We Had A Happy Birthday Weekend for K Spirito! (February 9 is the Official Date!)

This is Sal Senior, K’s husband, breaking in to the Blog to tell of K’s Birthday celebrations this past weekend.

Saturday night we were invited to Sal Junior’s (JRs) house, where we were met with family and friends for a celebration.

The cell phone pictures are fuzzy. (02/06/10)

Christina’s ”make your own pizzas” were great, as was the cake and ice cream! (02/06/10)

Even the cats and parakeets enjoyed! (02/06/10)

Although Ralph stayed home, sleeping in his basket. (02/06/10)

Sunday morning was a brunch celebration at Cynthia’s with more family and friends. (02/07/10)

Strawberry Pancakes were among the vast quantities of foods prepared! (02/07/10)

K gave our son-in-law, Mike, a hard time lighting the candle on another cake…with more ice cream! (02/07/10)

Ralph stayed at home again, but was very happy when the balloons got home. (02/07/10)

Who knows what will happen on her real birthday, tomorrow!
Sal Spirito

PS
HAPPY BIRTHDAY K.  WE LOVE YOU!

We Just Returned from an Unplanned Visit to Cape Cod!

I was trading emails with my friend, Marty, the first part of this week and told her Sal had taken the week as vacation and she said “come down to Chatham for a couple of days,” so we did!

A funny thing happened on the way to the Cape, but I’ll keep that for another time.

We visited with Marty Friday and went to the Impudent Oyster in Chatham for dinner. It seems that the three of us always end up there for dinner. It was great catching up!

Saturday we had lunch with Debra Lawless and a friend of hers, Stu, who has had six Siberian Huskies. It was wonderful catching up with Debra; her sequel to CHATHAM in the JAZZ AGE is coming along well. As a matter of fact, she will be at Yellow Umbrella Books on May 29, 2010. We are going to be there for SUMMER & AUGUST on May 30, 2010.

Stu was a wonderful new friend to meet. Sal and Stu spoke endlessly during lunch; and the time following, that we just couldn’t leave the table. We ate at the Chatham Squire.

After lunch Sal and I went in Yellow Umbrella Books and had a nice long visit with Eric. When we go there for a book event we’re usually too busy to just relax and talk with each other.

Unplanned activities are often the most fun!
K

Yesterday, January 25, 2010 was Our First Event for 2010. We spoke at the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, in Manchester, NH! What a Fun Time!

We were excited to be speaking at the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, and rightfully so. Sal and I had a wonderful evening! Our thanks to all who attended and expressed so much interest. A special thanks to Jan (President), and Anne for coordinating the event, and Sandy for suggesting it. This was truly a wonderful way for us to start our 2010 event season!

I had the opportunity to do a reading from FATHER SANDRO’s MONEY and to talk a little about each of the books in the LaRosa Chronicles, including SUMMER AND AUGUST and a very little sneak-peek into a work in progress-Kathleen.

Sal took some pictures, what fun! I can’t wait until all the new readers of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians read the books they purchased and ask me to come back for a discussion group!
K

Here I am talking about Father Sandro’s Money! (01-25-10)

Here are a number of the AOH mambers listening to a reading. (01-25-10)

Monday, January 25, 2010 is Our First Event for 2010. We are to speak at the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, in Manchester, NH!

We are very excited to be speaking at the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, in Manchester, NH, on January 25, 2010. Sal and I have been looking forward to this special honor since we were asked!

A Sisterhood of Irish and Irish-American, Catholic Women, The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians is a National organization officially recognized in Omaha, Nebraska in 1894 as the “Daughters of Erin.” In 1906, the name was changed to “Ladies Auxiliary to the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America”. In 1984, the Ladies voted to change their name to “The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians.” In 2004 they were officially incorporated on their own as Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Inc. I suggest you check out their fascinating history. I will be sure that KATHLEEN (working title) holds  true to their ideals.

I underestimated what it would take to revise FATHER SANDRO’S MONEY. I have been working at it for a week now and have six of the thirty-two chapters reworked. In that time one of the three editors reading SUMMER AND AUGUST has completed her revisions and the other two will soon follow.

