In Your Room

Flow.

2011-09-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in forever. And I don't know who's reading this. I don't blame you if you've given up on me. I did too for a while as I settled into life as a new mother. My little beauty is now 14 months old and I can't believe how fast these past months have flown by. It's been a delight and a privelege to bring my little nuggett into the world, to see her grow and develop, to wake up to her smiling face every morning and to see what new wonder each day will bring.

It was hard for me to focus on anything else for months besides being the best mom to my little girl that I could. But, as I settled into this new role, the other part of me that I had neglected for so long, began to resurface. At first it came in the form of a nagging itch, a constant reminder that I had an entire interior life waiting to bust out, to find its way onto the page. But I didn't quite know how to let it out. When I was away from the babe, my thoughts remained with her. I found myself obsessively perusing the hundreds (thousands?) of pics of her I have stored in iphoto (note: practically every night, my husband and I review the latest pics and videos of E as soon as she goes to sleep. maybe it's a way to hold on to her a little longer, or to transition to the nest part of our evening as a couple. a couple with a dog. that's when Rocky really gets his cuddle on).

A few months back I took on some freelance jobs writing and consulting. They were mostly creative gigs. It wasn't just the allure of money that inspired me to do them. It was also a way to tap back into that part of myself in short bursts with hard set deadlines that were easily achievable. My hope was at the same time, it would remind me how much I loved my own projects. Namely, my unfinished book.

For some reason, this book got caught up in the melee of a difficult early pregnancy, and then pushed to the backburner as I figured out this thing called motherhood. I even went as far as starting a new book rather than going back to this unfinished business.

But then, something happened. Or, a few things happened. My agent read my manuscript and gave me a fresh perspective on the most recent draft. I reread my editorial letter, which was concise and wonderful and inspiring, as my editor was able to capture and understand just what I wanted this book to be, while giving me great suggestions for how to get there. And finally, I found a way to carve out some time every day (or at least monday-friday) to devote to this draft. It's just like going back to the gym after a prolonged absence I told myself. You don't just jump on the treadmill and run 5 miles at your fastest time after sitting on a couch for months. Maybe you don't even run at first. You walk. Maybe you spend more time stretching, or in the shower than you do working out. But you show up. And then you show up again. And then one day, before you know it, you're in it. Your characters come alive and start speaking to you in the shower, while you're driving or pushing your baby around in the stroller. While you sleep.
And you're reminded why you wrote this book in the first place. You're reminded why you call yourself a writer.
This is where I am right now. In love with the process. Happy to be here. Grateful that I get to do this every day. And grateful that I have that smiling face waiting for me every afternoon when I'm done.

I love book bloggers

2010-02-18T13:58:00.000-08:00

I've been a terrible blogger. I'm sorry. Life has gotten in the way to the extent that my internet blackout has gone on much longer than I anticipated.

Well, here's the main reason why: I'm pregnant and we're having a little girl this July!! It's incredibly exciting and I can't wait to meet this little person growing inside me, but let's just say that the first few months were a little rough. I won't bore you with the details, but thankfully I'm seeing the light of day again.

But that's not the reason for this post. I just felt I needed to give a shout-out to the avid, thoughtful and amazing book bloggers out there (who are thankfully much more diligent than I am at blogging). I'm so grateful when anyone not only reads my book, but takes the time to post a review. And I'm so touched that the reviews keep on coming so many months after my book's release.

To that end, I just received a lovely review from YA Book Nuts, a blog run by Lori and Melissa, two librarians from Nebraska who are avid YA fans. The review made my day. You can read it here, and here's an excerpt:

What made the book so believable was that the characters had both strengths and flaws and the dynamics between the two characters and their families and friends were realistic. This book is Jordanna Fraiberg's debut novel and with writing this impressive, outstanding character development, and a completely original plot line... I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Thank you so much!

I hope everyone's 2010 is off to a great start (is it too late to say that when it's almost March??! oh well, the sentiment stands.)

x Jordanna

Trailer for In Your Room!

2009-12-11T14:55:00.000-08:00

As you can tell, I've taken this whole internet-break thing to heart, and haven't been blogging of late, but I just came across this really sweet trailer for In Your Room. It was posted in June, yet I somehow ony discovered it today.

I just want to say a huge thank you to Taylor, aka Heston498 on Youtube, for being inspired enough by my book to put this together! And I LOVE the song she used, "Hanging by a Moment" by Lifehouse.

And here's the trailer:

Hope everyone's having a great December!
x J

So long for now FB &Twitter...

2009-11-29T11:56:00.000-08:00

As of today, I'm taking a break from Facebook and Twitter until 2010. I'm doing it so that I can spend more time focusing on the things I need to focus on over the next month or two (like writing!), and to re-train my brain to go to a book or an interesting article rather than to FB or Twitter to fill a spare few minutes here and there. Not that I don't love reading about what everyone else is up to, or what great new pics they've posted. The problem is that I love it a little too much, and thus, has become a bit of a distraction. To ensure that I don't cheat, my husband has already blocked the sites from my computer. I had been thinking about doing something like this for a while, but when I saw, on Twitter of course, that Sara Zarr, one of my favorite YA authors, was doing it, it inspired me to go for it. And you know what? It's only been, like an hour, but I already feel freer in a way. But don't worry, I will be back...

In other news, I just got back from Montreal. The Girls Night Out evening was amazing. I was so honored to be this year's guest speaker, and I was flattered and honored that the event was sold out. I talked about fear, and not letting it get in the way of following your passion, and it was a great way to remind myself of why I write and have chosen this profession. I also got to catch up with old friends, see my family, and go to two of my mother's concerts. She's a concert pianist, and since I live so far away, I hardly ever get to see her perform anymore. One of her concerts was part of a new kids' series called Bach Before Bedtime. It was a huge hit with lines out the door, and it was so cute to see so many kids crowded around the stage while the musicians performed. You can find out more about my mother and her Allegra Chamber Music series here.

I'm not sure how much I'll be blogging over the next month. Who knows, maybe my internet respite will inspire me to take it to the blog more often. It remains to be seen...

Lastly, I want to share this amazingly touching essay I just read in today's Modern Love column in the Sunday NYT (see? I'm reading instead of status-viewing). It's a real testament to the power of authentic connection and true love. And I'm just going to come right out and say it: yes, such a thing does exist, even if I didn't fully believe it myself until I met my husband.

