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# Tracey Garvis Graves

New York Times Bestselling Author

## Sitemaps

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## Posts

- [Cover Reveal and Pre-order Links for The Trail of Lost Hearts!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2023/06/cover-reveal-and-pre-order-links-for-the-trail-of-lost-hearts.html) - Hello, everyone! TGIF! Announcing a new book never gets old, and I'm thrilled to share that my next release, The Trail of Lost Hearts, will be published in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook by St. Martin's Press and will be available online and in your favorite bookstores on March 26, 2024. New York
- [German Edition of The Trail of Lost Hearts!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2025/12/german-edition-of-the-trail-of-lost-hearts.html) - Hello, everyone! Two quick things: the German edition of The Trail of Lost Hearts will be released on February 6, 2026. I cherish my International readers, and I'm thrilled that pub dates for other editions of this book are now hitting the market. I love this cover; it's always so fun to see
- [](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2025/09/2503.html) - Happy Friday! Many of you have been asking about my next book, and there’s nothing I’d love more than to tell you all about it, but I’ve been stuck in the submission pipeline since March. For those who are unfamiliar with the process, submission is when an author has fulfilled all of their publishing
- [Cover Reveal For The Trade Paperback Edition of The Trail of Lost Hearts!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2024/09/cover-reveal-for-the-trade-paperback-edition-of-the-trail-of-lost-hearts.html) - Hello, everyone! Welcome to fall, AKA my favorite season. I hope you’re full of plans for the "ber" months--I know I am! It's non-stop pumpkin spice, fall candles, and cozy sweaters starting now despite this week's forecast of summer-like temps (mid-80s. Ugh). One of my other favorite things is revealing the trade paperback covers
- [The Trail of Lost Hearts Is Available now!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2024/03/the-trail-of-lost-hearts-is-available-now.html) - The Trail of Lost Hearts is HERE! Please accept my heartfelt thanks for all your support and enthusiasm as I launch another book into the world. I appreciate you more than you'll ever know. You can purchase your ebook, hardcover, and audiobook by clicking here. So many readers have included the phrase "This was
- [](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2024/03/2453.html) - TGIF, everyone! I hope your week has been great. It's officially my pub month, so I thought I'd share a word cloud comprised of what early reviewers have said about The Trail of Lost Hearts. And I love what they're saying! I'm so excited for readers to experience Wren and Marshall's journey. If you haven't
- [THE TRAIL OF LOST HEARTS PLAYLIST](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2024/03/the-trail-of-lost-hearts-playlist.html) - Have you read The Trail of Lost Hearts? Today I'm sharing the playlist for the book. Some of the songs are taken directly from Wren's playlist that she and Marshall listen to while on their adventure. The playlist loosely follows the order of the plot, so if you've already met Wren and Marshall, I'm curious
- [Publisher's Weekly Review of The Trail of Lost Hearts](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2024/01/publishers-weekly-review-of-the-trail-of-lost-hearts.html) - Good morning and TGIF! I'm excited to share the first trade review for The Trail of Lost Hearts. This is, hands down, the best review I have ever received from Publisher's Weekly, and it's starting 2024 off on a great note. I especially love that they used words and phrases like "skillfully tugs on the
- [Heard It in a Love Song Trade Paperback Release Day and New Book News!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2023/01/heard-it-in-a-love-song-trade-paperback-release-day-and-new-book-news.html) - Hello, everyone! Happy 2023! I hope you're having a wonderful start to the new year. I am happy to announce that today is the trade paperback release of Heard It in a Love Song. Isn't the cover pretty? I love seeing the modifications to the cover image for the different editions of the book,
- [Heard It in a Love Song Is Available Now!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2021/11/heard-it-in-a-love-song-is-available-now.html) - Hello, everyone! It's finally here! Heard It in a Love Song is available TODAY. I want to thank you all for your patience with the supply chain issue. The delay was completely out of our hands, and all we could do is make the best of it. I’m truly thankful that the publication date
- [REAL SIMPLE TOP PICK!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2021/10/real-simple-top-pick.html) - Hello, everyone! I'm honored and thrilled to announce that Real Simple, one of my all-time favorite magazines, has chosen Heard It in a Love Song as one of their November Top Picks (referring to it as feel-good fiction - I totally agree!). I can't wait to hold the issue in my hands. The book will
- [Elin Hilderbrand Authors Visiting in Des Moines Zoom Event](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2021/05/elin-hilderbrand-authors-visiting-in-des-moines-zoom-event.html) - I'm very excited to announce that I will be moderating the Des Moines Public Library Authors Visiting in Des Moines event with Elin Hilderbrand from 7:00-8:15 p.m. CST on Wednesday, June 9th. I am a longtime fan of Elin's books, and I can't wait to discuss her upcoming novel, Golden Girl, which will
- [Heard It in a Love Song Cover Reveal and Pre-Order Links!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2021/01/heard-it-in-a-love-song-cover-reveal-and-pre-order-links.html) - Hello, everyone! How much do I love cover reveals? So, so, so much! I’m incredibly excited to share the gorgeous cover of Heard It in a Love Song with you today. I literally gasped when I received the cover image, and then I just stared at it for a while. I think it’s breathtakingly gorgeous
- [Ebook Sale!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2020/11/ebook-sale.html) - Hello, everyone! I wanted to let you know that the Kindle editions of Covet and The Girl He Used to Know are both on sale. You can purchase a digital copy of Covet for $1.99 and The Girl He Used to Know for $2.99. If you haven't read them yet, now would be a good
- [Creativity in the Time of COVID-19](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2020/08/creativity-in-the-time-of-covid-19.html) - Hello, everyone! I have fantastic news. Book number nine has been turned in and will be on its way to the copy editor soon. I can't wait to share all the details. I'm not going to lie - getting across the finish line with this one was a challenge. I was about 75-80% done with
- [The Trade Paperback Of The Girl He Used To Know Is Available Today!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2020/01/the-trade-paperback-of-the-girl-he-used-to-know-is-available-today.html) - Hello, everyone! I'm so excited because today is the release day for the trade paperback edition of The Girl He Used to Know. And there is something super special about it. Do you see the little red box at the upper right-hand corner of the picture above? That's right! I am thrilled to announce
- [The Girl He Used To Know Dream Cast](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2020/01/the-girl-he-used-to-know-dream-cast.html) - Hello, everyone! I've been asked by quite a few readers who I'd want to play Annika and Jonathan if The Girl He Used to Know ever made it to the big screen. I'll admit that I find this difficult because when I'm writing the book, the characters look sort of like faceless blobs in my
- [Bookreporter Year End Contest](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2019/12/bookreporter-year-end-contest.html) - Good morning, everyone! I wanted to let you know about a fantastic end-of-the-year Bookreporter.com giveaway featuring Carol Fitzgerald’s Bets On picks of 2019. I’m honored to announce that The Girl He Used to Know is one of the selected titles. One lucky winner will receive all 52 titles and
- [The Trade Paperback of The Girl He Used to Know Will Be Available on January 7th, 2020](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2019/12/the-trade-paperback-of-the-girl-he-used-to-know-will-be-available-on-january-7th-2020.html) - Happy Holidays, everyone! I don't know about you, but I'm knee-deep in holiday shopping, decorating, baking (and eating). I absolutely love this time of year and I'm in my element from Thanksgiving until New Year's Day. First of all, I want to thank everyone who voted for The Girl He Used to Know in
- [The Girl He Used to Know Is A Goodreads Choice Award Finalist](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2019/11/the-girl-he-used-to-know-is-a-goodreads-choice-award-finalist.html) - Hello, everyone! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. It has been a long-term goal of mine to see one of my books listed as a nominee in the annual Goodreads Choice Awards. I was thrilled when I learned that The Girl He Used to Know would make that dream come true
- [My Funky Toenail, The Sequel](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/11/my-funky-toenail-sequel-many-of-you-and.html) - Many of you, and I mean the three people not counting my husband who read this blog, are probably curious about my funky toenail and whether or not I ever got it taken care of (please see archives for Part I - My Funky Toenail). That was four years ago and luckily I was able
- [A double dose of Real Housewives](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/11/double-dose-of-real-housewives.html) - The Real Housewives of Atlanta had their reunion show last night, followed by the season premiere of Season 4 of The Real Housewives of Orange County. I think we can all guess who the excited housewife in Dallas County was. Generally I do not enjoy the reunion shows. The housewives are a bit boring when
- [Christmas Eve weigh day](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/12/christmas-eve-weigh-day.html) - Today was my 3rd Weight Watchers weigh in and I must be doing something right because I lost another 1.4 lbs. That makes 7.2 lbs. total lost in December (or as I like to refer to it, the month I usually put on 6). I didn’t want to stay for the meeting because I had
- [Let's Ask Tracey!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/lets-ask-tracey.html) - Dear Tracey, I desperately want to have another baby but my husband feels that having only one child is perfect for our family. Now that our son is three, I can’t stop looking at pregnant women and wishing I was one of them. I’ve tried everything I can think of to convince him but he
- [The Real Housewives of NYC-Fashion Week](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/real-housewives-of-nyc-fashion-week.html) - Last night on The Real Housewives of NYC, we got to observe the ladies attending several fashion shows (with front row seats, natch). The episode begins with the Countess giving Bethenny dating advice. Bethenny correctly sums up the conversation by stating that obviously no one thinks she’s ever gone out with a man before. The
- [The Real Housewives of NYC-Unfashionably Late](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/04/real-housewives-of-nyc-unfashionably.html) - **********If you are looking for the 'TLC's I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant' post, click here. Last night's episode of The Real Housewives was so boring, I almost fell asleep twice. Bravo dangled a big carrot in front of me by alluding to more Kelly shenanigans but didn't deliver much in the way of drama,
- [Because who doesn't like posts about twins and mud?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/08/because-who-doesnt-like-posts-about.html) - About a month ago, my twin sister Trish called me up all excited because she won tickets to the Big Country Bash and wanted me to go with her. It was an all day thing and she told me we'd have a blast, listening to country music and drinking beer in the sun. "But I
- [International Readers, The Girl He Used to Know Is Coming Your Way!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2019/03/international-readers-the-girl-he-used-to-know-is-coming-your-way.html) - Hello, everyone! I really love this flirty, gorgeous cover of the UK edition of The Girl He Used to Know. The ebook, audio, and trade paperback of The Girl He Used to Know will be available in the UK (ebook and audiobook only), Australia, New Zealand, India, and Ireland on April 4th. The UK
- [The Girl He Used To Know Is Available Now!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2019/04/the-girl-he-used-to-know-is-available-now.html) - Hello, everyone! It's finally here! The Girl He Used to Know is available TODAY. Amazon has named The Girl He Used to Know one of the Best Books of the Month for April! Bustle says it will get you ready for days of dreamy summer reading. BookRiot calls it exquisite. And Cosmo says, there are
- [The Ebook Of On The Island Is On Sale Today!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2019/03/the-ebook-of-on-the-island-is-on-sale-today.html) - Good morning, everyone! Guess what? The ebook of On the Island is a BookBub deal today! It’s available for just $1.99 for a limited time. Get it now wherever ebooks are sold. For buy links, click HERE and scroll down to the listing for On the Island. Happy Sunday!
- [Christamore House Guild Book And Author Benefit Luncheon](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2019/02/christamore-house-guild-book-and-author-benefit-luncheon.html) - Hello, everyone! I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be one of the participating authors at the Christamore House Guild's 39th annual benefit luncheon on Friday, April 26th. This event will be held in the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis and I'll be joined by Martha Hall Kelly, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Kate Quinn, Whitney Scharer, and
- [The Girl He Used to Know Chapter One](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2019/02/the-girl-he-used-to-know-chapter-one.html) - Hello, everyone! Would you like to read the first chapter of The Girl He Used to Know? Click on this link and you'll be taken to BookBub for a look at this exclusive excerpt. And if you're not already following me on BookBub, I'd really appreciate it if you could hit the follow button on my
- [Come See Me!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2019/02/come-see-me.html) - Hello, everyone! Here's a current list of my events and appearances. For details, please click the events tab. I hope to see you there!
