Greetings from Oregon where I continue to eat too much chocolate, drink too much coffee, and daydream as if I have nothing better to do than marvel at clouds.In the last two years I have found another hobby: Gardening. I believe I may now be addicted to hanging flower baskets. This is, indeed, an odd addiction.It is amazing what goes on in a backyard when one is determined to sit in a chair and not think. Squirrels chase each other. Hummingbirds and blue birds hang out. Frogs hop. Garden snakes try to frighten me. Geese fly overhead as if they own the place. Late at night, even though I live smack in the middle of suburbia, I even hear coyotes “singing.”
On another topic…This is my second newsletter since I sold my first book, Julia’s Chocolates, in 2005. Two newsletters in ten years. I’m on a roll.
So what’s in it? Read an article where I talk about my childhood dog, Frisky, who regularly took off like a lightning rod and tried to eat other dogs. His punishment? Castration.
I also discuss how I love writing romance scenes in a USA Today article with this line in it, “It’s Not About The Sex, It’s About The Stud.”
There are photos of hellfire crowns, book club ladies who like their wine, and a brownie in the shape of a heart. I had to eat it. The brownie, not the hellfire crowns, just to be clear.
I have included my interviews with wonderful bestselling authors Liane Moriarty, of The Husband’s Secret; Graeme Simsion, of The Rosie Project; Mary Kubica of The Good Girl; and Pam Jenoff of The Winter Guest.
I’ve also included snippets of books that I have already written and edited twelve times. Each.
I will not tell you that in writing every single one of my books I have wanted to toss my computer and head to the wilds of Alaska where I would settle down in a cabin, by myself, and count polar bears. Which would have been more relaxing.
No, I won’t say that at all. I will pretend I am a rational and sane author who writes her books with a cup of tea nearby (I hate tea), her home completely clean (How funny!), her hair washed (takes sooo much time), her makeup on (must I?), a joyous tune in her calm heart.
Ha.
Happy day to all of you.
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