Heather Hiestand's Musings

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This entry was posted on 2/4/2009 9:08 AM and is filed under uncategorized.

Two exciting bits of news today. First, Ex Factor, my futuristic witch novella in the Sweets promotion for Ellora’s Cave, is out now. Second, I’m part of a large, multi-author contest in February and today is the contest day on my blog. Enter to win a download of one of my books today, plus enter to win the grand prize.

Other news:
In other news, I’m expecting a baby boy this June!

Ex Factor blurb:

Can you go home again? Columbo Balbane still misses his ex, even though he’s far away from her, transporting cargo around the solar system. He’s still in love…and in lust.

Teasy Rose never told Columbo she’s a witch. In the ten months since their relationship ended, she’s decided to stop living without magic. She’s sold her candy shop and founded Ex Factor, a facility where people simulate last meetings with old lovers. Spells help her impersonate other people’s exes and now Columbo has set up an appointment with her, without knowing it’s the real Teasy.

Is she ready for closure? If not, can he live with the consequences of her lifestyle change, particularly in a time when witches are outlaws?

 

Ex Factor first page:

 

Chapter One

March, 2310. Terminal 132, Earth

 

The protesters were out again, the dirty, blue-haired witches demanding equal rights in the free markets. They didn’t realize “free” had no meaning in relation to them. Columbo Balbane ignored the noise from their shouts, his muscles straining, sweat dampening his shirt despite the late winter cold enhanced by the icy air coming off the river where the public dock was located.

The mega-ship where he was enlisted as First Shipper hovered above the river, its only touch point a gangway leaning at a thirty degree angle to link it to the cargo hold. Smoke still hung in the air from the warehouses in the shipping compound that the witches had burnt using fire spells. He pulled his overloaded hand truck backward, its heavy cargo too rare and expensive to trust to the automated system moving most of the edible cargo bound for the Jupiter system. Everything was jury-rigged thanks to the witches destroying their usual docking point.

A creaking noise in his elbow told Columbo he needed to take a short break. He leaned the hand truck back against his belly and caught his breath, his arms wrapped protectively around the topmost box, the one containing fresh cherries for the Europan governor. The other boxes held parts needed for refurbishing oxygen generators.

He spotted a Shipper Assistant at the top of the gangway, his mouth hanging open with shock at the sight of the witch protestors below. Witches were a common sight on this planet but Gort hailed from Mars.

“Take this for me!” Columbo called.

The younger man trotted down the gangway, his eyes wide on his freckled face. “You’re the only one allowed to touch those.”

Columbo glanced at the signs hovering above the blue heads. There must be twenty or more of the cursed mutants, wasting their time demanding rights Earth wouldn’t give them. The protester’s signs shimmered with magic, giving them the effect of neon.

Romancing February Contest

On February 28th, one person will be awarded the grand prize of a $75 WRP gift certificate. All you have to do to enter the grand prize contest is make a list of each author in this blog event and name one title she has available. Submit your list to Christmasrideblog@live.com by midnight CST, February 27, 2009. The winner will be announced on February 28th--just in time to warm up that person's February.

Yesterday:
 

3 Alisha Paige  http://alishapaige.blogspot.com/


Tomorrow:
 

5 Ashley Ludwig http://ashleyelizabethludwig.blogspot.com/


Since I’m pregnant, please leave me your best advice for surviving the second half! I’m approximately halfway through. Commenters will receive a chance to win a download of their choice from the Heather or Anh backlist. Please include your email addy so I can find you. I’ll announce the winner on February 5th, pacific standard time.

 

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Comments

    • 2/4/2009 10:04 AM Roberta Harwell wrote:
      It has been awhile since I was pregnant. However, I do remember going to the bathroom quit frequently. The best advice I can give you is learn to go to the bathroom in the dark. Otherwise you will drive your husband nuts with the light on and off all the time. I could even do it with me eyes closed. Thanks for the contest.
      Reply to this
    • 2/4/2009 10:37 AM afshan wrote:
      Congratulations Heather!
      I have a little boy and it's just wonderful .
      My advice would be to get some very comfy and loose clothing because near the end you will get a bigger all of a sudden and it can be very uncomfortable in tight clothes.
      Hope this helped.
      ~Afshan
      afshan522@aol.com
      Reply to this
    • 2/4/2009 10:50 AM Cathy M wrote:
      Well, since my only pregnancy was twins, my second half involved bed rest, lots of reading, a wee bit of scrapbooking and giving people lots of orders, lol. That's wonderful news, Heather, wishing you the very best.

      caity_mack(at)yahoo(dot)com
      Reply to this
    • 2/4/2009 12:51 PM P L Parker wrote:
      Let everyone wait on you - hee hee.

      Patsy
      P. L. Parker
      Reply to this
    • 2/4/2009 1:34 PM Skhye wrote:
      Congratulations, Heather! I highly recommend you walking 30 mins to an hour each day. I only gained 20 pounds this way. It kept my ankles from swelling too. I drank water with lemon to reduce the water retention. I was on a strict diet because of gestational diabetes though. The trick is to eat your sweet food in the middle of a meal to keep your blood sugar from spiking. You won't have sugar lows. Try to end your meals with protein (hard-boiled eggs or cheese are wonderful). The protein keeps your blood sugar from spiking.

