Celebrate Little Victories - Erma Bombeck's WHEN YOU LOOK LIKE YOUR PASSPORT PHOTO, IT'S TIME TO GO HOME

It's been three weeks since I left my oldest son in Tampa for his freshman year in college; bought a house; and moved across town.   Since then, we have continually unpacked boxes ... and I found three Erma Bombeck paperbacks which I purchased from a yard sale.

From her bio on Amazon,

Beloved for her wry yet warm look at family life, Erma Bombeck was America's favorite humorist at the time of her death in 1996. Ten of her 13 books, including Forever, Erma, appeared on the New York Times best-seller list. She claimed her first fiction writing was the weather forecast in the Dayton Herald. Her favorite food was pasta, and her hobby was dust.

Given my love of travel, I jumped right into WHEN YOU LOOK LIKE YOUR PASSPORT PHOTO, IT'S TIME TO GO HOME:

The popular humorist offers tips and truisms on travel, discussing oddly named food, Asian bus drivers in Germany, plumbing around the world, and more.

Published in 1991, the book opened with Erma and her husband trapped in their hotel room during a riot outside in Papua New Guinea.  This harrowing scenario gave Erma the opportunity to flashback to family vacations before her publishing success funded international travel. She shared "I Love Lucy" moments which justify the axiom one needs a vacation after the vacation.  Although the technology may be dated, the teenagers are exactly the same from 1991 to the present.

Erma also wrote about her trip to Russia as part of a "women to women" symposium during Glasnost.  As a humorist, she opened her speech with a joke about putting two socks into the washer and only one coming out.  Erma admitted the joke bombed, presumably because Russian women don't have washing machines.  She then joked about being a sports widow, to which the Russian women laughed.  Erma found common ground with women who were deemed the enemy following WWII.  She interjected poignant moments into her trademark humor to deliver an entertaining read.  

Erma ended the book by returning to the volatile night in Papua New Guinea and their departure the following morning.  Once she landed in New York, the passport officer commented, "Nice likeness."

Erma delivered exactly what I needed to survive the events of the past month. 

Erma referenced Kauai ... above is
the Sprouting Horn Blowhole on Kauai's South Shore 

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Do you have a favorite humorist and/or comedian?  I enjoy the old school physical comedy of Lucille Ball in I LOVE LUCY.

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, September 26, 10 pm in Baltimore.  

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, September 27.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Celebrate Little Victories - Finding My Tribe

I am posting events for the upcoming RT Booklovers' Convention on my travel blog, Aloha on My Mind,   I am using the tag line, Finding Your Tribe, in response to recent kerfuffles in Romanceland.  I'm used to drama from the military spouses' clubs and even the PTA.  Yet these dust ups in Romanceland surprise me because romance embraces hope, overcomes obstacles, and celebrates the HEA.   I believe there is room for everyone - readers and authors - to enjoy success in Romanceland.  The key to that success is finding your tribe.

Five years ago, shortly after I created SOS Aloha, I followed a popular blog known for its confrontational style.  I failed miserably in defending my perspective against long time commenters who had thicker skin than me.   I cried to an author friend who responded, "You don't have to be friends with that group of readers to be part of romance."   So I set out to find my own tribe within Romanceland ... and I am thankful for the friends I now have.

I offer a snippet from best selling author Sharon Hamilton:

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Can you share a pearl of wisdom?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, April 18, 10 pm in Baltimore. 

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 19.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Celebrate Little Victories - RWA Conference Panelist

The RWA National Conference invades Times Square in New York City from July 22-25.   The conference hotel is the Marriott Marquis, opposite the Armed Forces Recruiting Station.   Featured speakers include (link):

- Barbara Freethy

- Julia Quinn

- Nalini Singh

- Jude Deveraux

- Lisa Kleypas

... and me!  RWA accepted my panel proposal, A Tale of Two Bloggers - Candid discussion of how to promote your book (and have a life):

Bloggers are called the online gatekeepers to readers. Two book bloggers, Kimberly Rocha and Kim Lowe, offer their perspective on what works (and what flops) in promoting romance books and author brands. We’ve posted reviews and we’ve hosted blog tours. We’ve hopped over to other blogs for cross promotion. We’ve participated in launch parties on Facebook and character chats on Twitter. We’ve seen it all – the good, the bad, and the ugly – on social media.

We have also attended industry events – RWA National Conference, NJRW Conference, Barbara Vey’s Readers Luncheon, and the RT Booklovers Convention. We’ve attended panel discussions about marketing, only to find that authors miss the main ingredient – what readers want. We know what readers want because we are readers. We interact with readers every day as “trusted advisors” through our blogs.