Happy post-Thanksgiving, everyone!

Jordanna

Julie & Julia & me

2009-11-21T16:03:00.000-08:00

As I type, I'm mid-flight to Montreal. As you may know, it's my hometown and I'm heading back to be the guest speaker at the 5th annual Girls Night Out event at the Jewish Public Library tomorrow night at 7pm. This event has been in the works for months now, thanks to Penny Fransblow, the extraordinary children's librarian at the JPL, and the wonderful committee that has worked so hard to put it together. Just before I boarded the plane, I heard that it's sold out! I can't believe it, and am so honored to have been chosen to be the guest speaker this year. I'm in pretty great company, as my predecessors are the amazing YA authors Libba Bray, Lauren Myracle, Sarah Mylnowski and Robin Friedman. So, if you live in Montreal and plan on being there, please come and say hello!

In other news, I just saw Julie & Julia on the plane. I had read the script back when I was still a film exec, and had meant to catch it in the theatres, but somehow I missed it and finally got my opportunity in-flight from seat 25D. Can I just say that I loved it? I think it was just one of those movies that hit the right note at the right time. And what better way to share my thoughts, than to blog about it.

So, how did the movie inspire me? You'd think it'd make me want to run out and buy Julia's cookbook and try my own hand at French cuisine, but no, it didn't do that (even though I do love to cook). What it did was make me feel a little bit more motivated to finish my book -- and comforted by the fact that, at some point, everyone feels like their projects (in my case, my book) are taking longer than they should or that they will never be done. But the truth is, if you just chip away, little by little, pretty much anything is possible - and anything can get done. In the end, it doesn't really matter how long it takes, but how well you do it - and that you *do* do it. I have to keep reminding myself of that because this book has evolved and has taken longer than I expected. But that's okay. It's a process and this just happens to be the process for this particular novel. It's a lesson I've learned a million times over through my various incarnations (as a student, athelete, etc etc), but one that can easily slip through the cracks, and sometimes all you need is a good reminder, like this movie, that you can get it done. And a reminder of why you do it -- because you love it (in my case, writing) even if it isn't always obvious.

The other thing the movie did was make me miss my amazing husband only two hours into my one week adventure!
Love is at the very heart of this movie - love for life, love for the people in our lives and love for what we do.
So, I guess I just wanted to say thanks Julie & Julia, for making me take a moment to realize what I've got.

Sunset over Hollywood

2009-11-11T22:47:00.000-08:00

I went on a sunset hike this afternoon with Rocky and Alex up to the Hollywood sign. It was a rare cloudy day in LA, which made the sunset all the more beautiful. These pictures tell the story better than I could.

All you need is...

2009-11-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

LOVE.

Peace & Calm

2009-10-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a beautiful hike in the Hollywood Hills with my trusty companion, Rocky. I usually take a spinning/pilates class on Sunday mornings, but today I felt the tug to be outside. And I'm glad I listened. It's a perfect clear, blue, Fall day, with temps cool enough for the Big Sweets to make it even further up than we normally go.

Here's Rocky, taking a forced break so I could snap this pic.
Back on the go, cresting the first view.
Taking a break, to take in the view...

Anticipating drops from my bottle...

Ah, the sweet taste of water after a long climb.Preparing for the descent...
Now that we're back in the comfort of our home, Rocky is recuperating in the sun on his favorite spot. It's a tough life...
I hope everyone else's Sunday is as good as his.

x J

Just Do It

2009-10-22T09:42:00.000-07:00

Greetings, friends:
you know those days when the hours just blend together and fly by so fast that you forget to eat? Well, I had one of those yesterday. I had a marathon meeting on one of my projects that was so much fun I didn't notice that five hours had passed...I love it when that happens. It probably had something to do with the fact that I wasn't alone in my office all day like I normally am, plus the fact that I didn't have a chance to go online at all.

After that I dashed to the complete other side of town to get to the Echo Park Library for my Teen Read Week event with fellow YA authors Anna Hays and Michael Reisman. Thanks to the fabulous Wendy McPherson, YA librarian extraordinaire, we had 75 people attend the speaking portion of the event, and 18 of them stayed for the workshop that followed.

I love these kinds of events. I love the enthusiasm of the attendees, and it's always a great way to give back, to let others know, no matter their age, that they can do this, too. They can write. They have something to say. The key is to stick with it and to form a habit. And the way to form a habit is to be consistent, even if it's in 20 minute increments. Chances are, you'll get more done in 20 minutes than you think you can. It's like training for a marathon. You don't start with 26 miles. You start with 1. And when you're ready, you take it up to 2. Maybe a few days later you'll even be able to do 3 miles. The point is, this is how you form a habit and eventually you will make it to 26 miles. Or a finished mansucript.

On another note, I came home to poor Rocky still grappling with his foot rash. And you know what that means? It's back to the socks for the Big Sweets.
He's now a walking reminder to, that's right, JUST DO IT!
And with that, I'm off to do just that, which means see you later, interweb!
x J

your daily rocky

2009-10-19T14:12:00.000-07:00

hello folks.
I'm back, it's Monday, and I think this picture says it all:
But it's only 2:14pm, which means there's still practically an entire day to get back to revisions, take the sleepy guy for a hike, grocery shop and then cook a fabulous meal for hubby.right? RIGHT.

Or I can always convince Beef to cuddle for the rest of the afternoon...
p.s. for future reference, Rocky, pictured above, is also known as: Beef, Big Beef, The Big Sweets, Steiners-Beef, Rockstein and many more nicknames that will likely surface on this blog...so stay tuned!

happy monday, friends and dog lovers alike.
x j

it's twitter time

2009-10-18T10:13:00.001-07:00

hello friends,
I have some news! It finally happened! Yes, that's right. I joined twitter. I'm hoping this will make up for my lack of blogging of late, or that perhaps those 140 characters will inspire some more frequent posting...who knows?
BUT, in the meantime, you can see all the fascinating things I'm up to (you know, like taking "Big Beef," aka Rocky, aka my dog, around the block, what I'm about to concoct in the kitchen, which TV show I'm OBSESSED with), so please don't be shy and come be a follower (their word, not mine!).

you can find me here! (http://twitter.com/Jfraiberg).

