CJ's Desk Diary

I’m Giving Away Books Tonight

CJ — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:08:47 +0000

If you live in Calgary how about coming to the Chapters at 9631 MacLeod Trail tonight-Friday May 11? From 7 until 8:30 p.m. I’ll be speaking with six fellow authors (Lecia Cornwall, Pamela Yaye, Vivi Anna, Michelle Beattie and Lauren Hawkeye) about Surviving Today’s Publishing World. (Hint: it isn’t easy!) I’m bringing 25 books to give away as freebies. There will be other books available for purchase, refreshments and time for chatting and questions.

If you love books, writing, or just want a fun night out, come and visit! By the way, this gathering is in part due to our Chapter organizing for a big workshop on Saturday. We have Michael Hague speaking to our RWA Chapter and we’re all very excited.

Office Reno Stage One: Destroy!

CJ — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:46:28 +0000

Well, I finally moved all my furniture, files, books and stuff (so much stuff) out of my office. Today the amazing Sean came and removed the old built-ins. So now I am left with a blank slate.

Blank Slate

Boy it was tiring carting out all that stuff. Good thing I spread the work out over a week. I ended up with lots of recycling and sent some good books on for a chance at a new life!

As always, for more photos, check out my Pinterest Boards.

Next to come: Painting!

Cheers,

Office Renovation: “Before”

CJ — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 19:45:29 +0000

In the midst of all my deadlines, I’m currently embarking on a project to renovate my home office. This has been a dream of mine for ages. On my wish list: lots more storage, a comfy chair by the window for reading, a big corkboard for storyboarding, and a pretty, feminine color palette.

I’m chronicalling my renovation adventure here on my Desk Diary, starting with this “before” picture:

Never enough storage!

If you’d like to see more “before” pictures, check out my renovation boards on Pinterest

Next to come: the rip-out phrase. Wish me luck!

Road Trip To Coffee Creek

CJ — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:12:09 +0000

Okay, so Mike & I were driving back from Palm Springs, which is like, only 27 hours by car from where we live in Calgary. (Should be a breeze, right?) And as we’re approaching Great Falls, Montana, I get this brilliant idea that we should detour for a visit in Coffee Creek, which is the setting for my upcoming four-book series for Harlequin American.

So we do it.

We’re getting a little grumpy, cause we’ve just added 3 hours to a 10 hour day, but we figure it will all be worth it to see this town that I decided to write about because I spotted it on a map and I liked the name.

Let’s just say that the reality of Coffee Creek did not match the fullness of my imagination. This church was pretty much the highlight of the town and it looked like a strong gust of wind would blow it over.

Little Church On The Prairie

But we kept driving. And we eventually came to some beautiful ranches, amazing valleys and spectacular mountains. I thanked the stars that I was a fiction writer and could patch all of this into my own version of “Coffee Creek” that would include the “Cinnamon Stick Cafe” and “The Lonesome Spur Bar” all with a nice little creek running right through it.

Best of all, I found the perfect location for the Lambert’s ranch. Can you imagine living with this view every day?

home on the range

Coming This Spring

CJ — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 05:00:03 +0000

Springtime to me means many things. It’s the season for tulips, my favorite flower.

It’s time for filing income taxes, too–definitely not one of my favorite things.

And for me, this year, it’s also going to mean some major spring cleaning. In fact, I’m redecorating my office, a project I hope to share with you over the next few months. Keep posted for my “before” and “after” photos.

This year spring, for me, will also mean writing deadlines. I have so many projects in the works, even I can hardly keep them straight. But this is a good thing, right? Watch for lots of sneak peeks, contests, and hopefully some new book covers coming soon!

Cheers!

Contest Winner Announced

CJ — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:50:30 +0000

Thanks to all the readers who participated in my Scavenger Hunt contest. It’s always fun to see responses from all across North America, and even, this time, from Australia. A random winner has been selected–check my contest page to see if it was you.

I had so much fun reading your responses. Most everyone identified the correct clue words “joy,” “mountain,” “little bundle” and “chocolate.” And about fifty percent unscrambled the words to reveal my Christmas wish for you: “Mountains of Joy and a Little Bundle of Chocolate.”

But what I hadn’t counted on when I set up the contest was that there was another, equally logical, way to unscramble the clue words. Imagine how I chuckled when I saw that some readers thought I was wishing them: “Mountains of Chocolate and a Little Bundle of Joy.”

Not that I’m going to argue about the mountains of chocolate part…

The Lure of the Scavenger Hunt

CJ — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:01:10 +0000

When we have family reunions with my sisters and their young children, I love to set up a scavenger hunt for the kids. I send them on a merry chase all over the property–which this year happened to be at a couple of cabins at Good Spirit Lake in Saskatchewan. The clues were planted with diabolical care: one in grandpa’s pocket, another hidden in the trunk of a car, one tucked inside the microwave, the next buried in the sand by the playground…

I think it’s fair to say that these scavenger hunts have become a favorite event of our reunions, and I’m not sure who has more fun–me or the kids.

I wanted to bring the same sense of adventure and fun to my readers when I set up my newest contest. I’ve scattered clues everywhere: on my Facebook Page, on my Twitter Feed, and also on the C.J. Carmichael and Banit Creek Books websites. I hope you have time for a little silly fun, gather the clues and enter my contest for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate from Amazon.

You’ll find all the details on my Contest page. Ready, set…go!

What Would You Read…

CJ — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:16:06 +0000

…if you had one week to laze around on a beach in Mexico?

My smart guy found a terrific, extraordinary, amazing deal on a week holiday to Manzanillo, and we couldn’t resist. Besides bathing suits and flip flops, I’m packing my next book in Louise Penny’s Three Pine series, The Cruellest Month, and also Jodi Picoult’s Sing You Home, which I started and am anxious to finish.

Of course I’ll be reading the next book in the Bandit Creek series, as well. Any other recommendations on a good beach read? How about cocktails? (Warning, I’m partial to coconut and rum!)

Bandit Creek Contest

CJ — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:13:52 +0000

Did you know that everything happens in Bandit Creek, Montana? This is the amazing fictional world created by the talented members of my local writing chapter. Two times a month a Bandit Creek Story is e-published. The stories cover every genre you can think of: historical, contemporary romance, mystery, paranormal, horror, romantic comedy, and so on. I’d love to introduce you to the first two books of the series. Of course, once you start, you may find yourself hooked!

To enter this contest, all you need to do is “like” my new fanpage on Facebook. The link is right there, on my home page. Then submit your name and email in one of three ways:

Send an e-mail to: cjcontest@cjcarmichael.com
Leave a comment to this blog entry
Via Twitter to @cj_carmichael: please introduce me to Bandit Creek

Do all three and you’ll be entered 3 times! On Nov 28 I will select a winner and send them Lost by Vivi Anna and Siren’s Song by DL Snow. I know you’ll love these stories–I did!

Cheers from CJ

Larches are the New Gold

CJ — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:43:39 +0000

Welcome to Kananaskis Country (and you thought Banff was nice)

Have you ever seen larch trees in the autumn?

Okay, it’s September, my favorite time to go hiking in the Rocky Mountains and if you look at the above picture you’ll know why. Deciduous trees usually steal the show at this time of year, but the larch tree–which grows naturally only at high alpine altitudes–is the only coniferous tree whose needles change color and are shed for the winter season. If beauty like this doesn’t inspire you–what does?