- [Awesome Kirkus Review!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2019/01/awesome-kirkus-review.html) - I am so excited to have received this wonderful review from Kirkus for The Girl He Used to Know. "Living alone for the last 10 years has pushed Annika Rose, a woman on the autism spectrum, toward independence. Yet bumping into Jonathan Hoffman, her college sweetheart, in the frozen food section of their local grocery
- [The Girl He Used to Know Pre-Order Giveaway!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2018/11/the-girl-he-used-to-know-pre-order-giveaway.html) - Hello, everyone! Would you like to receive a bookplate for The Girl He Used to Know, signed by me? Pre-order your copy today and you will! Click on this link for details. Pre-order links for the book are also below. Have a great weekend! Tracey Kindle B&N BAM IndieBound Kobo Google Play iBooks
- [The Girl He Used to Know Pre-Order Links](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2018/10/the-girl-he-used-to-know-pre-order-links.html) - Hello, everyone! Here are the pre-order links for The Girl He Used to Know - available 4/2/19! Kindle: https://amzn.to/2IApkI1 B&N: http://bit.ly/2wXVknW BAM: http://bit.ly/2wYHpOL IndieBound: http://bit.ly/2ICTzxX Kobo: http://bit.ly/2x0sxze Google Play: http://bit.ly/2IHEds3 iBooks: https://apple.co/2xr7WnZ Please add The Girl He Used to Know to your shelves: Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2s6QVKN
- [The Girl He Used to Know Cover Reveal!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2018/05/the-girl-he-used-to-know-cover-reveal.html) - Hello, everyone! Happy Friday. I'm so excited to share the gorgeous cover of The Girl He Used to Know with you. I love its edgy, sophisticated, literary vibe and can't wait to hold the finished hardcover in my hands. The book will be released on April 2nd, 2019. I know that seems like a long time
- [Memorial Day Sale!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2018/05/memorial-day-sale.html) - Hello, everyone! The e-book editions of Heart-Shaped Hack and White-Hot Hack will be on sale for .99 on Amazon through May 31st. If you haven't met Kate and Ian yet, now would be a great time. :) Click here for Heart-Shaped Hack. Click here for White-Hot Hack. Have a great weekend! Tracey
- [THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW GIVEAWAY ALERT](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2018/03/the-girl-he-used-to-know-giveaway-alert.html) - Good morning, everyone! A few of you have reached out to say hello and ask me where I've been, which I appreciate so much. I know I've been MIA, but I've been holed up in the writing cave working on my next manuscript so that I can reach my completion date goal of June
- [THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2018/01/the-girl-he-used-to-know-2.html) - Good morning, everyone! I'm over-the-moon excited to announce that The Girl He Used to Know will be published by St. Martin's Press. I do not have a pub date yet, but I will share all release details with you as they become available. Thank you so much for your patience. I can't wait
- [What Have I Been Reading Lately?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2017/07/what-have-i-been-reading-lately-2.html) - Hello, everyone! I hope you're enjoying your summer. I've been working in the morning and then shifting to play as soon as my two noisy teenagers wake up (because if you can't beat 'em, you might as well join 'em). This means I've had a little more time to read than I usually do, and
- [The Girl He Used to Know](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2017/03/the-girl-he-used-to-know.html) - Hello, everyone! It's been a while since I've updated you on my current work in progress, and I'm happy to report that I finished my latest manuscript this week, a second-chance romance/women's fiction hybrid called The Girl He Used to Know. It always feels wonderful to type the words THE END, and this was certainly
- [White-Hot Hack Is Available Now!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2016/06/white-hot-hack-is-available-now.html) - Good morning, everyone! Today I'm celebrating the publication of White-Hot Hack, the full-length, dual-narrated sequel to Heart-Shaped Hack. So many of you fell head-over-heels for Kate and Ian, and I'm thrilled you wanted to spend more time with them. When we left Kate and Ian at the end of Heart-Shaped Hack, they had just exchanged wedding
- [White-Hot Hack](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2015/12/white-hot-hack.html) - Good morning! I’m so excited to show you the cover of White-Hot Hack, the full-length dual narrated sequel to Heart-Shaped Hack. I loved the first cover so much, and I was thrilled when I found out there was another heart available by the same artist. I can't wait to see the books side by side;
- [White-Hot Hack Prologue and a Giveaway!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2016/06/white-hot-hack-prologue-and-a-giveaway.html) - Hello, everyone! Can you believe White-Hot Hack will be here in less than a week? If you haven't pre-ordered your copy yet, here are the links (release date June 7th): Amazon US (e-book): http://amzn.to/1RbfO07 Amazon US (paperback): http://amzn.to/1pCxciz Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1MivJHU Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1nZoc5n Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1Mvmtef Kobo: http://bit.ly/1YFBTnh Apple: http://apple.co/1XsBqni Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1M4JcTv
- [Heart-Shaped Hack Is On Sale!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2016/05/heart-shaped-hack-is-on-sale.html) - Good morning! Guess what's on sale RIGHT NOW for only .99? The e-book of HEART-SHAPED HACK! In anticipation of White-Hot Hack's June 7th release, I've discounted Heart-Shaped Hack to .99 effective now through Sunday (if you subscribe to BookBub e-mails, you'll see it listed in tomorrow's deals). If you haven't read the first book yet,
- [White-Hot Hack Blurb And Pre-Order Links](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2016/03/white-hot-hack-blurb-and-pre-order-links.html) - Hello, everyone! I'm so excited to share the blurb, pre-order links, and publication details for White-Hot Hack! White-Hot Hack is a full-length, dual-narrated sequel and will be released in e-book and paperback formats on June 7th (an audiobook will follow, but I don't have a release date at this time). Once again, there will be a
- [Update Time](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2015/10/update-time.html) - Hello, everyone! SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't read Heart-Shaped Hack yet but plan to, you may want to skip this entire post. I've received quite a few tweets, e-mails, and private messages regarding the publication date of White-Hot Hack, so I'm going to try and answer some of your questions. First of all, I'm overjoyed that
- [Heart-Shaped Hack Chapters 1-5 Reveal](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2015/06/heart-shaped-hack-chapters-1-5-reveal.html) - When Kate Watts abandoned her law career to open a food pantry in Northeast Minneapolis, she never dreamed it would be this difficult. Facing the heartbreaking prospect of turning hungry people away, she is grateful for the anonymous donations that begin appearing at the end of each month. Determined to identify and thank her secret
- [Heart-Shaped Hack Pub Date And Pre-Order Links](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2015/05/heart-shaped-hack-pub-date-and-pre-order-links.html) - Good morning and happy Friday! I'm very excited to share pre-order links and publication information for Heart-Shaped Hack. First things first: Heart-Shaped Hack is a full-length, stand-alone adult contemporary romance novel and will be released on Tuesday, August 25th in both ebook and paperback. I have some exciting news regarding the ebook price. There will
- [Heart-Shaped Hack Cover Reveal](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2015/05/heart-shaped-hack-cover-reveal.html) - Good morning! I'm so excited to show you the cover of my forthcoming adult contemporary romance novel. I think this one might be my all-time favorite. It's so pretty! Here's the blurb: When Kate Watts abandoned her law career to open a food pantry in Northeast Minneapolis, she never dreamed it would be this difficult.
- [Dream A Little Dream ](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2015/05/dream-a-little-dream.html) - Hello, everyone! Today I'd like to talk about the inspiration for my latest novel. I'd mentioned on my Facebook author page late last fall that my next project was going to be a second-chance romance called The Girl He Used to Know, loosely inspired by the song "Same Auld Lang Syne" by Dan Fogelberg (the one about
- [Writing Process Update - Revision Stage!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2015/03/writing-process-update-revision-stage.html) - Here’s another update for those of you who enjoy hearing about my writing process. I've completed the first draft of my new book. I actually typed THE END almost two weeks ago, but then proceeded directly to the second draft, also known as the beginning of my revision stage. Which I love. The first draft
- [Every Time I Think of You Is Available Now! ](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2014/09/every-time-i-think-of-you-is-available-now.html) - Hello, everyone! Today I’m celebrating the release of my third full-length novel, Every Time I Think of You, and I’d love for you to celebrate with me. I’ve been waiting rather excitedly for the release of this book, and I can’t wait to share it with you. Don’t forget to scroll down to the bottom
- [Cherish Is Available Now!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2014/10/cherish-is-available-now.html) - Hello, everyone! Today I'm celebrating the release of Cherish, the novella-length sequel to Covet. I want to thank everyone who reached out to me over the past year, asking if I might consider writing a sequel to the story. It's because of you that I finally decided to continue the story from Daniel's, and his
- [Every Time I Think of You and Cherish Pre-Order Links](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2014/08/every-time-i-think-of-you-and-cherish-pre-order-links.html) - Hello, everyone! It's hard to believe that the publication of Every Time I Think of You is only a few weeks away. Cherish is not far behind and will be here in a couple of months. Two releases six weeks apart? How did that happen? I'm just as surprised as you are. Here are the
- [Cherish Cover Reveal!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2014/08/cherish-cover-reveal.html) - Cherish is a novella-length sequel. Reading Covet before Cherish is highly recommended in order to enhance your reading pleasure.
- [What Have I Been Reading Lately?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2014/08/what-have-i-been-reading-lately.html) - I've spent a lot of the last year in a major reading slump. My preferences in contemporary romance have not been aligning well with the current trends, which always leaves me in a bit of a funk. Consequently, I've been reading more women's fiction (which I've always read and loved) and literary fiction. I'm sharing
- [The Paperback Of Every Time I Think of You Is Now Up For Pre-Order](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2014/07/the-paperback-of-every-time-i-think-of-you-is-now-up-for-pre-order.html) - Happy Friday, everyone! I am excited to announce that the Amazon pre-order link for the trade paperback edition of Every Time I Think of You is now available. If you type the title into Amazon's search bar you will see a page that looks like this (you can click on this picture to make it
- [Cover Reveal, Sneak Peek, and Pre-Order Link for Every Time I Think of You](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2014/07/every-time-i-think-of-you.html) - Every Time I Think of You is a Romantic Suspense novel by New York Times Bestselling Author Tracey Garvis Graves
- [Special Announcement from Wordsmith Publicity ](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2014/05/special-announcement-from-wordsmith-publicity.html) - We are thrilled to announce that best selling author Tracey Garvis-Graves will be releasing an Adult Romantic Suspense novel this year! Please be sure to watch the gorgeous trailer for EVERY TIME I THINK OF YOU, read the excerpt, and don't forget to add it to your reading list! Title: Every Time I Think of You
- [The Trade Paperback of Covet Is Available Today!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2014/04/the-trade-paperback-of-covet-is.html) - Hello, everyone! Today is the release of the trade paperback of Covet, with the beautiful new cover! Will I be at Target tonight, taking a picture of it on the shelf? You bet I will (plus we're getting low on paper towels and laundry detergent, so I'll be there anyway). AmazonTargetWal-Mart (select stores)Airport bookstoresBooks-A-MillionCanada - Indigo,
- [Covet E-book Sale And Giveaway!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2014/04/covet-e-book-sale-and-giveaway.html) - Hello everyone!I'm sorry I've been missing in action lately. I recently finished writing my newest book and will have some exciting things to share with you in a couple of weeks. But in the meantime, I'm excited to talk about the upcoming release of the trade paperback of Covet. In case you haven't seen the
- [Fiction Friday - A Public Service Announcement To All Aspiring Authors](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2014/02/fiction-friday-public-service.html) - Hello, everyone! Today I'd like to talk about something that's become quite worrisome to me. I've already touched upon this subject here, in my FAQ, but I want to go into it in more detail. I'm still receiving e-mails from authors with this question: Who did you use to self-publish On the Island? As I've
- [Giveaway Winners! Happy Pub Day To Patience Bloom!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2014/02/giveaway-winners-happy-pub-day-to.html) - Congratulations to Jennifer Patterson, Alexis Ciman, and Cindi Ponkey Hartmann! You have each won a signed copy of Patience Bloom's awesome new memoir Romance Is My Day Job. Winners, please send an e-mail message with your postal mailing address to traceygarvisgraves@gmail.com. Today is the official publication day of Romance Is My Day Job, so if you
- [Giveaway!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2014/02/giveaway.html) - Hello, everyone! I'm on the home-stretch with my new book but wanted to poke my head out of the writing cave for a minute to tell you about a great book I read. You may have heard me mention before that it's hard for me to read fiction when I'm knee-deep in writing a book.
- [Covet Playlist Explained: Why Did I Choose These Songs?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2014/01/covet-playlist-explained-why-did-i.html) - Hello everyone! I wrote a post a while back for Penguin UK and I thought I'd share it here, too. My UK editor wanted to know if I could explain the reasons behind the songs I'd chosen for the Covet playlist. In case you'd like to know, here they are! 1. "Her Diamonds" by Rob
- [Fiction Friday - What Am I Writing Now?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/10/fiction-friday-what-am-i-writing-now.html) - Happy (fiction) Friday, everyone! I've been getting a lot of questions about what I'm working on now, so I thought a Fiction Friday post would be the perfect way to let you know. When I'm in the drafting stage of a new book I don't usually talk about it that much. It's not that I'm trying to be secretive,
- [Let's Talk About Trends](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/07/lets-talk-about-trends.html) - Today I'd like to talk about trends in fiction. This is a subject I could discuss for hours; I find it fascinating how one book or series can impact the publishing industry in such a major way. I first became aware of how all-encompassing a publishing trend can be after I read Twilight. Many have criticized the writing - and everyone is certainly entitled
- [Covet Tour Dates and Cities!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/07/covet-tour-dates-and-cities.html) - Happy Monday, everyone! I'm very excited to share the dates and cities of my upcoming book tour for Covet. I will also be creating a Facebook event for the signing at the West Des Moines Barnes & Noble. If you're local, I would love it if you joined me! COVET BOOK TOUR Tuesday, September 17, 2013 7:00PM
- [Covet Release Day!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/09/covet-release-day.html) - *******UPDATE******* Congratulations, James Barton! You are the winner of the Covet gift basket. Please e-mail me at traceygarvisgraves@gmail.com. I need to verify where you shared the widget, and I also need your postal mailing address. If I don't hear from you in 24 hours I'll pick another winner. Hello everyone! I am beside myself with
- [Updated Covet Tour Schedule](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/09/updated-covet-tour-schedule.html) - Happy Monday, everyone! I just wanted to share the updated schedule for the Covet book tour. Please let me know if you're attending any of these events. I'd love to see you! COVET BOOK TOUR Tuesday, September 17, 2013 7:00PM BARNES AND NOBLE The Shoppes at Three Fountains 4550 University Avenue West Des Moines,
- [A Totally Important Announcement About Crack Dip](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/08/a-totally-important-announcement-about.html) - UPDATE: Congratulations, Andrea Silva!! You are the winner of the roasted pineapple and habanero dip. I'm also sending you a copy of Covet. Please e-mail me at traceygarvisgraves@yahoo.com. I need your postal mailing address. Long-time readers of my blog know that I have a favorite recipe. It's for something called crack dip and the name is self-explanatory. I
- [On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves (Book Trailer)](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/07/on-island-by-tracey-garvis-graves-book.html) - I'm blown away by this trailer that Mollie at toughcriticbookreviews made for me. It makes me ugly cry. You should watch it, too.
- [Covet Tour Dates and Cities!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/07/covet-tour-dates-and-cities.html) - Happy Monday, everyone! I'm very excited to share the dates and cities of my upcoming book tour for Covet. I will also be creating a Facebook event for the signing at the West Des Moines Barnes & Noble. If you're local, I would love it if you joined me! COVET BOOK TOUR Tuesday, September 17, 2013
- [Let's Talk About Trends](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/07/lets-talk-about-trends.html) - Today I'd like to talk about trends in fiction. This is a subject I could discuss for hours; I find it fascinating how one book or series can impact the publishing industry in such a major way. I first became aware of how all-encompassing a publishing trend can be after I read Twilight. Many have criticized the writing - and everyone is
- [A Big Mish Mash of A Post](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/07/a-big-mish-mash-of-post.html) - Hi, friends! I have several things I want to mention and in the interest of efficiency I've decided to throw them all into one post. 1) First of all, a giant THANK YOU to everyone who downloaded Uncharted. It's been almost two years since my last release day, and I must say that the butterflies were
- [Uncharted Release Day!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/07/uncharted-release-day.html) - Hello, everyone! I've been waiting so long for the release of my second title and now it's here (and I'll get to do it again in less than three months when Covet comes out. Yay!). During the last year, I've received lots of messages from readers asking me if there would ever be a sequel
- [Giveaway for Italian edition of On the Island](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/06/posts.html)
- [Fiction Friday - What Have I Been Reading Lately?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/05/fiction-friday-what-have-i-been-reading.html) - One of the questions I'm frequently asked is, "Now that you're writing full-time, do you ever get the chance to read?" The answer is, "Yes and no." When I was writing On the Island, I wasn't able to read at all. I was so new to the process of writing a novel that I couldn't
- [Covet Galley Giveaway - Day 3!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/04/covet-galley-giveaway-day-3.html) - It's day three of Covet galley giveaway week! Yay!!! This giveaway is for US residents only. So if you have a US mailing address, you're eligible! And just in case anyone is still wondering, a galley is another name for an ARC which is another name for an advance reader copy. ARCs are bound galleys that are
- [Galley Giveaway Week - Day Two!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/04/galley-giveaway-week-day-two.html) - It's day two of galley giveaway week! Yay!!! Wait, maybe I should mention once again what a galley is. A galley is another name for an ARC which is another name for an advance reader copy. ARCs are bound galleys that are printed in advance of the actual publication. ARCs are sent to the author and
- [Covet galley giveaway - Canada!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/04/covet-galley-giveaway-canada.html) - It's galley giveaway week! Isn't that fantastic? Unless you're saying to yourself, "Maybe? Because I'm not exactly sure what a galley is." In which case, let me explain. A galley is another name for an ARC which is another name for an advance reader copy. ARCs are bound galleys that are printed in advance of the actual
- [UNCHARTED cover reveal and excerpt](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/03/uncharted-cover-reveal-and-excerpt.html) - Happy Friday, everyone!!I'm so excited to share Uncharted's cover with you today.Once again, I have a fantastic group of bloggers who are helping me out with the reveal. Be sure to check out their blogs!Good Choice ReadingFlirty and Dirty Book BlogNatasha is a Book JunkieLori's Book Blog Madison SaysUnabridged BookshelfMandy I read indieThe Sub Club Books
- [Novella cover reveal and excerpt this Friday, March 22nd](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/03/novella-cover-reveal-and-excerpt-this.html) - Happy Monday! The On the Island companion novella cover reveal will be this Friday, March 22nd. Once again, I have some fantastic bloggers who will be helping me share the cover and the first 560 words (give or take). But before we do that, I thought you might like to know the title. Some of you may
- [Goodreads Q and A and Covet Excerpt](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/03/goodreads-q-and-and-covet-excerpt.html) - Hello everyone, Just a quick reminder that I'm answering questions on Goodreads today. I'll keep taking questions until about noon CST, and I'll answer every one of them. When you go to the listing for Covet on Goodreads (I'll post a link below which will take you there), you'll want to look for this: Then click
- [PRESENTING...COVET!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/03/presentingcovet.html) - Happy Friday, everyone! I've been waiting all week to show you the cover of Covet. I have lots of wonderful people who are participating in the cover reveal, and I'm so excited because they'll all be posting the image on their blogs this morning. I also want to thank Goodreads for creating the cover reveal event. There are some
- [Covet Cover Reveal And Goodreads Event](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/03/covet-cover-reveal-and-goodreads-event.html) - Hello everyone, Happy Friday! I have several exciting things to tell you about today. First of all, the cover reveal for Covet will be on March 8th (that's one week from today!). I can't wait for you to see the final version. When my editor sent it to me, I nearly swooned. It's absolutely beautiful and
- [5,000 Likes Giveaway!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/02/5000-likes-giveaway.html) - ~Update: The winners of the 5K likes giveaway are: Jess Gottschalk Iversen, Jennifer Logan, Maria Voulelis Malaveci, and Jojo Bungenaar. Congratulations! Please e-mail me at traceygarvisgraves@yahoo.com. I need your postal address and also whether you'd like an Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card. Thank you to everyone who entered. I'll do it again, I promise!!