In other news, since I *am* so obsessed with my dog, I'm thinking of giving you all a chance to see the adorableness right HERE by posting some of the greatest pictorial hits of this beast we love so much. He is my muse after all, and gets photographed almost daily, but I figured the best place to start is with a pic from my wedding, where Rocky was the ring bearer, way back in 2008.
So, without further ado, here he is, in all his floral glory!And with that, I'm off to take this big, beefy guy to the park before hitting the road for Santa Barbara for a lovely, afternoon wedding.
See you soon, friends.
x j

Feel good post

2009-08-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

ok, peeps. I just saw this video that's been sitting in my inbox for weeks and I had to share.
there's something so beautiful and inspiring about its simplicity. Not to mention, I do love this song...

but wait, I just realized I don't actually *know how* to post a video, so for the curious, here's a link instead.

enjoy!

So close...

2009-08-13T13:12:00.001-07:00

I can taste it! To be less cryptic, I'm almost done with a major overhaul of my second book. It has taken some time, but it has been my loyal companion during a particular nutty few months. But now that I'm coming out the other side, I can pretty safely say that while life does and will always "get in the way," it is in fact these very distractions, forced breaks and sometimes obstacles that are the very stuff of writing. The stuff that we store in our DNA. While it might not be obvious at the time, these experiences can and ultimately do find their way onto the page. Sometimes it's clear when it happens, other times ideas will only slightly resemble their origins and will come out of the filter of time and perspective anew.

When you're in the thick of life, the thick of upsetting news or seemingly endless roadblocks, when you feel like the writing's not coming, like you're drawing water from a stone, when stringing a simple sentence together feels like a herculean effort, like you're learning a new language, just remember: it will pass. Maybe not in a day. Or a week. Or even a month.
But once it passes, you know it's gone.
And you know you're back.
And the next time it happens, hopefully you'll remember you made it through before. For the better.

So welcome back, me!

eureka (I hope)

2009-06-29T23:03:00.000-07:00

For the past few hours, I've been having a frustrating time trying to wrangle what should be a few simple paragraphs at the end of a chapter.
I have the ideal writing environment. No distractions. I haven't been procrastinating, for once. But let's just say it hasn't been flowing. So, after an internet search to find comforting tales of other writers in my position, I found this quote, and bingo, it nails my problem:
"I've often said that there's no such thing as writer's block; the problem is idea block. When I find myself frozen--whether I'm working on a brief passage in a novel or brainstorming about an entire book--it's usually because I'm trying to shoehorn an idea into the passage or story where it has no place."
(Jeffery Deaver)

Hooray. So with that nugget, I'm going to call it a night.
p.s. have you ever heard people say that they have solved story problems in their sleep, by writing out or articulating the issue before going to bed? Well, I'm trying it tonight so wish me luck.

clearing fog

2009-06-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

June gloom cast a shadow long and wide this month, and trust me, I was under it.
It's bright today, I'm sitting by a window in the library looking out at the way the sun's dappled light is hitting the leaves, and I'm breathing a sigh of relief. And gratitude. Not just that the sun is here, but that I'm coming out of a fog, too. It was one unfortunately born of unpredictable and unstoppable circumstances, one that tested my resolve and hope, but one that is thankfully lifting.

It's always hard to reengage with writing when I've been forced away, to find that rhythm again, the flow, the feeling that you're living and breathing your characters. But, there's also something to be said about life and experience and the ups and downs that go along with it, sorting through the emotions and finding your place among them and then harvesting all that you've learned and hopefully finding a way to channel it into your work.

That's where I am now. Sorting through it all. Sitting with it. Listening to music and allowing myself to get back there. It will happen in time. Maybe not today, but I will get back.

One thing I know, even if I don't feel it all the time, is that writing is a gift. It's a way to try to make sense of the world, a way to express the contradictions, confusions, wonders we experience. It's a way to channel all the things that I turn over in my mind, concepts, feelings, questions, uncertainties -- and most of all, hope.

Because at the end of the day, no matter how hard life gets, hope usually finds its way back in, if it ever really left in the first place.

daily warm-up

2009-06-11T11:41:00.000-07:00

Back in the day when I was an athlete, I would start my training regimen with a warm-up. It usually entailed riding the bike, or stretching, or doing a few minutes of light sprints on the court to get my body moving. For those who don't know, I used to play squash. It was literally my life between the ages of 10 and 24. I would train in the mornings, after school, on weekends. And once I graduated from college, I pursued it full time for a few months on the pro tour while trying to figure out what I really wanted to do with my life.

Anyway, about a month ago I was reminded of my days as an athlete in a meaningful way. I was given the amazing honor of being inducted into the Harvard Varsity Hall of Fame. My husband and I flew back to Boston for the event, where I was surrounded by family and old friends. My college coach (who is still a close friend) introduced me that night before receiving my award. In his speech, he reminded me of so much from those days, but particularly the plan I put in place when I decided I really wanted to win the national singles title. I had lost in the finals the year before, and three weeks before the championship tournament, I had a chance to face the defending champion in a dual match between Harvard and Yale for the national team title. I scraped by with a 3-1 victory, but like usual, came off the court feeling like I wasn't fully in control, that I hadn't played my best. I was sick of that feeling, of not being able to own my victories, and I didn't want it to happen again three weeks later. So, I took out my journal and wrote a plan as to how I was going to improve, what I needed to do to win. But most importantly, I wrote down what I needed to do in order to feel like I was fulfilling my potential -- and not leaving the rest to chance.

I mapped out exactly how I was going to train every day, both on and off the court, for how long, what I needed to focus on, etc. And I followed it. Every day I consulted my journal and executed the plan I had laid out for myself. I was in control. I even wrote out two pages of motivational sayings, stuff that worked for me at the time, little sound bites I could repeat to myself between points when I was catching my breath. I had read them over so many times in the days leading up to the tournament, throughout the matches I played to get to the finals, that by the time I was playing for the title, they were ingrained in me. There wasn't room for the negative talk that so often finds its way in. I had trained it out of me. And the result? Yes, I won. And it was a satisfying victory. Not because I had become the national champion. But because I had left it all on the court. I had no regrets. I had done my best and it felt good.

I still have that journal and the two pages of handwritten motivational sound bites somewhere in the bin in my closet where I keep all my old journals, most of them unfinished, jumping months and years ahead sometimes between pages.

