Thanks to all of the Blog Babes for playing along with the contest this week! Our lovely winner this week is Kim H from California. Woo hoo, way to go, Kim!! Your book will be sent along shortly.

So…Yay! Survivor is back on, Survivor is back on!

Major spoilerage here, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know who got booted!

I really enjoyed last night’s episode. It was chock full of castaway goodness. With ten survivors left - 4 on La Mina and 6 on Casaya - we have our merge. Now, I know that, based on, well, pretty much everything they’ve done (exemption Cirie) I should be rooting for the friendly manly manness + Sally of La Mina. And yet, I find myself rooting for Casaya. Partly - well, mostly - because I’m rooting for Cirie (and Bruce, just because) - and partly because, well, Terry irks the crap out of me. Who does he think he is, coming in two players down and offering Cirie and Shane fifth place? Fifth? Ooooooh, there’s a tasty temptation, except, you know, not really. Um, hello, Terry? They already have that one pretty much locked up where they are. Worst case is they get sixth at this point, if they stick with the current program. He really annoyed me, but then I wasn’t real keen with him switching off from his promise to Very Pale Dan either.

I will say that Terry is most definitely playing the game for Terry, and that is how it should be. But so is Cirie. The only difference is I really like how Cirie is playing for herself. Terry? Not so much. And to top it off, he could have brought his tribe count a bit closer to even (thereby actually giving him a tad of leverage) if he’d let Nick or Austin win immunity, then used his idol if he was the one voted out. That way, his team controlled who went home. Which would have been Shane, and I’d have loved to have seen that one play out! But no, Terry may act like he’s a team player, but he’s playing strictly and solely for himself. (Again, perfectly fair, it is a game. Still don’t like him.) So he lets Nick take the fall. Now they are 3 - 6 against Casaya and he is totally in it for himself, with his immunity idol as his main backup - that and his ability to win immunity on his own each week. So…not a big Terry fan. He’s nice to look at, but then, so is Austin. But I actually like Austin.

And wow, was Austin convinced he was going home or what? So he reveals his See-how-weak-I-am strategy (which WORKED! I laughed and laughed at the faces on the Casaya tribe) and then finds out he’s not the target after all. And the Oscar goes to….Austin! Nick goes home (after one of the most protracted and pre planned goodbye speeches ever - I heard what he said, but really, what did he mean? If you’re in your mid twenties and confused rise up and we’ll heal the world as one? Hunh?? Prolly just me, but I really didn’t exactly get his Improve the World game plan there.) Anyway, Austin is kinda adorable, and he’s a writer, and he consoled Sally on her divorce saying exactly all the right things and then saved her, to boot. I like the guy.

Hey! Maybe he and Bruce and Cirie and Sally could team up. I could live with that. Quite well actually. Send Aras, Shane, and Terry packing….followed swiftly by Courtney and…I can’t remember her name. Possibly it’s the constant plumped up and pushed together cleavage blurring my vision. (What is up with that anyway? Yes, we get it. They’re perky.)

Of course, if the women are smart, they’ll let Casaya kick Terry and Austin off (once Terry uses his idol AND loses an immunity challenge, so might take awhile on that score)….but if that happens, then that will leverage the power into the women vs men court, if they bring Sally over. Only problem is, Courtney and Leave it to Cleavage probably aren’t that together in team management skills. Altho Cirie is…. Will remain to be seen if she wants to step up in such a visible way, though. Then Sally and Cirie could duke it out for the win. Maybe with Bruce in there somewhere, just for fun.

So…nine survivors left, who is next?

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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One of the nice things about living in the DC Metro area is that every spring we have the Cherry Blossom Festival downtown. The local news stations and newspapers keep close watch on the heavily budded cherry trees that line the Tidal Basin, each trying to out-predict the other in when the peak blooming time will be.

Well, I’m hoping it’s this weekend, because that’s when I plan to head down and take in the gorgeous display. And, if the weather holds, maybe trek up to the National Zoo afterward and see the panda baby in action while he’s still a baby. I’ll be sure to share photos if all goes as planned!

