April 4 Roundup

Saturday I'm going to be part of the Literary Orange event, which I'm very excited about for two reasons:

1. I've never attended before, and I've heard great things.
2. One of the keynote speakers is Marlo Thomas. Hello? Paging my childhood!

If you're in the Irvine area, maybe you should stop by!

And in case you missed it, I blogged this week on the Poisoned Pen Press site about starting the book process all over again—and how to put myself in a receptive frame of mind for the creative process. I'm not sure I have the answers, but the best suggestion I got was "jalapenos." (I'm not kidding, check out the comments.)

Here's the blog: And Start All Over Again

And here's the video I wanted to embed, but couldn't on that site. 

Happy weekend!

What are you reading now?

While hosting a table at the Ladies of Intrigue event over the weekend, I asked everyone what they're reading now.

I'm not asking your favorite book ever, if what you're reading's good or bad ... even whether you're embarrassed to admit to it.

Just tell me: what are you in the middle of reading, right now?

My turn:
I'm reading Charles Todd's fifth Ian Rutledge novel, Watchers of Time.

Pink Hair and The Helmet

I find that life goes along at sort of the same-old, same-old pace for a while, and then, BOOM. Things change all at once.

For me, the last six months were a slog. Some good times (and plenty of professional success), but a head-down, don't be distracted, get this thing done kind of time. No social life, not much fun. Because I was finishing a book.

But now it's done, over, turned in! Hooray!

And suddenly it was time for some shopping. For some attention paid to myself. And for some fun.

Now, BOOM, in the span of a single week, a few aspects of my life are very, very different.

For one, I have pink hair. Not solid pink, kind of layered. (I'll take and post a better picture of it soon, but this one with my friend Rochelle will have to do.)

For another, I have a new, fun car to drive. See, I've been driving a leased Buick the last couple years, and the lease will be over soon. So my husband has been shopping for deals. And he found one. What I like is the quirky, fun aspect of the car (I've missed personality in my daily driver; I love the Buick, but it is personality-free).

It's small, cute, and a great lease deal. Plus it feels good to go zero-emission. Yes, we have a Fiat 500e (all electric!).

Meet the Helmet.

Avoidable Contact: The Cover Reveal!

The cover for Kate's third adventure is here! And it's gorgeous! How's this for evoking the mood of the 24 Hours of Daytona?

And to whet your appetites, here's the summary:

Racecar driver Kate Reilly is suited up and ready for the start of the legendary 24 Hours of Daytona. But what’s ahead will test her will and nerve more than any other endurance race.

Even before the green flag waves over Daytona International Speedway, Kate receives word her boyfriend Stuart is fighting for his life after a hit-and-run earlier in the day. Still reeling from that news, Kate must absorb other shocks in the race’s opening hours, including an on-track accident with tragic consequences and an eyewitness who claims Stuart was run down deliberately by someone from the race paddock.

Alternating stints behind the wheel of her Corvette racecar with stretches of quizzing colleagues and searching for clues, Kate taps every possible source—friend, foe, and family—to find out who’s after Stuart and why. As the race clock counts down to zero hour, Kate must come to terms with her own fears about the past and decide who she’s willing to trust. Only then can she identify who’s willing to kill to keep a secret buried—and stop them before they lash out again. 

_________________

Avoidable Contact will be released in August 2014. Pre-order on Amazon or Barnes & Noble (I know it's got the old title, we'll fix it).

Team Kate Coast to Coast

This weekend will mark the end of the racing season for two series: IndyCar and the ALMS. Of course, it's not only the end of the season for the ALMS, but also the end of the line before it merges with Grand-Am next year. But Team Kate will close 2013 out with a bang—that's right, we'll be at both races this weekend, giving away Team Kate prizes. (Hints: watch for a Team Kate giveaway at the IndyCar tweet-up, and look for me at Petit!)

