I’ll be honest. I’d like to pretend my birthday isn’t this Sunday. And I would most definitely like to pretend I am still 29. Unfortunately, my daughter refuses to allow this. She takes great joy in reminding me of my age, usually on a daily basis.
I’ll be 36 on April 14th. I know, many of you (including my older siblings) are rolling your eyes and saying you’d love to be that age again. Fine, but what about when you WERE that age? I bet it didn’t sound so great then. But it’s not really the age. It’s the way time is flying by, and there is no better evidence than the rapid growth of my daughter.
Grace is 7 going on 17, and I swear, it seems like she was born yesterday. I remember holding her tiny little body and praying I didn’t drop her or squeeze too tight. I remember her first time on our annual family vacation in Minnesota. She had just learned to crawl and took great joy in racing across the cabin, cackling at the top of her lungs.
Until last year, I spent every vacation week worrying about her following the big kids down to the lake and getting in trouble. Now she is a big kid and since she’s a competitive swimmer, I don’t really need to worry.
THEN
Instead of needing a diaper change and a nap, she’s telling me school gossip in between math problems. She is growing so fast, and I just hate it. I want her to stay little forever. I don’t want her to find out there is no Santa Claus, or Easter Bunny, or Tooth Fairy. I don’t want her to have her first heartbreak, and I sure as hell don’t want her to get her driver’s permit.
NOW
But I can’t stop time, so instead I try to cherish every moment. With the whirlwind that is being an author, it’s very easy to get caught up in my work and commitments. Every time that happens, I have to take a step back and remember how fast time goes and how much she changes.
She is the most important thing in my life, and that’s why I dedicated TIN GOD to her. In the book, the heroine is desperate to find the daughter she was coerced into giving up for adoption–an adoption that turned out to be illegal. Betrayal and murder soon follow.
And no one is more proud of her mom than Grace is. She has print copies of both books and tells everyone her mom is an author.
That’s the best birthday present I could ask for.
Down with the mushy gushy! To celebrate 29 plus 7, I’ve teamed up with some great authors. We’re chatting about birthdays all weekend, and at the bottom of this post, you can enter to win an $80 Visa Gift card. Many of our books are on sale, so please check those out!
Stop by these great blogs to hear their stories and check out their books.
Tamara Ward
Tamara’s new release, Hidden Betrayal, is featured at $3.99.
Birthday Cake Fiasco
http://www.authortamaraward.blogspot.com/
Patricia Sands
Patricia is featuring her new release, The Promise of Provence
Is home exchange in the south of France a remedy for heartbreak? ~ $3.99
Here Comes Another One!
http://www.patriciasands.wordpress.com
Kassandra Lamb
An Unsaintly Season in St. Augustine — on sale for $.99
Of Brothers, Birthdays, and Books!
http://misteriopress.com/2013/04/of-brothers-birthdays-books/
Catie Rhodes
Catie’s featuring her debut novel, Forever Road, starring Peri Jean who owes a ghost a favor and must solve a murder to pay it off ~ $3.99
Time’s Ticking Away
http://catierhodes.com/blog/
Melinda VanLone
Melinda’s debut urban fantasy, Stronger Than Magic, is just 2.99. Tarian Xannon fights demons, like the rest of us. This time, just happens to be real
Birthdays: Looking Back? Or Looking Forward?
http://www.melindavan.com/birthdays-looking-back-or-looking-forward
Julie Day
‘Don’t Get Mad’ is now available for $1.99. Book 4 of Geraldine’s Gems romance series
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/julieday40
Don’t Get Mad: Sandra is sad about her failure of her marriage to control-freak husband, Jim. Until her aunt Geraldine arrives and tells her ‘Don’t Get Mad, Get Even’. So Sandra joins the local gym and meets hunk Troy, and gets fitter and healthier and falls in love. She also gets more confident, and finally stands up to Jim in pubic, and wins.
An Aspergirl and Birthday Celebrations, or not at www.julieaday.blogspot.com
Gregory Carrico
Children of the Plague: Can teenage Lanni save her brother, and what’s left of mankind from plague infected mutants in post-apocalyptic Manhattan? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BUZ3EKW $3.99
Missing Child in Gator Infested Swamp. sort of.
Anna Erishkigal
‘Sword of the Gods: The Chosen One’ is available for FREE for all e-readers. At the dawn of time, two ancient adversaries battled for control of Earth. One man rose to stand at humanity’s side. A soldier whose name we still remember today.