So, last night on American Idol…was anybody surprised by who went home? I doubt it. A shame, because Lisa is a very strong singer. It’s just that, something about her performance prevents her from connecting with people. I think it’s because she’s been a stage performer in musicals for so many years (at the grand old age of 16) that she’s trained herself to play characters in a play, and now has no idea how not to “play” herself and just be herself. It was also her background training, however, that allowed her to handle her good-bye like the consummate professional she is. Bye, Lisa! Enjoy the Idols on Tour this summer!

As for the other two singers in the bottom 2…I’ll hazard a guess and say not many of us were surprised to see Ace there, as he’s been there before. He can bring the pretty all he wants, but it’s still not enough to compensate for the average singing with the majority of the viewers at home. Which I kind of like. It’s nice to see the more unconventional looking,yet fantastic performers get their due this season.

I imagine a lot of us, myself included, were surprised to see Katherine in the bottom three. Even more surprised that she was bottom 2 over Ace. I would have put Bucky in that spot first. She kept a brave face, but clearly it rattled her. Will make it interesting to see how she handles the added pressure next week.

Which is…country music! So I guess Kellie and Bucky can relax. Eliot, Chris, Mandisa and Paris? Hmmm, might be another interesting night!

Reminder! This is your last day to send in your PICK ME! entry for this week’s Friday Giveaway! See Monday’s blog post for the details.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Okay, it’s the Wednesday morning - post reality show night glut - so today has to be All MAC, All the Time….

First up, American Idol…. I’ll keep this short. Yuck. All ten of ‘em left me horribly underwhelmed in a number of ways. I was all happy it was current songs, thinking this would be a knock-out week by our gang. But the reality? Not so much. I could list reasons for all ten being disappointing, but essentially, all that matters is that, at the end of the night, I wasn’t really compelled to vote for any of them. The song choices were really off, whether they picked the super popular or not-so-popular, neither seemed to work. (And Chris, Mandisa, Paris, and even Kat - stop shouting at me. Geesh.) If I had to vote? Had to? Probably Taylor, only because he didn’t annoy me as much as the others did. Bored me, but in comparison, that wasn’t so bad.

The irony of the night? It was a shame Lisa had to go first - I agreed with the judges comments at the time, but by the end of the night I thought that, in comparison anyway, she was one of the better ones. Go figure. Going first will doom her, I think. But given the judges went on to pan them all, more or less (and deservedly so) we could have a surprise exit on our hands. Will be interesting.

For me, based on just tonight? Bottom three would be Bucky, Ace, and Kellie (I love you, girl, but no suds for me.)

Now on to the fun show!

Amazing Race MAC……

Germany! Italy! Phil in leather!

I like most of these teams (gee, guess which ones annoy me?) They are all good racers - even Fran and Barry are picking up speed. Though, while I understand their decision to run their own race completely separate from everyone else, and even thought it was kind of amusing when Fran kept telling Lake to step back, it doesn’t speak all that well for them when they can’t pass along even the mildest of info. I mean, even Lake does that! But to each his own race.

Having said that, I hated that Lake and Michelle felt they had to yield the Dani’s. Lake tends to be overly hyper about almost everything, so I understood his fear, but it did end up costing the D’s the race and didn’t really change the outcome pro or con for Lake/Michelle. I was glad to see Ray and Yolanda still in it (tho they need to step it up a little) but still…I thought the Dani’s handled themselves really well, especially considering they ran in the back of the pack most of the time. All in all, not bad for a pair of 22 year olds.

I felt really bad for Lori and Dave’s meltdown on the roadblock - the two extra pieces was evil. Most of the other teams got to pick up on that fact from teams around them, but it seemed as if these two were too far away with the statue they were working on to figure that out sooner. I really felt for her frustration and am glad they are still in it.