I thought about it this morning because I think it's what I need. A shedule to map out the work remaining through the end of this book. And maybe even a new list of inspirational sayings to pop in my head when the negative thoughts come creeping back in...

By the way, does anyone ever read their old journals? I also have a stack of old letters from high school in a giant box on top of my bookshelf that I keep meaning to comb through. But I guess, for now, the memories are enough.

j

and so it goes again

2009-06-10T11:40:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again in Los Angeles. June Gloom. And it's really true. It *does* get gloomy pretty much every day in June. Low white clouds cover the sky and hang like a low ceiling pretty much all day. I kind of love it. It feels cozy and makes me want to stay inside, which is good when you're trying to finish a book.

I'm about to re-write a chapter I've been looking forward to for a while. It was one of the first new scenes I came up with when figuring out how to approach the revisions, and it was one of the reasons I got excited about the work ahead. It lit that fire, so to speak, and helped me let go of what I had already written to be open to new and better ideas. So, now that I finally get to write it, I'm, of course, procrastinating big time.

But I'm not one of those productive procrastinators who gets things like laundry, bill paying, email-responding, cleaning, writing wedding thank-you notes (yes! over a year later and I still haven't finished, for shame), blogging (okay, I'm doing that now) done while avoiding my work.
No, that time gets sucked by either hugging my dog or random internet browsing (hey, I'm very up to date on current events and Michelle Obama's latest outfit). If I were a productive procrastinator I'd pay more attention to my succulent garden, or go for bike rides around the neighborhood (hmmm, maybe I'll do that later), or plant the herb/vegetable garden I've been mentally planning, etc.

The thing is, I've come to accept that this is part of my process. I rarely can start writing the second I sit down at my computer. I need time to sink back into that mental space. Some days it only takes a few minutes, others, like today, it can be up to or over an hour. But, I've realized that the work always ends up getting done, one way or another, so there's no point resisting it. A little cushion room is sometimes all I need to pave the way for a good day of writing.

And with that, I'm off to begin. Happy June Gloom.
x jordanna

I have a title!

2009-06-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,
That is, if I still have any after being the worst blogger of 2009. But the year is only half over, so there is still time to rectify that, or at least to move a few notches up from the *worst.*
Okay, now that I've cleared that up, let me confess that I am retreating to this blank page in order to hide from another, at least for a few minutes. To be more specific, I'm revising my next book and as is often the case with revisions, that entails writing new stuff, not just revising the stuff that's already been written.

But, I'm really excited to announce the title! It's called OUR SONG, and should be out in June 2010. When I have a good synopsis to share, I will, but for now I'll just tell you it's a pretty dramatic love story and despite my temporary avoidance, has been so much fun to write.

You know, as a writer, I realized I'd been spending way too much time and energy trying to get to the finish line, wanting to already be done, to have this book behind me. But then as I approached (and blew past my deadline!), I realized that I'm actually having fun writing this book, inhabiting the minds of my characters, thinking about how they feel and act, and that I shouldn't want it to end, that I'll actually miss these characters when I'm done. The amazing thing is that this shift in thinking has actually worked. It has taken away the sense of doom and fear hanging over me and replaced it with a desire to take the time I need to do the book justice. I still procrastinate. I still have trouble starting most days no matter how well the previous day or days of writing have gone. But I don't feel panicked or wish it was over. Since I want to be doing this for a long time, I hope I can maintain this attitude for a long time, too. At least it's how I feel today.
Now I'm ready to go back to the other blank page. Happy Monday, everyone.
x Jordanna

Elegy for a Squirrel

2009-01-14T17:07:00.000-08:00

Greetings from beautiful Ojai,

I came up here yesterday afternoon on a whim that struck on Monday, but has been brewing for several years. Way back when I was still working as a film exec (six months plus many years ago), I always dreamed that I would reach a point in my life where I could whisk away for a few days by myself to write, holing myself up in a cabin somewhere. The fantasy has always been very basic, with modest expectations (a room with a bed, a desk, a reading chair) in a beautiful, serene environment.

After I quit my other career to focus on writing full time, I felt so liberated just staying home all day, making my own schedule, writing, working out, seeing friends when I wanted, on my terms. And did I mention how amazing it's been to have Rocky by my side ALL DAY LONG? We've kind of become addicted to each other since we're home together all the time. He likes to follow me wherever I go, even if it's moving five feet from one end of the room to another. He'll sit on the bathmat in front of the shower door while I take a shower, or lie down outside the bathroom door waiting for me (when guests are over and I have the door shut -- kind of weird to let them see you actually let your dog follow you into the bathroom. I know I'm admitting it here, but at least it's pseudo-anonymous and I don't have to see your reactions.)

Here's the thing. I grew up with dogs and have been dying to have my own since I left home for college. My family's dogs died a few years ago, at the same time my husband lost his beloved family dog (both chocolate labs. In fact, here's a good tidbit. Molly and Charlie in In Your Room are kind of named after my hubby's family pets, Molly the chocolate lab, and Charlie, the legendary greatest cat of all time. He really was. I mean, his neighbor named one of her children after Charlie the cat he's THAT legendary.)

Anyway, having Rocky around all the time, not just on school breaks and visits home, is pretty much a dream come true. Which is one of the reasons I've deferred this other dream of mine, to go somewhere alone to write. That, and, of course, it's always more fun when I'm hanging out with Alex.

But, with a deadline approaching, I felt this was a good time to go away and see if isolation in a tranquil place would be all that I dreamed it would be. So, on a whim (plus many years of dreaming) I found this charming place on several acres of beautifully tended land and drove up the next day. I don't have a cabin, but a little cottage, modestly appointed (a bed, a reading chair, a desk) with my own balcony overlooking the mountains.
This is what the view looks like:

And this brings me to the squirrel.

I'm one of those people who shudders and feels a tiny bit of pain on the part of any dead animal I ever pass on the street. It's like those times you feel a shiver go up your spine for no apparent reason, only the reason for me in these cases is always very clear. I feel sad that their lives ended so tragically.

So, after being happily ensconced in my room, on my balcony, on the grounds for the last 24 hours, I decided to venture into town to get some lunch and restock on supplies (breakfast is the only meal served here). On my way down the steep private road, a squirrel darted out right in front of the car. It was almost like a kamikaze mission, and even though I managed to swerve slightly, it was too late. I could see the little guy lying in the middle of the road through my rear view mirror, his tail whipping from one side to the other.
It was really sad. I felt awful. Even though there wasn't anything I could do, I hated that I was the cause of his death.

