The First Day

Wow. This is a LOT of pressure. When I told the rest of The Novel Girls that I wanted Mondays to post, it didn't occur to me I'd be writing the first post ever for our group blog. This is serious business! It's like the first day of school all over again, except I don't have to worry about what I'm wearing, or if any of the cute boys will notice me, or if I'll have any classes with my BFFs, or if I don't--who will I eat lunch with?

Okay, so maybe it's not that much like the first day of school, but there is at least one commonality: First impressions. Rather than looking good, I need to sound good. And honestly, it's so much easier to LOOK good, isn't it? Some nice clothes, a little makeup, the right hairstyle, and that's it. But to sound good, especially in text, you need to somehow portray your personality, as well as dishing about something interesting and/or entertaining, and you need to do so in an enjoyable manner.

This could be an entire post all on its own, and because I tend to wander off in different directions at the drop of a hat, I'll reign myself in for now. So I can focus on what I'm supposed to be talking about. Me, Tracy Madison. And my book, A Taste of Magic.

Let's start with me, because like most people, talking about myself isn't the most-fun-thing-ever, but-GULP-here we go...

The basic stuff: I live in Northwestern Ohio with my darling husband, four (yes, FOUR) children, a dog who greatly resembles a bear, a cat who doesn't know how to meow (she squeaks), and a bird who makes way too much noise. My kids range from six year-old twin boys, to a sixteen year-old son, to a seventeen year-old daughter. Yep. You read that right.

The sappy stuff: My house is hectic. And loud. But also filled with all those incredible real life moments that I steal mercilessly as fodder for my writing (blogs, articles, and yes--my books, too). I love most every minute of it. Every now and then (okay, daily--every single day--I wish for quiet), but I know that some day in the not too far distant future, I'll have it. And then I'll miss the craziness.

I'll miss the moments my daughter plops down next to my desk to tell me something about her day, her boyfriend, a class at school, or whatever. I'll miss the random hugs and proclamations of "I love you, Mommy" from the younger set. I'll miss my older son popping in to talk to me about writing, reading, and books he thinks I MUST read.

The quirky stuff: I'm addicted to reality shows (especially American Idol), I love, love, love a good cup (or pot) of coffee, and my favorite going-out-to-the-movies snack is popcorn with Junior Mints mixed into the bucket. Weird, yes, but that savory-sweet thing? I love it. I also hate to sit with my back to a room of people (don't know why), and will do anything I can to avoid having to do so. There's more quirk to me, but some things are better left for later!

The writer stuff: I've written forever. Okay, not really, but for so long, it feels like forever. I've always wanted to see my novels in print, and I've always worked toward that goal. It's so exciting, and so unbelievable, and so amazing that I've finally reached this goal.

My book, A Taste of Magic, is a March 2009 release from Dorchester Publishing, as a Love Spell Paranormal Romance. Every moment of this process, since the day I recieved "the call" has been filled with shiver moments.

Just last week, I had a new shiver moment when I received the cover art for the book.

You can see it over there --->

It's the one with the bright red lips. And the cute, pink, heart shaped cookie. Isn't it striking? Isn't it gorgeous? I'm so in love with it!

Wow, this post is getting long. Too late, huh? It's already long! Okay, okay, I'll wrap it up.

Before I take off to bury my head in the writing of my second book, here's the back cover copy for A Taste of Magic:

Elizabeth Stevens is one bite away from happiness.

Today is Elizabeth Stevens’s birthday, and not only is it the one-year anniversary of her husband leaving her, it’s also the day her bakery is required to make a cake—for her ex’s next wedding. If there’s a bitter taste in her mouth, no one can blame her.

But today, Liz is about to receive a gift. Her Grandma Verda isn’t just wacky; she’s a little witchy. An ancient gypsy magic has been passed through her family bloodline for generations, and it’s Liz’s turn to be empowered. Henceforth, everything she bakes will have a dash of delight and a pinch of wishes-can-come-true. From her hunky policeman neighbor, to her gorgeous personal trainer, to her bum of an ex-husband, everyone Liz knows is going to taste her power. Revenge is sweet…and it’s only the first dish to be served.

Writing this book was so much fun for me. The words seemed to pour onto the page with a force all their own. The idea initially came to me because the combination of magic, romance, and humor is irresistible to me.

As a kid, I loved the shows Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie. They had these ingredients: magical, oh-so-funny, and oh-the-romance! A Taste of Magic, while different than these shows, grew in my imagination because of my love for Samantha and Jeannie, their leading men, and the magical mishaps that seemed to follow them around.

Want to read more? You can! I have an excerpt (the entire first chapter) at my web site. You can read it HERE. If you do, leave me a comment and let me know what you think. You can also sign up for my newsletter for ongoing news about me, my books, and special announcements. As an added bonus, you'll be in the running for some fantastic contests I'll be beginning in October.

Have a great week! I'll be here every Monday, rain or shine, but you can find me every single day (well, Monday thru Friday) at my personal blog. I hope to see you here AND there!