I’m back to writing after a lonnnng break.
I’m working on a book now about a 70 year old woman who does something very daring.
She had no intention of falling in love.
None.
But she did.
On another note, you can see my faithful writing companion continues to help me by taking a nap.
AUCTION FOR UKRAINE / 4 BOOK GIVEAWAY / AUTHOR CHAT
Hello everyone,
I have joined my publishing house, Kensington Books, and hundreds of other authors, for an online auction where all proceeds benefit relief efforts for Ukraine. The auction is now live!
This is my page of the auction: https://www.32auctions.com/…/121017/auction_items/3635619
I donated four copies of Henry’s Sisters. They’ll be mailed to ONE person. She will give the other three copies to friends/sisters/mom and I’ll schedule a book chat with you all via Zoom.
Come explore all of the amazing offers:
The images of what’s happening in Ukraine are breaking my heart, and I know they’re breaking yours, too. This is one small way we can help.
Wishing you all well.
An Interesting Thanksgiving
Oh, the excitement in my kitchen this Thanksgiving!
Take a look at the batter for my chocolate silk pie. See anything interesting?
Artist Montana Sister said, “Bird then dancing woman.”
Firefighter Brother said, “An alien escaping from a pancake striving to devour you, Cathy.”
Country Farmer Montana sister said, “A woman wearing a shawl and holding cherry blossom branches.”
Also, I burned the marshmallows.
Rebel Dancing Daughter said, “It’s okay, Mom. It wouldn’t feel like Thanksgiving if there wasn’t smoke in the kitchen.”
Sigh…
A Smoky Thanksgiving
There’s smoke billowing out of my oven and into my kitchen which obviously means I’m cooking.
Innocent Husband said to me, waving his hands around in the air, “Ah! Your Thanksgiving tradition begins!”
Now he’s in big trouble.
A Deer, the Swan Mountains, and a Little Magic
When I was in Montana this last week, I looked out at the Swan Mountains and a curious deer in the middle of a trail and somehow those mountains and that deer told me – a writer fighting burnout – that I needed to add a little magical realism to the book I’m writing.
I do not argue with the Swan Mountains or deer, so I dropped in a little magic and the burnout faded away a bit…
Sometimes ya just gotta go to Montana so you can think.
Hammer and Editing
When I think about whether I want to re-edit my book AGAIN or take out a molar with a hammer, I start thinking about the hammer…
Cats Aren’t Helping
I’m trying to edit my next book but, as usual, the cats aren’t helping at all.
Look at them lounging away, taking naps, while I spend an hour on one blasted sentence..
Hope and a Garden
I’m finding a little spring hope in my garden!
Happy spring, all.
Let’s hope for better, healthier days ahead.
Grape Nuts and Embarrassment
One would think I would feel embarrassed after what I did.
I was not embarrassed.
One would think I would make a vow not to do it again.
I will not make that vow.
It all happened at Wal Mart. I went looking for Grape Nuts, as usual. For those of you who do not know, there is a tragic, distressing national shortage of Grape Nuts. I have eaten Grape Nuts for decades. Decades! And now, in the midst of a pandemic my cereal is gone. For months.
I was in my usual Wal Mart – Covid fancy attire: Sweats that have gotten way too tight these last months through no fault of my own, of course. An old rain coat. No make up. Hair ripped back in a ponytail because I was NOT GOING ANYWHERE as usual. My mask.
And there it was.
ONE box of Grape Nuts. My mouth dropped open. I thought I might have heard angels singing.
Highest shelf. Way at the back. No, I did not ask a clerk for a ladder, yes, I CLIMBED THE SHELVES. Who the heck am I? A mountain climber? A Himalayan hiker? No, I am not. I am a mother who is not too fond of heights, and there I was, dangling.
(Is it against the rules to climb Wal Mart shelves? Maybe I should arrest myself.)
But, alas, and bad words, The Grape Nuts was WEDGED into the back of the top shelf. Stuck. I had to climb up those shelves three times, totally ungracefully, hopping up and down like a crazy rabbit, swatting at the box to get it dislodged.
I am sure I looked absolutely ridiculous, like a deranged, middle-aged woman who had lost her blasted mind. I really didn’t care.
I wanted that box. It is Covid. We do stupid stuff.
On the third swat, I got it.
I felt like doing a little jig but I resisted. Climbing Wal Mart shelves was all I could do in one day.
Innocent Husband cheered for me when I got home. We are getting old and odd, but this is what Covid isolation does to you.
You find joy in the tiniest things because ya just have to.
I am so glad that I did not end up on You Tube.