Further along my drive into town, I drove past a sign on the side of the main road that said: "Free Your Mind," beneath its Sanskrit equivalent. I thought about the squirrel and what had just happened and tried to do just that.

I had a lovely meal and walk around town, and browsed through an antique store, where I bought myself a pair of delicate earrings, and a little gift for Alex.

On my way home, not too far from where I'm staying, I drove past a dog crossing the road on his own, no owner in sight. A couple of other cars stopped to make sure he got across okay. He had a collar but no leash, so I pulled over and walked across the street to see him.
He was a sweet, medium sized dog, some type of Shepherd mix, with a rich dark brown and black coat. I was able to see that he had a tag with a local number, but the sound of a truck driving by startled him and he ran off. I got back in my car and followed him slowly up the street and down a private drive that led to several houses off the road. I pulled over again, got out and followed him to a house where a man greeted him. He was home, and his owner didn't realize he had gotten out.

I got back in the car again, relieved to know that this animal wasn't going to get hit by a car, and drove the rest of the way up the hill. When I got to the private road where I had hit the squirrel, I kept waiting to see his dead body still lying there, and cringed at the thought of facing it again.
But I kept driving all the way up, back onto the property, to my parking spot near my cottage and never saw him again.
He was gone. Who knows, maybe he didn't die after all.

home cooking

2009-01-03T17:12:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting at my dining room table by the fire. Rocky's by my side, and the smell of the chicken soup simmering on the stove has just hit me. The sun has just set, so it's almost but not quite dark in the courtyard in front of me. The lights under the umbrella and on the tree are now visible. Music's playing. So finally, after I finish this, I'll be able to write.
Maybe it's that I worked in an office for 11 years, but I'm still finding it so much fun to set up my writing spaces. I go through phases where it will be the same place everyday, or it can change daily. The past few days I've been working from the dining room table. Before that, I wrote in my office upstairs. Before that I did a stint in coffee shops. Now I seem to want to cook and write. I've been making a lot of soups, and I love the way it fills the house with that smell that reminds me of home, the one I grew up in when I was little.
Happy new year, everyone.

home sweet home

2008-12-16T12:13:00.000-08:00

greetings from susina bakery, friends.

I'm ensconced in the corner of the bakery, with my back to the window looking in. I've been here for about two hours and every time I look up from this screen, more tables are full. I have my headphones in, you see, with the same playlist on repeat, so unless I choose to look up, I am lost in my own world. I LOVE the playlist I'm listening to, so much that it doesn't matter that I've heard every song on it about a billion times, so much that many of its songs will make some sort of appearance in book 2 -- and these aren't gratuitous inclusions, I swear, since music plays an even bigger role in this book than it did in In Your Room. But I won't say more on that until I'm done.

Want to know something strange? I didn't listen to this mix at all while I was away on book tour. I tried a couple of times, but maybe it was just that my head was in a different space, or that I was physically in a different place, but for some reason, I didn't want to listen to it. I've come to associate these songs, the mood they collectively evoke, with writing. And I guess if I'm not writing, they are better saved for multiple listens when I am, like now.

It feels good to be writing again, to be back, inspired. But, I've also learned that part of getting back into the flow again entails lower expectations for the first few days back. I've lowered my daily word expectation, and am allowing myself to get my head back into the mindset of my characters. And now, after about a day and a half, it's starting to work. I'm back in their heads, reminded of how they're feeling -- and what they face.

I also came back with some ideas for books 3 and 4, and even felt compelled to start writing one of them yesterday. It's a good lesson: sometimes you need to really step away to come back refreshed and inspired.

I had SO much more to say, but my friend just got here for a tea break so will just have to post my thoughts on the latest episode of Gossip Girl later. Hint: it was AMAZING.
x J

Old Times Anew

2008-12-09T13:51:00.000-08:00

Greetings from snowy Montreal,

I've been a remiss blogger of late, and have some news to report. I went MIA for a bit while writing book 2, but have come up for air while I'm on book tour in my hometown of Montreal.

I got here yesterday and had my first reading of the week at my old high school, Bialik. It was the first time I had been back since I graduated a million years ago, mainly because I left Montreal soon after graduating. It was so much fun visiting the exact same building and seeing some of my favorite teachers who are still there. While there have been some renovations, like a whole new floor added to the top, the school still has the same warm, inviting feeling it had all those years ago, and a lot of that is because of the kind of caring and involved teachers who work there. The only major difference I could detect was that now the students wear uniforms. Oh, how I wish we wore uniforms back in my day. It's a strange thing to have wished for, but there was nothing like the agony of deciding what to wear everyday, and of course, making sure you didn't perform the cardinal sin (or the Jewish equivalent since it is a Jewish day school, after all) of wearing the same thing twice in a week.

I was really impressed with the students, too. They were so enthusiastic and engaged, and they asked great questions.
Here are a few pics from the presentation:

I have a few more readings lined up this week, and tomorrow I'm being interviewed by Dave Bronstetter for his great radio show, All in a Weekend, that airs on CBC Radio 1 (88.5 for those of you in Montreal) on Saturday morning. Stay tuned for the link!

For those of you in the Montreal area, I will be reading at Babar En Ville on Thursday, December 11 at 4pm. (1235A Greene Ave. Call 514-931-0606.) If you're there, come say hello!

I had a lovely meeting at the Jewish Public Library today. I was so impressed with their programming, and the care they put into selecting their books and events. Stay tuned for a future reading there on one of my next visits!

In other news, I had an amazing event at the Archer School for Girls in LA in November, and another fun reading with Jay Asher at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena. For those of you who haven't yet read Jay's book, Thirteen Reasons Why, which is STILL on the NYT bestsellers list, I urge you to do so immediately! He nails both compelling characters and suspense in seemingly effortless fashion.

I would tell you more about the reading, but Jay and fellow YA author Paula Yoo who was there, described it in such great detail that I'm not even going to bother outdoing them, so check out Paula's blog, here and Jay's here. I'm actually reading Paula's debut YA novel, Good Enough, now, and I'm LOVING it. She has such a literary style that is also relatable and funny, and I can't wait to have more time to finish it. But that's what plane rides are for, if I don't finish before then. I will have a full report when I'm done, but I'm far enough into the book to wholeheartedly recommend it.

