Pre-Grad & TMB Reviews

My Big Boy graduates from preschool today. Yes, I am wiping a tear, and yes, I know that's pathetic. But he's my baby. Okay, not so much a baby anymore at the ripe old age of five and a half. I'm continually astounded at how he is growing into such a handsome, gentle, intelligent young man. Yesterday we spent the afternoon and evening on 95 acres of gorgeous Iowa land with some friends of ours who are in the process of restoring it to original prairie and grasslands. (Think untouched beauty.) My Big Boy was in his glory, riding quads (4-wheelers for you Americans) through the hills and trees, and fishing on the pond. He caught a grand total of ten fish (mostly bullheads--yuck--but a few sunfish, too), roasted his own hot dog on the fire, and made his mommy's chest hurt every time she looked at him. Oh, time flies.

Anyway, I don't have time to blog today (graduation is in 1/2 an hour!), but I wanted to leave you with a few recent reviews of The Moment Between. Enjoy!

From Rel Mollet at Title Trakk:

Nicole expresses the gamut of human emotion with tenderness and lyrical artistry with sentences like this commonplace, "The word snagged on an exposed corner of Abigail's carefully veiled heart and floated there, a balloon anchored by the sharp edge of her skepticism." As an artist wields a paintbrush, Nicole uses words to create an agonizingly beautiful picture of a broken mind struggling for freedom and the repercussions for those who choose to love through exquisite pain and sacrifice... To read the rest, click here.

From Katie at Brain Throw Up:

The story is rich in psychology, dealing with family dysfunction and the impact of mental illness. Nicole Baart's prose are captivating and beautiful, reading like poetry and gliding over the tongue like a fine wine, which is appropriate, as wine is used symbolically throughout the novel. The characters are deep, the plot is piercing, and the message is subtle, yet profound. If you are looking for a story that will stick with you long after you shut the book, this is a must read... To read the rest, click here.

Ten Years

Yesterday Aaron and I celebrated our ten-year anniversary. What is that? Gold? Diamonds? Paper? Ten and a half years ago when I was engaged to the man of my dreams and planning the wedding of my dreams, someone gave me a chart that explained what each anniversary meant and what we were supposed to give each other to celebrate it. Nah. That's not our style. Instead, we hired a babysitter and skipped town for the evening. We did shop a bit (Aaron found the white belt and flip-flops he had been hunting for, and I fell in love with a perfume called Sexy Little Things Noir--so I guess ten-years equals belts and perfume to the Baarts?), and then we went out for a three-hour supper overlooking the river. Baked shrimp with Havarti, pineapple glazed salmon, and cheesecake for dessert. It was perfect. We talked about books, work, our kids, and the highlights of our decade as man and wife. The birth of our son, traveling to Ethiopia to claim our second son, and buying our first house ranked high. But then, so did the Saturday morning tradition of our first year of marriage (Pillsbury cinnamon rolls in bed), the crappy apartment that we called home after we said "I do," and bumming on the couch in flannel pjs watching Hockey Night in Canada. Oh, life is sweet. Marriage is sweet. Here's to ten amazing years. May there be a hundred more.

Au Naturale

Aaron and I have a yearly goal: every year we choose one thing in our lives that we want to work on. At the beginning of our marriage we made a commitment to treat each other with the same kindness and patience we would offer a stranger (isn't it sad how we often forget to respect our loved ones with little common courtesies?). A few years ago we made a pact to give sacrificially of our money and resources. It hurt at first, but we're slowly getting to the point where we don't see our money, our possessions, or even our home as our own. And this year we've decided to take better care of ourselves and our family--by upping our activity, eating healthier, and going organic as much as possible.

I won't lie to you. It's hard. At 12:30 when my kids are hungry, tired, and more than ready for their afternoon nap, you can bet a box of Mac n' Cheese is the fastest and easiest way to pacify them. But have you ever looked at the so-called nutritional value? I might as well feed them cardboard spread with butter. Eating healthy takes a work, and a lot of creativity--especially when two eaters in your family are little and think nothing could compare to a pudding filled long john with buttercream icing and chocolate stripes. Mmmm... I'm not sure I think anything could compare to that!