- [Giveaway!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/01/giveaway.html) - Congratulations to Lia Fairchild! She was the winner of the signed paperback and coffee mug. Thank you to everyone who participated. I'll have another giveaway soon. GIVEAWAY WILL NOT START UNTIL 12:00 NOON CST Hello everyone! I thought I'd do a quick giveaway for a signed paperback of On the Island and also a 'Keep
- [ON THE ISLAND AROUND THE WORLD](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2013/01/on-island-around-world.html) - Hello everyone! Some of you have asked on my Facebook page about what languages/countries On the Island will be available in. Lauren Abramo, my awesome foreign rights agent, put together this wonderful list so I thought I'd pass it on. I don't know all the publication dates, but foreign covers are starting to show up
- [Winners!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/12/winners.html) - Congratulations! If your name is on this list you have won a signed first edition copy of On the Island. Please send an e-mail with your mailing address to traceygarvisgraves@yahoo.com. Erin HillJaime ArkinSteve UmsteadDeborah GutierrezBridget O'NeillLeslie TrimbleAdrianna CabreraS.I. ScottNanette BradfordEm CxoRaina C.Kristy LanderBeth Maresh-EhemannLeah RheyMaria Voulelis Malaveci Thank you to everyone who entered :)
- [Win A Signed First Edition Of On the Island!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/11/win-signed-first-edition-of-on-island.html) - Yesterday, Amy at IndieReader sent me a link to a feature on their site about first editions, specifically those from formerly self-published authors whose books were picked up by major publishers. You can read it here. I have a whole box of the first edition of On the Island and while they're certainly valuable to me
- [What I'm Thankful For This Year](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/11/what-im-thankful-for-this-year.html) - Hello everyone, I hit a pretty big milestone last year at this time: A couple of days before Thanksgiving, I sold my 1,000th copy of On the Island. I was still working my day job in human resources at Wells Fargo and my co-workers rang a cow bell to celebrate (we were always pretty noisy,
- [Self Publishing FAQ](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/10/self-publishing-faq.html) - Hello everyone! Today I'd like to talk about self-publishing. I receive lots of e-mails and Facebook messages every week from writers who are in all different stages of writing and publishing their first novel. Some are just beginning while others have already taken the plunge and clicked the publish button on Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, CreateSpace, etc... I thought
- [Giveaway!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/10/giveaway.html) - I'm doing a giveaway on my FB author page today. Head on over to http://www.facebook.com/tgarvisgraves and "like" my page. If you want to share it on your Facebook wall that's fine too, but you don't have to. I will be giving away a signed paperback of On the Island as well as this funny grammar T-shirt.
- [Book Clubs, Signings, And Miscellaneous Appearances](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/09/book-clubs-signings-and-miscellaneous.html) - My favorite season is here! I'm a cool-weather girl and always have been, and I'll take fall over summer any day which probably makes me sound really weird (I'm especially fond of cold and rainy fall days. See? Weird). I'm really looking forward to my first fall as a full-time writer because as soon as it gets cold enough, I'll
- [Hey, Winners. I'm Still Waiting To Hear From Some Of You](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/09/hey-winners-im-still-waiting-to-hear.html) - Happy Saturday! The two $50 Amazon gift cards and the e-readers have been mailed/shipped to the lucky winners of my recent giveaway. I have also mailed copies of On the Island (original cover) to: Kristia MiltiadouEly YantCarrie TaylorDevi HadikusumoNicole MonackRob ZimmermanSharon HerbertMiranda Hoffert But I still need mailing addresses from: MichelleEmilyMegan McGallis GuntrumAngie TsirosEva I
- [And The Winner Is...](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/09/and-winner-is.html) - Good morning everyone!I am pleased to announce that the winner of the Kindle DX is entry #137, Bobbie Desmond! Bobbie, please make sure to send me your shipping address at traceygarvisgraves@yahoo.com. I'll order your Kindle right away :) *There will be two winners for the $50 Amazon gift cards because there were so many great
- [Final Day Of The Giveaway - Win A Kindle DX!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/09/final-day-of-giveaway-win-kindle-dx.html) - Wow! Yesterday's comments just blew me away. Reading about who everyone's favorite secondary characters are was very enlightening. Looks like Bones was the clear favorite, followed by Ben, Sarah, and T.J. and Anna's parents. I took notes, everyone. Oh yes I did. I'm also thrilled to announce that the winners of yesterday's Nook Color tablets are :
- [Now You're All Just Making Me Cry - Day 3 Of The Giveaway](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/09/now-youre-all-just-making-me-cry.html) - ***Update: Winners of the day 2 giveaway are now displayed. Scroll down to the bottom of this page and see if the rafflecopter picked you :) If you're a winner, please e-mail me at traceygarvisgraves@yahoo.com. I'll need your full name and mailing address. Each night, when I'm setting up the rafflecopter for the new giveaway,
- [Because I love You All, Day 2](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/09/because-i-love-you-all-day-2.html) - Congratulations to the winners of the day 1 giveaway! 13 signed copies of On the Island (original cover) will be mailed out this week. If you haven't e-mailed your full name and mailing address to me at traceygarvisgraves@yahoo.com, please do so and I'll get your package ready. Want to find out if you won? Check
- [Because I Love You Guys, Really I Do](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/09/because-i-love-you-guys-really-i-do.html) - ****The giveaway for one of the 13 signed copies of On the Island has ended. Scroll down to the rafflecopter to see if you've won! If your name is listed, e-mail me your full name and mailing address at traceygarvisgraves@yahoo.com. I appreciate all of the wonderful comments; they made me cry!! A year ago last
- [Totally Unscientific Poll Results](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/08/totally-unscientific-poll-results.html) - I took an informal poll and asked readers, via my author page on Facebook, for their input on who they'd most like to see playing T.J. in the film adaptation of On the Island. I've tallied the votes and thought it would be fun to share the results with you all. The actor who received the most
- [Lisa's Booty!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/08/lisas-booty.html) - Hey everyone, head over to Lisa's Booty and find out what you need to do to win a personalized, signed copy of On the Island. http://lisasreads.com/lisas-booty/ xoxo, Tracey
- [Fiction Friday!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/07/posts.html) - For those of you who have read On the Island, Anna has a best friend named Stefani. Here is the real Stefani (and the inspiration for that character). She has been a wonderful supporter of me since the beginning of my publishing journey. Plus I've known her since we were like 5 and she's awesome. But now
- [On the Island's Book Birthday Pictures](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/07/on-islands-book-birthday-pictures.html) - Hello everyone, On the Island hit bookstores across the country on Tuesday! I didn't realize just how awesome it would feel until I saw the trade paperback sitting on the shelf. This picture is from the Barnes & Noble at Jordan Creek Mall in West Des Moines. I sure do like their sign! I went to Target next and
- [Release Day!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/07/release-day.html) - Good morning everyone! Today is the day I've been dreaming about for a long, long time. On the Island is on bookstore shelves across the nation. You should be able to find it everywhere with the exception of Costco (it will be available there on 7/16). If you are out and about and happen to
- [Book Signings!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/07/book-signings.html) - Happy Monday everyone! Here's a list of where I'll be in the next couple of weeks. I sure would love to see you, so stop by and say hi! Tuesday, July 10th I will be on the radio at KAZR 103.3 "The Morning Moose Show" tomorrow at 8:50 a.m. Tune in and hear me talk
- [Fiction Friday - Some More Really Big News](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/06/fiction-friday-some-more-really-big.html) - It has always been a dream of mine to walk into a bookstore, or Target, or Costco and see a book I'd written sitting there on the shelf. I'd probably walk up to it and stare at the pretty cover with my mouth hanging open. Maybe I'd linger in the vicinity and see if anyone else checked it
- [On the Island UK Edition!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/06/on-island-uk-edition.html) - Hello everyone! I hope your summer is off to a great start! I know the season doesn't officially begin until later this month, but I've already received my first sunburn and enjoyed my first boat ride. As far as I'm concerned, summer has arrived! I want to tell you all about a fantastic, wonderful thing that happened across the pond. I'm absolutely thrilled to announce
- [Fiction Friday - Introducing Meira!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/05/fiction-friday-introducing-meira.html) - Whenever I read a book I always pay special attention to the dedication page. I often wonder about the relationship between the author and the person the book is dedicated to. Are they related? Is there a special reason they were chosen? If you look at the dedication page for On the Island, it says 'For Meira'.
- [Fiction Friday - Introducing Meira!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/05/posts.html)
- [More Movie News!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/05/more-movie-news.html) - Here's the announcement in Variety :) http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118053934
- [Fiction Friday And Some Big News](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/05/fiction-friday-and-some-big-news.html) - Happy Friday, everyone! I know I've been missing in action lately, and I haven't given this blog much attention over the last couple of months. I'm doing my best to respond to all the well-wishes I've been receiving via Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail, and I'm hard at work on my next book, Covet. I appreciate all the
- [A Tale of Many Reviews blog tour for On the Island - Giveaways! Lots and lots of giveaways!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/03/tale-of-many-reviews-blog-tour-for-on.html) - Happy Friday everyone! I've been on a virtual blog tour this week, hosted by the awesome Julie at A Tale of Many Reviews. Click on over and enter the drawing for a signed paperback of On the Island. Julie has also included my dream cast post so you can see who I envisioned in the
- [A Special Giveaway!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/02/special-giveaway.html) - Hello everyone! The absolutely delightful Shana is talking about On the Island on her blog A Book Vacation today. There will also be a giveaway for 7 copies of On the Island (5 ebooks and two signed paperbacks) because she's awesome like that. Please head over and check it out! Tracey
- [Book Clubs!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/02/book-clubs.html) - Last month, I was thrilled and honored to be the featured guest at two book club meetings. The first was at the Principal Financial Group, a financial services company in downtown Des Moines. I used to work there and my husband still does; he's been there since the ink was barely dry on his college
- [Readers Are The People I Care About](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/01/readers-are-people-i-care-about.html) - I know, I haven't blogged in a really long time. Things are crazy right now, and I have half a dozen posts in draft stage that I just haven't found time to finish. But I need to write this one because I have some things I really want to say. For those of you not
- [Debut Novel, No Backlist - 25 Things You Need to Know If You're Thinking About Self-Publishing](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/01/posts.html) - # Be willing to take risks. On the Island is an adult contemporary romance novel. The book I'm writing now is straight-up women's fiction. I'm worried about the genre shift, but I'm going to jump out of the airplane anyway; the chance to expand my readership is my parachute. I don't know if anyone will
- [Who Do Your Characters Look Like?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2012/01/posts.html) - Lately a few people have asked if I pictured anyone for the main characters in On the Island . Since I see the book in my head as a movie when I'm writing, I did have a general idea of T.J. and Anna's physical appearance, but I didn't think too much about whether they looked
- [Crack Dip](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/12/crack-dip.html) - Every now and then, I look at my blog diagnostics to see the search words and phrases that bring readers to funny in the 'hood, read by approximately 30 people each day (and I LOVE you folks, by the way). The two most popular words that are leading people to this blog, at least in
- [An Ultra-Newbie With No Backlist Sell-Publishes Her Debut Novel](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/12/posts.html) - I love Joes's blog. I've learned a lot by reading his posts, and I've often heeded his advice. While I've no desire to jump into the fray regarding the self-publishing/traditional publishing debate, I will state that self-publishing was the best choice for *my* book. Occasionally I see comments from readers that say Joe's transition to
- [Happy Release Day for Amanda Bonilla's Shaedes of Gray!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/12/happy-release-day-for-amanda-bonillas.html) - I met Amanda Bonilla last winter on The Twitter when we were both participating in an #askagent session. She took the time to answer one of my questions and when I checked out her profile and noticed she lived in Idaho (which people are always confusing with Iowa), I felt an instant kinship. Over the
- [The Half Diet](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/12/posts.html) - Now that the holiday season is in full swing, women everywhere are trying to figure out how to mitigate the effects of endless cocktail parties, department potlucks, and an unlimited supply of alcohol and sugar. Last month we started brainstorming solutions at work and I'm going to be honest, I wasn't on board with any
- [My Favorite Things](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/11/my-favorite-things.html) - Like Oprah's list, only way more awesome and a heck of a lot cheaper. 1. Fuggs. These are fake Uggs from Target and since I'm not a pretentious suburban poser, I have no problem wearing them. In the interest of full disclosure, I have a pair of real Uggs but they're not waterproof and since
- [Look What Happened While I Was Out Having Dinner](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/11/look-what-happened-while-i-was-out.html) - #69 on the Genre Fiction, Romance bestseller chart. #23 on the Genre Fiction, Action and Adventure bestseller chart. #16 on the Fiction, Action and Adventure bestseller chart. It may not stick for long, but I'm having a fabulous evening. T.
