Changes on the Horizon

The end of the school year is winding down and I've been completely crazypants trying to keep up with everything.

Killian graduates from high school next month, and Corwin graduates from 8th grade. I'm trying to plan Killian's grad party and if I learned anything from throwing my mom a surprise birthday party in March is that I hate planning parties.

I don't mind going to parties. I don't mind bringing a dish to pass, but I hate planning parties. There's "food math" involved and logistics. And anyone who's read this blog more than once knows that neither math, nor logistics, are my friends.

Or schedules, really.

So basically, I'm pretty much screwed, here.

But I did finally get around to ordering Killian's senior pictures. The ones we had taken way back in October. o.O And they look great. And we did plan a menu for the party. So...that's something.

I think mostly this is all about me hating change and not being ready to have one kid in college and the other in high school. I'm not ready for them to grow-up. I realize that's the point of the whole thing, but dealing with it gracefully doesn't seem to be in my skill set.

I think it's one of the reason's Maurice Sendak's death hit me so hard last week. One more constant from my kids' childhood is gone. But, even though it makes me rashy and nervous, change is inevitable, and I'm proud of the men they're becoming.

Now, it's time to make sure Corwin has everything for his field trip to Washington DC. His idea of essentials and my idea of essentials compromise two very different lists. Any guesses as to which one of us has deodorant at the top of the list?

A Sad Day for Wild Things Everywhere.

I just got home from the morning school run to discover that Maurice Sendak, beloved author and illustrator of books Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen, Outside Over There (and so many more) died today at 83.

I can't tell you how many times I read those books to Killian and Corwin and all my daycare kids. I can still recite the entirety of Where the Wild Things Are from memory.

The world is a sadder place today.

Rest in Peace, Maurice. We'll miss you. Wherever you are, let the wild rumpus begin!

And now for something completely different - a scenty giveaway!

It's no surprise to anyone who knows me that I love scents. I'm a big proponent of aromatherapy, and I even use it while writing. In addition to using specific music to set the mood, I also use scents. It helps put me in the right frame of mind to get down to work. Every book has its own playlist and set of smells. In fact, my current WIP features the scents Ancient Forest, Forest Faery and Midsummer's Eve.

I can't wear regular perfume - my body chemistry doesn't play nicely with the alcohol content and other chemicals in there. So basically, me + regular perfume = dead flowers with a hint of roadkill in the sun. It's not pretty. I turned to essential oil perfumes and I've been dead flower and roadkill-free ever since. I've also been headache-free. There's something about some store bought scents that make for instant migraines, but I don't have that experience with essential oils. I love the combinations and how they work with my own body chemistry to smell even better.

I came across Melissa of the Mindful Mushroom while I was perusing Etsy (read: procrastinating) and I was intrigued by her perfume descriptions, so I decided to try some samples.OMG, am I ever glad I did.

This woman is a scent genius. After falling in love with several of her premixed scents, I asked her to do a special one for me with all of my favorite things: sandalwood, clove, woodsmoke, vanilla, honey and berries. It's FREAKING AMAZING. I love it so much. And she very cleverly named it Bronwyn.

Because I adore Melissa's products (and her cruelty-free stance) so much, one lucky commenter is going to win a 25.00 gift certificate to her Etsy store. And because Melissa is such a sweet and interesting person, I'd like to give you a chance to find out a little more about her in this interview. Contest details below.

Without further ado, I'd like you to meet Melissa.

Why perfume making?

Because I love it. I love how perfumes can instantly change your mood. There are some fragrances that make you happy, some that make you feel like a playful child, some that make you feel completely sexy and some that create instant peace and calm.

What attracted you to it in the first place?

I received a sample vial of hand blended oil as a gift from a friend. This is something I never would have thought to buy because I had plenty of alcohol based perfumes made by large businesses. Yes, shame on me I know. After my first application of this oil I was hooked. I loved how you applied it to your skin instead of spraying it at yourself. I loved how it blended with my body chemistry to create a completely unique scent. And I appreciated the thought that it was handmade. That I was wearing something that someone put love into making.

I don't think that I have bought a store bought beauty product since. Well except razors.
When I was ready to buy more of this oil I learned that the girl was no longer in business so I decided to start making my own.

How long have you been doing it?

Around four years. I should have known I would eventually be working with this type of medium. When I was about 10 I used to go pick all of my neighbors flowers, dry them, blend them and then sell them back to them as potpurri so I could raise money to donate to animals in need. Who would have known that 22 years later I would still be drying flowers and using the proceeds to help animals?

Where do you get your inspiration?

From nature, fairies and the thought of a nomad lifestyle. I like to create scents that take you on a journey whether it is just on a camping trip or to somewhere like india or through a magical fairy forest. I like enchantment and imagination.

What are your favorite ingredients to work with?

I am a firm believer in using sustainable and organic ingredients. I love the benefits of hemp seed oil and essential oils. Cedarwood repels insects, amyris is an aphrodisiac, rose relieves depression, chamomile calms. I think that the healing properties of plants is just incredible.

Have you ever made any truly hideous scents?

Yes! I was trying to make a custom oil for a guy that liked eucalyptus. I mixed an insane amount of eucalyptus with spearmint. That could have been used as a remedy to induce nausea. It was so sick. I also tried making one of my wine scents and wound up with a fragrance reminiscent of grape cough syrup. Gross.

Do you have any favorite scents? Why are they your favorites?