Anyway, in a grand effort to change my family's eating habits, I just bought a half-share in a summer program run by a naturally grown vegetable farm in my community. Every week I get to look forward to a box of fresh, homegrown, organic vegetables that have been harvested directly from sweet Iowa soil. The first pick up is this coming Tuesday, and I've been told I can look forward to lots of greens, spinach, asparagus, radishes, and other early spring offerings. In the coming weeks my box o' veggies will change to reflect the season, from broccoli and cauliflower mid-summer, to tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers near the end. It's kind of silly, but I'm giddy with excitement. Over vegetables.

I love buying things that are locally grown. I love it that our summer will be filled with fresh, pesticide and herbicide free foods. I love it that I'll be expanding my culinary horizons, and I'm even looking forward to eggplant--a food I've never tasted in all my 31 years. I love it that we're taking steps, however small to living a more simple, healthy, and green life.

I'll keep you updated as the summer progresses. Apparently, in addition to receiving an overflowing box of fresh produce, I'll also receive recipes and ideas for how to prepare it. As I come across good ones, I'll pass them on. And I'll let you know how my kids are reacting to fresh crudites and homemade dips for their after-nap snack. Sorry Keebler. Your elves have been officially banned from the Baart house. Well, I suppose they could still sneak in for the occasional visit.

How about you? Do you have any good recipes? Any tips for eating healthy and reducing environmental impact by buying locally? I think my next step is to join the local food co-op, but Aaron's afraid that I'll make him stop cutting his hair and force him to wear clothes made out of hemp. Come now, I can't imagine I'll ever lose my love for my hubby in a slim-fitting J. Crew dress shirt. But hey, never say never...

Guest Blog & Giveaway

Dar at Peeking Between the Pages has just posted a review and guest blog pertaining to The Moment Between. Her review is incredibly well-written and thorough--I really enjoyed reading her reactions to the book. And I wrote the guest blog a week or so ago. It's all about wine and how it ties into the book. Head on over and browse around Dar's fabulous site. Don't forget to leave a comment on the guest blog! Dar and Tyndale are giving away two free copies of The Moment Between. Free books seem to abound these days. :)

CBD Interview

Gotta love Google-Alert. About once a day I get a nice, little email in my inbox telling me where The Moment Between is popping up on the web. Usually, I'm completely surprised. Anyway, today I was told that CBD just posted an online interview about my latest release. Want to know more about the book, my writing process, authors I love? Check it out. And while you're there, buy the book! How's that for shameless? ;)

Character Spotlight

Another quickie... blog that is. Just wanted to direct you to RelzReviewz where the the lovely Rel has just posted a character spotlight of Abigail and Hailey, the sister duo that is showcased in The Moment Between. The blog is full of interesting information about these ladies including appearance, quirks, and my inspiration for the characters. I wrote this spotlight a few months ago and was surprised to re-read some of my own words. Apparently, Ingrid Michaelson's music played a role in inspiring the relationship between Abigail and Hailey... Music definitely factors in to my writing process, but after the book is finished sometimes I forget just how important the soundtrack was. Maybe I should post my soundtrack sometime soon. Anyway, check out the post, and while you're there, spend some time enjoying Rel's site. She has a remarkable collection of reviews, interviews, and many more character spotlights.

PS - If you're here from AuthorBuzz, welcome! I hope you enjoy peeking around. Don't forget to send me an email if you'd like to be entered in a drawing for a free book. More info in the post below.

Author Buzz & Free Books

After a delayed flight, an unexpected sleepover in the windy city, a mild sunburn, and eight days of pure bliss in sunny southern Florida, we're finally home! And no, there were no python sightings (but Aaron told me that pythons drop on their prey from the branches of trees and I did have a very hard time walking under trees the entire time we were there). Though I loved the pool, the hot tub, the beaches, the sun... I have to admit it feels good to find underwear in my drawer instead of the sandy bottom of my suitcase. Dorothy was right--there's no place like home.

Anyway, I have much to write about but I need to scour off the final remnants of potential swine flu germs (did I mention I HATE to fly?), and after that there is a bottle of Chenin Blanc calling my name. Well, not the whole bottle. ;) But, I couldn't let another day pass without saying hello, and extending a special welcome to any visitors who found their way here through the Author Buzz website. The Moment Between is one of the featured books on Author Buzz this week, and in celebration of the official release we're giving away five copies of the book! All you have to do is email me at nicolebaart@yahoo.com with one reason why you'd like to win. Please write Giveaway in the subject line. Buena suerte!