Many, many, many of you have been sending me wonderful messages wondering where in the world I am hiding since my last regular posts were last February. Well known to some of you, but not all of you I wrote a novel and it was published.  It is called Longbourn’s Unexpected Matchmaker and is an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (ahhh my favorite).

The official launch date of the book was April 15, 2010, but leading up to that I, along with my publisher have been publicizing and marketing like crazy.  It has taken every free minute of just about every day.  I have had close to 15 book signings around Washington State, have been reviewed at over forty websites and blogs. I have done radio and newspaper interviews and met with 3 book groups, which has been tons of fun.

The official launch of the book was phenomenal for a first time no name author, something that I can be really proud of.  I have really enjoyed my writing process but will also be glad for life to SLOW DOWN again.

I have another interview on Monday, another signing on June 18th and July 8th, then things slow down and I can focus on Living Provident.

This year I am going to bring you some awesome videos since I am hosting canning groups here at my house this summer.  There are many ladies in the area who want to can, but do not have the equipment or knowledge so I am going to have group days where I supply the knowledge and equipment and they bring their food and bodies to work.  Everyone in attendance will help everyone else with their food, thus streamlining the process and getting us all done faster.

Rhett has obtained some canning stoves that we will set up outside and just keep an assembly line going.

Our Bishop (one of the leaders at the church we attend), and another man in our ward went together and purchased an industrial dehydrator.  The thing stands a little over 6 foot tall and is 3 feet wide and 3 feet deep.  I am also coordinating dehydrating groups that will be similar to our canning groups.

it is really great that our church leaders support the living provident cause as much as they do.  It makes my life so much easier trying to coordinate products and events for the families in our area.

I am also coordinating (with another person) a city-wide emergency preparedness fair.  I will tell you more about it in the next post.

Until later, have a great summer.

Emmaline