- [The Curse of the Sophomore Novel](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/11/posts.html) - And then Chuck Wendig, a writer whose opinion I greatly respect, because OMG he is awesome recommended Alison Dasho on The Twitter, and she became my editor (the manuscript for Covet is due to her on June 30th, 2012. I am penciled in so now I have an actual deadline, not just one of those
- [No One Can Say We Don't Go Balls-Out At Work](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/10/posts.html) - Sometimes I struggle to come up with a topic to blog about. Those of you who have been with me from the beginning probably remember the good old days when I blogged about my ____ or my _____ or other. In other words, when I shared my embarrassing moments funny stories with you. I know
- [Winners!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/10/winners.html) - The offspring drew two names this morning and the recipients of a signed paperback copy of On the Island are Jody and Lyn! Thank you to everyone who shared the news about my book. I really appreciate it! And to Lyn and Jody - I'll get your books mailed out tomorrow, ladies :) Tracey
- [On the Island - Now Available in Paperback!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/10/on-island-now-available-in-paperback.html) - Happy Friday everyone! On the Island is now available in trade paperback. See the little box above? If you pull up the Amazon listing for On the Island, scroll down a bit and you'll see that underneath the Kindle edition it says paperback. Click on it and it will take you to the listing for
- [Tracy's Shit List](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/10/posts.html) - You know what I haven't done for a really long time? Announce to the mighty interwebs things that have pissed me off. 1. Claire's Boutique. Yeah, hi. I'm *not* sorry for almost knocking over that rack of earrings with my ass. Make your freakin' store bigger or limit the number of middle schoolers wandering around
- [The Power of an Informative Review](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/10/power-of-informative-review.html) - As a debut indie author, I depend heavily on reader reviews. The more reviews I receive, the more likely a reader is to take a chance on me, especially if the reviews are positive. A favorable review is a helpful tool for prospective readers. It gives peace of mind and lets them know ahead of
- [What I'm Working On Now](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/10/posts.html) - Some readers have written me to ask whether or not there will be a sequel to On the Island and the answer, unfortunately, is no. Coming fall 2012 Coming fall 2013
- [Hey All, Get Thee Over To Magic And Mayhem And Meet My Friend Amanda!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/09/hey-all-get-thee-over-to-magic-and.html) - Good morning everyone, Today my friend Amanda gave me the most awesome shout out on the Magic and Mayhem blog. I met Amanda on Twitter one night when we were both participating in an #askagent chat. She answered one of my questions and her answer was much nicer than the snarky one I received from
- [The Amusing and Somewhat Alarming Search Phrases People Use That Send Them To This Blog](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/09/posts.html) - 1. Long dark hair cowgirl in love. I feel compelled to point out, again, that I'm wearing this cowboy hat ironically. I bought it because Trish and I went to that big country mud bash thingie. 2. Marble jar method, is it working?3. Big boobs Hillbilly Handfishin'. 4. Flashback Friday - Timeline of my spiritual
- [An Open And Somewhat Hostile Letter To My Dipshit Mailman](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/09/open-and-somewhat-hostile-letter-to-my.html) - Dear dude that delivers my mail, Are you high? No, really. Are you? Because I can think of no other reason why you are so completely horrible at your job. I mean, you totally suck at it. When we built our house six years ago, I was overjoyed to discover that my 'hood utilized a
- [Fiction Friday - Virtual Launch Party For On The Island!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/09/fiction-friday-virtual-launch-party-for.html) - ***Edited to add that links are not all clicky. You'll have to copy and paste. Blame Blogger. I have (it's probably my fault, though). Good morning and happy Friday everyone! My debut novel went live on Amazon and Barnes and Noble this week and I'd like to welcome you to the virtual launch party for
- [Fiction Friday - A Cover, Some Jacket Copy, and a Playlist](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/09/fiction-friday-cover-some-jacket-copy.html) - "Fins" - Jimmy Buffet"Island Girl" - Elton John"Sweet Child 'O Mine" - Guns 'N Roses"Roll With The Changes" - REO Speedwagon"Coconuts" - Widespread Panic"Changes In Attitude, Changes In Latitude" - Jimmy Buffet"Wish You Were Here" - Pink Floyd"Don't Drink The Water" - Dave Matthews Band"Don't Let Him Go" - REO Speedwagon"Have You Ever Seen The
- [Hillybilly Handfishin', Y'all!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/08/hillybilly-handfishin-yall.html) - Last night I was channel-surfing in bed and I stumbled upon Animal Planet's Hillybilly Handfishin'. I had watched it the week before, but I was drinking sauvignon blanc distracted by my laptop and didn't pay close attention. I paid more attention last night and I'm glad I did. I think I've already proven I like
- [Re-post Monday - My Totally Fictitious, Highly Dysfunctional, And Completely Inappropriate Advice Column](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/08/repost-monday-my-totally-fictitious.html) - Happy Monday everyone! I stumbled upon this old post yesterday when I was doing some clean-up on the blog. I originally published it in February of 2009, but I don’t think anyone read it back then. I don't have time to write a new post today, so I hope you don't mind if I recycle
- [Obviously There Can't Be Any More Mommy-Daughter Weekends.](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/07/posts.html) - Dave and Matthew went out of town last weekend leaving Lauren and I home to fend for ourselves. Getting those stinky boys out of the house is always nice, and Lauren and I like to plan special things to do together. Spending time with Lauren is, after all, priceless, and we're making memories that will
- [Fiction Friday!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/07/fiction-friday.html) - Happy Fiction Friday everyone! I hope you are all having a delightful day. I will be spending the afternoon preparing for Matthew's family birthday party that we're hosting tonight. My baby boy is turning twelve (sniff, sniff). Tomorrow he is having two of his buddies over to spend the night, eat junk food, and watch
- [What Dave Says, What Tracey Says, And What We Really Mean](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/06/what-dave-says-what-tracey-says-and.html) - The other day I made an appointment with a facial plastic surgeon. I'd already visited him once for Botox, but I decided it was time to try a little Juvederm* because my friend Amy has a theory that women age one of two ways: you're either a wrinkler or a sinker. Wrinklers have crow's feet
- [Fiction Friday!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/06/fiction-friday.html) - Happy Friday everyone! I hope you're all enjoying the summer so far. Here in Iowa, we're still waiting for it to arrive, but I'm confident it will make its appearance one of these days. Our 40-degree shifts in temperature, and the incessant rain is making everyone a bit cranky but the roller coaster weather doesn't
- [Dudes, Louis From Interview With The Vampire Totally Works In My Building](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/05/dudes-louis-from-interview-with-vampire.html) - As some of you know, I work as a contract human resources recruiter for a large mortgage company here in Des Moines (I won't mention the name but it rhymes with Bells Cargo). My work bff Tami and I usually saunter down to the employee cafeteria in the morning for breakfast and gossip and one
- [It's Spring Cleanup Time in the 'Hood!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/05/its-spring-cleanup-time-in-hood.html) - We have something known as spring cleanup day here in the 'hood. The city lets you dispose of pretty much anything junking up your garage - except maybe anthrax or dead bodies - and everyone drags all their crap out to the curb and the garbage trucks roll up and make it disappear. You can
- [Fiction Friday - Shiny New Ideas](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/04/fiction-friday-shiny-new-ideas.html) - I'm feeling a bit out of sorts this week. Now that my manuscript is complete, and I've started dipping my toe in the query pool, I don't know what to do with myself. After getting up at 5:00 a.m. for the last year, not having to get up and write feels really weird. I'm still
- [Fiction Friday Query Edition](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/04/fiction-friday-query-edition.html) - Hey blog readers! I know it's been a while, but I've been spending what little free time I have on my manuscript, and I'm happy to report that it's been edited, revised, polished, beta read, and polished some more. I'm finally D-O-N-E, done. I realized over the last few days that I'm just tinkering with
- [Ready, Set, Beta!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/03/posts.html) - Guess what? I'm finally done with my novel. Like, done-done. Not, done but now I polish. Actually done. And I'm super happy.
- [This is why I hate the drop-by](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/03/posts.html) - Jehovah's witnesses - If you wake up someone's kid, these women will cut you Maisy - naked story. no bra
- [The End](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/01/end.html) - NO, not the end of this blog, although my infrequent posting may have indicated otherwise. I typed THE END a few days ago when I finished my manuscript revisions. I fought the urge to change to a fancy font and use a different color, purple or green perhaps, and just typed it the regular way.
- [Re-post Wednesday](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2011/01/re-post-wednesday.html) - So my friend Tay and her friend Ney started a new blog called Oh So Cheesy. You can read it if you click here. That's right. A whole freaking blog dedicated to the yum that is cheesy pasta. Now that Tay and Ney have started their blog, I'll have no shortage of macaroni and cheese
- ['Twas the night before Christmas Eve, Twitter style](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/12/twas-night-before-christmas-eve-twitter.html) - Wow, look at this. Two blog posts in two days. Amount of work done on manuscript, however? None. And before I forget, I actually guest blogged over at Totally Tay yesterday. Why? Because she's awesome and her I Believe posts are awesome too. She's going to beta read my manuscript and I'm hopefully going to
- [Have You Ever?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/12/have-you-ever.html) - Laid awake until two in the morning turning over plot points in your head? Found yourself telling little white lies to people you love? For example, "I'm sorry I can't go to your party/open house/dinner/sporting event/concert because I'm busy" except busy really means you just want to work on your manuscript instead? Spent upwards of
- [Fiction Thursday (or just insert whatever the hell day you want)](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/10/fiction-thursday-or-just-insert.html) - One of these days, it would be nice not to have to start my blog posts by apologizing. But, sorry. I know I've been really MIA lately, but after working forty hours a week, and making sure Dave and the offspring have food and clean underwear, I only have a little bit of time to
- [Fiction Saturday](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/10/posts.html) - Totally glossing over the fact that there was no Fiction Friday last week and that this week's installment is happening on Saturday. First things first, Snooki sold a book. Say it with me: WTF? It's bad enough that Tori Spelling and Lauren Conrad are crowding the shelves at my local Barnes and Noble. But now
- [Fiction Friday](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/09/fiction-friday_17.html) - Good Morning and happy Friday everyone! Once again, I apologize for blowing off this blog but I have a good excuse. I got a new job and I started last week. As some of you already know, I went back to work last year at the offspring's school. I have a degree in business, not
- [Fiction Friday](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/09/fiction-friday.html) - I'm sorry I haven't been doing a better job of blogging. I really meant to but the house has been so nice and quiet with the offspring in school and I've been trying hard to finish the second draft of my novel. I finished about an hour ago. I also wrote the epilogue, which I
- [Sisters are doing it for themselves](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/09/posts.html) - Trish and I went out last night and for those of you who might not know, she's my twin sister but we look nothing alike so no one ever believes us. See? I told you. Anyway, when we go out together we know we're going to have a good time because we like our cocktails
- [Fiction Friday!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/08/fiction-friday_27.html) - I know, I missed last Friday. It's been crazy around here. The offspring have been busy guilting me into taking them swimming and to the mall and out for fancy lunches and to the place where we painted our own pottery and the zoo and the bookstore and a whole bunch of other places because,
- [Fiction Friday](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/08/fiction-friday_13.html) - Happy Friday the thirteenth everyone! Hey, you know what sucks? WRITING A NOVEL. Yeah, it's really hard and I've hit a rough patch. You know how I was all "Oh, I'm just gonna write to the end of the first draft and then start the second?" Yeah, well, there was a lot of writing left
- [Fiction Friday](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/08/fiction-friday.html) - Happy Friday peeps! I don't have a lot to report on from the fiction front other than to say I'm still plugging away on my second draft. I've been waking up around 6 AM most days to get in a few hours of writing before the offspring come downstairs and turn on SpongeBob SquarePants and
- [Hey guess what? Someone asked me to be a guest blogger again!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/08/hey-guess-what-someone-asked-me-to-be.html) - Hey everyone, My friend Penne over at Little Girl Big Glasses is on vacation this week and I'm not. She asked me if I would guest blog in her absence and I said, "Sure!" I recycled my I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant Post because I can hardly get new posts written for my own
- [Fiction Friday](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/07/fiction-friday_30.html) - Happy Friday everyone! Before I get to my weekly fiction update, I thought I'd let you know that my other blog, the one I've spent time working on this week instead of writing entertaining new blog posts for this blog, is coming along. If you see any links posted, here or on Facebook, and the
- [Fiction Friday](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/07/fiction-friday_23.html) - Happy Friday everyone! Sorry I haven't been blogging much. I really want to but I'm afraid to take my laptop to the pool 'cause I heard they don't work well when you get them wet. It's been so hot in the 'hood that the offspring and I have had to escape to our local aquatic
- [Fiction Friday](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/07/fiction-friday.html) - Happy Friday everyone! It will be a busy weekend for us because Matthew turns eleven today and this weekend is all about him with a family party tonight and a sleepover tomorrow. Sniff, sniff, my little boy is growing up! It's been a good writing week. I didn't get as much blogging done as I
- [The Post In Which I Get My Poet On](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/07/post-in-which-i-get-my-poet-on.html) - How we spent the Fourth of July - A poem by Tracey Garvis Graves *clearing throat* For the holiday weekend, we got out of town To Tom and Amy's lake house, ready to party down Here's Amy and me, having a smashing good time P.P.S. I don't think I puctuate my poetry correctlyP.P.P.S. I don't
- [Fiction Friday And Some, Um, Other Stuff](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/07/fiction-friday-and-some-um-other-stuff.html) - Good morning everyone, welcome to Fiction Friday! Today's word count on my first-ever attempt at writing a novel is 47,597 or 7,597 more than last Friday. That makes me happy because it means I'm still on track to finish the first draft by August 1st. As I mentioned last week, I'm an outliner so I
- [Welcome To The First Ever Fiction Friday](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/07/welcome-to-first-ever-fiction-friday.html) - Hey, remember when I used to have Flashback Friday? But then I quit doing it because several of my girlfriends were all, "Oooooh, I'm gonna send you some pictures to use for Flashback Friday but then they didn't *coughAmyandStacycough* and I kinda ran out of funny old pictures of me from the eighties so I
- [Sometimes, You Just Have To Become One With The Mud](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/06/posts.html) - Well I do have two bottles of water in my bag. I snuck them in so that I wouldn't get too hammered dehydrated but I suppose I could pour one of them all over my foot so it would be all clean again. Yeah, that's what I'll do. My friend Weezie asked me about how
- [The Post Where I Almost Had To Kick Belle's Ass](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/06/post-where-i-almost-had-to-kick-belles.html) - Some of you may know that Cowboy Dave and I took the offspring to Disney World a couple weeks ago. And hello? I don't know if it's the happiest place on earth, but it sure as hell is the sweatiest. We had a great time and we visited all the parks. Matthew and Lauren loved
- [MS 5/31st wc 18,452](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/05/posts.html) - THE ISLAND The Island - 1st draft****** June 1, 2000 My name is Anna Elliott. I was thirty years old when Tom and Sharon Callahan hired me to tutor their son T.J. for the summer. He was fifteen and one month into remission from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The Callahan’s wanted me to come with them on
- [MANUSCRIPT 5/23](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/05/posts.html) - THE ISLAND The Island - 1st draft****** June 1, 2000 My name is Anna Elliott. I was thirty years old when Tom and Sharon Callahan hired me to tutor their son T.J. for the summer. He was fifteen and one month into remission from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. When they had told me they were looking for
- [5/9/10](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/05/posts.html) - THE ISLAND The Island - 1st draft****** June 1, 2000 My name is Anna Elliott. I was thirty years old when Tom and Sharon Callahan hired me to tutor their son T.J. for the summer. He was fifteen and one month into remission with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. T.J. and I flew out of Chicago together. We
- [chapter one 5/4/10](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/05/posts.html) - THE ISLAND The Island - 1st draft****** June 1, 2000 My name is Anna Elliott. I was thirty years old when Tom and Sharon Callahan hired me to tutor their son T.J. for the summer. He was fifteen and one month into remission with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. T.J. and I flew out of Chicago together. We
- [MANUSCRIPT](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/04/posts.html) - THE ISLAND The Island - 1st draft****** CHAPTER ONE My name is Anna Elliott. I teach ninth grade and I was thirty years old when T.J. Callahan’s parents hired me to tutor him for the summer. T.J. was fifteen and one month into remission with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. T.J.’s dad Tom was the lead architect for
- [Chapter 1](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/04/posts.html) - The Island - 1st draft****** CHAPTER ONE My name is Anna Elliott. I’m a ninth grade English teacher and I was thirty years old when T.J. Callahan’s parents hired me to tutor him for the summer. T.J. was fifteen and one month into remission with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. T.J.’s dad Tom was the lead architect for
- [transfer doc](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/04/posts.html) - The Island - 1st draft The Island I was thirty years old the day T.J. Callahan and I flew out of Chicago’s O’Hare airport en route to the resort his father was building in _______. T.J. and his best friend Ben were waiting for me at gate 12, sitting in a row of hard plastic
- [4/5/10](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/04/posts.html) - The Island I was thirty years old the day T.J. Callahan and I flew out of Chicago’s O’Hare airport en route to the resort his father was building in _______. T.J. and his best friend Ben were waiting for me at gate 12, sitting in a row of hard plastic chairs looking bored, the way
- [The Island -1st draft](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/04/posts.html) - The Island I am thirty years old when I met T.J. Callahan for the first time. He and his best friend Ben are waiting for me at gate 12, sitting in a row of hard plastic chairs looking bored, the way most fourteen-year-olds look when they are not at the movies, or the mall, or
- [book notes](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/04/posts.html) - Step 1. A fifteen-year-old boy with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and the thirty-year-old woman hired to tutor him are stranded on a deserted island for five years. Step 2. Fifteen-year-old T.J. Callahan has recently completed treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. T.J’s father is an architect whose firm is building a resort hotel in the Maldives. He wants his
- [Shit Dave Says](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/03/posts.html) - Me: I'm kinda thinking about having my upper lip done. Dave: Just don't get a trout pouch. Me: Um, what? Do you mean trout pout?
