Well, it was bound to happen. One of my characters has stepped center stage and taken over. Who is it? Jake, from this year's Christmas book, MERRY EX-MAS, which will be released in November.
Jake is a country singer. Jake wants to make it big. Jake wants his own music video.
So we gave it to him. Last night, thanks to Debra and the wonderful crew at the Tracyton Public House, Jake got his shot at fame. (Well, he had to share billing with me, his creator, but he was okay with that.)
This is such a fun, cheeky Christmas song and I can hardly wait for you all to hear it, and to see our music video.
Thanks to my friend and fellow songwriter Ed Kerr of Kerrtunes we had an amazingly professional production... that lasted much longer than I anticipated. (Why do I always forget how long it takes to do something like this?) Anyway, we had three cameras, tons of musicians, high tech equipment and decorations. And, thanks to Ted Brown music, even a Dobro. We also had Christmas cookies (actors need sustenance) and country dancers. Christmas in April!
And this was all on a nice, warm, spring-is-here, evening. I almost roasted in my winter clothes! Speaking of clothes - the mink I'm wearing is a fake mink so no minks were harmed in the filming of this music video. The only one who might have been harmed is poor Santa, who probably got a hernia from having to carry me around.
Here's a big, public thanks to all the wonderful people who came along for this ride, for our musicians and tech people, and all the friends who danced or sat in the same spot for a verrry long time. And to my darling Gerhardt, who, as usual, stole the scene he was in.  I am so looking forward to seeing the finished product. And so smiling at the fun we had making this!

Looking for some affordable fun? Have you considered forming a foodie group? We did this several years ago with two other couples and it has been great fun.
I'll tell you how it started. I was tired of cooking the same old same old and wanted to try some exotic new recipes. Somehow, cooking for company always motivates me, and hanging with friends makes me happy. Combining those two ideas, getting a couple of girlfriends (and, as it's turned out, guys) to come help me create in the kitchen seemed like a good idea. And it was! We meet roughly once a month, although sometimes this gets stretched to every couple of months depending on how busy everyone is. We pick a menu ahead of time - usually whoever is hosting gets to choose. Then we get together, make it and eat it. Yum! And we split the cost, so the evening is affordable for all. Here's a great way to improve your culinary talents and enjoy the company of good friends all at the same time.
In the pictures we're making Coq au vin. Since we've been together we've made everything from seafood lasagna to Salmon Wellington (a recipe concocted by my old water aerobics pal Donna Moore) to chocolate fondue. What might you come up with if you got together with your friends?