And Father Makes Three Interview

How exciting to have Elizabeth Randall the heroine from And Father Makes Three written by Kim Watters a July 2012 release from Love Inspired Romance .

1.     Elizabeth, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

Interesting? What a question. I don’t think I’m that interesting at all. I mean I always had my head in a book in school, still do at times. Did the fast-track, graduated from college at twenty, med school as few years later, and became a doctor way before any of my classmates. I’ve been working ever since. So, no. Nothing interesting about me. Now my daughter on the other hand…..

2.     What do you do for fun?

Fun? Well, I went to dinner and a movie with my friends the other night. Aside from that, Jordan and I like to ice skating in the summer time to cool off and go to the park in the winter. 

3.     What do you put off doing because you dread it?

Calling the adoption attorney to make sure Jordan’s adoption was legal. I’m afraid that there might have been some mistake and that she doesn’t really belong to me.

4.     What are you afraid of most in life?

Losing my daughter Jordan. She has leukemia and I’m trying to find a compatible bone marrow donor for her.

5.     What is the most important thing to you?

My love for God, and being able to use my hands to serve Him as a pediatric emergency room doctor. And without wanting to sound redundant, my daughter.

6.     Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?

Lately I haven’t had much time since my daughter is so sick. But when I do have some time I tend to read and medical journals, non-fiction and biographies.

7.     If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Wow. You’re just full of great questions today. I need to learn to relax, have fun, and be a bit more spontaneous, I guess.

8.     Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

We don’t have a pet; we don’t really have time for one, especially since I’m living at the hospital right now while Jordan is there. I know Jordan wants a dog or a cat, but until we can get her healthy, I can’t think about much else right now.

9.     If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

I think I’d go back to my childhood. If I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t be in such a hurry to grow up. Maybe I’d actually enjoy it a bit more a make some friends my own age instead of being a total bookworm and kind of lonely.

My Last Spark

 Kim Watters here. My 9 year-old daughter wrote this poem the other day while we were driving to the grocery store. Pretty profound, don't you think? A chip off the old block maybe?

My Last Spark

By Emily Watters

My light is dimming,

As I lay in the hospital bed,

Alone. With no one to come.

When I was born, a candle was lit

And when that candle goes out,

I know that I have lived a long and healthy life.

My time is near,

The candle has shrunk,

And I have done my best to treasure it.

But now the light has gone out.

With one last spark,

I say goodbye.

My newest release And Father Makes Three is still available in the stores and on-line. 

And Father Makes Three
July 2012
ISBN-13: 978-0373877560
“Your Daughter Needs You.”

She’s saved countless lives, yet there’s one person emergency room doctor Elizabeth Randall can’t rescue—her adopted daughter, Jordan. Perhaps meeting her biological father, Blake Crawford, will be the lifeline Jordan needs. The handsome, guarded firefighter takes risks every day. But facing the daughter he never knew—along with lovely Elizabeth—has him thinking about family. With fatherhood thrust suddenly upon him, there’s no way he can turn his back on his sick child. Will working together to give Jordan a second chance at life also lead them to a second chance at love?

And Father Makes Three Interview

How exciting to have Elizabeth Randall the heroine from And Father Makes Three written by Kim Watters a July 2012 release from Love Inspired Romance .

1.     Elizabeth, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

Interesting? What a question. I don’t think I’m that interesting at all. I mean I always had my head in a book in school, still do at times. Did the fast-track, graduated from college at twenty, med school as few years later, and became a doctor way before any of my classmates. I’ve been working ever since. So, no. Nothing interesting about me. Now my daughter on the other hand…..

2.     What do you do for fun?

Fun? Well, I went to dinner and a movie with my friends the other night. Aside from that, Jordan and I like to ice skating in the summer time to cool off and go to the park in the winter. 

3.     What do you put off doing because you dread it?

Calling the adoption attorney to make sure Jordan’s adoption was legal. I’m afraid that there might have been some mistake and that she doesn’t really belong to me.

4.     What are you afraid of most in life?

Losing my daughter Jordan. She has leukemia and I’m trying to find a compatible bone marrow donor for her.

