Jane of Austin Cover!

Isn't it loverly? I'm thrilled to pieces over it - love the silhouette and Austin cityscape so much! It's available for pre-order, and you can read a summary on the book's page here.

Housekeeping, House Selling

So! It's been a while. So let's breeze through some things -

Results of the Sparkle Horse Giveaway of 2016? Becca Peterson is our winner! She didn't find a horse, but she did find a sparkle elephant! Congrats to Becca!

Other fun finds included this sparkle longhorn head, discovered by Monica, which is a thing I'm sure several of you have been looking for -

The #SparkleHorseHunt2016 Book Giveaway

The Story: During a perfectly routine stroll through Homegoods with a friend, we turned a corner and stumbled upon this glorious beast.

My friend Liz, being awesome and posing so you can see how huge that thing is. 

Feast your eyes upon him, all ye who dare! At six-feet, this mirrored horse instantly topped our list of craziest things spotted. While I decided not to take him home (retailing, as he did, at $2,999.99), I did buy a selection of throw pillows and posted my photo of the horse to Facebook. Where, of course, became an instant internet sensation.

Long Weekend Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake

A short time ago, I asked on Facebook if people wanted to have a rhubarb or cherry recipe in the June newsletter.

And the answer came back - yes. More specifically, that there were good reasons for both. Cherries - so summery! Rhubarb - so southern! And my uncle in particular reminded me of my family's southern roots (my father's family hailing from Dallas, as they do).

Long Weekend Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake

A short time ago, I asked on Facebook if people wanted to have a rhubarb or cherry recipe in the June newsletter.

And the answer came back - yes. More specifically, that there were good reasons for both. Cherries - so summery! Rhubarb - so southern! And my uncle in particular reminded me of my family's southern roots (my father's family hailing from Dallas, as they do).

All the Chocolate

The Chocolat Movie Night is just days away! Want to join in? Click here to check out the event. Hope to see you there!

Looking for something chocolate-y to enjoy during the party? I highly recommend these gluten-free chocolate crinkles, which I first shared on the blog in 2012. They're fudgey and amazing, with a deep chocolate flavor that will satisfy the truest chocolate craving. Also, they come together really easily!

The Toast: A Nostalgia Tour

Founders Mallory Ortberg and Nicole Cliffe announced today that they're shuttering The Toast on July 1st.

I get it. I understand all of the reasoning, motivations. I understand the practicalities, I understand being creatively exhausted. Still? I'm heartbroken. The Toast featured some of the very best humor writing on the internet alongside think-pieces on faith, gender, and race. Also: Ayn Rand.

The good news is that the posts will remain online until the heat-death of the universe (their words), which means that you'll be able to mine the goodness forever.

So if you're new to The Toast, or want reminders of brighter days, here are some of my own favorites, in no particular order:

Together at the Table Release Day Cupcakes!

Today is the day! Together at the Table is finally out in stores! It's been a long, long time coming (as several readers have enjoyed reminding me), but I'm so happy that Juliette and Mireille's stories are now out and about in the world.

So I'm celebrating, as I have with each book in the series, with a recipe and a giveaway! The recipe below has a slightly different name in the book - but I'll leave you to read and discover what it is. These cupcakes are extremely aromatic - not only is there a lot of vanilla, proportionately, but the orange blossom water in the frosting makes it extra special.

Guest Q&A with Lisa Bogart!

Super excited to have Lisa Bogart on the blog today! Lisa is the author of Knit, Purl, Pray, a devotional geared towards creatives in general, knitters in particular.

I see you there, you yarn hoarder. You know who you are. May I assure you, this is your jam, and Lisa is our people.

I've invited Lisa to share more about Knit, Purl, Pray, as well as her new coloring book, Drawn from the Heart. Because YES she authored a coloring book too.

Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt Stop #24

Welcome to the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! If you’ve just discovered the hunt, be sure to start at Stop #1, and collect the clues through all 33 stops, in order, so you can enter to win one of our top 3 grand prizes!

Ray De Luca & Logan Walker Appreciation Post - with Rachel McMillan and Melissa Tagg

Two of my VERY favorite people have fresh new novels, and there are some striking similarities.

If you follow either of them on social media (which you should, links below), you'll know that they have a lot of affection for their male protagonists. A lot. A lot of love. SO MUCH LOVE, YOU GUYS. So obviously, an interview was in order.

Hillary: Okay, clearly you both have a thing for reporters. Elaborate.

Welcome to the first ever Writers' Round Table on this blog! I'm super excited about this post, and it's a feature I'll definitely want to do again.

It all started when I settled in to starting Jane of Austin and began scrounging about for new music before getting to work. That action sent me on a mental rabbit trail about writing and music and the interaction between the two.

And if it's a big deal, I knew it would be for other writers, too. So to chat about it today I've got a crackerjack group of super talented storytellers who know their way around a playlist! So settle in with a cup of tea - you might just find your next favorite song!

Writers' Round Table: What We Listen to, and Why

Welcome to the first ever Writers' Round Table on this blog! I'm super excited about this post, and it's a feature I'll definitely want to do again.

It all started when I settled in to starting Jane of Austin and began scrounging about for new music before getting to work. That action sent me on a mental rabbit trail about writing and music and the interaction between the two.

And if it's a big deal, I knew it would be for other writers, too. So to chat about it today I've got a crackerjack group of super talented storytellers who know their way around a playlist! So settle in with a cup of tea - you might just find your next favorite song!

Off the Shelf: Liz Johnson & The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

So delighted to have a new installment of Off the Shelf for you today! Liz Johnson, author of The Red Door Inn, is stopping by today to share about her favorite book, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It's a novel that's been on my re-read list for quite some time, and Liz's blog is an eloquent reminder why. 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - read it only if you 

want to be delighted.

A little over a year ago, I met the new girl at work. She was outgoing, funny, and loved books—maybe, almost as much as I do. We hit it off right away, and I knew we could be good friends.

And then we hit a bump in the road. During one of our countless book discussions, she confessed. She’d never read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer.

Coloring Books for Grown-ups: Five Picks

I love that coloring books for grown-ups is now a thing.

Really, really love. I hit a spot a couple years ago when I decided that I needed a coloring book, and Johanna Basford's books hadn't made it big, yet. 

So I started out with a set of entry-level pencils and a book of fairy tale illustrations geared toward children. And that was fine. But when Basford's books did start to get buzz on this side of the pond, I was totally on board.

I've got a collection of books, now, and while my time to sit can come and go, sometimes it's reassuring just to know they're there. Also, I've got a selection of Prismacolor, Caran d'Ache, Progresso, and Irojiten pencils to keep things bright and lively. Here are the books in my stash - 

Together at the Table: The Update

Galley edits are officially done! That means that after a few tweaks, it'll be off to print shortly. So excited to have that one on its way to shelves - it's been a long year of hard work. Wrapping up a three-book series, especially when it's sequential, is not easy. But the work paid off, and I love this book - I love the romances (yes, romances, plural), I love the food (the fresh pasta with beef ragu, seriously), I love the very final scene. I can't wait for readers to get their hands on it!