- [Guess What? I Haven't Been Blogging But I Have A Doctor's Excuse](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/02/posts.html) - I have BPPV which sounds a lot like HPV but is totally different than genital warts because the thing I have - HPPV - doesn't involve my hoo-ha. My doctor also told me to stop driving immediately but I just nodded and thought, no fucking way. Plus the medicine she gave me was simiilar to
- [And The Honest Scrap Award Goes To.......](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/01/and-honest-scrap-award-goes-to.html) - Hey guess what? Despite my utter inability to get a single post written in the last two weeks I still have an award to post on this blog, courtesy of Funny Girl Goes Blog . The fact that she gave me the award months ago isn't stopping me from finally fulfilling my award duties though.
- [Dear Gap](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/01/posts.html) - Your "tissue weight" material fools nobody (and makes me look like a prostitute since everyone can see my bra right through the fabric). If I wanted to wear a camisole under everything I buy from the Gap I'd just......
- [Post it notes](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/01/posts.html) - write a series of funny things to dave and the offspring on post it notes and then take pictures of the notes and scan them and write a post. Dear Dave, The dishwasher looks like it was loaded by a glue sniffing schizophrenic. Was it you?
- [Pie Charts](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/01/posts.html)
- [Hey, Guess What? Time magazine must not think I'm that offensive because they sorta let me be in their magazine](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/01/hey-guess-what-time-magazine-must-not.html) - Last week I wrote a post about TLC's I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant. You can read it here or you can just scroll down. I received several nice comments from my blogging buddies and friends. And when I got home on Wednesday, there was one new comment. Erin G said... ok this is the
- [TLC's I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2010/01/tlcs-i-didnt-know-i-was-pregnant.html) - The other night I was lying in bed trying to find something to watch on TV and despite Dave's claim that switching from cable to satellite would give us loads of additional channels, my only choices seemed to be either Khloe and Kourtney take Miami or Keeping up with the Kardashians. Personally, I think the
- [Someone Actually Asked Me To Be A Guest Blogger!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/12/someone-actually-asked-me-to-be-guest.html) - A little over a month ago I came home from work to find this in my e-mail inbox: Bonjour, Just wanted to let you know that my friend Stephanie and I think you are HILARIOUS. We've decided to spend the rest of our work day reading your blog instead of being productive. Thanks for being
- [This is what happens when the Hawkeyes play before noon](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/12/this-is-what-happens-when-hawkeyes-play.html) - Dave and the offspring and I have been watching a lot of Hawkeye football this season. We especially like when the Hawkeyes are playing at night because we can get together with friends and neighbors and have a few drinks while we enjoy the game. On Halloween, the Hawkeyes played at 11:05 AM. We invited
- [Google Apps Can Suck It! (Not Jolly Though)](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/12/google-apps-can-suck-it-not-jolly.html) - You may have noticed that funny in the 'hood was missing for awhile. If you typed in www.traceygarvisgraves.com, you saw this chick. I have no idea who she is. What I found even more troubling was the completely random collection of words to the left of the photo of the chick I don't know. It
- [Are You There Santa? It's Me Again](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/11/are-you-there-santa-its-me-again.html) - Dear Santa, I hope there are no hard feelings about all the mean things I said about you after you did not bring me anything I asked you for last year. It's not my fault because I think I have Tourette's syndrome and f-bombs and rude comments fly out of my mouth uncontrollably sometimes. So,
- [A strange little tale about my new "old" fridge](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/11/strange-little-tale-about-my-new-old.html) - In 2005, Dave and I decided to build a new house. We had a difficult time deciding what kind of house we wanted to build and spent approximately eighteen months walking through a million spec houses only to find that each one lacked something on our wish list. Just when I thought we'd never find
- [The Real Reason We Can't Be On Supernanny](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/10/posts.html) - hawkeye games my hair my weight
- [It's Like General Electric Wants Me To Be All Screamy](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/10/posts.html) - Really, unless you can get Martha Stewart to come here and do the laundry, nothing you can do will make getting our Mt. Everest of dirty clothes clean any more pleasant for me. You can buy the biggest washer and dryer in the world but that just means that I have to fold gargantuan loads
- [The post where I point out how much I'm helping the 8th graders](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/10/post-where-i-point-out-how-much-im.html) - Hi blogosphere! I know, I suck. I wouldn't blame any of you for never clicking on my blog again. But I'm glad you did because today we are piling into Marty McFly's Delorean and heading back in time to 8th grade (oh how I used to ♥ you Michael J. Fox). Now that I've been
- [My Health Insurance Company Is Afraid I Might Jump Off A Bridge](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/09/my-health-insurance-company-is-afraid-i.html) - I got a letter in the mail the other day from my health insurance company that basically said, "We are all scared shitless here because we noticed your aren't taking your Prozac anymore." What.The.Fuck. Technically I have a prescription for Prozac. It is one of the few antidepressants approved by the FDA for the treatment
- [Tracey's Shit List](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/09/traceys-shit-list.html) - 1. McDonald's. I'm not talking about those 'tards at the McDonald's up the street from my house (which, if you remember, is why we no longer have McDonald's Monday). I'm talking about a different McDonald's and the d-bag who thought it would be a good idea to have double drive thru lanes that require hungry
- [Is anyone wondering where the hell I've been?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/09/is-anyone-wondering-where-hell-ive-been.html) - Dear blogosphere in general and my readers in particular, Hi. I'm not dead! If you've been wondering why I seemed to have disappeared it's because: A) I was carried off by a dingoB) I fell down a well (a big one, not a little one like baby Jessica fell into in 1987). Obviously.C) My Internet
- [I Regret To Inform You That Flashback Friday Will Not Occur Today](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/08/i-regret-to-inform-you-that-flashback.html) - I'm in a big ass hurry to get out of town before my brother and sister in law change their minds about watching the offspring and I can't find any funny pictures for Flashback Friday but to make it up to you I am working on a post about my horrible PMS which I will
- [Crack Dip Recipe](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/08/crack-dip-recipe.html) - Some of you have recently asked for my crack dip recipe (originally given to me by my friend Wendy) so I thought I'd post it again. Everyone in the world loves it except for my friend Shellie and her friends but I'm pretty sure it's just because they made it wrong (just kidding, I love
- [I'm So Behind On Blogging I'm Just Getting Around To Posting About July Fourth](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/08/im-so-behind-on-blogging-im-just.html) - Dave and I are going to Tom and Amy's lake house tomorrow, for the whole weekend, without the offspring. We managed to coerce, beg, convince my brother and sister-in-law to come to our house and take care of our dog and kids while we are gone (and we will be leaving big, black skid marks
- [Help Me Decide Who Would Be a Better Vampire Boyfriend, Bill Compton or Edward Cullen](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/08/help-me-decide-who-would-be-better.html) - Recently I went to Target to buy a bunch of shit we don't really need and I threw season 1 of HBO's True Blood into my cart. I've read all nine of the Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris, upon which the HBO show is based, and since we don't have HBO, I've been anxiously
- [The Post Where I Tell Everyone How Awesome My Husband Is](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/08/post-where-i-tell-everyone-how-awesome.html) - Remember when I wrote that really nice letter to Santa asking him to bring me a Dooney and Bourke medium chiara bag in black leather? No? Then click here. And then remember when Santa didn't bring it to me because he's a rat bastard? No? Then click here. Well last Friday, Dave took the afternoon
- [Flashback Friday - Safety First or My Parents Were Crazy, You Decide](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/07/flashback-friday-safety-first-or-my.html) - Yes I know I blew off Flashback Friday last week. It was partly because of my heinous garage sale and partly because I'm running out of pictures. I mean, I can show you snapshots of Stacy's seventh grade slumber party where we're all wearing our "7th graders do it better" t-shirts or pictures from 8th
- [I Think Yeti is Killing Animals in the 'hood](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/07/i-think-yeti-is-killing-animals-in-hood.html) - I know, I know, I've been MIA, and a totally shitty blogger (sorry Jules!) but I've been spinning my wheels and getting absofuckinglutely nowhere super busy keeping the offspring from killing each other and I haven't been able to find more than two consecutive minutes to sit on my ass in front of this computer
- [Questions I'd Like to Ask the Producers at Bravo](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/07/questions-id-like-to-ask-producers-at.html) - You all know I love watching the Real Housewives on Bravo, right? I'm totally a fan and I love to hit play on the DVR just so I can see what those ladies have been up to. But as I watch the show, especially the latest installment (Real Housewives of NJ), I can't help but
- [Flashback Friday - Shit I Wore That I Thought Made Me Look Really Hawt](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/07/flashback-friday-shit-i-wore-that-i.html) - Back in my single days, getting ready to head out on the town with my girlfriends was almost as much fun as deciding what bar we'd be trolling around in. We tried very hard to select the perfect outfit to help us land Mr. Right (or at the very least, maybe a temporary overnight boyfriend).
- [How I've Spent My Last Two Weekends](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/06/how-ive-spent-my-last-two-weekends.html) - Remember in this post I said I might not always have time to come up with clever and funny blog entries this summer? That self fulfilling prophecy has turned out to be true because I find it almost impossible to construct a single sentence with all the fighting and attempting to beat the crap out
- [Flashback Friday - Smokin' at the Condo Clubhouse](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/06/flashback-friday-smokin-at-condo.html) - Happy Friday blogosphere! I'm a wee bit tired because Barbara, my roving photojournalist in the 'hood, had a Silpada jewelry party last night and not only did I stay up past my bedtime, I had a little alky-hol too (weird, huh?). When Tracy and I were leaving (another Tracy who spells her name totally different
- [I'm Not Worthy, I'm Not Worthy](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/06/im-not-worthy-im-not-worthy.html) - Look what my long lost other twin Penne at Little Girl Big Glasses gave me! Not only were Penne and I separated at birth, she shares my love of seventies music, eighties fashions, and liquor. Unlike Penne, who is a bona fide published poet (Highlights magazine, April 1973), my written words haven't shown up anywhere
- [Flashback Friday - The Flashdance Years](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/06/flashback-friday-flashdance-years.html) - Hey blogosphere! It's me, Tracey. Remember me? This week has been crazy busy but I have no fewer than 19 some posts all in a state of half completion that I hope to publish on this blog next week. And my long-lost, separated at birth other twin sister Penne even bestowed an award upon me
- [Flashback Friday - Twins, Really?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/06/flashback-friday-twins-really.html) - First day of Kindergarten. I ♥ my snoopy lunch box. Here's Trish and I sitting on Santa's lap (notice I'm still rockin' the shag). Doesn't Santa kinda look like he might belong on a sex offender registry somewhere? See the cast on my left arm. I attempted to do a penny drop off the chin-up
- [Flashback Friday - The gestation years](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/06/flashback-friday-gestation-years.html) - Are you as tired as I am of the media firestorm surrounding Jon and Kate Gosselin of TLC's highest rated reality show, Jon and Kate Plus Hate Eight? Whether it's her business in the front, party in the back hairdo or his supposed philandering with a twenty-three year old, they are on my TV screen
- [The trifecta of Stupid, Self Administered, Totally Unnecessary Injuries](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/06/posts.html) - Many years ago, when I used to work outside the home, a co-worker and I arranged to meet at the Des Moines International (ha,ha) airport at the ass-crack of dawn to hop a flight to Pennsylvania for a completely boring and probably unnecessary business trip. I got to the airport first and watched Christa stagger
- [Flashback Friday - I love the 80's](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/05/flashback-friday-i-love-80s.html) - I love the 80's and I'm fortunate to have spent my high school and college years in one of the best decades ever, at least from a hair and fashion standpoint. I graduated from high school in 1985 so I have lots of pictures that capture me, and my friends, in all our 80's glory.
- [Memorial Day Weekend at Tom and Amy's Lake House](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/05/memorial-day-weekend-at-tom-and-amys.html) - We had an absolutely fabulous time at Tom and Amy's lake house over Memorial Day Weekend. I have so many more pictures I'd like to share but due to my "no photos of children on my blog" policy, I can't show them to you. Trust me when I say our offspring, and Tom and Amy's
- [Flashback Friday - Guest Star Edition](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/05/flashback-friday-guest-star-edition.html) - Welcome to Flashback Friday! Today I'm flashing back in the life of my twin sister Trish. And to my girlfriends? Be afraid because you may be next. G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S, yeah (Glamour shots)G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S (Glamour shots) "Hmmmmm," thought Trish. "It's 1991 and I'm living in sunny southern California and I'm bored. What should I do? Go to the
- [The Real Housewives of New Jersey Are A Hot Mess](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/05/posts.html) - How much am I loving The Real Housewives of New Jersey? Oh so much. I love the fact that these housewives aren't even trying to dispel any of the common Joisey stereotypes. The episode opens with Jacqueline trying to get some control over her teenaged daughter who is pulling some pretty crappy grades. Theresa takes
- [10 some reasons why I've been such a shitty blogger lately](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/05/10-some-reasons-why-ive-been-such.html) - Hello blogosphere! I know I've been kinda "phoning it in" lately and I'm sorry. But let me explain. I've been suffering from a combination of Internet overload, blogger burnout, and an end of the year time crunch. Even though I've had the entire school year to organize the playroom, clean out all the closets, cabinets,
- [My weight loss update](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/05/posts.html) - (Am I right Kirsti Alley - insert photo??) It was like fate poking me in the belly saying, "Hey chubby, give Dave the other half of your sandwich. Dave wanted to make a sandwich using the broiler. Even though I knew how this would probably end I tried to walk him through the steps of
- [Flashback Friday - The Spirit Years](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/05/flashback-friday-spirit-years.html) - "Kirsten? Bring it. And get ready to have your ass handed to you by the Johnston Dragon's middle school football cheerleading squad." Look at me! On the bottom of the pyramid, as usual. But check out the next photo. What a high straight kick I have! See Michelle standing on the far right? She effed
- [The Kenny Chesney Concert](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/05/kenny-chesney-concert.html) - 500 ml Mott's apple juice 200 ml 100% blue agave tequila (Jose Cuervo) 200 ml cointreau, citronage, or grand marnier 100 ml key lime juice (you can find this in a plastic bottle in the juice aisle) Stir above ingredients and serve over ice in salt-rimmed glass. Enjoy! **Crack Wraps
- [Flashback Friday](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/05/flashback-friday_08.html) - Our parents went to Hawaii and all we got were these stupid outfits. And another trip to Olan Mills Portrait Studio.
- [The Dirty T-Shirt Party](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/05/dirty-t-shirt-party.html) - A couple years ago, when Dave turned forty, we decided to throw a theme-based birthday party. We thought having a dirty t-shirt party sounded like a lot of fun. And by dirty we meant wholly inappropriate. Like really offensive. No holds barred, if you will. Everybody got into it. Some people ordered their shirts at
- [Flashback Friday](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/05/flashback-friday.html) - "Carol Brady called. She wants her shag back."