5.     What is the most important thing to you?

My love for God, and being able to use my hands to serve Him as a pediatric emergency room doctor. And without wanting to sound redundant, my daughter.

6.     Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?

Lately I haven’t had much time since my daughter is so sick. But when I do have some time I tend to read and medical journals, non-fiction and biographies.

7.     If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Wow. You’re just full of great questions today. I need to learn to relax, have fun, and be a bit more spontaneous, I guess.

8.     Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

We don’t have a pet; we don’t really have time for one, especially since I’m living at the hospital right now while Jordan is there. I know Jordan wants a dog or a cat, but until we can get her healthy, I can’t think about much else right now.

9.     If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

I think I’d go back to my childhood. If I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t be in such a hurry to grow up. Maybe I’d actually enjoy it a bit more a make some friends my own age instead of being a total bookworm and kind of lonely.

Viva Las Vegas

Kim Watters here. By the time you read this, I'll be knee deep having fun in Las Vegas with my kids over Spring Break. So needless to say, I won't be responding to any comments until I get back. Great timing, don't you think?

Las Vegas you say? With kids? Of course. It was Las Vegas or San Diego in the summer. I think I'm going to save some money and wear the soles off my shoes. It's been over a decade since I've been to Vegas. A lot has changed. Did you know there's 101 FREE things to do? How are we going to cram it all in in three days?

By creating a plan. An outline. A synopsis of sorts. Map in hand and the list, we will work our way from one end of the strip to the other. Kind of like how I plan my books with an outline and synopsis. Working from one end to the other. Of course, I've also factored in free time in Vegas if we find something else to do, the same as I don't quite plan every scene in my books as some scenes pop into my head about a chapter before I need them. That way I feel three's still a bit of surprise factor in both my books and my vacations.

Will we do it? I'll get back to you that.

Black Friday bonanza

Kim Watters here. I finally did it. I bought a Kindle. I wasn't planning on it when I went shopping on Black Friday. I mean, who would have thought Target would still have any in stock at 10:00 in the morning. I may be crazy enough to go shopping on that day, but I draw the line at waking up way too early, or not going to sleep at all. Trust me people, at my age, I need my beauty sleep.

Anyway, kids in tow, yes, I brought them along, too. (didn't matter because I'd already finished my Christmas shopping-shall I mention my cards and Chirstmas letter are done along with the Christmas portraits? Oh and we put up the tree and decorations yesterday.What can I say, I'm an organized Virgo!) And I just can't resist a sale.

The kids actually found the Kindle first. "Come on, Mom. Just think of how much we'll read now."

"Really?" Hooked, bait, line and sinker.

"Of course." As my youngest is playing a game on the Fire.

"Well...."

"Paleeze." They both whine.

Well, they were majorly on sale (a regular Kindle not the Fire) and still there so maybe it was time to get one since they still had five in stock and my kids are the computer literate generation and can probably teach me how to operate it. "Fine."

So, that's how it happened along with the GPS system, (so Mom doesn't get lost anymore) and the portable DVD player ( to keep my kids from killing each other on those long drive). My kids are determined to ring me into their computer world.

Next year though, I'm going out alone!

So who else ventured out on Friday and waht did you get?

I did it!

Kim Watters here. Well, I did it. Something I thought I'd never do. I climbed out on the clear platform of the Willis (Sears) Tower on the 103rd floor during our recent vacation to Chicago. Okay, so I was practically hyperventilating....and freaked out but I couldn't let my kids get the best of me. Unfortunately I don't have a picture that I can post to prove it because my camera died. I did shell out $32 for the pictures they took but I don't have a scanner so you'll have to use your imagination.

Here's a photo courtesy of the Willis Tower website though to give you an idea. It's giving me the shivers just looking at it.

How did I do it?

I prayed....and didn't look down!

But I did it. So next time you're in Chicago, you've got to try it. If you dare. Trust me. If this chicken can do it, so can you. Closing your eyes also works as well.

New additions to my family

Kim Watters here. Today I wanted to introduce the newest members of my family. Yes, folks, we rescued not one, not two, but three sibling kitties from the pound. Aren't they cute? And cuddily. And very energetic. I get tired just looking their antics, but they do keep me on my toes and laughing. It's a distraction to my writing, but hey, one of these days, I'll be able to work them into one of my stories.

