Our middle son turns 21 in a couple of months. I gather that this isn't such a big deal in America -- correct me if I'm wrong -- but here in Australia it is the landmark birthday that traditionally signifies the step into adulthood and independence. There is often a party, large or small. In the case of our James we opted for small, mostly family, but then we don't exactly have a small family. The list passed small several pages ago.

This weekend I'm working on invitations. I chose a template from an on-line site. The design includes a series of photos from then and now, which means I've spent hours and hours poring through photos choosing which seven to include. Have also sorted out the best to use in his memory book, which is the next big (fun) task.

While sorting through photos and photo albums I found all kinds of stray and miscellaneous snaps. This one is stray because it's a panorama print: long and skinny and not fitting it any albums. In fact it's so long and skinny that it didn't fit in my scanner and so you're seeing just a portion of the literacy autographing at the New Orleans RWA Conference in 2001. My first conference, my first book, my first signing. I couldn't believe the size of it and it's only gotten bigger since.

...I will be on a beach like this. Well, perhaps not *exactly* like this. Chances are there will be a lot more people. And waves. I won't be sitting on the beach playing kissyface either, I will be standing with my camera recording the efforts of certain intrepid authors on surfboards. It has been pointed out that money could be made keeping those pictures private but that would be blackmail, right? One of my least favourite ploys.

The beach, BTW, is the cover of Quade: The Irresistible One in Lithuania. For the second time. Here is the first cover as a single ===>>>; this latest one is a duet with Amy Fetzer's Taming The Beast. Seemed strange to get two translations in the one country relatively close together so I double-checked and it's the same title, Zavusis Kveidas, and the same blurb.

It's a pretty cover and it could be Chantal and Quade. On their honeymoon. I think they'd have chosen an isolated island beach somewhere. How about you? Where did you spend your honeymoon? I have your choice from my available back titles as a giveaway. (Prize drawn July 15.)