- [The Real Housewives of NYC - Van Kempen's House Party](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/04/real-housewives-of-nyc-van-kempens.html) - I was really looking forward to last night's episode of The Real Housewives of NYC for two reasons: I wanted to see Jill give Kelly a verbal ass-whipping for being late to her own Halloween party and I was stoked about the re-match between Bethenny and Kelly. The episode opened with Alex and Simon heading
- [Flashback Friday-A Timeline of My Spiritual Life](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/04/flashback-friday-timeline-of-my.html) - I was baptized, confirmed, and married at Grandview Lutheran church in Des Moines, Iowa. Though I now consider myself a member of "the church of do the right thing" I think it's cool that I have pictures of myself at Grandview Lutheran that span almost thirty years. 1967 - This is a picture of me
- [Dave and Tracey Had a Babysitter](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/04/dave-and-tracey-had-babysitter.html) - Dave and I had a babysitter Saturday night. We hadn't been out alone since we saw Slumdog Millionaire and I was really looking forward to going out for dinner and drinks. Our next door neighbors Brooke and Spence were able to get a sitter too so they joined us for a night out. We decided
- [Friday night happy hour](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/04/posts.html) - >
- [Flashback Friday](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/04/flashback-friday.html) - I thought I'd try something new today since I don't have a lot of time to post (and, if I'm being honest, no idea what to write about today if I did have more time.) So, welcome to Flashback Friday! I thought it would be fun to post pictures from my past on this blog.
- [I Swear I'm Going to Get a Big Head](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/04/i-swear-im-going-to-get-big-head.html) - "Sundown", Gordon Lightfoot"I Got A Name", Jim Croce"One Of These Nights", The Eagles"I'd Really Love To See You Tonight", England Dan (RIP Dan Seals) and John Ford Coley"Tuesday Afternoon", The Moody Blues"Nights In White Satin", The Moody Blues"Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone", Bill Withers"Have You Ever Seen The Rain", Creedence Clearwater Revival"Southern Cross", Crosby,
- [The Real Housewives of NYC - Wife in the Fast Lane](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/04/real-housewives-of-nyc-wife-in-fast.html) - Maybe I should change the name of this blog to A Snarky Housewife in Dallas County because lately all I seem to be doing is writing about those silly ladies on Bravo. The episode opens with Jill stating that "in New York, women work, women have to work. I'm a trained business woman, retail is
- [The Real Housewives of New Jersey Preview](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/04/real-housewives-of-new-jersey-preview.html) - Oh Bravo, how you love to yank my chain. The newest installment of the Real Housewives franchise could have been located anywhere. Houston, Chicago, Boston, even Minneapolis. But what would be the fun in that? Bravo's turned the tables on us all by serving up the mother lode of geographical stereotyping with the debut of
- [You! Suck! McDonald's!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/04/you-suck-mcdonalds.html) - I recently posted about a weekly occurrence in our household called McDonald's Monday. Unfortunately, despite my quality control, a six piece order of Mcnuggets did not make it into the bag with the rest of our food last Monday. I blame myself for not looking closer. However, that did not stop me from calling McDonald's
- [The Real Housewives of NYC (Back to High School)](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/04/real-housewives-of-nyc-back-to-high.html) - Tuesday night's episode opened with another meeting for Jill's charity, Creaky Joints. The producers at Bravo decide to throw Kelly a bone instead of under the (school) bus and portray her as a saint when she pulls a bunch of high-end donations out of her ass makes several contributions to the silent auction, including a
- [I So Needed This Today](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/04/i-so-needed-this-today.html) - Dispatches from the islandAndria and Co. Dispatches from the island is Jorge Garcia's blog. He plays Hurley on Lost which is my favorite show of all time (his blog is awesome too). I'm not expecting him to get very jazzed about my bestowing this award on him (or even acknowledging it if I'm being realistic),
- [I Practice Rock Band Instead of Yoga](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/04/i-practice-rock-band-instead-of-yoga.html) - When the offspring started school last fall I decided I would start attending yoga class with Amy. I tend to be a bit high-strung, and hyper, and thought yoga might chill me out a little. I'd always been a cardio queen and I thought practicing yoga would be a healthy alternative to banging away on
- [Really Mother Nature?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/04/really-mother-nature.html)
- [Get Over Yourself Kelly Killoren Bensimon](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/get-over-yourself-kelly-killoren.html) - Last night's episode of The Real Housewives of New York City began with Ramona inviting Kelly to attend the Badgley Mischka fashion show with her. While they were waiting for the show to begin, Kelly complained to Ramona that Bethenny had insulted her during the meeting for Jill's charity by referring to Kelly as "Madonna."
- [The Purse Post](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/purse-post.html) - Missy recently tagged me to write a post about the contents of my purse. I just met Missy and I like her even though she's a Cyclone and I'm a Hawkeye. I'm wondering if Missy realizes just how much I've posted about a certain purse on this blog, namely the Dooney and Bourke medium Chiara
- [Hey, this post is kind of special](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/hey-this-post-is-kind-of-special.html) - Because it's my 100th post since I started blogging on November 6, 2008. I'd like to thank several people for being so supportive of my efforts especially Tom, Amy, Stef, Dave, Stefanie, and Trish since they were the ones I forced to read my first blog entries and demanded they "tell me if I'm funny."
- [Yes, Fargo, you have a problem](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/yes-fargo-you-have-problem.html) - But you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. I’m not trying to be unsympathetic. However, I live in a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa and having experienced first hand the floods of 1993, which were among the most costly and devastating ever to occur in the United States, I think I know what I’m talking about. Yes,
- [Tracey's shit list](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/traceys-shit-list.html) - 1. Chloe. Please be advised that when your barking awakens everyone in the house at 5:11 AM it falls under my job description to get up and investigate. Discovering our neighbor’s dog (think huge, slobbering, and looks like it should have a keg of brandy around its neck) unleashed and sitting creepily in their front
- [McDonald's Monday](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/mcdonald.html) - Yesterday was McDonald’s Monday at our house. Lauren has tap and ballet after school and by the time we get home an hour later, the offspring are threatening to gnaw off their own arms unless I produce dinner immediately. A quick detour through the McDonald’s drive thru after dance class is a convenient and fast
- [Mars and Venus in High Def](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/mars-and-venus-in-hdtv.html) - Hey, guys? Your obsession with HDTV? Yeah, I don’t get it. Last night we went over to dad and Debby’s for dinner and we were watching TV in the basement after we finished eating. My dad’s television is a ridiculous seventy inches. It’s so big that when he first got it, I asked him if
- [An attitude of gratitude](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/attitude-of-gratitude.html) - I’m not sure how it happened but I’ve kinda been cyber-stalking Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore. I follow them on Twitter @aplusk and @mrskutcher. They post a lot of tweets and even though they’re only 140 characters long, I’ve noticed that they are often very positive and have an enlightening spiritual vibe. They seem like
- [Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/sometimes-my-mind-plays-tricks-on-me.html) - The other day, the offspring and I went to the library. I came home with seven books, three of which I’d already read. Dave doesn’t understand why I do this. Sometimes I like a book so much I want to read it again, especially if it’s been a while. And I’m trying not to buy
- [I'd like to dedicate this post to Kristi](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/id-like-to-dedicate-this-post-to-kristi.html) - We had a great time yesterday! It was beautiful here in Iowa and warm enough for flip flops and short sleeves. Our home was invaded by leprechauns and Matthew is having a hard time adjusting to the fact that they've gone away for another year. Tom and Amy, Trish, and Kristi joined us for an
- [Happy St. Patrick's Day](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/happy-st-patricks-day.html) - "My mommy was busy making potato soup and the leprechauns got me!"
- [The leprechauns are coming! The leprechauns are coming!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/leprechauns-are-coming-leprechauns-are.html) - St. Patrick's Day is a big deal in our house. It shouldn't be, because we're not Irish, but I don't know anyone who gets more excited than we do about leprechauns. About four years ago, we started telling the offspring that if you believe in leprechauns, they'll visit your house on St. Patrick's Day. We
- [Guess What?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/guess-what.html) - I lost another 1.8 lbs. when I weighed in at Weight Watchers today. Yay! I've lost 20.8 lbs. so far which means I'm getting close to my goal of losing 25. I've also dropped two jeans sizes. Yay! Yay! Yay! When I reach my goal I'm going to celebrate with crack dip and a cosmopolitan
- [The Real Housewives of NYC](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/real-housewives-of-nyc.html) - Last night was a double header of guilty-pleasure TV viewing at my house. First we watched American Idol and Dave mentioned, like he does every single time we watch this show, how much he can’t stand Ryan Seacrest, especially his voice. Dave doesn’t like anything about Ryan and thinks he’s really short. I don’t have
- [Sometimes I miss the mix tape](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/sometimes-i-miss-mix-tape.html) - Trish and I shared a bedroom until we were fourteen years old. We had bunk beds and a clock radio that we left on constantly, even when we were asleep. If we wanted to record a song off the radio, Trish and I would hold a tape recorder, the kind with an attached microphone, up
- [Seriously, like a bull in a china shop](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/seriously-like-bull-in-china-shop.html) - You know how I was saying that the vase I bought at Pier 1 was going to require moving all the home accessories on my main floor around? I wasn't kidding. Our house is in shambles right now. Everything that used to be on a shelf or table in the family room is now piled
- [A rant about people I don't actually know](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/rant-about-people-i-dont-actually-know.html) - I heard on the news (OK, fine, I read it on People.com) that Rihanna is back together with Chris Brown. Really Rihanna? Seriously? I’m amazed that someone as beautiful and talented as Rihanna would even consider taking back an abusive boyfriend. What is it that Chris Brown has, that makes her want to return to
- [My Review of Slumdog Millionaire](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/my-review-of-slumdog-millionaire.html) - As some of you know, I had reservations about seeing the movie Slumdog Millionaire because I wasn’t sure I could handle the violence and disturbing images. I was practically stopping strangers on the street, begging for spoilers so I could prepare myself for anything that might have a profoundly negative effect on me. Kristi talked
- [Cupcakes, Vases, Birds, and Bees](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/03/cupcakes-vases-birds-and-bees.html) - My alarm goes off every weekday morning at 6:30 AM. I get up and let Chloe out and then I pour the first of eight cups of coffee (with a little soy milk) and sit down on the couch to watch the local news. Here in Iowa, our weather changes so fast, that I like
- [Smoke 'em if you've got 'em](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/smoke-em-if-youve-got-em.html) - One weekend in 1987, when I was still attending the University of Iowa, I decided to go visit Stacy and Lisa at Iowa State University for VEISHA. VEISHA is an annual weeklong celebration held each spring on Iowa State’s campus. There’s a parade and open house demonstrations of university facilities and departments. The acronym VEISHA
- [If you have an opinion, will you share it?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/if-you-have-opinion-will-you-share-it.html) - Has anyone seen Slumdog Millionaire? Dave and I have a babysitter for Saturday night and we were firming up some plans on the phone this afternoon. Dave asked, "What are we doing again?" And I said, "well, you wanted to go see Slumdog Millionaire so why don't we go to the movie and then go
- [Let's Ask Tracey More Stuff!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/lets-ask-tracey-more-stuff.html) - Once again, totally fictitious answers to totally fictitious problems from totally fictitious people I don’t know because they're make believe. Dear Tracey, My husband and I recently moved into a new home. The next door neighbors brought us a pie and introduced themselves. They seemed nice enough and they have children the same age as
- [You're going to want to make this dip](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/youre-going-to-want-to-make-this-dip.html) - My neighbor Wendy gave me an awesome recipe for habanero and roasted pineapple dip. I know. It sounds gross. But it’s not. It’s so not gross that I have re-named it Wendy’s crack dip. Every neighbor in the ‘hood knows what I’m talking about when I’m say I’m bringing crack dip whenever we’re having a
- [Don't be jealous of my W-2](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/dont-be-jealous-of-my-w-2.html) - I’ll always remember 2008/2009 as the “maybe Dave’s getting laid off years.” When your household only has one income, the possibility of that income going poof can be quite unsettling. And it’s not like I’m kicking anything in to pay the bills. I have the coolest job in the world, as a stay at home
- [Tweet Tweet](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/tweet-tweet.html) - I'm on Twitter. I don't know how it works. Kind of like when I first joined Facebook and had no cool applications. I'm stalking Ashton Kutcher @aplusk. He's an Iowa boy. My tweets are boring. Do I need to spend more time on the Internet than I already do? Probably not. If you are a
- [Guess what I'm thinkin' 'bout drinkin' tonight](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/guess-what-im-thinkin-bout-drinkin.html) - Just kidding! Well, I'm still planning on wine but not that bottle and not out of that glass!
- [I was cool with everything but the spiders](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/i-was-cool-with-everything-but-spiders.html) - (click on photos to enlarge) There’s some land in rural Iowa that’s been in my family for as long as I can remember. It’s been handed down from my grandparents to my dad and now to my brother Georgie. He and his wife Stefanie live there in a house they built. It’s a beautiful place
- [](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/as-of-this-morning-ive-lost-17.html) - If you click on the picture you can see the Weight Watchers sign near the top of this building. This is where I weigh in every Thursday morning and as of today, I'm down 17.4 lbs. Put that in your cone and LICK IT Baskin Robbins! Ha!
- [Valentine's Day, Dave and Tracey Style](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/this-is-what-happens-when-you-dont-have.html) - For the first Valentine’s Day Dave and I celebrated as a couple, Dave sent flowers to me at work. When the receptionist called to tell me she had a delivery for me I was thrilled because Dave and I had only been dating a few months and I wasn’t sure if he was going to
- [100 more things](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/100-more-things.html) - Keri in MA recently tagged me in her note 25 random things on Facebook. I enjoyed coming up with my own 25 things so much I thought I’d write a new list and try to come up with 100 more things. Here they are: 100. Trish is five minutes older than me.99. My parents went
- [Psst, Cupid](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/psst-cupid.html) - Dear dude with the arrows, I need a favor. My sister Trish had a date last Friday with a guy named Ian. She met him on match.com and discovered he was just as attractive in person as his profile picture promised. He was also really nice and he and Trish had a lot in common.
- [The Marble Jar Method, Is It Working?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/marble-jar-method-is-it-working.html) - Recently I wrote about a positive behavior reinforcement method I implemented to help me manipulate my devil’s spawn offspring into listening to me and doing what I wanted. I am pleased to announce that the marble jar method, when executed properly, will absolutely allow you to modify and/or eliminate the undesirable behavior of anyone participating.
- [Farewell Top Nails](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/farewell-top-nails.html) - I decided to break up with my Top Nails boyfriend today. I needed to have my pink and white artificial solar nails filled again and I could not bear the thought of sitting across from him for an hour while he touched me with his clammy hands and tried to speak to me in Mandarin.
- [Sometimes You Have to Take a Detour](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/sometimes-you-have-to-take-detour.html) - In the spring of 1988, I dropped out of the University of Iowa and moved home to Des Moines to take a job at my dad’s motorcycle dealership selling extended warranties and insurance. In addition to providing me with an all expenses paid, albeit temporarily incomplete, college education, and now a job, my dad also
- [These boots are made for walkin'](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/these-boots-are-made-for-walkin.html) - Here is your mission should you choose to accept it: You have 24 hours to find a pair of size six snow boots for a nine and a half year old boy. Good luck. You are going to need it. Probably you should just blow off this mission and go to a bar. It’s impossible.