Absolutely. I love sandalwood. I love the smoky, warm quality that it has. It makes me feel at ease to wear it. Patchouli was probably my first to fall in love with. My friend used to wear a patchouli perfume that has long since been discontinued by Jovan. Every time I was around her I just kept wanting to smell her. Years later I got my first bottle of patchouli essential oil. I was probably the happiest hippie on the planet.

I also really like the mixture of clove and orange. The more I keep thinking of scents that I love the more that I am realizing that I apparently have a love affair with fragrances and could easily fill pages of my favorite scents. Mainly woodsy, smoky and dessert types are my favorites. I am not a big fan of soft florals and clean scents although I do respect their place on the fragrance wheel.

Here are all of my links
♦WEBSITE
♦FACEBOOK
♦TWITTER
♦ETSY STORE

Okay, all you need to do to enter is leave a comment or question for Melissa. And don't be shy, what are some of your favorite scents? The contest will from from now until Tuesday, May 15th. I'll draw the winner at 7pm that night and send you your super awesome Mindful Mushroom gift certificate

It's been forfreakingever, but I have a new book out today!

It's been almost five months since I've had a book out (bad Bron) but I'm happy to say that Sensuous Summoning, the second book in my Witch Way series is finally here!

There's a contest for the first two books in the series over at the Day Dreaming blog!

Here's the Blurb:

While casting a protection spell, Rowan Spencer gets the shock of her life. The spell goes very, very wrong, and she accidentally summons an ancient Celtic god.

A gorgeous, naked god.

Until Gwydion’s duty is complete, he’s bound to the human who summoned him. But as the poisons of earth drain him, he finds binding Rowan for his pleasure is sensuous task he’d enjoy for a lifetime—a lifetime that isn’t theirs to have.

And here's the cover. 

Yet another misread. With witnesses.

The other day I was taking Killian's friend Torin home and we passed a sign.

I immediately turned the car around so I could read it again.

Torin: What's going on? Did you forget something?

Me: I...um...need to see what that sign says.

Killian: (looking at Torin) Bet she read it wrong.

Yes, dear readers. I did read that sign wrong.

Killian: (reading aloud as we passed it again):Cash For Disabled Autos - Running or Not. (Smirking at me) What did you think it said?

Me: (muttering) Cash for Authors - Writing or Not.

Killian: Isn't that a Freud thing? No wonder you needed to turn around and reread it.

Yep. That's the one I have. 

This is where I live.

It's been a weird day. Our neighbors came over and asked if they could have our swing set for their kid. I get it - their kid looks longingly at it every day from two yards over and my kids are too old to play on it.

It's a nice one though. It's one of those wooden ones - two swings, a slide, a little clubhouse type thing with a roof and a sandbox area underneath. Matt built it when the boys were about four and two, and it's been very well-loved.

I couldn't really say no when she asked. Seriously? What am I hanging on to it for other than the fact that I don't want to admit my kids are too old for it? So Matt helped the neighbor dude dissemble it and moved it two houses down. I hope the little boy loves it as much as my kids did.

In other less depressing (to me) news. Killian and Corwin and their friend Torin (who used to live where the swing set now lives) have been making a movie for Torin's school project. It's a violent, sword fighting version of Green Eggs and Ham.

Yeah. I don't know either. But apparently, in this version, Sam-I-Am is willing to use all out force to get the other guy to try the eggs and ham.

So, obviously they needed green eggs. So I was explaining to them that they needed to whip the eggs to get them to scramble properly.And all three boys immediately started singing the theme from Indiana Jones.

Yep. This is where I live.

Finishing the Book and a Singalong

I'm thrilled to report that I finished the freaking book!

To celebrate (the book being done and me not being a giant stressed out bitch anymore), I took Killian, Not-Kevin. Justin and Johnny-boy D out for shakes after school. On the way to McDonald's (because we're classy...and also on a schedule) we had a singalong.

We sang Dance Magic Dance, 500 Miles (there's nothing like four teenage boys singing at the tops of their lungs in bad Canadian accents and stomping along to The Proclaimers) Safety Dance and by the time we got to the drive through order thingy, we'd moved on to Like a Prayer.

When we pulled up to the window, they were still singing and the clerk cracked up. I introduced them as my backup singers and dancers and at that point, she joined in and sang a few bars with us.

Best drive through experience in possibly ever.

Sadly, I now have to write a blurb.

Maybe we'll go out for shakes when I done...

Trying to finish this damn book...

So, I've been wandering around the house for the last hour trying to figure out what the hell was the matter with my story and it finally dawned on me and I said, "Conflict! I need more conflict."


To which my husband responded, "Okay. We could argue, I guess."


Sometimes he tries too hard to be helpful.

An Awkward Mishear

So Cait was bringing me up to the car place to pick up my car which was in the process of being fixed, and she was listening to her Hey Ocean cd. There was a peppy little song playing.

The lyrics are actually:

"You make me want to make up a new dance."

Only I heard:

"You make me want to rough up a nudist."

Oops.

My favorite book pirate!

So I went to the Romantic Times convention and it was fab. I love spending time with friends I don't see all that often or only knew from the interwebz, and hell, even friends I see all the time. In short, I love a good conference - even when I'm exhausted and utterly drained by the end.

One of the highlights of RT are the book signings. Both the ebook signing and the print signing are a blast. Meeting readers and visiting with the authors seated nearby is always fun. For instance, at the big book fair on Saturday, I got to sit next to legendary romance author Leigh Greenwood. The man was utterly charming, and I really enjoyed hanging out with him.

And then there was this guy.  Thee Blue Beard. (with two Es)  He was absolutely spectacular, full of questionable innuendos and helpful with book pimpage. What's not to love?