This year is really barreling along. I was surprised to hear on the radio that we change to Daylight Savings Time this weekend. Already? And the mystery luncheon I was invited to attend that seemed to be in the distant future is only a little over a week away.
It’s called Books to Die for and is an all day affair being held at a Sheraton near Disneyland. The featured authors are Carolyn Hart, Kate Carlisle and me. The location is important because afterwards I’m going to meet my son at Disneyland and get a final use out of my yearly pass before it expires.
I was very flattered to be invited to participate in the event even though I always get nervous when I am in front of a crowd. Some people tend to talk too long on these writers’ panels. Me, I always finished way before the alloted time is up. I’m also not very good in the self promotion department.
To me the best part of all of this is the writing. Not that it’s easy. Lots of times I get stuck, but then all the pieces begin to fall into place and I get lost in the story and it’s so exciting and fun. The fact that I have an excuse to buy lots of yarn and learn how to make things and have it be considered part of my writing is a wonderful bonus.
I even like struggling with my knitting, which is getting better.
So, I hope I don’t say anything too stupid, or get too close to the microphone, or knock a glass of water on myself or anyone else.
As with my books, I just want everybody to have a good time.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Rain Storms and Readers
Greetings from about a month in to the release of my first novel, SCRAPBOOK OF SECRETS. Yeah, what you hear from authors, particularly debut authors, is that it’s hard, hard, hard to get publicity and get your book in the hands of potential readers. And it is. The first few weeks of launch is exhausting—full of the highs of great reviews and much attention and the lows of those stinker-reviews that leave you wondering if they read your book at all. But sometimes, you find moments of inspiration in all the madness.
Like the other day for example. I was appearing at the Library of Virginia in Richmond. We were expecting some rain storms. I thought nobody would show up. Everybody knows people don’t like to come out during rain storms. I know I don’t. But I was the author, so I sucked it up, put my rain boots on and made the drive. About fifteen hardy book-buying folks showed up. Fifteen? I was thrilled. They came out in the storm, listened to me speaking at the podium, and asked thoughtful, intelligent questions, then bought my books. What more could a writer hope for?
I wrote a bit about this on my own blog here. But I have to tell you, every time I meet with readers, I am so touched that they are taking time in their busy lives to read my books—and to come out to meet me, let alone in rain storms.
It is humbling, friends. It truly is. I may not ever make millions from my writing, or become a household name. But I have touched a few readers. That is what it's all about, after all.
Like the other day for example. I was appearing at the Library of Virginia in Richmond. We were expecting some rain storms. I thought nobody would show up. Everybody knows people don’t like to come out during rain storms. I know I don’t. But I was the author, so I sucked it up, put my rain boots on and made the drive. About fifteen hardy book-buying folks showed up. Fifteen? I was thrilled. They came out in the storm, listened to me speaking at the podium, and asked thoughtful, intelligent questions, then bought my books. What more could a writer hope for?
I wrote a bit about this on my own blog here. But I have to tell you, every time I meet with readers, I am so touched that they are taking time in their busy lives to read my books—and to come out to meet me, let alone in rain storms.
It is humbling, friends. It truly is. I may not ever make millions from my writing, or become a household name. But I have touched a few readers. That is what it's all about, after all.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Dogs and Other Milestones
The beginning of this month features some milestones with my pups.
First of all, March 1 was the fourth anniversary of the date Mystie came into our life. She’s my younger Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, our nutcase who chases sunbeams and reflections, and creates her own by licking walls. We adore our perpetual puppy!
Tomorrow, March 8, will be Lexie’s ninth birthday. Despite her health issues a couple of years ago, she’s also a puppy in her own way. She can communicate with us without language amazingly well. She, too, is greatly adored!
Of course I’m proud of my dogs, even though they’ve trained me better than I’ve trained them. I do know some of the tricks about training. I use them sometimes in my books. I’ve got a good imagination, and it’s fun to write about what I can’t do myself!
We have some other milestones to celebrate in March, too. The 9th is the anniversary of when my husband and I met. Later in the month is our older son’s birthday--and mine.
Things have been busy around here and will only get busier, I think. Lots to do this month. I have an April deadline for the fourth Pet Rescue Mystery, and April is also the publication month for the third one, HOUNDS ABOUND.
By the way, I blogged a couple of weeks ago about the Los Angeles County Museum of Art as well as the La Brea Tar Pits. Earlier this week, I happened to be in the area after dark, and the nighttime lighting at the tar pits helps to spotlight both the mammoth models and the bubbling waters. And in case you haven’t heard, a giant rock is slowly making its way by truck to LACMA to be used in a piece of art. I’ll be interested in seeing it, especially considering the millions of dollars it’s costing to bring it in and use it as a sculpture that will be called “Levitated Mass.” We’ll apparently be able to walk under it. It’ll certainly be an unusual kind of art!
Do you celebrate milestones with your pets?
First of all, March 1 was the fourth anniversary of the date Mystie came into our life. She’s my younger Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, our nutcase who chases sunbeams and reflections, and creates her own by licking walls. We adore our perpetual puppy!
