Today is my eldest brother’s birthday. It’s a big birthday. One that ends in a zero. Unfortunately, he’s dealing with some stuff and can’t celebrate properly.

Being 530 miles away from home base, there isn’t much I can do to make his day better… except tap into the power of Prime.

I am from a family of readers. It took a while for us to hit on a few titles he hadn’t blown through yet, but he came up with one and I added a couple more that I thought he might enjoy.

Books. They are my family’s love language. What’s yours?

These are the days, aren’t they? We’re a month in on 100* days with little more than a sprinkle of rain. I’m finding it hard to get motivated to do anything.

How about you? How are you beating the heat these days?

I’m doing okay with stepping back from social media. I think. The urge to check my feeds is still strong, but for the most part I am jumping on to respond to notifications then ducking out.

Sort of like doing a 21st century hokey-pokey.

The few times I have given in and clicked, I felt a strong urge to shake it all about, so yeah… I think I can learn to live without the dopamine hit.

How about you? How’s your Monday going? Timber says, “‘Hey.”

Frosted sugar cookies.

A good audiobook for a long drive.

A great weekend with friends.

Coming home to my guy after a great weekend with friends.

Puppy snuggles.

What’s making you happy these days?

Had a Zoom call tonight with a bunch of talented authors. Just talking with other authors gets my creative juices flowing. As writers, we are engaged in a largely solitary pursuit, but we are not alone.

Social media feeds you nothing but a steady stream of highlights, but every author-no matter how successful-has moments of doubt. We all have days when we hate our WIPs. Some of us sass the screen when doing edits. Most of us feel tired or demoralized at least once a week.

I repeat: You are not alone.

I just saw a lovely Facebook post written by a person I know to be a writer of the LitFic variety.

When I got to the end of the post I saw that they signed it with a copyright symbol and their full name.

I decided then and there I will be taking myself far more seriously from here on out.

 ©MonkeyButt Mary

I have a real loathe/hate relationship with Twitter. You would think that would make it easy for me to quit it, would you? Not so much.

My urges to check my feed are the product of FOMO. But let’s face it, I’m really not missing much other than anger-inducing moments on a forum filled with discontent. This morning I clicked the link and the first post that popped up made me angry.

So, I’ve given myself a deadline. I have until the end of July to wean myself and find other ways to connect with the tweeple I want to keep in my life.

I’m trying to cut back on social media. I like keeping up with friends and family, but sometimes it’s overwhelming to me. But it’s such a hard habit to break. So, as I’m stepping away, I plan to use my blog as a crutch.

Whenever I have a random thought, silly meme, or a picture I HAVE to share with the world, I will try to do it here. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find whatever it is interesting and we can chat a bit about it.

Did you see any headlines about the vicious shark attack in Arkansas?

How are you? Are you ready for summer? It’s been gray and rainy here, so I am ready for some sunshine.

It’s been a busy start to the year. I’ve written two books for my 2023 Harlequin Intrigue series – Arkansas Special Agents – and I’m working on book #3 now. It’s been such a whirlwind, I completely forgot to post about my current release, FOOTHILLS FIELD SEARCH.

Sheesh.

Anyhow, in case you haven’t seen me posting elsewhere, Brady and Cassie (and Winne’s!) story is available now! Here’s the scoop!

Foothills Field Search is available now!

An officer and his K-9
Stand between a mother and her worst nightmare…

When two kids are kidnapped from plain sight, Officer Brady Nichols and his intrepid canine, Winnie, spring into action. Single mother Cassie Whitaker thought she’d left big-city peril behind—until it followed her to Jasper. Brady and his K-9 are on the case, but can they protect Cassie from a stalker who won’t take no for an answer?

I’ve seen it at my local Barnes & Noble as well as Walmart. Let me know if you spot it in the wild. If you’re looking for links on where to buy, go here: books2read.com/K9FFS

I hope all is well with you. Enjoy the sunshine!!

I think we can all agree 2021 was a tough one. I don’t know anyone who was sad to put it in the rearview mirror. But as with all things, there was a lot of good to go with the bad. So while I choose to be a goldfish (watch Ted Lasso if you don’t get the reference) in most things…

I did keep track of the little things that created pockets of happiness in my days so I’d remember the good. Here are my 2021 #happythings. Most of them involve food, apps, or puppy dogs. Hey, you take your happy where you can get it, right?

What were some of the highlights for you?

A Year of Happiness 2021

January2021 #Happythings

1. Sleeping in and hearty breakfasts.
2. Lazy rainy day.
3. Kicked all of the butt today!
4. Grateful for flexibility. 🙏
5. Stepped back into the arena.
6. Georgia blues!
7. Schnitzel with noodles.
8. A little extra morning snooze time. 😴
9. Uncontrollable bedtime giggles – Violence in Extreme, that is what we are…
10. Biscuit chicken pot pie and Kaden’s first snow!
11. Little men and their Cajun snowman.
12. Watch out for exploding lunches!!
13. Bookbub and my first #1 bestseller flag on the ‘Zon! 🥇
14. Sonic date with Sally.
15. Ballerina time with Jewels. 🩰
16. Achiever unlocked – 1700 words, 2 workshops, and a date with my guy.
17. I sat on a duck. 🦆
18. Lost 2 pounds!
19. Taco Tuesday = the Taco Time Song by M.K. Ethridge 🌮
20. A new dawn, a new day, a new President and our first female Vice President! 🎉🍾
21. A day with no doom scrolling.
22. Puppy cuddles on a Friday afternoon.
23. Another 2 pounds, a date with Kelli Dawn, and words!
24. Productive Sundays.
25. The power of the internet query. #facts = powerful things
26. Super productive writing! 📖
27. Puppy adoration.
28. Steady progress. Soon it will be a book!
29. The jeans I couldn’t button are now buttoned. 👖
30. Christmas in January. A wonderful day with the family. 🎄
31. Julie Doner Day! 🎂

