Happy Thanksgiving everyone--

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Hello everyone---


Well, here I am doing the same thing that all of you are probably doing right now---surfing foodnetwork.com for new recipes, grocery shopping, table setting, and trying to manage my time so that I can get everything done on time. Well, not really on time--what I really want is to get it all done early so that I can enjoy my guests. As most of you probably know, my son is coming home from college for the holidays, and there's nothing I enjoy more than hearing his stories about senior year. I'm also really grateful that my dad and his wife, Debbie are coming to dinner this year. Normally, they're off globe trotting in November, so we're really lucky to be able to have them here for dinner.


Thanks to so many of you for offering some of your favorite family recipies. I'm especially intrigued with the frozen waldorf salad and the homemade cranberry sauce. Yum! And a big thanks to Patricia for making a donation to the Firefly Fund this year. We know how tough a time you've had recently and it's really heartwarming to see your generosity. I love the way we women can come together to do something to help in the fight against breast cancer.


I've also got some surprising news--and you're hearing it here first. My publisher is doing a fun new promotion for Winter Garden. I'm not sure of all the details yet, but I didn't want to drag my feet on telling you. I want my faithful blog friends to get the scoop first. We're going to be throwing 1,000 parties all across the country to help in the launch of Winter Garden. The people who are chosen to hostess these events on January 30, will receive free copies of Firefly Lane for the ten attendees of each party, in addition to trade paperback copies of True Colors, and--I hope--a hot off the press copy of Winter Garden. Soon, I'll have all the news on how you can be a part of this promotion--can you say part-tay?? So check back on the site in the next few days and I think final details will be in place. Good luck! Who doesn't love a party with free books and good friends?


That's all the news I have for now. I need to head back to my yellow tablet, where I'm busy putting together my To Do list for Thanksgiving Day.


My very best to all of you! Enjoy the day and remember all the things and people for which you are grateful.


Kristin

ps: for those of you who were interested in the sweet potato gnocchi with maple brown butter recipe--its a Giada recipe. Go to foodnetwork.com.

Winter Garden contest!

Monday, November 16, 2009


Welcome to winter! I know it hasn't officially begun yet, and as I look out my window onto the Pacific Northwest, all I see is rain, rain, and more rain, but I know that the seasons are changing, and for the first time in forever, I actually have a book coming out that is set in the winter.
Thanks so much to friend Jill Marie Landis for this beautiful, gorgeous photograph of winter. I hate to taunt you all, but you'll know how perfect this picture is once you get a chance to read Winter Garden. Thanks also to the Fireflies, who never fail to come up with great ideas for contests.
So here it is: Winter Memories. That's what we're going to be writing about for the upcoming contest. There will be TWO winners and they will be announced at the end of the year. So put your thinking caps on, remember a winter memory and start writing. For all you firefly early birds, go ahead and send your entries through the website, but I'll put out the official contest rules, etc. by Friday.
Also, a big congratulations to Kimberly Fisk, who got a FABULOUS review on her first book, Lake Magic. If you ask her nicely, I'm sure she'll post it. I would, but of course, I don't know how. :)
I can't say aloha to sign out on this sad and gray day. So I'll go with...
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Kristin
PS: That reminds me. I haven't gotten enough Thanksgiving menus on the blog, so come on ladies, I want to expand my offerings. So far, here's what I'm serving this year:
Turkey with gravy
cranberry sauce
mashed potatoes
sweet potato gnocchi with maple/cinnamon brown butter sauce
broccoli casserole--lots of cheese and breadcrumbs
green beans with shallots and garlic
homemade buttermilk biscuits
stuffing/dressing (sausage, apple, etc).
and of course, the pies.
I'm looking for more ideas, so let me know...

Miracles do happen: I updated the website!!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Hey everyone--

Well, I have to say, now I know why it takes me so long to "revamp" the website. It takes a remarkable amount of time and energy to figure out what I have to say and how to say and to put pictures along with it. And you all know that I'm a low energy gal. :) I have to throw out a big thank you to Kim for her amazing help with this project. As with so many of my best intentions, without Kim, they would probably never come to fruition.

So first of all, here's the link, just to make it easier for you. (And to show off that I really have learned how to include a link on the website). http://www.kristinhannah.com/content/index.php

There's a bunch of new information--and a lot of it is especially fun for those of us who populate the blog. I've added a lot of new photographs--especially of the many book clubs I've spoken to this year, so check them out.

Also, I've kicked off a new contest that should be a lot of fun. It's the "Look who's reading Kristin Hannah" contest. I can't wait to see the photographs come in.

As you all know, Winter Garden is coming up, and I have two precious galleys to give away. All I need is a cool contest idea. Any thoughts?

So poke around the site and tell me what you think. I'll be looking forward to your comments!

Aloha,
Kristin

new theme song

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Hey there---

Thanks for all the heads up from readers and friends. We now have an official theme song, don't you think? Any time you link the word fireflies with believe, I'm in...

check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI4JLa0hbUw
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