We created a Power Point presentation to highlight the indispensable aspects of promotion – author website, social media, and face-to-face interaction. We will use the presentation to guide the discussion, giving us the flexibility to engage in a lively discussion and answer any questions from authors. 

My partner in crime is Kimberly Rocha from Book Obsessed Chicks (link).  What out New York, here we come!   

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about what you think is a good way to promote a book to readers - blogs tours?  guest posts?  author interviews?  excerpts?  giveaways?   Facebook?  Twitter?  Pinterest?  something else?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, February 7, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, February 8.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

NY Guardsment on duty during Thanksgiving in NYC
in front of a book store no less!

Celebrate Little Victories - Djibouti goodies, Avon books, and Downton Abbey costume exhibit

This week yielded many treats ...

I received a care package from my friend in Djibouti, Africa. My kids will enjoy the ball caps and I will enjoy the jewelry!

Avon Romance sent holiday gifts to the Avon Addicts!

My mother and I visited the Downton Abbey Costume Exhibit at the Winterthur Museum at this link.

Do you have a little victory to celebrate?  One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, January 3, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 4.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Celebrate Little Victories - Eagle Scout Ceremony

Two weeks ago, our Boy Scout Troop welcomed its newest Eagle Scout - Jason is in the middle.  He is surrounded by other Eagle Scouts at the ceremony.  Note the Army veteran from the Korean Conflict in the back right.   He serves as an advisor to our troop.

His mother, a school teacher, made these displays of Jason's activities in Scouts.  She shared how they discovered our troop's snow cone stand during the Savage Strawberry Festival in June 2009.  One month later, Jason attended his first summer camp.   Five years later, he earned Eagle Scout.   Kudos to James and his mother for making this happen!

Jason participated in the 12 day backpacking at the Philmont Scout Ranch in 2012 - this is a jewel in the crown of a scout's achievement.

James is know for his artistic talent.  His mother, in turn, painted this Eagle for him.  It brought tears to my eyes ... 

Jason received letters of congratulations from Presidents Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, and George H. W. Bush.  He also received letters from Vice President Joseph Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, and several Congressional representatives.  I was impressed!

This was a good day for the youth of America!

Do you have any scouts in your extended family?  One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, December 20, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, December 21.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

My family in their scout uniforms.
Hubby sang the National Anthem during the ceremony.

Celebrate Little Victories - Romance and the Military

I am currently visiting friends in Florida and touring college campuses with my children.   It was a quick turn around after my trip to the RWA Annual Conference in San Antonio. 

I posted pictures from RWA on my travel blog:

An Evening Stroll - link
Rivercruise and Riverwalk - link
Authors Galore, Menger Hotel, and Librarian's Day - link
RWA Literacy Signing (part 1) - link
RWA Literacy Signing (part 2) - link
More authors, panels, and cocktails - link

Morning Strool to the Murals - link

Morning Stroll to King William - link

I thank RWA for inviting military spouses to the Librarian's Day luncheon during the conference. They enjoyed the guest speaker, Barbara O'Neal, along with the networking event that followed.   RWA also invited the chief librarian from Joint Base San Antonio to participate in the Librarian's Day events. Joint Base San Antonio includes Fort Sam Houston, Randolph AFB, and Lackland AFB, with all branches serving.

I also thought it was a nice touch for RWA to invite Jessica Scott, an active duty Army officer and romance author, to present the first award for the Golden Heart.  As Jessica walked onto the stage, the announcer recognized the military presence in San Antonio.   

Finally, RWA rewarded volunteers by entering their names into a daily drawing for a complimentary registration for next year's conference in New York.   And my name was drawn! Watch out, Big Apple, here I come!

Do you have a little victory to share?  One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash. Comments are open through Saturday, August 16, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 17.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

PS Check out this article about the RomVets - veterans who write romance - at this link.

Celebrate Little Victories

I've had a busy week online ... check out my weekly feature at USA Today's HEA Blog, STATE OF ROMANCE, with romances set in Pennsylvania at this link.

I also have an article in the July Issue of the Romance Writers' Report (RWR), Rolling Out The Red Carpet for Readers.   I can (and will) share the article on my blog next week.

I hope you enjoyed my pictures from the Laurel Independence Day Parade on my travel blog, ALLOHA ON MY MIND:

- Walking along with the American Legion Float (link)
- Community Organizations (link)
- Fire Trucks (link)
- A Surprise Ending (link)

We had an empty house with my youngest away at the Ockanickon Scout Reservation (in Pennsylvania) and my oldest at the Philmont Scout Ranch (in New Mexico).   Stay tuned to pictures from our visit to the UMBC campus and the Annapolis Irish Festival.

