Random observations

Just so you know, this is one of those posts where I don't really have anything super urgent to say, but I know that the longer I go without blogging, the more likely it is that I will slide into permanent blog inactivity. That being said, here's a few things I'm liking lately:

1) I'm not really a huge white chocolate fan, but I've been eating those Candy Cane Hershey's Kisses at an alarming rate. It's a good thing they only stock them seasonally.

2) Has anyone besides me ever seen Monarch of the Glen? It's sort of a Scottish soap opera that used to be on the local public television station. It's kind of cheesy but in an endearing way, and with their accents, I could probably listen to them read the phone book and not get bored.

3) Just finished The Maze Runner and it was awesome! If you like Ender's Game, don't miss this one. My only complaint is having to wait for the next book in the series to be released.

4) Speaking of good books, the next book in the Hashbrown Winters series is out; Hashbrown Winters and the Mashimoto Madness. If you haven't had a chance to check out the first one, you should-- it was imaginative and hilarious. I can't wait to pick up my copy of the next one.

5) Sarah Eden moved to Utah. Need I say more?

6) Getting really close to finishing the pudding novel.

7) The last season of LOST starts February 2nd!

Well, that's it really. I'll try to come up with something a little more earth-shattering next time. Happy New Year, everybody! :)

What happens when you go Christmas shopping by yourself late at night...

Am embarrassed to say that I mistakenly got in what I thought was a really long check out line at Old Navy... behind a couple of mannequins strategically grouped at the front of the store.

Just one of those proud moments in my life.

Is drool bad for my keyboard?

Running a little behind today. Having dental work done really takes it out of me. Now, I have to say that I have an EXCELLENT dentist who is really great about humoring me because he knows what a wuss I am. Still, as nice as he is, I'd rather see him in the grocery store, you know? But there are four words that make going to the dentist almost bearable.

I. Want. The. Gas.

I've figured out that if I get the nitrous when I'm having work done, it's a lot easier for all involved parties. It makes me forget that my first impulse is to bite and ask questions later. In fact, if I get enough in my system, I find that I don't much care what's happening to me anymore. I want them to calculate how much it will take to put me in a coma and then back it off just a smidge. My favorite part is when I get out to my car, forget that I currently have no control over my face, and reach for my water bottle. It's like a really crappy magic trick; water's in, aaaaaand it's out again. Now, that's classy.

As soon as I left, I went through the drive-thru window at the bank, and I kept trying to smile at the teller, who responded by giving me an alarmed look. Like, I know it's really none of my business, but do you really think it's safe for you to be driving while you're having a stroke?!?

Long story short, I survived the dentist this morning, and I can almost smile again without bystanders running to call an ambulance.

And now, the winners! (If you're one of the few that managed to hang with me through the dentist story, I really hope one of you won.)

Yay for Marcia, who won a copy of Santa Maybe, and hoorah for Anna, the winner of a copy of Stolen Christmas! Marcia, if you'll email me with an address, I'll get your book in the mail this weekend. And Anna, get in touch with Sarah. Thanks to everyone who entered-- I know that you were all hoping for a book and not just the warm feeling inside reserved for commenters, but we really do appreciate you!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I think the numbness has retreated enough that I could eat something without risking the partial loss of my tongue.

A quick announcement

I will be signing copies of Santa Maybe at the Orem Barnes and Noble LDS Author Event this Saturday, Dec 5th from 2-4 P.M. Even if you already have a copy of Santa Maybe, I'd still love for you to stop by and say hi, and there will be plenty of other cool authors there too-- definitely worth the drive. For more about the event, go here. http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/2626

And if you haven't entered The Great Holiday Giveaway yet, make sure you comment on both blogs (mine and Sarah's) to increase your chances of winning. You have no excuse for not entering, since (hint hint) all you have to do is look at the other comments to find the answer. The work has already been done for you by those pioneering early commenters. It's the ultimate open book test.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Here it is, as promised...

All of you
Out in Book-ville
Really should know...


These two gals
Both have books
That just scream "Ho, Ho, Ho!"