BJ and Tyler’s incessant wacky mugging is getting a lot old now, but they’re harmless and I do like that they seem to be really enjoying the race. Besides, Phil likes them, so how bad can they be? But every time Eric and Jeremy get one step ahead in my estimation of them, they fall waaaay back down again, especially this leg. My god, give it UP already with the whole We Dig Chicks thing. We get it. And you’re just so grossly immature and completely self unaware about it, that it’s not even amusing. “Do you have to wear scarves to cover your hickeys?” Really???? I mean, full body shudder to that one. Was that a pick up line? Do they think they’re smooth? That girls dig that crap? Could they come off any more shallow, clueless, and desperate? Just ugh. I hate it that they’re good racers. Love it that BJ and Tyler beat them without resorting to the yield.

(On a side note, I thought it was very fatherly of Phil to give the girls the eyebrow pop over their quick hook up with E & J. I don’t think he was so much disgusted with the hook up as he was that these two girls could have done WAY better than those two tools. And he’s right.)

That leaves MoJo - they managed this leg fairly well, all things considered. I did have to laugh when they had Mo’s voiceover about how she’s not a dumb blonde, while listening to her mangle the word Palermo. (And Joe - Palomino? ) I know they’re just tired, so it was funny, but more in an affectionate way than a mean way. I like them okay. They’re kind of Team Beige for me. Just kind of there. Sort of like Ray and Yolanda, only I like R & Y better. (Liked Ray’s cute trash talk while putting the statue together.) They treat each other really well and seem to have a great deal of respect for each other.

Actually, most of the racers treat their partners really well this season, which is nice to see - with Lake and Michelle being the only team that gets a bit ugly. Only they both do, to some degree, so that dynamic seems to work for them. Which makes them kind of deserve each other in my eyes, so I don’t feel bad for either one at the expense of the other - I just don’t want them to win.

I’m enjoying this season, but I’d love to see a shake up in the top two (well, as long as it’s not Lake and Michelle!) The Frats and the Hippies have dominated those spots, and tho I don’t mind Tyler and BJ doing well, or even winning, I’d just like there to be more suspense about the whole thing. I’m rooting for Lori and Dave, and Ray and Yolanda at this point, to step it up and make their move. But I’d be happy to see pretty much anyone but Lake/Michelle or E & J win the whole thing.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Tags: Writing by Donna
5 Comments »

No writer wants to do revisions, right? Well, right. I’d much rather not. But in some ways, maybe I’m the odd duck. (Hey, I heard that!) Now, of course, every book I turn in is a masterpiece of absolute perfection, come on! But, the reality is, that if you are really passionate about your story, your characters, there are times when you get so close to the story that you can’t be completely objective about it. You think you are, and you hope you’ve pulled off the exact tone you were reaching for, created the right amount of sizzle, kept the pacing tight and given the reader the biggest bang for her (or his) buck, but…sometimes there are bits here and there that need tweaking, improving, finessing. Which is why there are editors. (I happen to have one of the true gems in Kate Duffy.)

Over the years and dozens of published books, I’ve always thought of my editor as my teammate. That one other person who is as invested in making my book the best it can be as I am, with only the best interests of the story at heart. With that critically objective eye, she can pinpoint the troublesome spots if they exist and help figure out how to get across the point you were trying to make, but perhaps missed. If you’re really lucky, you and your editor work together to find the perfect solutions. I happen to be very lucky.

Here is where the odd duck part kicks in. Sure, I love the “you rock, don’t change a word!” calls, which means I can keep my head in the current work in progress and not stop what I’m doing to revisit a story I thought I was done with. But when the occasion arises where the call is, “I love it, but we need to talk about a few parts,” well, once I get past mentally rejuggling my schedule to fit in the added work time, I find myself actually invigorated by the opportunity to dive back into a story and revisit my characters and, well, play with them some more. It’s almost…fun. See? Odd, I told you. But now the pressure isn’t the same, the story is told. All I’m doing is kind of re-writing history a little. Their history, anyway.

And I kind of like the challenge, the chance to go back and look over the work again. At that point some time has passed and I have a bit more objectivity. As my heart and soul are now deeply involved with a whole new host of characters, I can be somewhat more clear-eyed about the previous set. And I am also now looking at the telling of their story through a new set of eyes and a new reader’s interpretation of whether it worked the way I wanted it to, or not. The whole process and evolution is very interesting to me. I’m an inveterate tinkerer anyway, so this appeals to my revisionist heart.