How was your week?

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Celebrate Little Victories

Today I was scheduled to drive to Long Island for the Book Obsessed Chicks (BOC) 4th Annual BBQ on Lido Beach (link). Unfortunately, my husband's shift schedule is a challenge so I will have to cancel.  I am sad to miss Kimberly Rocha - she is the very definition of a romance enthusiast.   She is one of the creative forces behind MY BOOK CRAVE (link):

What are you hungry for today?  Whether you are shopping for a bestseller or a buzzed-about book, looking to discover something new, or looking for a few bargains - MyBookCRAVE has it all.

A smorgasbord of choices!Every day we comb through thousands of new releases, hot titles and bargain books. General fiction, mysteries and thrillers, romance and woman's fiction, fantasy and more. Choose your reading interests and update them whenever you like - MyBookCRAVE has you covered!

Join me in signing up for MY BOOK CRAVE at mybookcrave.com.

My new feature, State of Romance, for USA Today's HEA Blog is going strong.  Each week I spotlight romances set in the designated state:

Week 1 - Hawaii at this link

Week 2 - Nevada at this link

I encourage you to use #stateofromance on Twitter to suggest romances set in each state!

I am also spotlighting organizations which serve military families on my travel blog, ALOHA ON MY MIND, between Flag Day and Independence Day:

Matthew Freeman Project at this link.

Soldiers' Angels at this link.

Are you celebrating any little victories?

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Celebrate Little Victories - Learner's Permit, Eagle Scout, and RITA Nominations

We have several victories to celebrate!

1.  My oldest received his learner's permit last weekend ... I shared our adventure with the Maryland Vehicle Administration (MVA) on my travel blog, ALOHA ON MY MIND, at this link.

2.  My oldest and I attended the Baltimore Area Council's (BAC) annual reception to recognize the 2013 Class of Eagle Scouts.   I am grateful to the BAC for included Andrew even though he completed his Eagle Project in Hawaii.   His project was the Hickam Heritage Trail at link, link, link, and link, which started and ended at the Hickam Library.

3.  RWA published its nominees for its annual RITA awards at this link.   Congrats to all the nominees!

Two nominated books appear on my best of 2013 at this link.

Paranormal Romance

The Devil’s Heart
by Cathy Maxwell
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books
Lucia Macro, editor

Historical Romance

Plaid Tidings
by Mia Marlowe
Kensington Publishing Corp., Zebra
Alicia Condon, editor

Both novels are set in Regency Scotland and feature Alba's "magic".   I am rooting for both to win their categories!

I have an extra copy of PLAID TIDINGS to enchant you.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about the RITA nominees - who are you rooting for?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, April 5, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 6.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Celebrate Little Victories - the Oscars, Shrove Tuesday, and Lady Jane's Salon/Silver Spring

Aloha!   It's been some time since we celebrated little victories ... so let's get to it!

Last Saturday, I enjoyed several laps around Fort Meade's Burba Lake (link) with my buddy.   We watched the Canadian geese swim through the melting ice and lily pads.       

On Sunday, I watched the Oscars while I chatted with another buddy in California ... she knows more about movies, celebrities, and dresses.   I thought the winners' speeches were heartfelt.

My son's scout troop hosted a Pancake Dinner on Shrove Tuesday for their sponsoring church.   Yum, yum!

I registered for Lori Foster's Reader Author Get Together (link) - I am sharing a room with Rue Allyn (link).   I also connected with Elizabeth Langston - we'll be roomies at the RWA Annual Conference (link).   

Saturday night, I am attending Lady Jane's Salon/Silver Spring (link) with Anne Barton, Robin Covington, Carlene Flores, Kimberly Kincaid, and Tracey Livesay.    

Do you have any little victories to celebrate?

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Celebrate Little Victories ... Part Time Job, Romance Conventions, and Hawaii Five O

Aloha!  I am now back to work, part time, where I was employed before we moved to Hawaii.   I am thankful that my boss welcomed me back and remains flexible with my schedule. My job will fund my adventures at this year's romance conventions.  So far, I am signed up for:

Big Book Getaway at the Mohegan Sun Resort in CT, February 21 - 22.  From its website (link),

Friday, Feburary 21, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
> Steamy Stories ~ An Intimate Conversation with Bestselling Romance and Erotica Authors: panel presentation in the Convention Center featuring Avon authors Eloisa James, Laura Kaye and Cathy Maxwell; joined by Lisa Gabriele, author of the S.E.C.R.E.T erotica series.

