Things I Learned...

I just returned from a six-week book/speaking tour for the launch of my book, Welcome Home.
Over the period of travel for this trip, I learned some valuable lessons that I think others should know, should they decide to venture out on a similar endeavor.

Now, I should give you a disclaimer: I have been touring for almost 12 years with my speaking and music ministry - but I'm still learning - as you will discover below. :)

Things I learned on my six-week tour:

• Water is precious. This I know firsthand, from living in Colorado where we pay a pretty penny for our water. But in an RV - water is REALLY precious - especially hot water.
• The inability to use cruise control for over 6,000 miles - while pulling George (the aforementioned RV) through heavy wind and up and down hills... not a good thing. I still have a cramp in my leg.
• Aggressive, climbing snakes should be dealt with immediately if seen in close proximity to George. Trust me on this one. (Thanks, Erica.)
• Lots of rain and wood blocks attract ants. 'Nough said.
• Lack of reliable internet for six weeks while trying to work on my "marketing" - doesn't work too well.
• Blackberries (my phones) that malfunction a week and a half into the trip - do not help the above situation. Especially when I couldn't use a "y," "t," "i," "u," "d," or "5" in any of my correspondence.
• It is not the best idea to rely on people who have never pulled a trailer to assist/direct in backing up trailer.
• Someone will inevitably think you're the coolest person around and ask you to sign their arm. (I had three!)
• Always bring candy to booksignings. It opens the door for great conversations.
• Always know where the bathroom is at booksignings. (Trust me, you'll get asked.)
• Always be ready to twiddle your thumbs at booksignings. Be comfortable sitting there by yourself if need be.
• When you're fortunate enough to sign so many books that the bookstore manager just about kisses your feet for being there - praise God, and be thankful. Remember the other signings where you signed five, and praise God for keeping you humble.
• Be ready to sign your book any time, any place. For instance - the bathroom, or perhaps when you're dumping sewage. (See the previous blog post if the "dumping sewage" part threw you off.)
• Bring lots of shoes. Just make sure you can get to them when you need them.
• I love talking to kids. Elementary, Junior High, High School students. I had a ball talking to schools - and they seemed to have fun, too.
• I really, really, really, really, really, really, like my own bed. And my home. I appreciate it all even more now.
• I have some of the greatest friends in the world. Thanks for coming to see us and support us - and for the refreshment along the way.
• My kids, Josh and Kayla, are the most amazing, inspiring, and wonderful kids around. (Okay, so I already knew that - but wow, they made the trip even better!)
• Even if just one person's life was touched or changed, it was worth it.

Life As an Author On the Road...

Oh, the glamorous life of an author! (Insert hysterical laughter here)

I giggle every time a new “fan” comes up to me and says with a dreamy sigh, “I would just love to be an author and travel around like you…”

While the life of ‘us writers’ (can you hear my southern twang?) is truly wonderful and constantly adventurous—it might not be as glamorous as you think.

So today is dedicated to stories from the road. I’m on a six-week book tour, getting the word out about my new release, Welcome Home. Below you’ll find some “glamorous” tidbits of the fun we have had…

• The choke on the backup generator got bumped to “on” as we were pulling out of Colorado – gasoline began to spew all over the RV, the road, and me… (that was a LOT of fun to clean up!)
• First night on the road, we finally made it to our destination: a wonderful RV park in Texas. It was well past midnight; the kids and I were getting the rig set up with flashlights, trying to be as quiet as we could. Then… the water line had a leak. Oh, and not just any ol’ little, drippy leak. We’re talking Old Faithful, gushing, fountain-like kind of leak. I gave up and went to bed. (Thankfully, it was an easy fix the next day with a simple O-ring… whew!)
• After day one’s adventures and getting myself drenched twice in one day, I prayed for a little calmer second day. On a little highway in Texas, I received my wish. Counting giant windmills to pass the time and miles, my children counted over 1400 in less than an hour. Gotta love West Texas.
• The adventures continued as Houston traffic became hazardous to my health and blood pressure. I have gained a new respect for anyone pulling a large trailer going five miles slower than everyone else, and for people who actually know how to use a blinker.
• Backing up with a trailer (and my whole rig is almost 50 feet long) has proved to test my best thinking skills and ability to talk to myself while driving. “Now, I need to turn my wheels right… no left… no right, to get the trailer to back up to the left?” To which my son Josh jokingly replied, “Mom? I don’t drive, why are you asking me?” (Let’s just say my comedy of errors will definitely make it in a book one day… and I'm actually pretty good at backing up now)
• Lots of rain and wood blocks under tongue of the trailer attracted ants. Lots of them. They made a nest. Let’s just say I left those blocks (and hopefully the ants) in Alabama.
• A truck driver stopped me at a truck stop in Arkansas as I was utilizing the lovely “dump” station for George (our RV) – I was hot, sweaty, and draining sewage – I’m sure it was a beautiful sight. He asked, “Hey, haven’t I seen you somewhere?” Ugh. Yep – you guessed it, he’d seen us on TV. But it gets better – he was reading my book, had it in the cab of his truck, and proceeded to ask me for an autograph. I asked him if he wanted to wait until I was done, or if he wanted me to go ahead and sign it then and there. He laughed so hard, he sat down on the ground.

These are only a few of my crazy adventures from the road. But there've been amazing, and humbling stories, too:

• People who drove three to seven hours to come to one of my booksignings
• Kayla getting to meet another 12-year-old who struggles with a rare medical condition
• Hugs and prayers from fans all over the place
• Being told I was the most powerful speaker someone had ever heard
• Seeing family and friends from years gone by
• Listening to testimony after testimony about how my book has actually changed people's lives
• Speaking in my sister's city the very week that she delivered her very first baby!