I forgot what kittens were like though. Just like babies, they are into everything. We also discovered my daughter is allergic to them. Now being of sound mind and body, what did we do? No, we did not get rid of them. I did some internet research. I love the internet, (couldn't write half my books without it) and discovered they make a cat shampoo that will eliminate the allergy. It's not just the dander folks, its also the saliva when they bathe. And it worked.

So drumroll please.....

Figaro, the black cat is mine.

Mayley, the siamese mix is my daughter's,

and Lego, the orange tabby is my son's.

So whenever you need a kitten fix, just give me a hollar. And look for some of their antics coming to book near you soon.

My life in boxes

Kim Watters here. Well. I'm all moved in. Or at least as much as I can be at this point. The furniture is in and the kitchen is set up. I have some clothes in the closet and I know where all the boxes are that contain my bathroom stuff. If only I could find the hand lotion...Anyway, if I could find my camera, I'd have taken a picture so you could see what a mess my garage is. My life in boxes. I wonder how I'm going to get it all to fit inside my new house. I will though, because I'm determined. One box here, another box there. Soon, I'll have a spot to park my car. (Good thing the homeowner's association allows me to park in the driveway. )

Unpacking kind of reminds me of writing. On a whole, thinking about writing that manuscript is a daunting task. But if you break it down into smaller segments, like a scene or chapter, it's more manageable. If I tried to unpack everything at once, I'd have a much bigger mess inside and total chaos in my brain. If I tried to write the entire book in one sitting, the reaction would be the same. Plus it would be impossible. There just isn't enough hours in the day.

Besides, the longer it takes, the more fun I'll have unearthing the possessions I packed up months ago. Taking more time to write the manuscript allows me to discover more about my characters and add more depth to the story. At least that's what I've convinced myself of anyway. Until next time.....

Home Sweet Home Interview

How exciting to have Cole Preston the hero from Home Sweet Home by Kim Watters, a June 2011 release from Love Inspired Romance.

1. Cole, tell me the most interesting thing about you. I love to renovate old houses but you’re probably looking for a better answer. Let’s see, I make a mean chocolate mousse.

2. What do you do for fun? I like to cook. I haven’t done much of it lately with my schedule and all, but I consider myself a closet chef.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it? Returning home to Dynamite Creek. I left there under some not so great circumstances and a lot of people in town still hold a grudge against me. I’ve tried to stay away, but there’s a job I need to do that I can’t put off any longer.

4. What are you afraid of most in life? Rejection.

5. What do you want out of life? I haven’t had much time to think about that. I guess right now, it’s trying to get my life back together and replenish my retirement account. I know what I don’t want, and that’s a wife and family. My parent’s marriage ended in a really bad divorce. I don’t see that it’s worth the trouble.

6. What is the most important thing to you? My reputation. If you don’t have that, you don’t have much. Right now it’s pretty much ruined and I’m going to have to dig myself out of this hole my ex-partner dug me in so I can hold my head high again.

7. Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book? Cookbooks. But don’t tell anyone.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I guess it would be not to be so cynical.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet? Nope. No pets. I don’t have time for them. I move around and work too much.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why? I’d go back to the day before my mother’s accident and stop her from getting into that car. I’d have her back in perfect health. It kills me that she can’t remember who I am because I’ve been gone so long.

FEATURED BOOK: HOME SWEET HOME BY KIM WATTERS

Finally ready to settle down, Abby Bancroft has just inherited a place to put down roots. But her hopes for a successful bed-and-breakfast are placed on hold when she learns that her grandparents' run-down inn is in serious need of TLC. So is Cole Preston, the handsome contractor who offers to help make her dream a reality. His past mistakes won't let him consider settling in the close-knit town. Yet as he and Abby work together to repair the house, they also begin to mend each other's hearts. And they just may find that consulting their hearts is what creating a home is all about.

Mothering Instincts

Kim Watters here. I found a baby bird the other day. Poor thing barely had any feathers and was definitely too young to be out of his nest. It had been windy earlier, which was probably why Junior was on the ground. Doves are not the smartest of bird species and make their flimsy nests just about anywhere.