Besides….it means I get to go back and play with Dylan Chisholm for a few days. All in all, not really a hardship when you think about it.

As I’ve said before, do I have the best job on the planet or what? (Don’t worry, Mac…I’ll be back to attend to your demands very soon.) And it appears Mr. MacLeod is going to be very…demanding. I know. Poor me.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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How awesome is it that our little commuter college here in Northern VA is sending a team to the FINAL FOUR, BABY! huh??? How cool is that? I still can’t believe they beat UConn. Sure, sure, UConn hadn’t been having an exactly dominant tournament run, but they always managed to pull it out in the end, so when the game went into overtime, I thought for sure George Mason had finally come to the end of their fairy tale run. But no! Way too much fun was being had all over the DC Metro area last night. Well deserved, though, well deserved!

So, it’s on to Indy!!

Well, if it’s Monday, it must be time to start up another Friday Giveaway. This time, I’m going to switch it up a little, make you work a teeny tiny bit. Oh come on, I know it’s Monday, but why not start the week with a little challenge, right? When you’re still fresh! (Unless you were one of the ones out celebrating the GMU win last night…but then, it was worth it, right?)

Okay…for this week’s giveaway, it’s going to be Reader’s Choice. That means the winner gets a copy of any book off my website bookshelf, which, if you notice, does show my upcoming June release…just sayin’! (See link in column at right to go to the bookshelf.) BUT! This week, in addition to putting PICK ME!! in the subject line of your email entry, in the body of the email, along with listing your first and second choice of book if you win…you have to correctly answer the following question:

What are the names of the Glass Slipper godmothers? First names will do. (See? I’m taking it so easy on you!)

Send your emails to donna@donnakauffman.com and good luck! I’ll announce the winner here Friday morning.

Happy hunting, everyone!

Tags: Writing by Donna
4 Comments »

Barbara-Jo! Woo hoo! Just email me with your address and your very own copy will be on its way.

Tune in Monday for the next giveaway announcement.

NCAA Spoiler ahead - don’t read if you haven’t watched the game!

So, am I the only one who is going through Survivor withdrawal? I probably wouldn’t be so cranky about it if the ONE basketball game I cared about had gone my way. But nooooo……WVU leads Texas - who was supposed to stomp them flat - the whole second period, only to lose by ONE measly stinkin’ point in the last 3.6 seconds of the game. ONE! Three free throws in the last minute and we can’t make one of them. Killin’ me. Coulda been a great upset, too.

And then no Probst, no Cirie, no zen rock garden… Honestly, it was enough to make me have a second bowl of ice cream. Just to, you know, wallow in my misery. Cuz nothing says wallowing like a really big mug of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. Honest.

I was forced to read. I know, I know. Not exactly a punishment. I picked up another old Jennifer Crusie because I needed a good laugh. GETTING RID OF BRADLEY worked like a charm. I recommend it highly. But keep the ice cream handy, too. You can never be too sure.

I hope you all have a great weekend! See you on Monday.

Tags: Writing by Donna
9 Comments »

So, it was good-bye to Cute Kevin last night. It was the right thing to do, but my heart still squeezed for him, standing there watching his good-bye video montage. You know it was just crushing him and I felt bad that his Very Cool Ride had come to an end. Then I remembered that, as part of the final 12, he still gets to go on tour, be on the CD, etc etc, and then I didn’t feel so bad anymore. He’ll still get a lot out of it and it was definitely his time to go. Bucky? You might want to pay attention. I think you might be next. The bottom three was right on target. I think this is one of the first times there seems to be a mass agreement on who should stay and who should go. It’ll get interesting here in the next few weeks, though, when we’re down to 6 or so.

No Survivor tonight. Cruel, I tell you. And I’m a big basketball fan, too! Go Mountaineers!! But really, they could have moved Survivor to last night and made everybody happy.

Well, I do believe Mac is calling me, so I must go attend to his very special demands. Sigh. Yes, yes, somebody has to deal with him, and it might as well be me.

Is this, like, the best job or what?

