I just finished going through the copy edit of SCONED TO DEATH.  I always go through the whole manuscript again.  By now I have enough distance to see it almost as a reader would-- though of course I already know how it ends.  I had just a week to do it, so it was pretty intense.  I added the acknowledgements and will send it off through cyberspace.

It's so much better than having to mail back a paper document and hope that my handwritten in changes are clear.  

In the meantime, my editor sent me the cover they came up with.  I am very happy with color and how it is like, but different from the cover of DEATH AMONG THE STITCHES.  

The very best news was that I got an offer on a third book and I already have a page full of notes.

As soon as I hit send, it will be back to the next Yarn Retreat book.  It's been in the back of my mind all along and I have some new thoughts about the characters.

There are lots of non writing things going on.  Jakey is helping with a cub scout float for a parade this weekend.  Then he gets to ride on the float in the parade.  I can't wait to see it.  It's in a part of the San Fernando Valley that feels like a small town and the parade is going to reflect that.  I had a lot of fun being in a parade when my son played tee ball.  We were in the back of a pickup truck and I don't think there was much of an audience, but  I still had a good time.

Then there's Jakey's birthday.  It's been hard having a party since it his birthday is right before Christmas, but we are having a real party this year and all the invited guests have RSVPed.  There are some other events going on too and of course the actual holidays.

It seems I am always working on a book at this time of year and  I actually like it.  It keeps some sense of normalcy with all the special stuff going on. 

 

 

 

 

Writing? What’s That?

          

            Nope, I’m currently not writing. In fact, I’m typing this on my computer with one hand. Slowly.

            Why? Well, I won’t get into details but I fell and broke my wrist. Fortunately, it’s my left one and I’m right-handed, But I never paid much attention before to how helpful my left hand is to my right. And of course my usual touch typing isn’t working.

I’m also miffed at how slow my health insurance has been to help out. I went to a local hospital emergency room and got x-rays and initial treatment but they told me to get a reference to a specialist for follow-up but my regular doctor wasn’t in the office and I had a hard time for days getting other assistance.

Fortunately I am not under any quick deadlines at the moment. So, I’m thinking and plotting and looking forward to improvement. My husband is helpful and so are my pups. And so, life goes on.

Short But So Nice

 

 I needed to getaway.  It was just overnight, but it did the trick.  Cambria is just over two hundred miles away.  It's halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.  I kept hearing about people I knew going there for a weekend and now I understand why.

We stopped there a year ago on our way up north and it was really a whirlwind stop overnight before we continued on our trip to our main destination.  This time it was the destination and while it was just overnight, it was a lovely experience.  The reason for the midweek trip to was to see the holiday lights at the Cambria Pines Lodge.  

We picked up Jakey from school early and took off on our journey.  The ride there was filled with ocean views and short enough that we got there in the late afternoon.  The Cambria Pines Lodge reminds me a little of the hotel and conference center in the Yarn Retreat series.  There is an assortment of buildings with guest rooms and then a main building that handles registration and has a lounge and restaurant.  

There is a large garden area which becomes the Christmas lights area and on weekends had a Christmas market.  The market sounded nice, but the benefit of the midweek trip was no crowds.  There was just a scattering of people as we went through the labyrinth  of displays.  Along with millions of colored lights, there were things like a display of all the different Santa Claus like characters from assorted countries.  

The air was chilly, but the weather is pretty much the same year round.  All those colorful lights totally erased all my stressful feelings.

In the morning, we went to Moonstone Beach.  They went down on the wet sand.  I found a bench with a fabulous view.  All those ocean air and peace was a nice touch to refreshing my spirits.  

There was moss hanging off the trees as we drove to the downtown area.  The shops were lovely.  I stopped in the local yarn shop.  Of course, I couldn't leave empty handed.  I bought a pot holder weaving set.  I have always wanted one and I like those kind of pot holders the best.  And then every time I use one I made, I will think of the trip and how happy I felt.

On the way back we stopped at Morro Bay.  It is known for the huge volcanic rock sitting partly in the water.  They went to go climbing around and I stayed in the car and started on my first pot holder.   

It was dark on most of the ride back, but the moon gave off enough light to make the ocean almost visible.  And then just like that we were home.  Just gone overnight, but it was just the change I needed. 

 

 

 

 

Last Month of the Year!

             Happy December, everybody! Yes, it’s the beginning of the last month of the year. Does it feel to everyone else that this year has gone even faster than the rest? And they’ve all seemed to go fast recently.        

            I had a fun Thanksgiving and hope all of you did too. And yes, our pups got some tastes of turkey—white meat, no bones, carefully prepared for them. So, I think they enjoyed Thanksgiving too.

            As I mentioned was in the works, I finished the initial manuscript edits for the second book in my K-9 Crime Solvers series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, which I’ve called K-9 Property Justice (which probably will be changed), and sent it to my editor. Soon, it’ll be time to start writing book #3.

            It’s chilly a lot of the time here in L.A. but the rain has stopped again. But I know some of you are getting some awful weather, not just chilly but cold and a whole lot more. Hope you’re okay.

            And hope you’re enjoying this ongoing holiday season!