Saturday, February 22, 11:00 - 11:45 am

> Racy Romance ~ Bestselling Authors Presented by Avon featuring Eloisa James, Laura Kaye, Cathy Maxwell and Lisa Gabriele

Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation Luncheon in Milwaukee, April 26.  From its website (link),

Join us as we welcome 50+ authors to Wisconsin ... including NYT best seller Debbie Macomber.

I am sitting with the fabulous Eileen Dreyer!

RT Booklovers' Convention in New Orleans, May 13-18.  From its website (link),

SOS America Military Salute: Kathryn Falk, founder of SOS America Inc., invites all booklovers to join her for this annual salute to military families. Our celebration includes an Honor Guard, barbershop quartet, and special guest speaker, Chief Michael Jaco, retired US Navy SEAL. We will recognize military veterans from the US and its allies plus the extended family who serve back home. Goodie bags will be presented to the military families.

Color Guard at Military Tribute
RT/Chicago 2012

I'm eyeing a few others:  WRW Retreat (link), Book Expo America (link), and RWA Annual Conference (link).  All this travel translates into more books to giveaway!

Speaking of RWA, I receive its monthly magazine and enjoyed this month's issue with Shana Galen's article, IS A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT RIGHT FOR YOU?    I read the magazine at the gym and I almost fell off the exercise bike laughing when I read a quote from Eileen Dreyer,

"My husband once tried to be helpful and filed the paperwork in my office.  I still haven't found it".

This is why I am sitting with Eileen at Barbara Vey's luncheon!

Eileen Dreyer, Patricia Rice, and Cathy Maxwell
RT/Los Angeles, 2011

Hats off to the producers of Hawaii Five O for last night episode, HO'ONANI MAKAU KANE - HONOR THY FATHER.   This episode, airing one week after the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, focuses on an unsolved murder from WWII.   The episode offered a historical perspective of the surprise attack, the internment of Japanese Americans, and the 442nd Infantry Regiment - comprised of Japanese Americans who served in the European Theater.  The 442nd is the nicknamed the Purple Heart Battalion because it is the most decorated unit in Army history.   For an excellent review of the episode, check out this link.

Byodo In Temple on Oahu
Built on the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Japanese Immigrant

The emotional content was gripping ... and I enjoyed the scenes shot on Pearl Harbor ... places I've lived, visited, and posted on my travel blog, ALOHA ON MY MIND (link).  

Well done, H5O, well done!

How was your week?

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

The cast of H50 visited my son's school, Hickam Elementary.
Pearl Harbor is behind the school.

Celebrate Little Victories - Field Trips and Touch Down

Aloha!   I often write about little victories here at SOS Aloha.   The title of this post was inspired by Mary Gramlich, The Reading Reviewer (link), who reminds me that life is good.

This past week I chaperoned the 7th grade on their field trip to the Maryland Science Center (link).   We ate our brown bag lunches outside, overlooking Baltimore's Inner Harbor.   

I also chaperoned an AP Government Class at a special seminar hosted by the Maryland Bar Association.   Kudos to the attorneys, including several judges, who invested their time to encourage high school students to embrace their democracy.

On Friday night, I piled on the heavy clothes for Meade High's football game.   My friend's son - a sophomore - scored a touchdown!   This is especially noteworthy as his father is deployed to Afghanistan ... so my family was happy to cheer for him in the stands.  

We will be busy this weekend with youth bowling, flag football, editing an English paper, and building a catapult for Physics. What's on your schedule this weekend?

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Medieval Catapult by Clarinetlover
Released to Public Domain

Celebrate Little Victories - Sands of Time

To see the world in a grain of sand, and to see heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hands, and eternity in an hour. - William Blake

This past week, we received our unaccompanied baggage from Hawaii (dishes, linens, etc).    No sooner had I unpacked (and recycled) the boxes, our stuff in storage arrived - European furniture, Polish pottery, even a piano.    We stored @ 2500 pounds before we moved to Hawaii four years ago ... so I was pleasantly surprised to find stuff that I had forgotten.  The very last box yielded the most precious gift - sand from the five beaches in Normandy that launched the D-Day Invasion.   

When we lived in the Netherlands, I traveled to Normandy with Jacqueline, Joy, and Ron.   At Omaha Beach, Joy shared her ziplock bags for us to take home a reminder of the greatest generation who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we enjoy today.  

Omaha Beach
National Archives - Public Domain

I thank Danielle G., Danielle D., Betty H. and Elizabeth H. for their recent boxes of goodies for military families.

I thank my kids for their extra effort to sort through our stuff ... and giving up toys they have outgrown.

I thank my in-laws for continuing to forward our mail.

And I thank my husband who, on midnight shifts, cares for his family.

Do you have a victory to celebrate?

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Sunset over Pearl Harbor