Plot Monkeys

I can’t believe it has been a year! You can imagine that all this week, we Monkeys will be ruminating about our experiences here and reading everyone’s comments yesterday on Leslie’s blog was so heart-warming. I tried to remember what blogs I’ve written over the past year…of course, there was the one about my ongoing battle with my garbage guys…renovating my kitchen (no, we haven’t started yet) and many on dancing, music and movies. I wonder how many times I mentioned Star Wars in a blog? If I were cruel, I’d make it the answer to my contest question! But I’m not that cruel.

And that’s another thing…of all the emoticons…this one is the one I use most often. Does that surprise anyone?

And this one… I’m still trying to figure out how to reply to my daughter when she asks me, “Mommy, what does WTF stand for?” She reads the blog over my shoulder many days…I really need to learn to be more careful, I guess!

Honestly, the most amazing thing about this blog over the past year has been the community we’ve all built together. If I’m having a sucky day, I know I can come here and get cheered by the funny, insightful, warm, giving and loving comments of all our visitors. Readers and writers, both aspiring and multi-published, all hanging out together and having a great time.

I have to admit, I had a blast today going through old posts. Remember my parent’s wild Italian phone adventure? Or the ugly fan letter I got claiming my book was “dirty” and how I responded? The tales of my family, from my daughter’s broken wrist to my Halloween extravaganza? My run-ins with my daughter’s principal? And many a homage to Star Wars, Harry Potter, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman and all things Disney? And of course, a run down of my annual pilgrimage to the Windy City…we’re leaving again in a few weeks. I can only hope I’ll come up with interesting topics for the next year…heck, right now I’m worry about the next MONTH, since I have, oh, 230 pages to write in the next 25 days.

Huh…guess I should get back to work, huh?

I just wanted to thank everyone for stopping by and commenting as often as you do…and of course, offer free books! Tell me ANYTHING you’ve learned about me or remember about the wacky world I live in and you’re eligible to win an autographed copy from my backlist. FIVE winners will be chosen!

If you add something you WANT to know (and I know you won’t ask my weight, dress size or any otherwise humiliating information)–thus giving me fodder for future blogs–and you’re entered twice.

Oh, also wanted everyone to know that I do intend to put up a few writing/craft oriented blogs soon…after this book is done!

PS: Yesterday’s winners of five books from Leslie’s backlist are:

Drop Leslie a line at author@lesliekelly.com with your snail mail addy and choice of book title! CONGRATULATIONS!