More news to come on Donovan MacLeod and his buddies. I’m thinking this summer could very well be the most fun I’ve ever had. And considering I spent last summer with the Chisholm laddies, that’s sayin’ somethin’ y’all.

Oh okay, I’ll give you this one little hint…

Move over BAD BOYS…the BLACK SHEEP are coming to town.

P.S. Don’t forget to enter the Friday Giveaway! I’ll announce this week’s winner tomorrow morning.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Am I the only night owl out there? Probably not. I like Tuesday nights. A handful of shows I enjoy all crammed into one night. I TiFaux (me? sit through commercials? ah hahahahahahaha) then stay up way too late catching up. Except, being a night owl, it’s not all that late for me. Of course, I’m also a morning person. I know, I’m disgusting like that. I blame it on my dad. He doesn’t need much sleep either. One of my fonder memories is staying up after my mom had conked out for the night, watching Johnny Carson, then Rockford Files reruns…and still being first up in the morning. For him, it was due to years of pulling shift work as a cop and just sleeping in compact five hour segments. I have no such excuse, except it’s apparently genetic. But I get a lot more squeezed into a 19 hour day. Or I should anyway.

So…last night was probably one of the better American Idol nights in a while. I was pre-cringing when I heard Barry Manilow was the singing guest this week. I enjoyed Stevie last week, but the contestants had a tough time with his music. I did NOT want to follow that up with them singing Mandy and Copacabana. Please god, kill me now, was pretty much my thought process. So I was really happy when I found out it was actually 50’s night and Barry was there to help them as an arranger. The man is pretty brilliant and it seemed as if he made an important connection for many of the final 11 in helping them understand they had to do more than just recite lyrics in tune. All in all, a very successful collaboration across the board, as it turned out some of the better performances of this season.

The Good: Mandisa was my hands down favorite. And she looked smokin hot, too. Paris returned to her roots and did a great rendition of Fever. I don’t love her, she grates on me a little, but I did like this performance. Katherine McPhee has a gorgeous voice, sang beautifully, looked hella lot like Jessica Alba last night for some reason…and still looks off somehow in her clothes and seems to have no idea what to do with her body onstage. It’s a conundrum. Eliot - I’ll say, no one beats Al Jarreau singing that song, for me. It’s one of my all time favorites. But he did a great job with his rendition. Applause. Chris - just because he took the risk. An alt rock version of I Walk The Line was almost as ambitious as when Marty did that alt rock version of Britney Spears “Hit Me Baby One More Time” on Rock Star: INXS last summer…although Marty wins that competition hands down. I still have that one on m iPod. Freaking brilliant. But then I Heart Marty in a big way, so I might be biased.

The (comparatively) Bad: Kevin. Now don’t jump me. I thought he was a goner last week and was shocked he wasn’t in the bottom three. But he did sing to his audience last night and far more in keeping with the sweet, innocent thing he his (than Part Time Lover last week. Just….ew.) So I think he stays. Taylor (who looked liked the love child of George Clooney and Pat Boone last night.) I love Taylor, and he was certainly as entertaining as always, but there wasn’t enough vocals in his performance for a singing contest. Not the bottom, by far, but not the top this week. Kellie Pickler…who I love. So sue me. But I love her for all the reasons that have nothing to do with her singing ability (or lack thereof) so it was great to hear her actually do some justice to the song. Like K McPhee, she has no idea what to do with her body, but it’s just so damn entertaining watching her try. You just know she practices that pointing move in front of her dresser mirror. She entertains me in a large way and I want her to stick around, even if I don’t believe she should actually win. Or even come close.

The Bottom Three: Bucky…well, what can you say about good ol Bucky. Gotta love him. His singing, however? Not so much. He did make a good song choice for his voice, but not sure it will keep him out of the bottom three. (Nor should it, in my humble opinion.) Ace. Ace, Ace, Ace. The judges must have been listenting to an entirely different song than I was. He didn’t even really bring the pretty last night, either. Nothing to save himself. Just horrible all the way around. I wouldn’t have put him in the bottom three last week (tho close to it) but I definitely think he belongs there this week. And Lisa…she’s a great singer and nice girl, but I just feel nothing for her. She’s like a generic Broadway musical singer. I want to like her but she’s just meh to me, week in and week out. She shouldn’t be bottom three as she is a much better singer than some of the others (yes, I’m looking at you Kevin and Kellie) but as an entertainer, she’s not bringing it. I could live with Kevin taking that spot, but I’m betting it’s Lisa.