My primary goal is the release of SUMMER AND AUGUST for May 30, 2010 and I will break away from my work on FSM to complete the final-final edit and move on to the recording of the audio master. So, although it seems a ways from getting there, we must focus on the release of the print and Audio CD versions of SUMMER AND AUGUST. What will then most likely follow is the release of SUMMER AND AUGUST for Kindle (and maybe also Nook).

I was optimistic to think I would breeze right through FSM and have it on Kindle this month. It will need to done as fill in work and most likely will not hit Kindle until after SUMMER AND AUGUST.
K

LaRosa Chronicles – Progress Report on SUMMER AND AUGUST! …and Other Stuff

I finished up my final editing on SUMMER AND AUGUST, but need to postpone recording next week because I decided I wanted to do an update to FATHER SANDRO’S MONEY before making it available on Kindle. Nothing major, but small improvements I have wanted to make. It should still be available within the next two weeks.

The rest of the LaRosa Chronicles will follow , at least one per month on Kindle. During this time I have a three additional editors reading SUMMER AND AUGUST. I want this book to be perfect!

A week from today we will attend our first event of 2010, at the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, in Manchester, NH, on January 25, 2010. We’re so much looking forward to this event!
K

LaRosa Chronicles – Progress Report on SUMMER AND AUGUST! …and Other Stuff.

The holiday and birthday fun are done and despite the impact of the economy on all of us I think a hard-candy Christmas here and there makes prosperity better appreciated.

I’m finishing up the final editing on SUMMER AND AUGUST and truly believe I will start recording next week.

We’re entering another new phase of publishing, as FATHER SANDRO’S MONEY will be available on Kindle within the next week or two. The rest will soon follow.

In two weeks we will attend our first event of 2010. I was invited to speak at the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, in Manchester, NH, on January 25, 2010. Sal and I are looking forward to this special honor!
K

LaRosa Chronicles – Progress Report on SUMMER AND AUGUST!

After all the holiday and birthday fun I’m back to work on the final editing of SUMMER AND AUGUST.

Some authors “send people out” to do their research. I find that to be my education time. I learn much more than what I’m looking for when I do research; and it always provides material for other works in progress.

Some authors “wash their hands” of the final editing process. It truly is not my favorite step in the process, but I take pride in evaluating the recommendations of my final editors and being the one to put the finishing touches on the work.

I guess what I’m saying is that each step along the way has it’s challenges and rewards and I enjoy them all. Mostly I enjoy the feedback from all of you when the work reaches the release stage, but not until it’s the best it can be. I should be starting to record the audio master soon!
K

Fun Stuff about K Spirito – Chapter 22 – Happy New Year! …and Thank You All!

In the three months now that  I have been Blogging daily (with exception of a day here and there) we have had a  remarkable number of views! Certainly much more than I had ever anticipated. This has translated into 2009 being my biggest year of sales ever; without having a new release in 2009. The many new readers this year have caused sales of all six of my released titles to flourish. I am very grateful for the wonderful expansion in readership. My most sincere thanks to all of you for your support!!!

WordPress.com has certainly proven to be an unparalleled method of reaching out to friends and readers! …And to introduce a multitude of new readers to K Spirito!  Each and every one of you have made 2009 my best year ever. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Sal and I wish to all of you that 2010 be your very best year!
K

Fun Stuff about K Spirito – Chapter 21 – Happy Birthday! Marissa and Maverick.

Yesterday we had our last two birthday parties for 2009, combined in one! Marissa celebrated her 7th Birthday while her brother, Maverick celebrated his 1st (a few days early.
We had so much fun I had to post these pictures.

Marissa was a lady, as usual…

Enjoying her cake and ice-cream.

While Maverick did what a one-year-old should do!

After opening presents we read from a book, given to Marissa by Uncle JR…

Marissa and I had so much fun her sister, Zoey, joined in!

Fun Stuff about K Spirito – Chapter 20 – Merry Christmas!

For the past few years our Christmas Cards have been home-made: fireplace, snow covered mailbox. This year we thought we would take a picture with Mickey Blue Eyes, our 9 year-old Husky and Ralph, our 5 month-old kitten. Ralph didn’t want to cooperate.

This was the closest we got…

Poor Mickey was trying so hard to cooperate.

We ultimately lucked on to a spontaneous shot of Ralph witnessing his first snowfall.