Over the weekend I hid several signed copies of Waiting at Hayden’s in the free little libraries on Balboa Island. I’m always borrowing books from these little libraries to take to the beach. I love finding new reads here that I wouldn’t have picked out at the bookstore and sharing my favorites with others on the island as well. A while back I did a post about creative ways to use your books for home décor, but sharing, re-gifting, and donating books is my favorite use for them—especially . . .
My Favorite Beach Reads of All Time
This past week, with my family being in town and lots of evenings after work spent at the beach, I got to read several books in the sand. I’ve been working so much on my next novel, Map of Us, and the future of shopfiction™ that it’s been a while since I’ve gotten to really enjoy the books that made me want to be a writer in the first place. I honestly haven’t felt this great in such a long time and I really do credit the beach reads. I know they are frequently criticized for being too . . .
Writing Advice I Wish I Knew When I Started Waiting at Hayden’s
When I took a year off school and moved across the country to Charleston, South Carolina to write the first draft of Waiting at Hayden’s ten years ago, I knew very little about writing a book; all I did know was that I needed to get my story idea down on paper. I think that’s the case for most writers—and to be honest, it’s sort of wonderful to only know that and nothing more. If you’re in the early stages of writing a book, the words are flowing, and you’re feeling that “writers high,” feel . . .
This App Allows You To Watch Scenes & Shop Characters’ Clothes in the PRINT Version of Waiting at Hayden’s
As most of you know, Waiting at Hayden’s is the first book to be published in the new reading experience format shopfiction™, which I coined and branded last year. Links in the digital version of the book and web addresses in the print take you to video highlights where you can watch key scenes come to life and shop the characters' clothes. There are also links the in the digital version each time an outfit is described. You can click on the link and see the character come to life in the . . .
My Favorite Beach Bags and Cover-Ups
This past weekend my cousin and blog photographer, Ryan, moved right onto to the beach, so I got to spend some time in the sand! Though the water is still too cold (for me!) to swim, the temperatures are heating up in Newport Beach and with my brother, mom, and dad coming into town Wednesday, I know we’ll be spending lots of time when I'm not working reading on the beaches in CDM or down the street from my cottage on Balboa. I’ve been looking for a new cover-up for a while now, and . . .
10 Things to Do When Visiting Newport Beach
This time of year especially, I love hosting visitors in Newport Beach! The temperatures are pretty consistently in the seventies and there are so many fun things to do in town and just outside it. One of the jobs I’ve always had to support my dream job is teaching group fitness classes and for the last few years I’ve taught a couple mornings a week at the Marriott Newport Coast Villas, a popular spot to stay. I’m constantly giving guests advice about what to do when visiting this beautiful . . .