Love is worth the risk
We had a glorious Easter—Alleluias, soaring music, sunshine, flowers, and warmth. I was reminded, though, that in order to have Easter, you must have Good Friday first. As CS Lewis famously said, “The pain I feel now is the happiness I had before. That is the deal.” My readers are probably aware this has been […]
Here on the east coast of the US, the day begins to darken by 4 PM. Add to that general dreariness and grey clouds and it is fair dim this month. Luckily it is the season of light. There is a reason our ancestors of most traditions put their light festivals in late December! As […]
When I start a new book, I plunge in. I hope my starting point will hold, but sometimes it doesn’t. I had to delete and entire first chapter more than once. Early days I’m in a bit of a dance with my characters, just getting acquainted while introducing them to my readers. I am back […]
Nothing could have prepared us for the current situation, at least not entirely. We are indeed sailing into unknown waters. Our isolation may stretch into weeks or months. We don’t know where we’ll land, but land we will. Will there be dragons? Milk and honey? A radical new land? Home Port? We loath the unknown, […]
The ladies in the basement, the muses that live deep in my unconscious got a bit sleepy over the holidays. My first week back got eaten up by announcements and promotion for Valentines From Bath, (You can check that little treasure out here) but they need to wake up now. I managed to take a look […]
Lately, I’m obsessing on the weather. Winter has been unrelenting and the swings have been dramatic—rather like a well-plotted novel, but much less satisfying. Saturday night we ate out on our patio, enjoying a dead perfect evening—not too hot, not too cold, no bugs, bright sun—knowing full well such evenings are rare. It was 80 […]
Process? I don’t need no stinking process. My book, alas, needs a plot. I’ve read the craft books. I know a scene from a sequel, and I understand the big W shaped romance plot and the four acts that make it up. I get hooks and turning points. I’ve tried outlines, story boards, and scene […]
Where do we begin with gratitude? With the things that gratify, provide instant pleasure, or enhance our ego? With the things in our immediate circle, perhaps, like family and friends? Yes that one I think. The obvious things are faith, which gives direction and foundation of strength, and health, which enables me to build on […]
I should call this post four reasons I’m exhausted before I start this week. The Bluestocking Belles Facebook party to celebrate the launch of Holly and Hopeful Hearts lasted 11.5 hours yesterday and I was there for most of it. Behind the scenes things got a bit frantic, but on the page it went swimmingly. […]
National Novel Writing Month is begins tomorrow and I’m ready. My work in progress has to be finished this month. It has been promised and I will deliver. I can do this, right? But with a patio project engulfing the house, grandma duties looming, and a husband who’s a tad distracted (see patio project), something […]