- [The Real Housewives](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/real-housewives.html) - I know I said I was not going to watch those attention whores out in Orange County anymore but I lied. Maybe I need some kind of twelve-step program or support group to wean myself off this producer manipulated and highly edited reality piece of crap. Every time I watch it, I feel myself getting
- [I can see clearly now](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/i-can-see-clearly-now.html) - Two years ago this month I had LASIK eye surgery at the Wolfe Clinic. It was a life changing procedure and I cannot believe I waited so long to have it done. However, I do live in fear that some day in the future I’ll wake up and be blind like Ned Flanders in that
- [I Heart Phil](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/i-heart-phil.html) - Punxsutawney Phil is totally my homeboy. The world’s most famous groundhog saw his shadow yesterday thus predicting six more weeks of winter. Yay for me, boo for you! I love winter. I do not have a problem with things like ground blizzards, ice storms, and major winter events that might dump 10 inches of snow
- [I don't know what happened to my paragraphs](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/i-dont-know-what-happened-to-my.html) - I am having a few technical difficulties with The Psychic Party post and nothing is in paragraph format toward the end. I'm pretty sure it's my fault and I keep getting a message from Blogger.com that saving and publishing may fail. I'm getting off this blog now before it explodes and I lose all my
- [The Psychic Party](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/02/psychic-party.html) - First things first. Our digital camera sucks. Or the shutterbug who took most of the pictures at Saturday night's psychic party drank a lot. Either way, I have only a handful of pictures that aren't blurry. If you're one of my Facebook friends you can see more snapshots from the party on my profile page
- [Weigh in, highlights, and psychics](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/weigh-in-highlights-and-psychics.html) - I weighed in at Weight Watchers yesterday and was happy to find that even after exceeding my allotted points for the week, I still lost .8 pounds. I didn’t think that was too bad considering I allowed myself to have dinner from Macaroni Grill on my birthday and I ate pasta and bread. I actually
- [The Dating Game, the Sequel](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/dating-game-sequel.html) - Trish thinks dating all the men she’s met on match.com is like another full time job. She also thinks she’s wasting her time because she hasn’t been on a date with anyone she’s interested in going out with again. Trish had a few good dates with a guy who showed promise. He called her at
- [I get by with a little help from my friends](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/i-get-by-with-little-help-from-my.html) - I went to the doctor yesterday. Since we also needed cocoa puffs and toilet paper I decided to play medical roulette by going to the urgent care clinic conveniently located inside my neighborhood grocery store. I wasn’t really that sick. I’ve been working out and generally going about my business but the cold I got
- [The Marble Jar](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/marble-jar.html) - No one is listening to me in this house. Matthew and Lauren don’t hear me until I start yelling. Dave can’t hear me because he’s from Mars. In an attempt to shamelessly manipulate everyone into actually listening to what I’m saying (and it’s not blah, blah, blah people) I have decided to employ the marble
- [SOS](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/sos.html) - Our friends Tom and Amy bought a pontoon boat a couple years ago and we affectionately refer to it as the party barge. As an Aquarian, I love being on the water and have no trouble whoring myself out to anyone who owns a boat. I don’t barter with sexual favors but rather my ability
- [I'm too lazy (hungover) to think of a title for this blog post](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/im-too-lazy-hungover-to-think-of-title.html) - She’s forty-one and her daddy still calls her “baby“,All the folks ‘round Brownsville say she’s crazy,‘Cause she walks downtown with her suitcase in her hand,Lookin’ for a mysterious dark- haired ---Helen Reddy, Delta Dawn As of today I’m no longer 41. And my dad calls me honey, not baby, and has for as long as
- [Tips and Toes](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/tips-and.html) - I kicked off the “all about Tracey” birthday weekend at the nail salon today. When I walked in I saw that the tibia crushing sadist was already manhandling another woman so I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about spending my birthday on crutches. I was in dire need of a pedicure because I never
- [I'm just getting so teeny tiny](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/im-just-getting-so-teeny-tiny.html) - I weighed in at Weight Watchers this morning and was pleasantly surprised to discover that 1.8 more pounds of me have gone poof. I wasn’t sure what to expect because I’m currently masquerading as the poster girl for PMS and I wasn’t sure if that would be reflected on the scale. I had to stand
- [It's my blog and I'll write if I want to](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/its-my-blog-and-ill-write-if-i-want-to.html) - My sister in law Stefanie sent me an e-mail the other day letting me know she left a comment on my blog. She mentioned she had never heard the adult diaper story and thought it was funny. She said she hoped Debby never got a hold of my blog because if she did, she’d need
- [Must Love Dogs](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/must-love-dogs.html) - Lauren and I went to see Hotel for Dogs on Sunday afternoon. Dave and Matthew thought Paul Blart: Mall Cop was more their style so we split up after lunch at Champps (where all the waitresses had Amy Winehouse beehives for some reason. Amy Winehouse is totally fugly so either I’m getting really effing old
- [Tracey is having a birthday!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/t.html) - Dear David, There are only 6 shopping days left until I turn 42. Though you probably won’t go near a mall until the day before my birthday, I’ve compiled a list of things I would enjoy receiving from you (in case you want to start shopping early). 1. The Dooney and Bourke medium chiara bag
- [Don't hate me because I'm so skinny](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/dont-hate-me-because-im-so-skinny.html) - Today was my first Weight Watchers weigh in of 2009. I last weighed in on Christmas Eve day and even though I faithfully followed the program almost the entire month of December, I decided to take a hiatus from WW on December 27th when we shipped the offspring off to their grandparents for three days.
- [Oops, we peed our pants](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/oops-we-peed-our-pants.html) - Dave and I have an almost uncanny ability to align ourselves with people who own lake houses (it’s a gift really). We’re lucky the people who own the homes are such great friends and that they keep inviting us for the weekend. We’ve had a lot of fun, and some very memorable experiences with them.
- [All about my music](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/all-about-my-music.html) - Santa brought me a new ipod for Christmas and I’ve been spending a lot of time walking around with my ear buds in (mostly to drown out the sound of the offspring fighting and saying my name repeatedly). I used to have a shuffle that I really liked because when I worked out I could
- [The Dating Game](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/dating-game.html) - Trish has recently joined Match.com and she’s finding the world of online dating very entertaining. She sends me all kinds of e-mails with responses from various men who have checked out her profile and sent her a message. I’m not sure how I got sucked into the clusterfuck that is her dating pool but since
- [So you think you can dance?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/so-you-think-you-can-dance.html) - I went to a Body Jam class at the Y this morning. I didn’t know what to expect since I haven’t taken an aerobics class since the early 90’s. My cardio workouts are of the solitary kind these days but since I had such a good experience in a group environment on Monday, I was
- [A family dinner, hibachi style](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/family-dinner-hibachi-style.html) - The other night Dave and I decided to go out for a family dinner. I wanted sushi but Dave and the offspring wanted chicken or steak so we decided to try a new restaurant that just opened by Jordan Creek Mall called Samurai Sushi and Hibachi since we figured they’d have something for everyone. I
- [Resolutions and Routines](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/resolutions-and-routines.html) - The offspring headed back to school and Dave went back to work today. Thank God! It’s nice and quiet here at home which is the way mama likes it. Now I just need to get back into my normal routine, the one that doesn’t include daily trips to the wine aisle at Dahl’s and 4
- [Trish and Kristi make a mess](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/trish-and-kristi-make-mess.html) - Remember in college when you used to go to the bar and they had dime draws or ladies night or some other special and you would drink so much cheap beer you’d puke your guts out in the bathroom and one of your friends would be in charge of cleaning you up and making sure
- [Dish and Bean](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/posts.html) - Trish and Kristi came over last night.
- [Just ask Dixie](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/just-ask-dixie.html) - I’m having a psychic party at the end of the month. I’m inviting 15 girlfriends over for wine and a peek at their future. Some of the girls I invite will be skeptical. Some will be too afraid of what they might find out. But I think the girls who came to my last psychic
- [Happy New Year!!!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2009/01/happy-new-year.html) - I'd like to dedicate this post to all my wonderful friends, especially the ones that called and/or texted me last night when they were totally shitfaced. Here are a few of my favorites. Happy New Year Trish and Kristi! I received your completely incoherent gibberish filled voice mail when I finally checked my messages this
- [In 2009 I will NOT](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/12/in-2009-i-will-not.html) - Scream really loud when Dave is about to hit another car because it drives him nuts. Be super pissed at Dave for not answering his Blackberry, not knowing where it is, or not taking it off vibe so he can hear it ringing when I’m calling him. Fight with Trish like we are 13 years
- [Would you bite me, Edward Cullen?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/12/would-you-bite-me-edward-cullen.html) - I’ve got it bad for the vamps. I wish they were real. They’re gorgeous. And strong. And fast. A vampire is the ultimate bad boy. Yes, technically one could snap my neck like a twig or drain me of all my blood but those are just RANDOM DETAILS I’m not concerned with. Because lately I
- [You! Suck! Santa!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/12/you-suck-santa.html) - Santa Claus is one big, fat, mean, purse-teasing sack of crap. There was no Dooney and Bourke medium chiara bag in black leather under the tree this morning but you can bet your ass all the cookies I left out for him were gone. I have coveted that purse since last spring and I STILL
- [The Real Housewives of Orange County](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/12/real-housewives-of-orange-county.html) - Last night’s episode of the Real Housewives of Orange County began with Tamra and Vicki, and their families, preparing for a day on the river at Vicki’s vacation home in Lake Havasu to celebrate the fourth of July. The overall theme of the day was partying and Vicki and Tamra wasted no time in getting
- [](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/12/posts.html) - The offspring are driving me bat shit crazy and I have no idea how I will survive until January 5th when they go back to school. At this point I will be happy to make it to December 26th when we ship them off to their grandparent’s for three days. This is what I envisioned
- [Tales about my nails](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/12/tales-about-my-nails.html) - I went to the nail salon today to get my fake fingernails filled and all the dead skin scraped off my heels before Christmas. There were only 3 technicians working when I walked in, two women and one man. The girl behind the counter told me to sit down and since one of the women
- [I'm such a loser!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/12/im-such-loser.html) - I went to my second Weight Watchers weigh in today and I’ve lost another 2 lbs. I was pretty confident the scale would show a loss because the chest strap on my heart rate monitor had to be tightened this week (which means my boobs are already shrinking) but my ass is exactly the same
- [Watch out for werewolves, and me](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/12/watch-out-for-werewolves-and-me.html) - According to the MSN homepage, the full moon tonight will be the biggest one of the year as Earth's natural satellite reaches its closest point to our planet. The moon will rise this evening around sunset, no matter where you are. Yay! A loophole to explain my vile behavior this week. I have the most
- [Help, I'm fading away........](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/12/i-had-my-first-weigh-in-at-weight.html) - I had my first weigh in at Weight Watchers and I’m proud to announce that there is now 3.8 lbs. less of me. I stayed within my points range and still had enough of my weekly points allowance left to use on an entire bottle of cabernet sauvignon, even though that SLIGHTLY exceeds the WW
- [In case you'd like to buy me a gift](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/12/in-case-youd-like-to-buy-me-gift.html) - Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittensBright copper kettles and warm woolen mittensBrown paper packages tied up with stringHere are a few of MY favorite things The wine aisle at Dahl’sAll day KindergartenTom and Amy’s lake houseTom and Amy’s pontoon boatTom and Amy’s wave runnerTom and Amy (yes they’re PEOPLE but they own a bunch
- [Everyone please get out of my way](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/12/everyone-please-get-out-of-my-way.html) - Amy was telling me the other night that she and her mom went to Kohl’s and Target and both stores were packed with holiday shoppers. Then she proceeded to tell me she and her mom kind of LIKED it that way and didn’t mind the Christmas crowds. I think they both had a big fucking
- [Trish is leavin' on a jet plane](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/12/trish-is-leavin-on-jet-plane.html) - My sister is flying to Austin today to stay with Stacy over the weekend before continuing on to Phoenix for a work training session. I’m a little nervous about her flying, not because I think the plane will crash but because Trish has had some ISSUES with flying in general and the TSA folks in
- [There's more of me to love right now](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/12/theres-more-of-me-to-love-right-now.html) - Recently I noticed that a lot of the clothes in my closet have mysteriously shrunk. At first I blamed our dryer but when I realized no one else in my house was complaining it became obvious that my clothes weren’t getting smaller. I was getting bigger. I didn’t want to confront the problem because I
- [Ladies, start your engines!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/12/ladies-start-your-engines.html) - Hallelujah! The holiday drinking season is firmly underway. Actually I started indulging last week but that’s mostly because the offspring got 5 days off from school for Thanksgiving and drove me to drink within the first 12 hours they were home. And although I often portray myself as a total alcoholic on this blog, I
- [Are you there Santa? It's me, Tracey](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/12/are-you-there-santa-its-me-tracey.html) - Dear Santa, Happy holidays! I was wondering if you could check your “list” for the name of a certain midwestern housewife. Though you did not bring me anything last year I think you’ll agree that I have most of my behavioral issues under control. I have been such a good housewife. I have not insulted
- [What's cookin'?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/12/whats-cookin.html) - Think you’re a foodie? Take a quiz and prove it.I saw that on the MSN home page the day after Thanksgiving, and being the food snob that I am, I absolutely had to play. I clicked on the link and discovered the All About Food trivia game. While Dave was doing all the shit work
- [Go ahead, ask me how I am](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/11/go-ahead-ask-me-how-i-am.html) - Dave and I recently made some changes to our life insurance policy after I figured out that it was the WORST POLICY EVER. We actually purchased it as a supplement 10 years ago when I was pregnant with Matthew but now, after some improvements, it has become our primary policy. Our agent came to the
- [How Clean is Your House?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/11/how-clean-is-your-house.html) - The other day I was watching T.V. and thought I’d stop by my new favorite channel, BBC AMERICA. I came across a show called How Clean is Your House. I was almost afraid to watch but since I had already viewed all my DVR’s cache of The Real Housewives of Atlanta I decided to see
- [Twilight!!!!!!!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/11/twilight.html) - Yay! The Twilight movie opens today and Amy and I are channeling our thirteen-year-old selves by being two of the first to see it. Betcha all the teenage girls stuck in school today are JEALOUS. I love, love, love the Twilight series. I introduced Amy and Kathleen to the Stephenie Meyer books and we all
- [We had a little fire](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/11/we-had-little-fire.html) - When Matthew was 14 months old we were getting ready to go somewhere and I wanted him to let me put on his shoes. He had other ideas and decided to make “putting on our shoes” a battle. A battle I would win. Surely a toddler was no match for mommy and if I wanted
- [Maybe Chloe had a headache](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/11/maybe-chloe-had-headache.html) - When I walked into the house this morning after dropping Lauren off at school, I thought it was strange that Chloe did not meet me at the door. Usually she comes tearing around the corner and starts jumping on me like she hasn’t seen me for days. I called her name and when she didn’t
- [Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/11/fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la.html) - Dear Jordan Creek Mall kiosk employee, Happy Holidays! I was enjoying a stroll through your lovely mall with a friend of mine the other day and feel compelled to discuss a few things with you. Firstly, while I am totally aware that you may have been presented with some pretty challenging sales goals, I must
- [The House On The Corner](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/11/house-on-corner.html) - Dave and I built our house in the ‘hood about three years ago. There were a few families already living here but mostly there were empty lots. Luckily most of those lots now have houses sitting on them and we are close to being done with all this construction nonsense. It’s something all of us
- [Entrepreneurs or we have a drinking problem? You decide](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/11/entrepreneurs-or-we-have-drinking.html) - Last Saturday our good friends Tom and Amy and their kids came over for one of our bi-monthly get togethers. The kids are always happy because we pretty much give them whatever they want and we adults get to drink as much wine as we can hold. For a while Matthew was collecting corks but
- [Mama's going back to work (maybe)](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/11/mamas-going-back-to-work-maybe-im.html) - I’m thinking about getting a job”, I told Dave.“Why do you want to get a job?” he asked.“Uh, because we keep discussing how thanks to this shitty economy you may lose yours. And because they’ve already laid off 45 people in your department. And they’ve taken away your holiday gift boxes, summer ticket to fun,
- [The Real Housewives of Atlanta](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/11/real-housewives-of-atlanta.html) - During yesterday’s sloth fest I had the opportunity to watch one of my very favorite reality shows that I DVR’d on Tuesday, The Real Housewives of Atlanta or as I like to call that whole franchise, The Real Housewives of Crack Whore County. I don’t even know where to start. And I beg of you,
- [My Funky Toenail, Part I](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/11/my-funky-toenail.html) - “I think there’s something wrong with my toenail,” I whisper to Dave. I’m sitting on the couch 17 months pregnant contemplating my horrendous lack of pedicure ( which is second only to my overgrown bikini area that resulted in Dave pointing and shouting “oh my God!” when I was walking around in my maternity underwear).
