I’m embarking on an amazing journey for one year and I can’t wait to tell you about it. I am planning on spending a good part of every day this year, starting today, living in a state of gratitude. I am already. But I’m becoming conscious of living in that state. And, when I find myself falling “out” of it—out of state of grace, really, it’s getting easier to find the path back in again. The path back is to take a simple breath and refocus on the basics with thanks. I am here. I have a family I love. Who loves me. I have work in this world I’ve been given to do. Reminds me of a centering prayer that helps me refocus from contemplation to action: So send me out into the world, to do the work I’ve been given to do, with gladness and singleness of heart.

Enjoy your own singular journey today, every precious moment of it.

I’m pleased to tell you I’ve been commissioned to write a play for a theatre in upstate New York. I’m really having fun, working on this. In the coming months, I’ll fill you in on where the theatre is, and when the play is going to go up. And then if you can, mark your calendar and come join us during the summer of 2011!

Bkwriter.blogspot.com posted an essay at:
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A Guest Post by Susan Arnout Smith: “Into the Dark: Writing Out at Night”
Click Here To Read More

At Bookreporter.com, I was invited to write a holiday blog, on which book was my favorite book to give. The following essay, Glitter Mom, is posted here: http://tinyurl.com/ydeslp4

Okay, okay, it’s been a long silence. My apologies! What a year!

I just returned from signing books at the LA Times Festival of Books. Thank you so much, those of you who took the time to come by a booth and wish me well. It’s a joyous amazing thing when people tell me they’ve read the book. Wow. In the Mystery Bookstore booth, I was signing next to Carol Higgins Clark and Mary Higgins Clark, beautiful, gifted, stunning looking women. Bobby McCue ran around in a straw hat and jeans, passing out waters, making everybody comfortable. Linda was in a T. Jefferson Parker hat. (Very cool, Jeff; great idea). Bobby and his team had a party for writers Friday night at his warmly appointed store in Westwood.

I know I’m sounding like a columnist for a social page, (down to the description of what everybody’s wearing), but it was a moment where it started to sink in. I’ve written a book that’s now on the shelf. In lots of countries. I saw my friend John Lescroart at the party Friday night. He’d blurbed The Timer Game and has a new book out made the New York Times bestseller list.

I am over the moon. And truly, one of the nicest parts, is meeting all of you. When I was signing in the Mysterious Galaxy booth (with Michael Connelly, Cornelia Reid, Rita Lakin) a reader came up with a Timer Game ARC to have me sign. And a book. It still makes me smile. That and the memory of Maryelizabeth (Mysterious Galaxy owner) under a beach umbrella.

There were over a hundred thousand people a day on the UCLA campus. To be there, signing in the same booths with authors I love and respect—wow. What a thrill.

I’m hard at work on book two. It is part of the Grace Descanso series and it’s great fun to be talking to these characters again who feel so real.

Thank you again, for your many kindnesses. And your patience. And your words of cheer about the book. I appreciate them all.

I’m still trying to get a handle on how to do things. (Which somewhat explains why I have never updated my Amazon site. The Internet is daunting. Ditto with my answering on My Space.
My plan, at this point, is to try and keep in touch more on the fly, but spaced closer together. . . Hope to hear from you!

Oh, and those of you who have encouraged your friends to buy The Timer Game, thank you!