demon books (I couldn’t figure it out based on dates…I am SOOO stupid!). Thanks.
Comment by katie — July 18, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
Hi Julie- I am waiting to find the new book in our shipment at work so I can snatch my copy right away. I love the Kate books, and I can’t wait to see what happens with her daughter this time- is it time for her to start training???
On another note- did anyone else hear that 2 former bookstore employees opened HP up and posted the ending?? It’s somewhere out there, and I hope Uncle Guido finds them. I refuse to look for it and the first person that tells me is dead meat. Although if I get one more call about the book at work, I may not need to worry. I may go hang myself.:wallbash:
Comment by ev — July 18, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
I did hear about that, Ev! Also, it sounds like a few distributors are in BIG trouble over this, too, because nearly 1,200 copies had gotten out!
I agree that Julie needs to sic Uncle Guido on those idiots who posted the end on the internet! :twisted:
Comment by Janelle — July 18, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
My son is taking me to NY next week to get a
:love2:God I love my kids!:love2:
My hubby and I so miss our
we just can’t stand not having one.
Anyway if you want to see what they look like try
puppypetite.com.
Comment by jeannie — July 18, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
I love puppies!! Congrats!! You will have to post pics when you get them. and I am sure there will be many.
RE: HP- they are seeking a warrant to find the guys and charge them with copywrite infringement. I hope they get them!!
Comment by ev — July 18, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
Welcome Julie
to Plotmonkeys
Comment by Cherylann — July 18, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
I’m ALIVE and almost headache free!
Welcome JBK! Always happy to see you anywhere but especially here and loved seeing you and the kiddies at RWA.
Thanks to everyone for the well wishes.
Congrats on the new puppy, Jeannie! Remember to post pics …
Anything I forgot, PLEASE drop me an email. I was really incapacitated the last two days.
Comment by Carly — July 18, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
Sorry I’ve been out all day! Doctors, doctors and more doctors. Plus a trip to the movies to see Harry with my daughter and nephew. Fun stuff!
I’ve been making sure not to make my regular stops over at Mugglenet to avoid any spoilers. The site itself is safe, but the comments are not. I don’t want to know until *I* know myself. Uncle Guido and his network are on the job. If no one finds the perpetrators…well, that may not be a bad thing.
Hmmm…we need an emoticon with cement boots, I think.
Jules!!! Great blog! Thanks so much for guesting with us today…and damn, but there are a lot of Kate fans in Plotmonkeyland! And well there should be. The series is simply phenomenal. Even you no-paranormal readers would like this, I’m just sure. The family dynamic, the friendships…all those things are so strong and emotionally powerful. Not to mention the sexual tension…with Stuart, with David, with Eric…no Kate is not a player, she just has very torn emotions and a strong sense of loyalty.
Off to dinner…and I’m testing my recipe for butterbeer for Friday night. Wahoo!
Comment by Julie Leto — July 18, 2007 @ 7:53 pm
Katie - checking back in and I know the answer to your question so thought I’d let you know (hope that’s okay).
Carpe Demon is the first in the series, followed by California Demon and then Demons Are Forever. I do think you need to read them in order because there is a definite progression of events.
Comment by Robin — July 18, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
I can’t believe how fast this day has gone by. The children are NAKED, which should give you an idea of how hectic it is around here. I go to Walmart to buy pasta for tonight, and come back home to two naked girls playing chase. (My husband locked himself away in the den with a book, probably terrified of the estrogen that will be surging in the house in a few years.)
Anyway, thank you all for the lovely comments! How cool I met so many of you guys at the lit signing! This is such a great blog. I’m going to answer the ones with specific questions a few comments at a time.
>>> Hope your able to get some rest this week
— okay, that’s not a question, but I laughed, then knocked wood, then decided that was futile 
>>Can you tell us more about your new series? — Absolutely! I don’t want to tell too much since it’s 2 years to release, but when Lily Carlyle set out to kill a child molester, she never expected to die and be resurrected as an assassin charged with fighting the forces of darkness. Trouble is, she’s been duped into fighting for the wrong side. And when Lily finds out the truth … well, there really will be hell to pay.
It’s darker than Demon, but I think the audience will cross over nicely. (I hope!)
>>>>You mentioned you also have some great new ideas. Being an aspiring writer can you share what happens after you have a great idea (and how you come up with them)? Do you do research, have things around you to help you write, or does everything just come from your head?
No idea how I come up with them. I just sort of … have them. Sometimes it’s long, drawn out brainstorming sessions. Sometimes it’s poof. The demon series was the collision of 2 ideas — alpha male romances with demon hunters in long black leather coats, and my desire to write a mommy lit book. the ideas banged up together, and Kate was born.
At the same time, I have a Great Idea For a Big Book, but I can’t seem to find a story to go with it. You know, one of those big-themed, all over the globe type stories. But I’ve researched and read and tried to plot, and I just don’t have it yet. So it’s still on the shelf, presumably percolating!
As for research, except for the above idea (that isn’t working out so well), I tend to research as I go. I have little interest in researching ahead of time if I can at all avoid it. I’m going to claim it’s because I’m so eager to dive into the story, but I think it’s really just laziness!
So, yeah, I’m pretty much a dive in kinda gal. If I get stuck, I whine to Dee, Kathleen or Julia London (who lives about 10 miles away, so hears a lot of my story gripes, LOL!)
Comment by Julie — July 18, 2007 @ 7:57 pm
Katie —
the order is:
CARPE DEMON
CALIFORNIA DEMON
DEMONS ARE FOREVER
(coming next year: DEJA DEMON)
I try to put enough in that any book would make sense, but I think it’s more FUN to read in order
Comment by Julie — July 18, 2007 @ 7:58 pm
Ev –
Maybe
(re Allie)
OMG (re the HP ending!)
I’m off to see the movie on Friday!!! Still trying to decide if I’m going to sneak out at midnight to buy the book. But I got to write “my” ending for the local paper. Will come out in Saturday’s edition. I mean, hey, my initials are JK, right? So maybe I got close
))
Thanks again, y’all!!! The dinner timer just rang, so I must go put clothing on the girls. Sigh.
Comment by Julie — July 18, 2007 @ 8:02 pm
Welcome home.
The girls are so cute! Love the photo with the hats.
Comment by Pat L. — July 18, 2007 @ 10:04 pm
Welcome to the plotmonkeys. I am looking forward to reading your new book, can’t wait. Have a great week.
Comment by Elisa V — July 18, 2007 @ 10:09 pm
Welcome Julie K.
Carly glad to hear your feeling better
Jeannie, That’s where we got our puppy Macbeth, he’s a yorkie, although sometimes I thing he’s part human…so smart and lovable…just make sure your puppy is healthy when we got ours home and took him to our vet they said he had kennal cough, believe me I spent quite a few nights sleeping on the floor next to his crate…but he’s very healthy now and we just adore him. Have fun!! What a thoughtful son you have!
Comment by Tina Martinesi — July 18, 2007 @ 10:43 pm
Hi Julie,
What a trip,I give you credit for doing the con with kids. My kids don’t like staying in the car for barely a half hour.
I really enjoy your books,I’m reading the new Kate book and I just finished the YA(so happy that the next YA is coming in a couple months)Thanks for the great reads.
Hugs, Danette
Comment by danette — July 19, 2007 @ 1:36 am