O, Give Thanks!

Hello, everybody, and welcome to November! Yep, that's right! It's November already! And we're approaching the end of November, too. And you know what that means . . . Christmas shopping!

No! (Okay, more on that later!)

What it actually means is that Thanksgiving is nigh upon us, and now is the time in which to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for. So I thought I'd be share some of that with you all. I bet you can guess, by looking at the picture at the top of this post, one of the things I'm thankful for.

If you guessed THURSDAYS WITH THE CROWN, you're correct! THURSDAYS is my tenth book. TENTH. BOOK. I'm so thankful for my career as an author. I'm so thankful that there are publishers out there who want to work with me, who want to bring my books to readers, I just don't even know how to express my gratitude enough!

Other things to be thankful for include my family. Webmaster Mikey, Boy, Baby Girl, and Baby Roo are all amazing, and I could not love them more. I'm also thankful for my extended family, who are always so fun and funny and supportive and awesome.

Take my mom, for instance. Last year I was diagnosed with Fatty Liver Disease, along with several other stomach and digestive problems. I was having constant, terrible stomach aches. They were so severe that they would make me break out in a sweat, and often even vomit, just because of the intense pain. My doctor wanted me to be on a very strict food program for several months. I would have to cut out dozens of foods, and carefully eat combinations of other foods to make sure I was getting enough nutrition while still letting my liver, stomach, and intestines (which were apparently full of tiny holes) heal. How, exactly, is a mom of three with a full time job supposed to do that? Well, my mom moved in with us for two weeks. She cooked me my special food and my kids and husband other, regular food. For the first two days of this food program I couldn't have any dairy, but also no wheat, sugar . . . basically no carbs of any kind. I couldn't (and still shouldn't) have citrus fruits, tomatoes, apples, onions, or anything with acid in them. I thought I was going to pass out. I just laid on the couch while my mom brought me plain hamburger patties and raspberries every two hours. After my mom left, she called daily to check on me and give me suggestions, while I got the hang of trying to do it myself. She'd also left me with a freezer full of precooked food I could just heat up. Amazing. I feel better now than I've felt in years. I'm so thankful for my mom, and I'm also thankful that I no longer feel like I'm dying every time I eat!

I'm thankful for good books to read! Books like NIGHTMARES! by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller, I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN by Jandy Nelson, and ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr.

I'm thankful for my new office in our basement, which has built in bookcases and pink and green walls!

I'm thankful for pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, and anything else you can put pumpkin in! Pumpkin is one of the few vegetables I can still eat! I think if my doctor had told me no pumpkin, I'd be dead now. Pumpkin and chocolate. Yes, so thankful for chocolate!

And I am thankful, as I always am, for Christmas. Christmas is coming. You all know how much I love Christmas, and everything to do with Christmas! The music! The food! The message of Christmas! Santa Claus! Christmas trees! Snow! Christmas books! Christmas movies! And it's right around the corner!

So let's talk about Christmas shopping!

For one thing, if you're in the Salt Lake/Provo/Orem area, you're in luck. You can come and see me and get books signed for presents! I'll be at the Orem Barnes & Noble this very Saturday as part of their Discovery Weekend, at 6 pm, along with several other authors. Barnes & Noble is offering special editions of THURSDAYS which have maps of the Castle in them and a special bonus story!

On November 29th, I'll be at the City Creek Deseret Bookstore in downtown Salt Lake City from 12-2 signing, and from 4-7 pm that afternoon I'll be a Bookseller for a Day at The King's English in Sugarhouse! And December 20th I'll be at the Barnes & Noble Fort Union from 3:30 to 5:30, signing those last minute Christmas gifts! Remember, too, that you can call in orders to The King's English, and I will sign and personalize them before they are shipped to you.

Books make wonderful presents, signed books make even better presents! Whenever my brothers ask me what I want for my birthday or Christmas, I always say, Books! And they go, Really? That's all? To which I reply:

How long have you known me? It's ALL about the books!

So give thanks for books!