Now let me tell you, I’m not fond of birds. Don’t like them, and when they get too near, I freak out. I had a really bad experience when I was about 4. Anyway, I digress. This poor little thing is cowering on the ground, barely able to move. So what do I do? I go back inside and grab a box.
It has to be the mothering instinct in me. No matter what species, (okay no spiders, scorpions, or other creepy crawlies) I will rescue them. So I scoop Junior up and take him to the local bird lady, who will raise him until he can fly.

So what would you do in a similar situation? In my newest release, Home Sweet Home, Abby Bancroft takes in a stray cat. Okay cats and wild birds are two separate things, but I think the decision to help another one of God’s creatures in real life and in fiction is universal.

Bid On Me

Kim Watters here....Come bid on me. I wanted to tell you about an awesome opportunity to help find a cure for Junvenile Diabetes. Brenda Novak does an auction each year in May and there are many wonderful items to bid on. I've included my offering below.

I know some of our other lovely and talented Craftie authors have donated items as well so check us out.

I'm auctioning off a gift bag. Included in this tote bag is an autographed copy of On Wings of Love, a sterling silver and Marcasite necklace, a candle and candle holder, a heart paperweight, a picture frame, a mirror, a decorative charm, a pen and calendar.

http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/Bidding.taf?_function=detail&Auction_uid1=2154316

To check out the regualr auction, click here

http://www.brendanovak.com/auction.shtml

Home Sweet Home Cover

Hi Everyone. I just got a peak at my newest cover and blurb for Home Sweet Home. Beautiful, isn't it? Harlequin does such a great job. Somewhere to belong.... Finally ready to settle down, Abby Bancroft has just inherited a place to put down roots. But her hopes for a successful bed-and breakfast are placed on hold when she learns that her grandparents’ run-down inn is in serious need of TLC. So is Cole Preston, the handsome contractor who offers to help make her dream a reality. His past mistakes won’t let him consider settling in the close knit town. Yet as he and Abby work together to repair the house, they also begin to mend each other’s hearts. And they just may find that consulting their hearts is what creating a home is all about.

Groundhog Day History and the Writer Take Two

Kim Watters on Groundhog Day-Take Two.

Isn't Punxsutawney Phil cute?

Because of our wonderful Valentine's story, my blog was postponed for a month. Being the type of writer who hates to delete things, I'm revising it and reposting. Gee, the story of a writer's life.

Well, it's been a month now, has Spring sprung yet? I don't believe Phil saw his shadow so what's with the weather? We had snow in North Phoenix over the weekend!

For those of you who don't know, the following is a bit of history of how the day began.

(Adapted from "Groundhog Day: 1886 to 1992" by Bill Anderson) Credit given to The Official Punxsutawney Groundhog Club

European Roots

Groundhog Day, February 2nd, is a popular tradition in the United States. It is also a legend that traverses centuries, its origins clouded in the mists of time with ethnic cultures and animals awakening on specific dates. Myths such as this tie our present to the distant past when nature did, indeed, influence our lives. It is the day that the Groundhog comes out of his hole after a long winter sleep to look for his shadow.

If he sees it, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole.

If the day is cloudy and, hence, shadowless, he takes it as a sign of spring and stays above ground.

The groundhog tradition stems from similar beliefs associated with Candlemas Day and the days of early Christians in Europe, and for centuries the custom was to have the clergy bless candles and distribute them to the people. Even then, it marked a milestone in the winter and the weather that day was important.

As a writer I can relate to poor Phil.

We hibernate as we write our manuscripts, venturing out only when we have to to eat or do laundry or other tasks that keep the household running. We slave away in our dark, little caves, churning out page after page of wonderful prose destined to meet with editorial and reader approval.

And then comes the revision letter.

If it's an easy one, (no shadow), we can emerge from our caves and enjoy life a bit more as the winter season has passed.

If it's a complicated one, (shadow), we scurry back into our caves for a few more weeks of a writing frenzy until we can emerge again and enjoy the spring.

As for this writer, I just emerged from my cave for a bit, waiting for my editor's reply.