      And, if you have serious heartburn around the clock but run out of Mylanta (that's the brand o'er here), drink pickle juice. Food backs up your esophagus because baby is ramming against your stomach. If you drink a mild acid, that helps digestion from the front end because the food is sitting around unable to hit the hydrochloric acid in your stomach... Yes, I'm a science geek.

      Great post. Skhye
      Reply to this
      1. 2/4/2009 2:51 PM Heather Hiestand wrote:
        Thanks for the comments, everyone, and keep them coming! I haven't had the diabetes fight, but was diagnosed last week with high blood pressure, which has been been a game changer. I do need all the advice I can get!

        Heather/Anh
        Reply to this
    • 2/4/2009 2:02 PM Amy S wrote:
      Congrats on the baby! Ex Factor sounds great!
      Reply to this
    • 2/4/2009 2:50 PM Judy Cox wrote:
      Since my baby is 40, I don't remember much. I do have a 2 year old grandson that lives next door and saw what she went through. He was 40 days premature. All I can tell you is to take care of yourself, get as much rest as possible, don't overeat, and do what the doctor suggests. Congrats on the baby boy and have fun with him.
      Reply to this
    • 2/4/2009 6:06 PM Eleyne wrote:
      The teaser for Ex Factor is intriguing.

      Congrats on your pregnancy, too.

      I always enjoyed the second half of my pregnancies. I felt great. I think my best advice is to get some extra rest each day, and plan ahead for those early baby days when you won't get enough rest, or have enough hands. I made lots of meals and put them in the freezer, too.

      Enjoy.
      Reply to this
    • 2/4/2009 6:51 PM Debra Guyette wrote:
      I do not know how I made it through mine. Just think about what you get in the end.
      Reply to this
    • 2/4/2009 7:45 PM graenr wrote:
      Baths are your friend, they will lift the baby's weight off your internal organs and help you breathe. Speaking of breath, get to pre-natal yoga classes for the relaxation, the breath control and reminders to do kegels. Don't skip those - it's directly (but not solely) related to how long you're likely to be incontinent after birth. Hypnobirthing worked well for me, try to read the textbook for the simply explained facts about what muscles are doing what during labor and why fear is the most painful thing you can do to yourself. Mazal Tov!

      Oh - and eat a heavy protein meal just before fasting for the gestational diabetes test. I did it first thing in the morning, thus fasting almost ten hours instead of three, and was miserable.
      Reply to this
      1. 2/4/2009 8:06 PM Heather Hiestand wrote:
        Thanks! Do you know the name or author of the hypnobirthing textbook? I tried to read a painless childbirth book, but it was a bit too chakra-y for me. I don't know why - with all my alternative healing education, chakras never really did it for me.
        Reply to this
    • 2/4/2009 9:14 PM Lynn Jordan--Author's Tools wrote:
      Congratulations, Heather!!!! One the release. (I've been waiting for this one.) And on the new little one.

      The best advice I can give you is to rest as much as you can. After he comes, sleep will be a fond memory for awhile.
      Reply to this
    • 2/4/2009 10:52 PM Lynda wrote:
      Congratulations!

      My two pregnancies were like night and day. For the first I could sit down cross legged on the floor and hop up by myself the night before I went in labor. For the second I was sick the bulk of it.

      I also agree with the lamaze classes. The breathing helps so much! Have the bag packed with a little note on it for any last minute things (like ID). Don't buy to many 0-3 month clothes. They can only wear that stuff on the way home from the hospital and its the size everyone seems to give as gifts. seriously, 0-3 month clothes DO NOT fit for the first 3 months! Go for some of the 3-6 and even more 6-9 month sizes.
      Reply to this
    • 2/5/2009 12:14 AM Fedora wrote:
      Congrats on your pregnancy! I think that staying a little active can help--just taking walks or doing whatever it is you enjoy for as long as you feel up to doing it is a good thing And if you can, go ahead and indulge in napping or extra sleep now--they make neat pregnancy pillows that may help you get more comfortable. And you may want to consider a doula--my sister had one work with her, and she really felt that her presence made her birthing experience far smoother and positive overall. Take care of yourself!
      Reply to this
    • 2/5/2009 6:01 AM Skhye wrote:
      Seriously, Heather. You don't want to try to trick the gestational diabetes test. Gestational diabetes makes your body focus extra energy on making your baby grow (too fast) of which results in an 8-11 pounder. I was watching my carbs and probably not eating enough to balance out my body chemistry before they declared I had gestational diabetes. So, don't trick the test. Just go in. You want to know what's going on with your body. You want to be able to manage any issue if possible. I had back surgery 6 months before I got pregnant. So, I really wanted to be on the ball! Hence, my daily exercise routine and managed diet.
      Reply to this
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