Tomorrow, March 8, will be Lexie’s ninth birthday. Despite her health issues a couple of years ago, she’s also a puppy in her own way. She can communicate with us without language amazingly well. She, too, is greatly adored!
Of course I’m proud of my dogs, even though they’ve trained me better than I’ve trained them. I do know some of the tricks about training. I use them sometimes in my books. I’ve got a good imagination, and it’s fun to write about what I can’t do myself!
We have some other milestones to celebrate in March, too. The 9th is the anniversary of when my husband and I met. Later in the month is our older son’s birthday--and mine.
Things have been busy around here and will only get busier, I think. Lots to do this month. I have an April deadline for the fourth Pet Rescue Mystery, and April is also the publication month for the third one, HOUNDS ABOUND.
By the way, I blogged a couple of weeks ago about the Los Angeles County Museum of Art as well as the La Brea Tar Pits. Earlier this week, I happened to be in the area after dark, and the nighttime lighting at the tar pits helps to spotlight both the mammoth models and the bubbling waters. And in case you haven’t heard, a giant rock is slowly making its way by truck to LACMA to be used in a piece of art. I’ll be interested in seeing it, especially considering the millions of dollars it’s costing to bring it in and use it as a sculpture that will be called “Levitated Mass.” We’ll apparently be able to walk under it. It’ll certainly be an unusual kind of art!
Do you celebrate milestones with your pets?
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Florida!
This morning, for the first time this year, a sparrow erupted in chirps outside our bedroom window. A sign of spring. I envy those of you who live farther south who are already seeing the pale yellow wash on the bushes of forsythia. We still have snow on the ground.
I’m going to Florida! My sister Dolores owns a home in Fort Myers and has been asking me to come down for a visit. I finally agreed, and will be gone from Minneapolis from March 13 to the 21st. I’m taking my laptop with me, and so should be able to continue blogging. We’ve been exchanging e-mails about where we’ll go: to various beaches, to the Ding Darling (isn’t that an interesting name? He was a famous boat designer) bird preserve, to play golf, to just sit in the sun, shopping, etc., etc. Any suggestions? I've been there before, it's a very pretty area. I remember the row of huge banyan trees on the Henry Ford and adjoining Thomas Edison estates. And the shells on the beaches of Sanibel Island.
Today I’m going to interview some people who work at the Courage Center. I want to pick their brains about therapy pools and how they are set up and run– and how their security systems work. I am, of course, going to mess with the security system in the book I’m about to write. I have a friend – more an acquaintance, actually – who is designing the facility, and she’s come up with a pretty good idea for the flaw.
We have two cats, Panzi and Snaps. Both of them occasionally throw up – Panzi especially will stop eating her favorite snack, turn away from the bowl, and throw it up. Five minutes later, she’s back, wanting more of the same snack. But lately Snaps has been throwing up a lot, especially at night. It’s not a fur ball, there is little fur in it, though some. And there’s not any partly-digested food in it, either. I’m thinking a call to our vet is in order. We’re lucky to have a home-visit veterinarian. He’s a very nice man, very gentle with the cats. Do any of you have suffered a similar problem with your cat? What turned out to be the problem?
Advance notice: Saturday, March 24, from one to five: Bloomington Book Fair, at the Bloomington Center for the Arts, 1800 Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN. I’ll be sitting at a table with Carl Brookins, senior member of my writer’s group, and we’ll both have books for sale.
I’m going to Florida! My sister Dolores owns a home in Fort Myers and has been asking me to come down for a visit. I finally agreed, and will be gone from Minneapolis from March 13 to the 21st. I’m taking my laptop with me, and so should be able to continue blogging. We’ve been exchanging e-mails about where we’ll go: to various beaches, to the Ding Darling (isn’t that an interesting name? He was a famous boat designer) bird preserve, to play golf, to just sit in the sun, shopping, etc., etc. Any suggestions? I've been there before, it's a very pretty area. I remember the row of huge banyan trees on the Henry Ford and adjoining Thomas Edison estates. And the shells on the beaches of Sanibel Island.
Today I’m going to interview some people who work at the Courage Center. I want to pick their brains about therapy pools and how they are set up and run– and how their security systems work. I am, of course, going to mess with the security system in the book I’m about to write. I have a friend – more an acquaintance, actually – who is designing the facility, and she’s come up with a pretty good idea for the flaw.
We have two cats, Panzi and Snaps. Both of them occasionally throw up – Panzi especially will stop eating her favorite snack, turn away from the bowl, and throw it up. Five minutes later, she’s back, wanting more of the same snack. But lately Snaps has been throwing up a lot, especially at night. It’s not a fur ball, there is little fur in it, though some. And there’s not any partly-digested food in it, either. I’m thinking a call to our vet is in order. We’re lucky to have a home-visit veterinarian. He’s a very nice man, very gentle with the cats. Do any of you have suffered a similar problem with your cat? What turned out to be the problem?
Advance notice: Saturday, March 24, from one to five: Bloomington Book Fair, at the Bloomington Center for the Arts, 1800 Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN. I’ll be sitting at a table with Carl Brookins, senior member of my writer’s group, and we’ll both have books for sale.
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