Okay…double the pleasure, double the fun…a double leg on Amazing Race:

I actually liked Eric and Jeremy this leg…right up until they disgusted both me and Phil with the tonsil hockey comment. Sheesh. BJ and Tyler need to stop the over-mugging for the camera, but I admit I did laugh when they both cried “Santa!” upon seeing the German Amazing Bathmat Greeter. Lake and Michelle…not as grating this leg, but remain my least favorite team. I was not happy to see them become better racers.

Lori and Dave are still my favorite team and thank goodness the double leg saved them. MoJo is growing on me. I liked Joseph’s reaction to the Mercedes Wall of Death ride. And Mo danced the hell out of that German knee slap thing. (Was I the only one laughing as the teams continued to crack each other upside the head with wine bottles? Did it say something that Lake–Lake!–was the only one who was gentle with his partner? Of course, she’d have likely beaten him senseless if he’d actually cracked one on her head…and you know he secretly wanted to. Or maybe that was just me. They deserve each other.) I like Ray and Yolanda - they hang in there. And Fran and Berry didn’t annoy me nearly as much as they usually do. So okay for them staying…but not too much longer.

The D’s deserved to be eliminated for not racing their own race but following another team, but Mom and Desiree were also pretty poor racers this leg and so either one of them going didn’t bother me. I was tired of Wanda’s freak outs, and the D’s actually treat each other really well and seem like they could be competant racers if they’d step it up a little…so I was okay with the Amazing Bathmat of Doom this week.

For once, almost all of the teams are really decent, race well, and treat each other (and the locals) nicely. I’m not one who needs or wants the ugly villain teams, so I’m happy. And how funny was the drunk Fern??? (Fern = any local who helps a team, named after the first local, named Fern, who helped a team in Season One.)

I could MAC Boston Legal…but I’m MAC’d out…and Chapter 2 is calling me. Besides, you’d much rather me be here writing about Donovan MacLeod than about William Shatner, trust me on that one.

Happy Humpety Hump Day, all!

Tags: Writing by Donna
6 Comments »

So…I live in northern Virginia, just outside DC. We’ve had some wacky winter weather, which included a few 80+ degree days just a week ago. T-shirts, flip flops, flowers and trees budding…ah, spring is in the air. Or was. So explain to me how, on the first day of spring, we’re gearing up for a “snow-sleet-ice event.” Yeah. Mother Nature has a seriously off sense of humor. I’m so not amused. It’s probably all my fault for finally being organized enough to pack away my snow boots before June. That’ll teach me.

I wanted to thank you all for the great notes and letters. I wish Dylan’s story was coming sooner, too! I had such a great time writing that one and I hated leaving Glenbuie behind when it was all said and done. I will also miss the godmothers in my Glass Slipper series, but we had a great ride while it lasted. I hope you all enjoy their last foray into “life makeovers” this June with NOT SO SNOW WHITE and on the off chance you haven’t had a peek at the back cover copy on my regular homepage, I decided to post it here as well. And you only have to wait until May 30th to get the whole book. Unless, of course, you win the Friday Giveaway, then you get it RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE. So what are you waiting for? Enter already. (See yesterday’s post for details.)

Not So Snow White…Back Cover Copy:

Can a down on her luck princess really have it all?

A whisper away from thirty, gorgeous Tess Hamilton has been the tennis world’s top title holder and celebrity since she won her first championship at fifteen. Now the headline-making party girl is getting her first taste of mortality — and bankruptcy — thanks to new teenage phenom Gabrielle Fontaine. But it’s Gaby’s cool, calm, and all-too-collected brother and manager, Max, who really has Tess seeing double. He’s the first man she can’t seem to seduce — or intimidate. It appears Tess is truly off her game, until a real-life, modern-day fairy godmother steps in….