I'll leave you with a couple of pics from the Vroman's reading...
pre-reading chat with Jay, the master presenter

this is me reading at my very first podium. woo hoo!I'll check back in soon, but before I go, I want to say thank you to all you readers out there who have been sending the most encouraging and flattering emails about the book. I've said this before, but one of the best things about having a book out is hearing from people like you.

More later....
Jordanna

Reading Monday night!

2008-11-21T08:56:00.000-08:00

Readers,
I've been remiss in updating you all on various exciting things, but this is primarily because I've been buried in book 2 and writing away like crazy. I've been doing the national novel writing month (Nanowrimo) competition with fellow YA novelist, Paula Yoo, author of the fabulous Good Enough.
The goal is to write a 50,000 word draft in November. While we're not trying to accomplish that goal per se, we've formed a buddy system and have been keeping each other on track as we push through our respective second YA novels. Paula live blogged about our writing session together yesterday, here.

But, I have other news!

This coming Monday night, November 24 at 6:30PM I will be doing my very first reading with the wonderful Jay Asher, acclaimed author of the NYT bestselling YA novel, Thirteen Reasons Why.

We will be reading at Vroman's Bookstore
695 E. Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91101
Tel: 626-449-5320
and you can find out all the information here.

If you're in the area, please come and introduce yourself!

I will post more updates soon, including information about my upcoming book events in Montreal in December, so stay tuned.

x Jordanna

exciting times

2008-11-02T15:00:00.000-08:00

I should be in my office, at my desk, working on my book, but instead I'm on my couch watching the news. I'm a Canadian citizen so I can't vote in the US, but this is a time when I really wish I could. Instead, I'm addicted to the news. And on election day, instead of voting, I'll be phone banking for Obama here, at 30Barack, an impressive community of phone banks in LA organized by my friend Aditya. They made over 17,000 calls yesterday alone from under 300 people.

In other news, Rocky and I went for a lovely hike this morning in Runyan Canyon with a friend. It rained last night for the first time in a while, so the air was fresh and clean. Speaking of Rocky, he got skunked in our backyard at 1:30am the other night. We had just come back from the premiere of the film DOUBT, which our friend had produced. Side note: we had seen the play before, also excellent, but the movie was even better. Anyway, once Rocky got sprayed we quickly sprang into action and sequestered him in the front patio area while we figured out the next step. Alex got on the computer, and within minutes had the answer. Tomato juice you might be guessing? That's what I thought, but no. That only masks the smell. A hydrogen peroxide concoction was the solution. Alex went out and bought the ingredients and by 2am, we were both plastic-gloved and applying the mixture to his fur. The thing about Rocky is that if you're touching him at all, he'll take it, and will generally accept all forms of grooming and inspection in exchange for human affection. We were thinking it would be a good start and we'd figure out a better solution in the morning. But the most amazing thing happened: it worked. It got out the stench, and after a round of towel drying, Rocky was once again house-ready and he didn't have to face a night of sleeping outside (the horror, of horrors -- for me, anyway).

I've been getting the sweetest, most flattering emails from readers who loved the book. It's been so great hearing from you all. Thank you for the support and encouragement.

I wrote a guest blog on writing the book from two points of view as part of being author of the month for Harmony Book Reviews. You can read it here.

The Compulsive Reader, who has also featured me as author of the month, posted a playlist of songs that inspired me and/or are featured in the book here. But, here it is again:
1. Such Great Heights (The Postal Service)
2. Together (The Raconteurs)
3. Digital Love (Daft Punk)
4. Reckoner (Radiohead)
5. Synchronicity (The Police)
6. Breathe me (Sia)
7. I Feel it All (Feist)
8. Brand New Colony (The Postal Service)
9. Hide and Seek (Imogen Heap)
10. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) (The Arcade Fire)
11. Viva La Vida (Coldplay)
12. The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades (Sufjan Stevens)
13. No One (Alicia Keys)
14. Yellow (Coldplay)

Okay, I must get back to the news...I mean work, of course!
J

book trailer, take 2

2008-10-26T21:19:00.000-07:00

To make it easy, here's the youtube book trailer The Compulsive Reader was inspired to make:

I love it!

book party, book trailer, book giveaway and more, oh my.

2008-10-26T19:37:00.000-07:00

Readers,
On Thursday night, my generous friend, Peter, and the fabulous indie book store, Book Soup, hosted a book launch party for me at Peter's house. It was such a great night, and I felt so lucky to be surrounded by so many supportive friends. I loved seeing people from different parts of my life together in one room. It was also great to see some of my fellow LA-based YA authors, whom I know as a result of a fabulous group called the LAYAS (Los Angeles Young Adult Authors). Paula Yoo, the author of the acclaimed debut YA novel, Good Enough, blogged about the party here.

Here are a few snapshots of the night:
this is me with my husband, Alex:

friends Sean and Miranda with their signed copies
group shot, including one of my teen readers
More friends showing their support
Aliza & Thomas. Aliza is like my sister, only we're not related.
hubby Alex with friends Melissa & Alex
As you can see, it was a most excellent night, and I've been in the happiest mood since. Having a book out really is just like having a birthday, and I do love birthdays.

In other exciting news, The Compulsive Reader had the greatest surprise for me last week. In addition to posting a Q&A with me, she also made a book trailer for In Your Room. An actual video, with the most appropriate song she could have chosen, too ("Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service, featured in the book.) Can you believe it? I was so impressed and flattered. You can check out the interview and video here.

As the featured author this month for Harmony Book Reviews, we're doing a giveaway of a signed copy of In Your Room through her site, here.

I had a lovely afternoon yesterday with Jay Asher, author of the gripping Thirteen Reasons Why, to plan the reading we're doing together at Vroman's on November 24. You can find out all the info for the event here. He showed me the new, re-released hard cover of his book, with some really cool added features. I'm really excited about our reading, and hope you can make it.

Alright. It looks like it's that time. Off to watch some Sunday night television.

J

This and That

2008-10-21T14:45:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon!
I'm sitting on my patio, taking a break, in a spot that just a few weeks ago would have been fully, rather than partially, in the blazing sun at this hour. Sometimes, the position of the sun is the only way you know the seasons are changing in LA. There's a really cool thing outside at the Griffith Observatory. They have sunset and moonset lines engraved in the cement so that you know where the sun and moon are going to set in the sky, depending on the time of year (for those of you who've already read the book, you know what I'm talking about).