Wondering what to get your friends and family this Christmas season? Never fear. Aubrey and Sarah are going to save your Christmas one gift at a time.


"Santa Maybe" by Aubrey Mace and "Stolen Christmas and Other Stories of the Season" featuring Sarah M. Eden's short story "Stolen Christmas" would make PERFECT holiday gifts!


And, in honor of the Season, we are hosting a double giveaway! Two prizes, two winners, two ways to enter.


To get in on the action, simply answer the following questions in the comment section of the specified blog:

At Aubrey's blog: Which famous author will Sarah impersonate in the much talked about contraband catalog scheme?


At Sarah's blog: What present did Aubrey decide she wanted in the "Santa Baby" game?

PSSSTTT!! The answers to both questions can be found in Aubrey's I Need Friends Interview found HERE.


The contest is open until Tuesday, December 8th. Enter for your chance to win!

Happy Holidays.

NaNoWriMo finish line!!!

Crossed over into 50,000+ word territory Saturday night/very early Sunday morning! The story isn't quite finished yet, but I had a good day yesterday and I'm almost at 54,000 words. I'm really curious to see exactly what I've got when I finish and I can go back and read it straight through, since it's had zero editing. Could be scary.

But it was a lot of fun and a great experience and I FINISHED! Even if the writing is crap, the fact that I did it is still amazing to me because I'm not a fast writer. It truly is an experiment of just focusing on spitting out lots of words that hopefully develop into a story somewhere along the way.

So... would I recommend NaNoWriMo to anyone who was undecided this year? Heck yes! And may I offer one piece of advice as a seasoned veteran? (ha ha) Tell everyone you know that you're doing it. Tell your family, (like they wouldn't notice when they don't see you for a month, right?) tell your friends, blog/Facebook/Twitter about it, brag to checkout person at the grocery store. Because when you hit the wall at 18,000 words, you're a lot less likely to punk out since EVERYONE YOU KNOW keeps asking how it's going. Unless you want to admit crushing defeat to your entire social network, you will finish.

So, there it is. Tune in tomorrow for info on a super cool Christmas giveaway you won't want to miss!

NaNoWriMo update #2- The Downhill Slide

I crossed the 40,000 word mark last night. (And yes, it's still about pudding.)

I'm having a really good time with this book, although I highly doubt it's going to be anything that anyone will want to publish. Who knows-- maybe once it goes through some major editing, it might be marketable. But maybe that wasn't the point. **Epiphany alert** Maybe this book was meant to help me remember that writing is supposed to be FUN.

Went into the Sandy Barnes & Noble this weekend and actually found Santa Maybe out on a New Fiction table-- I almost had a heart attack! It was a major milestone for me, and I'm sure that there were several customers wondering why I was doing the Snoopy happy dance in the middle of the store. I'm lucky they didn't call security and have me taken down with a tranquilizer gun.

Gearing up for cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Nothing like spending two days cooking a meal that will be devoured in thirty minutes or less, right? Seriously, couldn't the NaNoWriMo people have picked a less hectic month? How about February or March?

Also, watch for more info next week on a giveaway that I am co-hosting with the lovely Sarah Eden! We're still working out the specifics, but with the two of us involved, it should be nothing short of spectacular. (Or at least mildly entertaining.) She has a short story included in the new book Stolen Christmas, a collection of stories from the LDS Publisher blog, and I can't wait to get my copy. Hopefully, you'll win one in our contest, but if you just can't wait, go here.

https://www.createspace.com/Customer/EStore.do?id=3410673

Hopefully, I'll be blogging again between now and the 30th, but with Thanksgiving and the deadline for NaNoWriMo looming, I can't guarantee anything. I might get too caught up making a thousand pies. Okay, six pies, but seriously. It's been scientifically proven that if you're going to make six pies, you might as well make a thousand. Or maybe it was six pies feels like a thousand? I forget. There was some kind of mathematical equation involved. But just to be on the safe side, everyone have a very happy holiday and if you're doing NaNoWriMo and you want to maintain that tentative hold on your sanity, just order your pies this year, okay? :)