Happy Taxirthday – A list of Anna’s FREE download links
Stacy Green, Psychological Suspense Author 
Pingback: It’s Stacy’s Birthday Bash! | Patricia Sands' Blog
What a sweet post! Your daughter is adorable! I’m enjoying Tin God so much!!! Just wish I had more time to read it – staying up much too late! :-). So proud of you!!
Yay! I’m glad to hear you are liking it. And I completely understand. I never have enough time to read, and I can’t stay up like I use to, lol. Thank you so much for everything:)
Happy Birthday! Good luck with Tin God. I can’t wait to dig into it.
Thank you! It’s definitely been a whirlwind week.
Here’s a little funny something to look forward to when your lovely daughter (who looks just like you BTW) goes for her driver’s license: http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/48d415e827/license-exam-from-peter-john-ross
LMAO. That was great, thank you for sharing it. And thanks for the birthday wishes.
I so feel your pain! I’ve got a 7YO, and already he’s thinking he knows e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g! I thought that didn’t happen until middle school! It’s unbelievable to think… as fast as the first seven years went, the next seven will be gone, too! Yipes! And, he’ll have a license. Double yipes! Thanks for organizing this fantastic event, and…. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Oh Grace is very good at that as well. She is forever correcting me, and it drives me nuts. That’s exactly it – the time is only going to move faster. Thank you, and you are very welcome.
Your adorable daughter looks so much like her mama!
Happy birthday (this Sunday) Tracy!
Aw, thank you. I don’t see it like other people do. She does, however, have my personality. Poor kid!
Ah, to be 36 again. LOL. Happy Birthday, Stacy
LOL. Thank you!
Stacy, 36 is so far in my rearview mirror I can’t make out the headlights. I know having a daughter to remind you of you age isn’t exactly all beer and skittles. It’s about moving forward. Despite all the imagined drawbacks getting older is pretty great. There are advantages: Senior moments like when someone you really don’t want to meet approaches and you fake memory lapses. You learn things, some of them, ahem, really interesting.
LOL, Tom. What an eloquent post. You’re right, there are good things about getting older. For me, it’s mostly been maturity and patiences. Thanks so much!
Happy Birthday!! I know exactly what you mean. As someone who’s been 29 for quite a while, let me tell you that it doesn’t get any easier to watch time flying by. Though getting older isn’t all that bad. There are benefits, too. 😉
Thanks so much, Sandra! That is exactly what my mom keeps telling me, and the worst is that Grace going to school makes it go all the more faster.
Happy Birthday (this Sunday) Stacy! Good luck with Tin God, I’m looking forward to reading it.
Thanks so much, Becky. I hope you enjoy the book!
Happy birthday for tomorrow Stacy! (It’s Saturday here!) I loved Tin God!! Such a great read 🙂
Thank you very much, Brenda. It was a good day, and I’m glad you liked the book.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Loved your new novel Tin God. Thanks for sharing the pics of your daughter. She is adorable and I know you are one proud Mama.
Thank you very much! I’m so happy you liked the book. Yes, I am definitely proud even if she wears me out, lol.
Happy Birthday Stacy! I’m just a couple of months younger than you, and I am so not looking forward to my birthday. With two girls ages 9 and 6, they constantly keep me on the go. Looking forward to spending some reading time on your book Tin God.
Thanks so much, Denise. I can’t imagine having two! Grace is a handful on her own, and she is already involved in so many things. I hope you enjoy Tin God!
Have a happy happy birthday today! I’m sure you and your daughter will gobble down some fabulous birthday cake and make happy memories together. Cherish the times because it goes so fast. Fun idea to have a birthday blast! I have Tin God and looking forward to reading it soon!
Thank you so much! She made me breakfast in bed and then we pigged out on Mexican tonight. I am definitely trying to cherish as much as possible. I hope you enjoy the book!
Great party, Stacy! I hope you have been finding time to celebrate in style this weekend! I just downloaded Tin God and can’t wait to get into it!
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy it. I had a nice day today and ate way too much, lol.
Happy Personal New Year, may this one be prosperous and filled with new firsts and great joy.
Your daughter is lovely and a wonderful reflection of your commitment! I am entirely certain you will continue to enjoy fabulous new experiences together.
Thank you so much! We had a great day today, and thanks for your kind words.
Happy Belated Birthday Stacy! I was one of the fortunate ARC readers of TIN GOD, and absolutely LOVED it!!! Congratulations on an amazing book!!! And congrats for having such a beautiful daughter!!!