Aurora Favreaux, a founder of Glass Slipper Inc. and old family friend, has a plan to get Tess back on her stilettos, and it includes an unlikely meeting between Tess, Max, and Gaby, at Glass Slipper’s new London headquarters — just in time for Wimbledon. It seems that Tess is going to hit the court in a whole new way, to prove to the world — and herself — that a woman with the heart of a champion can ace life and love — even after the big 3-0….

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So there you have it folks…a little teaser. I hope all you Glass Slipper fans enjoy the final entry. I think it’s a fitting end to a fun series. And for those of you who haven’t read The Cinderella Rules, Dear Prince Charming, or Sleeping With Beauty, each story stands alone and they can be read in any order.

In the New & Exciting News Department, with both the godmothers and the Chisholm brothers series wrapping up, have no fear! I will be launching a new series with Kensington Brava next year. And these guys? What can I say, but that each one gets his very own book and deservedly so. I just finished the first chapter on the first one, and…well…what a way to spend my spring and summer is all I’m gonna say. Is this like the best job ever or what? More details to come soon!

(And if any of you are members of the Rhapsody Book Club, I just had a chat with their editor about Not So Snow White, where I might have talked a bit about these guys, too. They’re hard to ignore like that. That interview will run in one of their spring catalogues…)

Happy First Day of Spring! Don’t forget your snow shovels!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Yesterday was a pretty cool day. My birthday present to myself was getting up at the crack of dawn and heading due north to spend the early morning hours with the dolphin trainers and vets at the Baltimore Aquarium. Along for the ride was my son, Spence, and his girlfriend, Taylor, who is a hopeful future trainer herself.

We met our new best friend, Carol, at the employee entrance on a cold, blustery, but sunny morning at the Inner Harbor and we started the morning going on a little tour of the other related facilities, which included the rehab/rescue unit, the medical unit, and the food prep area (where we got to stick various vitamins inside small frozen fish to be given to specific dolphins later as part of their morning diet.) Then it was on to talk to the trainers tankside, and to observe them and the vets go through their morning routine with each of the six dolphins.

Spence and Taylor pick Crystal and Carol’s brains…

One of the highlights was watching and interacting with the alpha female of their little pod, the massive five-hundred- and-fifty pound Nani, and her nine-month-old baby, Beau. And what a little rascal he is! We got to see film footage of him being born, and of the rather complicated process of nursing. (It’s a wonder any of them survive!) Mother and son are still in a rear “nursery” tank (mostly because, for all he’s a little handful, Beau won’t “gate” yet, meaning he won’t go through the gateways to the other tanks quite yet - very scary for him.) So, while mom occasionally makes forays into the big tank, where the public can see her once they open for business, for the most part, the two are not on view. So we felt very privileged to get to hang out with them for as long as we did.

Here is one of the trainers working with Nani and Beau…the baby is the one on the right. He’s mostly nursing, but he is learning to catch small pieces of fish…and quite proud of himself when he manages to swallow one!

The tank area is really nice, all windows along one side and very sunny. It was quiet and peaceful, before public hours, and all the trainers, after doing their husbandry checks, started going through their behaviorial routines. It was fun getting to see which dolphins liked which games, and to watch the social hierarchy at work, especially between the younger two females.

As a special treat, later on that morning when they’d opened to the public and were having their first show of the day, we got special up front seats and Taylor got to be part of the show as the assistant to the handlers. It was a great way to cap off an extraordinary morning.

So thank you to Carol, Crystal, and Carolina, and the rest of the crew, for your patience and willingness to share your knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm. It’s not a day we’ll soon forget.

Okay, on to this week’s Giveaway! How about an advance review copy of the up-and-coming final installment of my Glass Slipper, Inc. series, NOT SO SNOW WHITE? (Have no fear, they can be read in any order.) To enter, just send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with the words PICK ME! in the subject line. Friday morning I will choose a winner from a random pick of the entries. Good luck to all!

And happy Monday, everyone.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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