Our God is so cool - and so very good. My life may not be glamorous, but it sure is fun...

Follow the Blog Tour for WELCOME HOME!!

I am privileged and honored to be featured on all these blogs. Please follow the blog tour and comment on them! Some are even giving away copies of my book Welcome Home
Thank you so much! Please be in prayer for the launching of this book.

2-Aug-09 Lena Nelson Dooley
10-Aug-09 Tracy Ruckman http://pixnpens.blogspot.com/
12-Aug-09 Sherry Kyle http://www.sherrykyle.com/
16-Aug-09 Angie Breidenbach http://godusesbrokenvessels.blogspot.com/
17-Aug-09 Mary DeMuth http://www.relevantblog.blogspot.com/
17-Aug-09 Laura Hilton http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/
17-Aug-09 Ane Mulligan http://www.anemulligan.blogspot.com/
18-Aug-09 Melanie Dickerson http://www.melaniewrites.blogspot.com/
19-Aug-09 Tiffany Colter http://writingcareercoach.blogspot.com/2009/08/interview-with-kimberly-woodhouse.html and http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-9910-Writing-Examiner~y2009m8d18-An-interview-with-Kimberly-Woodhouse
19-Aug-09 Tiffany Stockton http://amberstockton.blogspot.com/
19-Aug-09 Stormi Johnson http://writesthoughts.blogspot.com/
20-Aug-09 Christa Allan http://www.cballan.wordpress.com/
20-Aug-09 Elizabeth Ludwig http://www.noveljourney.blogspot.com/
21-Aug-09 Debra Ullrick www.christianromancewriter.blogspot.com/
22-Aug-09 Paulette Harris http://comeandsitawhile.blogspot.com/
23-Aug-09 Ane Mulligan http://www.anemulligan.blogspot.com/
24-Aug-09 Evangeline Denmark http://breathenbreatheout.blogspot.com/
24-Aug-09 Sharon Lavy http://sharonlavy.blogspot.com/
24-Aug-09 Donna Moore http://writebyfaith.blogspot.com/
25-Aug-09 CJ Darlington http://www.cjdarlington.blogspot.com/
25-Aug-09 Marjorie Vawter http://www.marjorievawter.blogspot.com/
26-Aug-09 Donita K. Paul http://www.donitakpaul.blogspot.com/
26 Aug - 09 Delores Liesner http://deloresliesner.blogspot.com/
28-Aug-09 Cynthia Ruchti http://www.cynthiaruchti.com/
28-Aug-09 Angie Arndt http://angiearndt.wordpress.com/
29-Aug-09 http://milehighscribes.blogspot.com/
30-Aug-09 Ronie Kendig http://supernaturalcraving.blogspot.com/
31-Aug-09 Dineen Miller http://dineenmiller.blogspot.com/
31-Aug-09 Jan Parrish http://janparrish.blogspot.com/
1-Sep-09 Lori Kasbeer http://laurelwreathsreflections.com/lorisbookreviews/
2-Sep-09 Pamela James http://pammer.blogspot.com/
3-Sep-09 Cheryl Wyatt http://www.scrollsquirrel.blogspot.com/
4-Sep-09 Angie Arndt http://angiearndt.wordpress.com/
5-Sep-09 Heather Tipton http://heatherdianetipton.blogspot.com/
7-Sep-09 Gina Conroy http://ginaconroy.com/ginablog/wordpress/
9-Sep-09 Tricia Goyer http://www.triciagoyer.blogspot.com/
9-Sep-09 Michele Cushatt http://www.michelecushatt.com/
11-Sep-09 Camy Tang http://camys-loft.blogspot.com/
11-Sep-09 Angie Arndt http://angiearndt.wordpress.com/
11-Sep-09 Darcie Gudger http://www.joyinthelitterbox.blogspot.com/
12-Sep-09 Kay Day http://www.loopdeloops.blogspot.com/
13-Sep-09 Cara Putman http://carasmusings.blogspot.com/
14-Sep-09 Paula Moldenhauer http://gracereign.blogspot.com/
15-Sep-09 Lynn Mosher http://lynnmosher.blogspot.com/
15-Sep-09 Seekerville http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com
16-Sep-09 Jodi York http://www.jodiyork.com/
16-Sep-09 Linda Baldwin http://www.lindamaebaldwin.com/
16-Sep-09 Alison Strobel http://alisonstrobel.blogspot.com/
16-Sep-09 Niki Nowell http://nikinowell.wordpress.com/
21-Sep-09 Tirsh Perry http://www.trishperry.com/
LaShaunda Hoffman http://lashaunda.blogspot.com/

Chasing My Tail

Yes, I know, if I were truly chasing my tail - it would be smaller. But seriously, where does the time go?

Between speaking engagements, edits, deadlines, photo inserts, radio interviews, homeschooling, swim team, and just plain ole life - I'm behind. And I'm talking WAY, way, way behind.

Biggest news is that my non-fiction book is available for pre-order now! Woohoo! Please celebrate with me and let everyone know!

Next, I was also asked to contribute to another book that is coming out this summer - please check the books page for more details.

I'd encourage every one of you to get on twitter and follow me - my name is kimwoodhouse on twitter. There are several buttons on the website to make it easy for you - but it will also help to keep everyone informed.

There's much more to come - with pics of the Grand Canyon, news on the kiddos' swimming, dodging tumbleweeds, and news about the reading contest! So, stay tuned!
Off to swim team we go - but I will return, and it won't take as long this time, I promise. :)
In HIS joy!!!