I meant to write about five blog posts this last week. Then the news kept compounding, and since I hadn't covered the previous subject, I didn't feel like I could address the next. So below is a hodpodge post--please forget the jumpy topics.

1. Thanks everyone for commenting on my blog for Multiple Sclerosis. I didn't even know this, but right now the MS Society is matching dollar for dollar all donations, so in all over a $100 was raised by one little blog post. And I even did my mini-walk which was very... mini.

2. After all that fun commenting, I bet you're wondering where to give next, yes? Please check out http://helpwritenow.blogspot.com/ for an online auction happening soon for victims of the southern tornados. I'll update later this week with additional ways to contribute, but if you're like me, you want to do something NOW. As many of my readers know, we left Alabama just this past year and I ADORE the people of this state. Our home there is fine, but many others were not fortunate, including close friends, and now here I am in Las Vegas, unable to grab a chainsaw and get to work. So instead, I'll be donating some items here and to various relief efforts and I hope you'll do the same. There's a lot going on news-wise right now, but Alabama folk are some of the most giving and kind people I've ever met, and they need help.


(picture of my little sister's friend, Racheal which actually appeared on my yahoo news feed. They hid in their bathtub and that's their apartment right there. Yeah)

3. So you can see why I've been mentally busy. And yes, I'm an author of princess books and have yet to comment on The Royal Wedding. And here is my confession... I have yet to WATCH the royal wedding (well, I watched a minute clip of the kiss. And holy Grace Kelly, I adored Kate's dress) But the footage is still there, and hopefully tomorrow I will finally idulge in order to celebrate the release of THE ROYAL TREATMENT.

4. Yep. Release of THE ROYAL TREATMENT is tomorrow. And the best compliment I can get with this book is, "I liked it better than the first." I know some writers take this as a slight, but I hope this one is better. I hope the next one is better than this. I'm always trying to up my game, and I think I accomplished that with this second book. I hope you agree! And, little plug, please spread the word. I can't tell you how important this is, whether through reviews on amazon or BN, a quick mention on your facebook, or even just telling a friend that they're daughter might like this book. I've been blessed with some really supportive readers and friends, so keep up the good work!

5. This week, I read OKAY FOR NOW. Take all those big, overblown, over-used words used in reviews and use them for this book, but use them with sincerity, because this book really was Remarkable, and Riveting, and Life Changing. This will be the book I tell everyone to read. I plan on reading it again this summer, once I have a little time to forget it (if that's even possible), because I want that experience of reading this again for the first time. This book hit my gut, hit my heart, and blew me away.



READ.

6. Quick shout out to Hanford School District in central California. I was able to visit half a dozen schools in this district last week, and it was another awesome experience. Always fun to stretch my public speaking muscles with groups classroom-sized to a junior high assembly (eek! Still get nervous for these!). And incidentally, while traveling from one school to the other, I learned California has a hands free cell phone law. The cop who pulled me ove