KATHRYN R. BIEL: AUTHOR

I got roped into some spring cleaning over at my parents' house today. To say that they are pack rats would be kind. But, they are also realists. Comments have been made (and not really in jest) that each one wants to be the one to die first so that they don't have to get stuck with cleaning out the house. Realistically, I know it will fall on me. I'm not gonna lie--cleaning this stuff is hard for me as well. When push came to shove, I was not able to get rid of three of my dolls/stuffed animals. The rest I tossed, shedding a tear for my Cabbage Patch Preemie (Linette Elisa) and my Koosa (Sunshine), as well as the Raggedy Ann and Strawberry Shortcake dolls my mom made for me. I can see how hard it is on my mom throwing this stuff out, especially some of the things that were my grandmother's. But she/we made progress with large piles of things for donations and garbage. I did find some board games that I know my kids will play when they are over there, including this...

As I've previously mentioned, I'm doing a blog tour for Hold Her Down . I know many (ok, the four of you who read the blog) are asking, what the heck is a blog tour? I'm going around and am being featured on a series of blogs. Some blogs feature a book review. Others will feature a guest post that I've written. Some will have an excerpt of Hold Her Down . I did an interview for another. Today, I'm being featured on Chick Lit Goddess . It is a guest post where I talk about why I write women's fiction. Head over there to check it out. Also, if you head to the Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours page and leave a comment, you could win a free paperback copy of Hold Her Down  (US only)!

Ok, so I'm ripping a page out of my dear friend's book and doing this blog entry as a Quick Take's blog. Check out  Our Little Nuthouse  to see how this should be done. 1.  Started the day with a computer that wouldn't turn on. Ominous black screen, but at least no tell tale beeping that signaled death. I learned about that last August when my last laptop died. But do the math here...this laptop is only 8 months old. Too young to die. I took the battery out, put it back in and all seems well. Will be backing up, regardless. 2.  Getting a call at the end of a very difficult meeting that your son has a tick embedded in his leg is no way to end the work day. Finding out that the doctor has left for the day, the urgent care I like doesn't open until 5 pm and that the next urgent care will keep us waiting over 90 minutes did not help. However, the very kind woman also waiting a ridiculous amount of time (also with a tick bite) who went out to her car and brought in h...

I had a conversation with a high school classmate the other day. She, like many people, expressed an amazement that I have found time to write novels, in addition to being a mother and working close to full time. To which, I responded glibly, "Yeah, but my house is never clean." People think I'm being funny. I'm not. I'm being real. I clean something everyday. I pick up something, I fold something, I wipe up/down something, I put something away. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. But the house is never all clean at the same time. And, that is alright with me. I wish I lived in a spotless house. I wish it were clean. I wish there was no clutter (the clutter is my true enemy, to be honest). But it's not. Because, here I am, at 6:30 pm on Thursday. I have my pajamas on already. I'm waiting for my Twitter chat at 8 pm when I will crack open an adult beverage and chat with some great ladies during the fastest 60 minutes of the week. I could be folding laundry. I could be cl...

Every night when I cook dinner (ok, the three nights a week that I actually cook), I ask the kids what they thought of dinner. My son is generally forthcoming with a thumbs up. My daughter (except on ONE occasion last week) gives me a thumbs medium (thumb sideways) or a thumbs down. She just likes being difficult. In this case, their reviews help me know what meals they like and don't like (except for my daughter, who, as I may have mentioned, just likes being difficult). But right now, my life is being ruled by a different kind of reviews. The reviews for my book. I never ever thought about reviews and never ever realized what an impact it can make. How important it is. The book selling business is a tricky thing. Reviews get your book noticed and helps to sell your book. But in order to get reviews, you have to sell your book. See that Catch-22 there? I look at product reviews all the time. Before booking our hotel in NYC, I read dozens and dozens of reviews, and it was the...

Hey all--did you know that May is International Chick Lit Month? Probably not a coincidence that it is also the month of Mother's Day. In order to celebrate (and perhaps help you hook Mom up, showing her what an awesome kid she raised), 26 chick lit authors are celebrating by putting their books on sale for just $0.99! That means you can get 26 books for less than $26. Think about that--26 books for less than $26. That's an unbelievable deal if I've ever seen one. Not convinced? Check them all out on this Pinterest board: Pinterest board where all books on sale are listed: http://www.pinterest.com/opheliawrites/99centchicklit/ Okay, I know you wanna start one-clicking. Here ya go, click away! A Heat of the Moment Thing by Maggie Le Page http://www.amazon.com/Heat-Moment-Thing-Maggie-Page-ebook/dp/B00BUCJV70   A Questionable Friendship by Samantha March http://www.amazon.com/Questionable-Friendship-Samantha-March-ebook/dp/B00II9EDR6   Another ...