Thank you to Harmony Book Reviews for this fantastic review and for featuring me as the author of the month! Stay tuned for more...

Thank you to Book Chic for featuring me as the Fresh New Voice of YA. If you're interested, check out the guest blog and interview I did.

I'm having a little book party on Thursday, so I have to go out and do a few things for that, but before I do, check out this cool new book, Who By Fire, that I read about today in Seventeen Magazine, here. Doesn't it sound great? I can't wait to get a copy.

J

the monday warm-up

2008-10-20T11:15:00.000-07:00

Good Monday morning to you, readers!
I hope it's the start of a great week for all of us. I had a lovely tour of some book stores on Friday. A confession: I was a little apprehensive about doing this exercise. I know it's a rite of passage and all, but I also know that books can take a while to ship and that they may not even be on shelves right away. Thankfully this did not happen and our little tour was so much fun, especially since we had a surprise addition to our merry expedition, my other good friend, J.
some pictures of the adventure, for your viewing pleasure: at Portrait of a Bookstore
and look! The lovely folks at B&N at the Grove put my signed books in prime viewing position. Side note: the Grove makes an appearance in the book, too.Now, what's this warm-up all about, you ask? It's a way for to me to sit down at my desk, get all my things and thoughts in order before I dive in to book 2 for a few hours. Today, these "things" included:
1. checking email.
2. drinking tea
3. checking email again.
4. lighting candle
5. moving things around on desk.
6. brushing dog's teeth. okay, before you start mocking me, which I fully deserve, you would brush his teeth, too if YOUR dog tried to eat what MY dog tried to eat this morning. Note: it's a special tooth brush for dogs, not a recycled human toothbrush, with special "poultry" flavored dog toothpaste. yum. see for yourself:
I can't really beat that on my list. Suffice it to say that Rocky and I are both much happier after said teeth brushing (he actually likes it). I'm now at my desk, and he in his usual resting position on the couch next to me, awaiting his next beauty regimen.
In the meantime, I'm going to get to work, now adequately warmed-up.
Thanks for stopping by!
Jordanna

the day after

2008-10-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a brilliant day. I woke up to so many great emails that kept pouring in throughout the day, and are still streaming in. Thank you to everybody for all your support! And it's been great hearing from eager readers who've already got their copies.
I wrote about the path to publication day here, as a guest blogger for The Compulsive Reader. I'm so grateful to all you book bloggers who've become fans of the book. You guys are amazing!

I have a guest blog appearing today on Book Chic's blog. I'll post it when it's up.

In a few minutes I'm heading out with my good friend R. to sign some books at some local indie book stores around LA. First, we're going to Portrait of a Bookstore. I love this adorable store, nestled among fruit trees and an outdoor cafe. How perfect is that? I used to escape here to read and write when I was at my old job during lunch sometimes. Then we're going to Book Soup. Book Soup is the first book store I went to in LA. It has the most amazing intimate feel, like you're always about to discover the best book. We'll finish up our tour at the Grove, featured in the book. They have a B&N and I gotta see if it's there!

I have to go get dressed before R. gets here. See? I do get out of PJs sometimes. But I'll leave you with this: I came home yesterday afternoon to the best gift from my husband. To celebrate my book launch he bought me a potted lemon tree. Not only that, it grows Meyer lemons!! My absolute favorite kind (a cross between lemons and oranges. tip: amazing freshly squeezed mixed with sparkling water. delight!). It's also symbolic, you know, the fruit bearing tree, like creativity...ok...I'll stop now.

Happy Friday everyone!
J

The Warm-Up

2008-10-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

hello readers:

I'm back.
I'm sitting on my couch with my favorite fancy tea (green tea blend called The du Hammam), just brewed, within arm's reach, and my dog, Rocky, also within arm's reach.

I decided to start my day with a post, to, you know, get the juices flowing so to speak. My book comes out tomorrow and I'm a bundle of nerves. I also have to write my very first guest blog post today. So, you see, this post is a warm-up for the following:

1. acknowledging the day has started and must.get.out.of.pajamas (ok. maybe not right away. But before leaving the house. who knows? that could be never. side note: I've waited many years for this so-called luxury of living in your PJs)
2. pay bills. TODAY. must avoid late fees!
pause. ok, back. had to put music on surround sound. this talk of bills is stressful! Nothing like some Broken Social Scene to bring tranquility to the day.
3. write more pages of new book. ok, this really should have been numero uno on the list, but who's counting? If a girl can't hide on her blog, where can she hide?
4. write a fabulous guest blog for the compulsive reader, to be featured tomorrow.
5. errands. I'm the worst with errands. the worst.

Ok, that list is long enough. You know what I want to do soon? Visit the Los Angeles Zoo. I've never been, and I think it's time. This non-sequitur brought to you by Jordanna's brain.

Oh, I forgot to mention. For those of you who've read my bio on my website, you know I want to get another cat eventually. Well, one showed up in our driveway a few weeks ago and has been happily living there ever since. We call him Scraps. He's kind of filthy and loves nothing more than to sleep on greasy oil stains under the car, but I love him anyway. Even if I have to scrub down after cuddling him, or disinfect my clothes (I had grease tracks all over my white sweatpants after letting him sit on me), or clean up his poop droppings in the middle of our walk way. Ok, that part is kinda gross, and I don't really enjoy it, but, the scrappy old guy is worth it.
And, Rocky, former cat-terrorizer, has been reformed and even kisses Scraps on occasion.
Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks. See for yourself:

I'm fully warmed-up now, friends. Thanks for the help and perhaps you will be hearing from me again tomorrow, publication day!!
Until then, enjoy your day whether in PJs or real clothes.
Jordanna

early mornings

2008-10-02T07:04:00.000-07:00

I woke up before the sun today.
This never happens to me.
Just wanted to share.
In more exciting news, the fabulous Story Siren has posted an interview today, as promised, avec moi, right here. So, for the curious, go on over and check it out.