- [Don't hate me because I'm lazy](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2008/11/dont-hate-me-because-im-lazy.html) - My motivation and efficiency is at an all time low. How is it that I get less done now, with both kids in school, then I did when I had a toddler and a newborn clinging to me for the better part of a day? I could nurse my daughter on my left boob, turn

## Pages

- [About Tracey Garvis Graves](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/about-me) - Tracey Garvis Graves Bio Tracey Garvis Graves is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and international bestselling author of contemporary fiction. Her debut novel, On the Island, spent 9 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, has been translated into thirty-six languages, and is in development with MGM and Temple Hill Productions
- [sidebar buy now](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/sidebar-buynow) - Buy Now! HEARD IT IN A LOVE SONG Pre-order Kindle Barnes & Noble (to come) Books A Million IndieBound Kobo Google Play Apple THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW Kindle B&N BAM IndieBound Kobo Google Play iBooks WHITE-HOT HACK Amazon Barnes & Noble Apple Kobo HEART-SHAPED HACK Amazon Barnes & Noble Apple Kobo CHERISH
- [Contact Tracey Garvis Graves](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/contact-info) - Contact Me My preferred method of contact is via email. I can be reached at traceygarvisgraves@gmail.com. To reach me by regular mail, please send your correspondence to PO Box 35092, Des Moines, Iowa 50315.
- [Events/Appearances for Tracey Garvis Graves](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/events-appearances-tracey-garvis-graves) - Upcoming Events Tuesday, March 26th, 2024, 11:00 a.m. CST – LAUNCH DAY! LIVE IN-STUDIO EVENT HELLO IOWA – WHO TV CHANNEL 13 In conversation with host Megan Reuther to discuss the launch of Tracey’s new novel, The Trail of Lost Hearts. https://who13.com/helloiowa/ Tuesday, March 26th, 2024, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. CST – LAUNCH DAY!
- [Signed Paperbacks](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/signed-paperback-books) - If you\'d like to purchase a signed paperback edition of any of my books, you\'ve come to the right place!
- [Books by Tracey Garvis Graves](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/best-selling-author-books) - The Trail of Lost Hearts New York Times bestselling author Tracey Garvis Graves takes readers on a life affirming journey, where two lost souls find the unexpected courage to love again. Thirty-four-year-old Wren Waters believes that if you pay attention, the universe will send you exactly what you need. But her worldview shatters when the
- [](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/2226-2) - Buy Now! HEARD IT IN A LOVE SONG Pre-order Kindle Barnes & Noble (to come) Books A Million IndieBound Kobo Google Play Apple HEARD IT IN A LOVE SONG Pre-order Kindle Barnes & Noble (to come) Books A Million IndieBound Kobo Google Play Apple Share this: Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share
- [The Girls Are Back in Town Event Pre-Order](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/the-girls-are-back-in-town-pre-order) - Tracey Garvis Graves Pre-Order Books for The Girls Are Back in Town Signing June 22, 2019 $13 $13 $13 $7 $13 $12 $7
- [FAQs - Tracey Garvis Graves](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/frequently-asked-questions-faqs) - FAQs General FAQs Interview/guest post requests/book clubs/and personal appearances FAQ Charitable donations and giveaways FAQs General FAQs Will you read my book if I send you a copy? I love reading, and I would love to read every book that is offered, but my TBR pile is in serious danger of toppling over. I also
- [Thank you for Pre-Order](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/thank-you-for-pre-order) - Thank You for Pre-Ordering your book(s)! See you on June 25th in Des Moines!
- [Thank You](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/thank-you) - Thank You! Thank you for purchasing signed books(s)! Books should arrive in about 7-10 days for US and 2+ weeks for international. Please contact me at tracey@traceygarvisgraves.com if you do not receive your order.
- [Tracey Garvis Graves Self-publishing Story](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/my-self-publishing-story) - My Self-publishing Story Coming Soon!
- [Tracey Garvis Graves Photo Gallery](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/photo-gallery) - Photo Gallery Coming Soon!
- [Tracey Garvis Graves Official Website](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/home) - Tracey Garvis Graves Author of the USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times bestseller On the Island. Represented by Jane Dystel and Lauren Abramo of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. Tracey Garvis Graves is a Mommy, a blogger, a wine drinker and a writer. Tracey lives in a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa
- [Tracey Garvis Graves Personal Story](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tracey-garvis-graves-personal-story) - Tracey Garvis Graves Author of the USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times bestseller On the Island. Represented by Jane Dystel and Lauren Abramo of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. Tracey Garvis Graves is a Mommy, a blogger, a wine drinker and a writer. Tracey lives in a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa
- [Recipes Enjoyed by Tracey Garvis Graves](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/recipes) - Recipes Recommended by Tracey Crack Dip 1 jar of Roasted Pineapple & Habanero Dip - no longer at Target, but you can buy it here. 2 – 8 oz. bricks of cream cheese (lowfat is okay, but please do not use the fat free crap). The cream cheese should be left out to soften for

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- [Blogs](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/blogs)
- [Book Club](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/book-club)
- [It's all about the readers](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/its-all-about-the-readers)
- [Advice For Newbies](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/advice-for-newbies)
- [Reader questions](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/reader-questions)
- [Urban Fantasy](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/urban-fantasy)
- [My Homegirl](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/my-homegirl)
- [Shades of Gray](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/shades-of-gray)
- [Amanda Bonilla](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/amanda-bonilla)
- [Unscientific Advice](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/unscientific-advice)
- [Kashi](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/kashi)
- [Weight loss](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/weight-loss)
- [Holy shit](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/holy-shit)
- [Bestseller lists](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/bestseller-lists)
- [OMG](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/omg)
- [cheese balls](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/cheese-balls)
- [Work shenanigans](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/work-shenanigans)
- [Winners](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/winners)
- [Paperback](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/paperback)
- [reviews](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/reviews)
- [No Mountain High Enough](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/no-mountain-high-enough)
- [new books](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/new-books)
- [Book covers](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/book-covers)
- [Writers are awesome](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/writers-are-awesome)
- [Sharing the love](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/sharing-the-love)
- [Magic and Mayhem](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/magic-and-mayhem)
- ['hood happenings](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/hood-happenings)
- [my mailman has a substance abuse problem](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/my-mailman-has-a-substance-abuse-problem)
- [Launch Party](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/launch-party)
- [Playlists](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/playlists)
- [Novel](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/novel)
- [Book Cover](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/book-cover)
- [Hillybilly Handfishin'](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/hillybilly-handfishin)
- [fishhooks and fuckups](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/fishhooks-and-fuckups)
- [Reality TV](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/reality-tv)
- [noodling](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/noodling)
- [Dysfunctional Advice Column](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/dysfunctional-advice-column)
- [No Time To Write Something New](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/no-time-to-write-something-new)
- [Stuff I Already Posted](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/stuff-i-already-posted)
- [My precious Lauren P.](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/my-precious-lauren-p)
- [kids are expensive](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/kids-are-expensive)
- [I need to win the lottery](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/i-need-to-win-the-lottery)
- [Marriage](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/marriage)
- [Confessions](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/confessions)
- [Dave and Tracey](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/dave-and-tracey)
- [New book](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/new-book)
- [Shiny New Ideas](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/shiny-new-ideas)
- [funny in the 'hood is gainfully employed](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/funny-in-the-hood-is-gainfully-employed)
- [Vamps](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/vamps)
- [Dave thinks we live in the garage](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/dave-thinks-we-live-in-the-garage)
- [not in Tracey land](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/not-in-tracey-land)
- [I'm a fibber](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/im-a-fibber)
- [What If I Suck?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/what-if-i-suck)
- [So You Want To Be A Writer](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/so-you-want-to-be-a-writer)
- [Blowing Off Posting](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/blowing-off-posting)
- [yay me](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/yay-me)
- [I typed THE END](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/i-typed-the-end)
- [Liquor May Have Been Involved](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/liquor-may-have-been-involved)
- [Twins](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/twins)
- [Holidays and hangovers](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/holidays-and-hangovers)
- [it's almost done](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/its-almost-done)
- [Oh](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/oh)
- [Revisions](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/revisions)
- [God](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/god)
- [I No Longer Sleep](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/i-no-longer-sleep)
- [Second Drafts](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/second-drafts)
- [Trish](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/trish)
- [Sushi](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/sushi)
- [guest blogging](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/guest-blogging)
- [Drinking](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/drinking)
- [we're not identical you dumbass](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/were-not-identical-you-dumbass)
- [No](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/no)
- [Word Count](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/word-count)
- [First Drafts](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/first-drafts)
- [Shit That Really Pisses Me Off](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/shit-that-really-pisses-me-off)
- [family vacations](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/family-vacations)
- [We might be the Griswold's](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/we-might-be-the-griswolds)
- [the kids wouldn't stop fighting](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/the-kids-wouldnt-stop-fighting)
- [Shit Dave Says](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/shit-dave-says)
- [Shit Dave Does](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/shit-dave-does)
- [Blogging excuses](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/blogging-excuses)
- [Bloggy stuff](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/bloggy-stuff)
- [sorta like being published](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/sorta-like-being-published)
- [Are you shitting me?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/are-you-shitting-me)
- [Seriously?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/seriously)
- [WTF?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/wtf)
- [blogging buddies](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/blogging-buddies)
- [Entertaining](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/entertaining)
- [Google apps sucks](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/google-apps-sucks)
- [customer service clusterfucks](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/customer-service-clusterfucks)
- [Letters to Santa](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/letters-to-santa)
- [appliances](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/appliances)
- [moving to the 'hood](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/moving-to-the-hood)
- [Freaky coincidences](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/freaky-coincidences)
- [Fuck](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/fuck)
- [I Hate My Washer and Dryer](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/i-hate-my-washer-and-dryer)
- [Dave's Doing Laundry Again](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/daves-doing-laundry-again)
- [Can you believe this shit?](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/can-you-believe-this-shit)
- [My favorite posts](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/my-favorite-posts)
- [Shit lists](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/shit-lists)
- [All about Tracey](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/all-about-tracey)
- [TMI](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/tmi)
- [(non) Flashback Friday](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/non-flashback-friday)
- [The Dooney and Bourke](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/the-dooney-and-bourke)
- [Flashback Friday](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/flashback-friday)
- [The Real Housewives](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/the-real-housewives)
- [Daily life](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/daily-life)
- [Somebody Likes My Blog](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/somebody-likes-my-blog)
- [Tracey might be stupid and danger prone](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/tracey-might-be-stupid-and-danger-prone)
- [summer edition](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/summer-edition)
- [funny in the 'hood](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/funny-in-the-hood)
- [Wine Fueled Shenanigans](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/wine-fueled-shenanigans)
- [Nostalgia](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/nostalgia)
- [Shit I'm probably too old for](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/shit-im-probably-too-old-for)
- [We had it worse](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/we-had-it-worse)
- [Shit I don't understand](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/shit-i-dont-understand)
- [dude](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/dude)
- [Kristi](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/kristi)
- [Tracey gives her opinion](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/tracey-gives-her-opinion)
- [Tracey's reviews](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/traceys-reviews)
- [Stories my friends have already heard but you haven't](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/stories-my-friends-have-already-heard-but-you-havent)
- [Shit I totally made up](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/shit-i-totally-made-up)
- [My favorite places](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/my-favorite-places)
- [Tracey is vain](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/tracey-is-vain)
- [Parenting the offspring](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/parenting-the-offspring)
- [Tracey was a shallow idiot](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/tracey-was-a-shallow-idiot)
- [Tracey's procedures](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/traceys-procedures)
- [Tracey is weird](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/tracey-is-weird)
- [Tracey isn't technical](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/tracey-isnt-technical)
- [Chloe](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/chloe)
- [Tracey is immature](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/tracey-is-immature)
- [Dish and Bean](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/dish-and-bean)
- [Tracey is anal](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/tracey-is-anal)
- [Covet pub day! Trade Paperback](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/covet-pub-day-trade-paperback)
- [Every Time I Think of You](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/every-time-i-think-of-you)
- [Brooks and Daisy](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/brooks-and-daisy)
- [Patience Bloom](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/patience-bloom)
- [Romance](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/romance)
- [Contemporary Romance](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/contemporary-romance)
- [Action and Adventure](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/action-and-adventure)
- [WIP](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/wip)
- [Covet pub day! Giveaway](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/covet-pub-day-giveaway)
- [Book Trailer](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/book-trailer)
- [Romantic Suspense](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/romantic-suspense)
- [Special Announcement](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/special-announcement)
- [Every Time I Think of You paperback pre-order, Kindle Matchbook, Cherish cover reveal coming soon](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/every-time-i-think-of-you-paperback-pre-order-kindle-matchbook-cherish-cover-reveal-coming-soon)
- [Cherish](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/cherish)
- [New Release](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/new-release)
- [Pre-Order Links](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/pre-order-links)
- [Heart-Shaped Hack](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/heart-shaped-hack)
- [White-Hot Hack](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/white-hot-hack)
- [Kate and Ian series](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/kate-and-ian-series)
- [TGHUTK](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/tghutk)
- [The Girl He Used to Know](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/the-girl-he-used-to-know)
- [Heard It in a Love Song](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/heard-it-in-a-love-song)
- [The Trail of Lost Hearts](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/category/the-trail-of-lost-hearts)

## Tags

- [Pre-order](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/pre-order)
- [Second draft](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/second-draft)
- [contemporary romance](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/contemporary-romance-2)
- [revisions](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/revisions-2)
- [new book](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/new-book-2)
- [Heart-Shaped Hack cover reveal](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/heart-shaped-hack-cover-reveal)
- [Chapter Reveal](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/chapter-reveal)
- [Cherish](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/cherish)
- [Pre-Order Links](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/pre-order-links)
- [Heart-Shaped Hack](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/heart-shaped-hack)
- [TGHUTK](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/tghutk)
- [The Girl He Used to Know](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/the-girl-he-used-to-know)
- [Kirkus](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/kirkus)
- [Events and Appearances](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/events-and-appearances)
- [Chapter One](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/chapter-one)
- [BookBub](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/bookbub)
- [Christamore House Guild](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/christamore-house-guild)
- [The Girl He Used to Know Event](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/the-girl-he-used-to-know-event)
- [giveaway](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/giveaway)
- [Dream Cast](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/dream-cast)
- [Trade Paperback](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/trade-paperback)
- [Target Book Club Pick](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/target-book-club-pick)
- [Book #9](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/book-9)
- [Covet](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/covet)
- [Ebook sale](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/ebook-sale)
- [Heard It in a Love Song](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/heard-it-in-a-love-song)
- [Available Now!](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/available-now)
- [New Release](https://traceygarvisgraves.com/tag/new-release)