I sent in all the guest posts for the blog tour, a single guest post spot and my author takeover spot.  I am blogged out.  It was a challenge to have everything be about SCONED TO DEATH and not be repetitious.  Well, too repetitious. By the end, it was all swimming in my mind and I hope it all makes sense.

I set aside working on the next Molly book and now have to organize all the notes on envelopes and scraps of paper that  I scribbled on as ideas popped into mto my head.  I had this great idea for the opening scene and so wanted to write it out, but forced myself to just leave notes until  the blogs were done.  All I'll say about it is that the Hookers are dealing with the new craft space and a gluey mess left by the collagists and maybe somebody gets glued to the floor or their chair.  Molly is going to be working for Mason and Barry has a big surprise.  Then Bennett from the last book shows up.  Of course, there's a murder and Molly is in the middle of it.  I have to work out a lot of the details.

Now that the blogs are sent off, I want to turn all the scribbles into typed stuff on my computer before I get back the DANGER LOOMS manuscript next week.  Even if the editorial comments are light, I go through the whole manuscript again.

Speaking of handwriting--I read something about the difference between typing and handwriting.  They wire up some peoples brains and had them do both.  When they were handwriting all different areas of their brains lit up.  When they were typing it was way less.  I always knew there was a difference.  That's why there are all those notes on envelopes and scraps of paper.  Mixed in are notes about the next Crochet and Crumpet book which is due in December.

This is a total aside, but am I the only one who is bothered by the labels inside of clothes?  No matter how I trim them, there is enough to scratch my skin.  It's something new, too.  The labels seem badly placed and whatever they are made of, more annoying than before. 

 May is flitting by so fast.  Jakey's school will be out in no time and then it's about summer plans.  He's old enough now to make requests.  It's such a different world from when I was a kid.  My summer option was something at my elementary school.  It was everyday and it was up to me to get myself there on my own since both my parents worked.  Jakey's generation is so much more dependent.  Play dates where the parents go along.  They're escorted everywhere.  And not released from school until a known person picks them up.  Ha!  When the bell rang, even in kindergarten, we were left to our own devices about getting home. By Jakey's age, a friend and I would go to downtown Chicago on our own and go shopping and out to lunch at the Circle in Chas A. Stevens.. I remember people saying how cute we were, but I thought the comment was ridiculous and that we were like women of the world.

I'm Here On Time!

 Hey, I’m actually on time today! I told you to watch for the possibility last week. 

But I’m definitely busy. I recently received comments on the latest draft of the second book of my current K-9 Crime Solvers series, and those comments came late. I’m therefore really busy reviewing them and incorporating the best into that story. That means the third book of the series is currently on hold. But I’ll get back to it soon! 

And my dogs? Well, one loves to sleep by my feet under my computer, and the other jumps up on the chair beside me. So yes, their presences continue to stimulate my writing.

All Over the Place

 All the guest blog posts and author takeover posts were swirling around in my mind and I felt stuck.  What to do first and the logistics of how to post them.  I did an author takeover before, but don't remember how I dealt with posting and comments.  There's the new book I'm working on, too.

I have been stumbling along, trying to work on everything at once which was only making me feel more scattered.  And that's without life getting in the middle of it.  A broken motor operated recliner that's stuck in open and the person (not me) who relies on it having to climb in and out of it and not seeing the absurdity that there is no manual way to close it.  The purchase of a new chair which also is motor operated and needs to be put together after removal of the old chair which has to come apart to get it out of the door.

 A surprise two day no school for Jakey who spent it here and who asked "What are we going to do today?"  Some other people who will go unnamed hand him a bowl of dry cereal when he says he's hungry.  I couldn't do that and interrupted all to ask him what he wanted to eat and then made him special toast and a selection of cut up fruit.  I offered him an egg, but he declined it.  I had just read about Chef Jose Andre's way to make a microwave eggs.  

In case you want to try it-- Mix one egg with about a teaspoon of mayonnaise and a little bit of butter.  Put it in a cup or ramekin and microwave for 30-40 seconds.  It fluffs up nicely and tastes delicious.  It would make a nice egg sandwich.  Maybe next time I'll try to sell Jakey on the sandwich idea.

But back to my being scattered.  I had completed one guest post and had bits and pieces of the others.  I finally figured out what I needed to do to get it all organized.  I need something visual and clear cut.  The lists I had been making were all over the place and had other stuff mixed in.  This time I just focused on all the posts and instead of doing it on paper, did it on my computer --even though I will print it up and handwrite notes on it.  Somehow seeing it like that seems have made it easier to deal with. 

Now I'm ready to just go forward and get it all done.  No getting distracted by reading  Remarkably Bright Creatures or watching the movie on Netflix.  Enjoyed both, though I liked the ending of the movie better than the book.  I have been fascinated by octopi since I saw a documentary My Octopus Teacher  also on Netflix.

And now it's time to focus on that list. 

The author takeover takes place on Thursday, May 21, from 2-8pm EDT.  My time slot is 4:00-4:30 EDT

Here's the link to the Cozy Mystery Lovers Facebook group if you want to become a member and participate.

https://facebook.com/groups/cozymysterylovers1/  

I'm Here

             I’m finally here, but maybe my name should include the word Late. That’s my norm these days, after all.

            I’m still doing the same thing right now: writing the third book, K-9 Security, in my current series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, K-9 Crime Solvers. It’s coming along fine. My pups remain good company while I’m writing,

            Hey, do you think I’ll be on time here next week? Well, no promises, but maybe…