While we're on the topic of book bloggers, here are a couple of links to some other reviews that have come in over the wires in the lead up to the big release. woo hoo!
I'm so grateful to all you book lovers out there for your interest in my book. So, without further ado, here they are:
Book Chic
The Compulsive Reader
Tempatt
The Book Girl
Reading Keeps You Sane
The Page Flipper
Book Junkee

The sun is up and shining.
I'm listening to "Ghost Under Rock" by Ra Ra Riot for the millionth time this week.
And I leave you with this, my boy Rocky next to the beautiful plant my mom sent us for Rosh Hashana (the Jewish new year). I made him wear that pink ribbon all day and he got all sorts of compliments when we went out for a smoothie break. doesn't he look pretty??!!

Happy Thursday people!
x J

A new review is IN!

2008-10-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

It's October today, readers.

While I might be stating the obvious, I definitely needed to check the calendar because it's going to be 100 degrees today in Los Angeles. That's right. ONE HUNDRED DEGREES. I mean, what is that? In October? I guess I should be kind of used to it by now, but I guess you can take the girl out of Canada, but you can't take Canada out of the girl. All this to say that I miss the leaves changing and the brisk, chill in the air that "should" come with October.

Alas, you don't hear many complaints from me in deep winter when my mother tells me it's minus thirty degrees in Montreal (ok, that's celcius, but doesn't it sound more dramatic that way?) and it's a comfortable seventy or so here in these parts. Therein lies the trade-off.

But I digrees. I woke up today to find the most delightful review of my book from The Story Siren! What a great way to wake up and start the day (and give me that extra little motivation to get right to work on book 2, aka, the work-in-progress.)

You can read the review here, but here's a little excerpt to whet your appetite:

I can’t really pinpoint one thing that made me like the story so much, I think maybe it was a combination of the characters and just the whole premise of the novel itself, but I just picked it up and I just had to know.... are these two ever going to get together!

And believe me, you’ll want to know too!

My only complaint..... I want more!

Visit The Story Siren again tomorrow for an interview with me!
Thanks for stopping by,
Jordanna

Two weeks and two days PLUS blog tour schedule

2008-09-30T10:07:00.000-07:00

Ok folks, I'm back with some news.
My book will officially be in stores in two weeks and two days. That's October 16 for those who don't feel like checking a calendar.
For those of you in the Los Angeles area, I will be doing a reading with the fabulous and talented Jay Asher, NYT bestselling author of Thirteen Reasons Why, on Monday, November 24, 2008 at 6:30pm at the wonderful Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena.
Please come! It will be my very first reading ever.

I also have a few school visits in the works, so if you're interested in having me speak at YOUR school, let me know.

In other news, my blog tour is about to start. Won't you come along for the ride with me?
here's the schedule:

-I'm the "Fresh New Voice of YA" on Book Chic's blog for the month of October. Please check it out!
-Visit The Story Siren on October 2 for an interview with me.
-I'm the featured "Author of the month" at Harmony Book Reviews for October
-The Compulsive Reader has selected IN YOUR ROOM as the "Book of the Month." Check out her blog every Thursday throughout October for features about the book. She also blogged about my new website today, here.
-Come read my guest blog for Another Book Read on October 24.
-I'll be stopping by The Page Flipper on October 29 for another guest blog.
-The Book Girl Reviews will be posting an interview with me in October.
-I will be the "Featured Author of the Month" for November for The Ultimate YA Reading Group.

Stay tuned for more reviews, blog visits and more!

The VMAs

2008-09-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

Dear readers:
I wanted to share some very important news with you. Last night I attended the MTV Video Music Awards on the Paramount lot. Now, what is exciting about this news is not that we got invited at the last minute and jumped at the chance to put on something other than sweatpants and roll ourselves down the hill to the event. No, as exciting as that was, what was even more thrilling was that I actually knew practically every band and performer there. I kid you not. This is a minor miracle for those who knew me when I was young and would freeze when anyone asked me the dreaded question: who's your favorite band? I simply did not have an answer. Um...the Beatles? Elton John? (note: those were the eight tracks on rotation in our yellow Volvo circa...circa who cares. a long time ago.)
I could blame this on the fact that my mother was (and still is) a concert pianist and we pretty much only had classical music playing (except on road trips in the yellow Volvo), but friends, that's not even it because I couldn't really identify the great works of the classical masters back then, either. Let's just say I was tone deaf for a while but have luckily made up for that over the years and now don't know what I would do without music. I still freeze when asked who my favorite band is (or author, book, movie, fill-in-the-blank) but that's just because there are too many to choose from.
But I digress.
Back to the VMAs. And my observations from the outdoor "B Tank," where all the non-celebrities gathered to watch the festivities unfold on the myriad LCD screens within the roped-off perimeter:
1. much easier to see LCD screens once the sun has set and is no longer shining in your eyes.
2. sequins = the new black
3. Britney might just be on the verge of another comeback, friends. (And I'm rooting for her.)
4. Hayley, the lead singer of Paramore, is looking like a true rocker. Well done.
5. Russel Brand is A-OK.
6. No lines whatsoever for food and drink all night. And no shortage. Who says there's a recession?
7. Slim suits PLUS ankle-length pants PLUS shiny shoes = the new hip way to still be a suit.
8. One-side of head shaved down to a leopard print on skull CAN look good, if only for one night.
9. Note to Kanye: next time perform one of your hits to end the show, not something new.
10. Rihanna rules. Seriously.
11. People were bused in to the event. How does that happen? Where do they come from?
12. The Jonas Brothers have a way with the ladies. As if you didn't know that already. (note: a mass of fans streamed their way down the streets of the Paramount lot, like speed walkers released from the starting line, to make their way to the Jonas Bros. live outdoor performance.)
13. Sweet Pea from Project Runway Season 4 was in attendance in the B Tank in a long, jersey-knit red dress, tattoos-a-showing.

I could keep going all day, but I must get back to my other writing. But I leave you with this:
soundtrack of the morning -- Coming to Terms by Carolina Liar.
current song: Last Night. Which is appropriate given this post.
Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.
J

My website has launched!

2008-09-06T14:03:00.000-07:00

hello readers,

I am happy to announce the launch of my new website:
http://jordannafraiberg.com/.

I would love to hear what you think!

In other news, IN YOUR ROOM will be in stores in just six short weeks, on October 16th. Stay tuned for information about my upcoming blog tour.

And please come back as I get this blog underway. I promise it will be more interesting in the future.
Jordanna