What you can win:

• Team Kate book bag, earplugs, bookplate, belt buckle
• Swag from Glass Hammer Racing, Pressdog, or #SteelOvaryNation
• Team Kate shirt OR signed copy of Dead Man’s Switch
• **Kate Reilly Limited Edition Kreisel watch (for Time to Win prize only)

Team Kate Prize

What you need to do:

1. Take a photo of yourself with someone in a Team Kate shirt (like the two of us pictured here)
2. Tweet it to @katereilly28
   OR
   Post it to Facebook and tag me (Tammy Kaehler)

Women in Racing Prize 

What you need to do: 

1. Take a photo of yourself with a former or current female racing driver, or any other woman involved in racing in a professional capacity (e.g., working on a crew, driving a pace car, reporting from pit lane, etc.)
   (bonus prizes for a Glass Hammer Racing driver, a Woman of pressdog® or a #SteelOvaryNation sign)
2. Tweet it to @katereilly28 (referencing @GlassHamrRacing, @pressdog, or #SteelOvaryNation)
   OR
   Post it to Facebook and tag me (Tammy Kaehler)

Time to Win Prize*
(*including a Kate Reilly limited-edition Kreisel Timepiece)
Number available: 2

What you need to do: 

1. Take a photo of yourself with me AND either a woman in racing (defined above) or a member of the Corvette Racing team
   (bonus prizes for a Woman of pressdog®, my friend Pattie [pictured here], a Corvette Racing driver or team manager)
2. Tweet it to @katereilly28
   OR
   Post it to Facebook and tag me (Tammy Kaehler)

Good luck hunting us down!

Prizes for Houston

IndyCar and Team Kate are in Texas, and that means more chances to win Team Kate gear. Yee haw!

What you can win:

• Team Kate book bag
• Team Kate bookmarks, earplugs, bookplate 
• Team Kate shirt OR signed copy of Dead Man’s Switch

Team Kate Prize

Number available: 3
What you need to do:

1. Take a photo of yourself with someone in a Team Kate shirt (two female crew are around, one of them pictured here)
2. Tweet it to @katereilly28
   OR
   Post it to Facebook and tag me (Tammy Kaehler)

Women in Racing Prize 

Number available: 3
What you need to do: 

1. Take a photo of yourself with a former or current female racing driver, or any other woman involved in racing in a professional capacity (e.g., working on a crew, driving a pace car, reporting from pit lane, etc.)
   (bonus prizes for a Woman of pressdog®)
2. Tweet it to @katereilly28
   OR
   Post it to Facebook and tag me (Tammy Kaehler)

Good luck hunting down that mystery crew member!

Prizes for COTA

It's ALMS (and WEC) racing on the fabulous Circuit of the Americas, and that means more chances to win Team Kate gear!

What you can win:

• Team Kate book bag
• Team Kate bookmarks, earplugs, bookplate 
• Team Kate shirt OR signed copy of Dead Man’s Switch

Team Kate Prize

Number available: 3
What you need to do:

1. Take a photo of yourself with someone in a Team Kate shirt (two female crew are around, one of them pictured here)
2. Tweet it to @katereilly28
   OR
   Post it to Facebook and tag me (Tammy Kaehler)

Women in Racing Prize 

Number available: 3
What you need to do: 

1. Take a photo of yourself with a former or current female racing driver, or any other woman involved in racing in a professional capacity (e.g., working on a crew, driving a pace car, reporting from pit lane, etc.)
   (bonus prizes for a Woman of pressdog® or for my friend Pattie here)
2. Tweet it to @katereilly28
   OR
   Post it to Facebook and tag me (Tammy Kaehler)

Time to Win Prize*
(*win the prize pack above, as well as a Kate Reilly limited-edition Kreisel Timepiece)
Number available: 1

What you need to do: 

1. Take a photo of yourself with a Team Kate crew member (above) AND either a woman in racing (defined above) or a member of the Corvette Racing team
   (bonus prizes for a Woman of pressdog®, for my friend Pattie, or for a Corvette Racing driver or team manager)
2. Tweet it to @katereilly28
   OR
   Post it to Facebook and tag me (Tammy Kaehler)

Good luck hunting down that mystery crew member!