Gratitude List & Giveaway, by Sara Humphreys

I'm thankful for many things and I try to be mindful of it every day. Sometimes, when life throws me a curve ball or I'm having a crappy day, it can be challenging to remember that. So I decided to write up a list (in no particular order) that I could refer to in case I decide to have a momentary pity-party. A list that would shout at me... Stop feeling sorry for yourself, quit your bitching and get back to business.

Good Health--I'm over 40 and everything still works the way it should...so far. I may have more wrinkles on my face but I've earned each laugh line and loved every minute of it. Bring it on. I don't mind getting older since it's more appealing than the alternative.

Girlfriends--They are directly repsonsible for a signficant portion of my laugh lines and I love them for it. Nothing cures the ills better than a long convo with a true girlfriend, a bottle of shiraz and lots of laughs.

Our Home: It's a crooked little house on a crooked little street but it's all ours. It leaks in various places and as soon as we fix one thing, something else breaks. However, nothing beats the cozy feeling of snuggling up on the couch with my family after a long hard day.

The Farkels: My parents, siblings and I refer to our goofy family as The Farkels. I'm not sure exactly where the nickname came from but it suits us well. The older I get, the more I see how blessed I am to have them in my life. My parents created a safe, loving, stable home for us growing up and that has translated to a safe haven for us as adults as well. I just hope I can provide the same thing for my boys throughout their childhood and into adulthood.

My Husband: He knows me better than I care to admit. He drives me crazier than anyone on the planet and still has the hots for me after twenty years. He's simply the best.

My Four Sons: They are wild, loving, protective, devoted, creative, smart and fiercely loyal boys. They make me laugh, scratch my head in confusion, or cry in frustration from time to time but more often than not I'm beaming with pride. I can't wait to see what fantastic husbands and fathers they evolve into.


Being Published: I still pinch myself sometimes because I can't quite believe that it really happened. The Amoveo Legend series is off to a nice start. Unleashed came out in October and so far it's been well received. Untouched and Undone will be released in 2012, followed by the last two books in the series in 2013. As if that's not enough to be grateful for, I've got a second series on the way. I'm so excited! Sourcebooks just contracted me for a 5 book urban fantasy series! Dead in the City is about a coven of vampires who live and work in NYC. It's kind of like Sex in the City with vampire chicks but there'll be more murder and mayhem as opposed to cosmos and shoes. Olivia Hollingsworth, the head of the coven, will be making an appearance in Undone (#4 Amoveo Legend) so the two series will dovetail. Stay tuned for more on that in the coming months.

To celebrate all that I'm thankful for, I'm giving away a signed copy of Unleashed today on the blog. Just leave a comment and tell me what you're most thankful for.

Dream on....