Pulling the Plug

Kim Watters here. Now that I’ve got your attention, it’s not quite the dire situation the title reflects. Well, for my kids yes, but in the big scheme of things—no.

Earlier this month we cut the satellite TV. Yes, you read that correctly. We pulled the plug on over 300+ channels, most of which we never watched anyway, because our family spent way too much time in front of the boob tube. So now we have public channels only, just as we had when I was a kid. Cruel I know but in a cost cutting economy, we had to make some choices. DirecTV was one of them. I want to encourage my kids to be more active and use their minds creatively instead of vegetating out in front of the TV. Of course, they can still see some of their favorite episodes on the computer, but we’ve limited their time there as well.

Has it worked? I think so, but only time will tell. Without the myriad of choices of some somewhat inappropriate shows that don’t exactly mirror the values I’m trying to instill in my kids, they are finding other things to do. Reading, which makes my heart beat faster since I’m a writer, is one of them. Dusting off the old toys sitting in the closet is another. They’re even more helpful around the house, though I suspect it’s more from boredom or them hoping by being underfoot, we’ll change our minds and bring the satellite back. Not going to happen anytime soon, but I do like getting the dishes done faster.

As for myself, I miss Monday Night Football and the Discovery Channel, and the Cooking and the History channel. It’s funny how you miss things when they’re gone, but not for long. I survived my childhood, I can survive this. My TBR pile is growing smaller and the money saved will buy a lot more books to add to my dwindling pile.

That said, what have you done without lately? How has it hurt or helped you? Curious minds want to know.

*Photo by Salvatore Vuono www.freedigitalphotos.net

This Girl Can't Dance

Kim Watters here. Okay so last month I told you about my experience with the YMCA. This month I have to admit that I did attend the Zumba class offered. Going in I knew that I didn’t really know how to dance. I just didn’t know how bad I really didn’t know how to dance meant.
The Sunday afternoon class is packed with people. Great. I can get lost in the crowd. At least my friend, Debbie, that I convinced to take the class with me is in the same shoes. We hide in the back row, hoping to go unnoticed. Er-my friend is almost 6’ tall. No way that’s going to happen. In comes the instructor, who zeroes in on us first thing.

“Welcome class. If this is your first time, just follow along and do your best. Don’t over do yourselves and there are no wrong moves.”

“Good.” I whisper to Debbie. “That instills a lot of confidence in me. What have we gotten ourselves in to?”

Debbie laughs and nods, wearing a horrified expression.

The music starts and we’re off. Egads.

“Come, ladies, let’s go. Get that heart rate up. We’ve got to move it, move it.”

What is the instructor doing? Where’s the ease into the workout? I’m breaking into a sweat and it isn’t from exertion yet. I stumble to the right and then the left, all my klutziness there for all to see in the full-length mirrors on two sides of the room. My friend isn’t faring much better. At least at this point we’re still laughing. Somewhat. Forward, back, to the right, to the left. Add the arms or weapons as the other women in the class must be thinking about now. My body has taken on a life of it’s own. And I’m still at least one beat behind everyone else in the class. Just when I think I’ve got the move down, we change to something else.

Judging from the warm-up, the instructor can dance. I’ve never felt inadequate before until I realize that my hips just don’t go in that direction. The class goes left, Debbie and I go right. We jiggle this way, the class jiggles the other way. The salsa? Really? One , two, three, now switch. Maybe I should be looking for a class that works out to the Polka. Being of German and Polish decent, I may find that a little more my style. Nonetheless, we stick it out and make it to the end with only a few bruises.

Despite the fact I can’t dance, I had fun and went again. And keep going although my hips still don’t go the same direction as the instructor’s. I finally get the hang of the dances and now the instructor has changed things up. The moves are even harder. I’ve given up trying to learn them and just bounce around to the music in a mad attempt to look like I know what I’m doing, but I’m still having fun.

The same goes for writing. Go beyond your comfort zone and explore options that seem difficult. Change things up to add variety. Change a genre. Try a new profession for your characters that requires a bit of research. Something in your book not working? Try something else. But most of all have fun. See you in Zumba later.