February 2021 #Happythings

1. Bill says I’m a print-cess because I print a lot for the day job. 🖨
2. Brioche buns.
3. Quiet days and forward progress. ⌨️
4. An offer without a submission!
5. Crossings mini series on YouTube.
6. Dinner dates and cake.
7. Chicken and steak kabills with KD Reep.
8. New Year’s greetings from Israel. 🇮🇱
9. Sally snuggles on a sad day.
10. A home. Heat. Food to eat. #blessings
11. Snow day big burritos. 🌯
12. Dairy Queen.
13. Dinner date with my guy – the only man I’d share cheesecake with.
14. Valentine trips to Home Depot and a warm nest.
15. A beautiful, peaceful snow day. ❄️
16. Electricity ⚡️
17. Hot water, warm house, food in the fridge, and the magic of technology.
18. Sunshine. 🌞
19. A man who can tolerate my company for seven straight days. 🥇
20. We are now free to move about the country. Or at least leave the neighborhood.
21. Rico Rice with Reep!
22. Sunny days and hamburger dates with Bill and Sally.
23. 74 and sunny! Final polish on Intrigue #3.
24. Thank God for Pizza Hut. 🍕
25. The Mighty Crab! 🦀
26. Friday. 🙏
27. Butter Rum Lifesavers.
28. Down 13 pounds! 🩰

March 2021 #happythings

1. The Creative Penn podcast. 🎧
2. Mandolins and potato chips.
3. It’s The Muppet Show!
4. Bacon and biscuits. 🥓
5. Friday night snuggles with Sally.
6. Running with Reep – the Mammoth Orange! 🍊
7. Brainstorms and a beautiful day for a walk.
8. An opening.
9. A shot in the arm. 💉
10. Chicken pesto flatbread.
11. Totally Tubular Trivia via Zoom!
12. First burger and bunny dinner of Spring! 🐰
13. Kayson is 8! McGee & Me with Reep – Ted Lasso and DQ.
14. Snapdragons and non-writing productivity day.
15. Sunning like turtles 🐢
16. Kaden is 4 and still in one piece!
17. Bill got shot! 💉
18. It’s all fun and games until Sally catches you snuggling without her.
19. Round 1 – Hogs win!
20. Team Megibow zoom!
21. “I like to be naked and on a roll.” Round 2 – Hogs win!
22. Walking and talking and solving the world’s problems.
23. This is Us simul-watch.
24. The daisy survives! 🌸
25. Red meat 🥩.
26. Buttoned up flannel.
27. Seasoned Romance panel and Hogs going to the Elite Eight!
28. Sunday puttering.
29. Offer and acceptance.
30. Happy surprises in the junk folder!
31. Buttered noodles.

April 2021 #happythings

1. Ran away with my man and beast! Steakburgers 🍔 for everyone!
2. Woodland walks and leather sofa snoozles.
3. Mountain View excursion.
4. Easter!
5. Hugging my guy hard.
6. Shot #2! 💉
7. We are both inoculated (against everything but love)!
8. A contract!
9. A raise! 💰
10. Flowers! Flowers! 🌸🌺🌹🌷💐
11. My boyfriend bought me a succulent.
12. Word making. Achiever® unlocked.
13. Moss roses and red hot Sallys.
14. BookBub for Double Play in May!
15. Laughed until I cried with old friends. 🤣
16. I took my time and got all the tires really evil…I mean equal. 😈
17. Family Zoom!
18. Down 21 lbs! I earned that butter roll!
19. I got a super-cute haircut!
20. Steak and potatoes. 🥩
21. Party in the Seasoned Romance Salon!
22. Brainstorms 🌩
23. Cookie hoarding.
24. Pedis, perfume, and dinner at The Pantry with my paramour. #efficacydate
25. Little boys and big dinosaur 🦖 books.
26. After work cuddles.
27. Positivity partners.
28. Massage day! Massage day! Massage day!
29. Brewing up some mischief in my head. 🗯
30. A beautiful spring Friday!

May 2021 #happythings

1. Memories of Michelle and a gathering of good friends.
2. Get things done day. Thank you, David Bowie.
3. Lavender bath bomb 💣
4. Delicious chicken melt sammiches. Yum!
5. Little lightning strikes of story ideas. 💡
6. I’m huge in Canada. 🇨🇦 #1 – A mover & a shaker.
7. Party prep!
8. She said yes to her dress! 👰‍♀️
9. My man made me a hosta garden and planted a pretty new rose bush. 🌹
10. Happiness is a warm puppy.
11. Avocado coaching with Jewels. 🥑
12. Homemade bacon-wrapped dates…date.
13. Black Eyed Peas on the way to work.
14. Hellfire burgers and Kelli Reep. 🔥
15. A lovely afternoon with Joey and her boys!
16. Great BFA micro-coaching call.
17. Tiny waffles, in my iron, make me happy…. 🧇
18. Ticking off tiny boxes. ✅
19. The story is beginning to take shape.
20. Google Meet with the OG!
21. Dogtrovert shirt.
22. Flea market finds, word making, and date night with my guy.
23. Making day – breakfast, words, granola, etc.
24. Puppy love, pasta, and a box ‘o books!
25. An offer! 💰
26. 20 more minutes… Zzzzz
27. F.R.I.E.N.D.S Reunion. ☂️
28. TO MAKE YOU FEEL LOVE is a Booksellers Best finalist!
29. Celebratory muffin and a trip to The Good Earth Garden Center. 🌺
30. Fire gazing with Bill and Kelli. All the problems of the world: solved. You’re welcome.
31. A walk along the Big Damn Bridge and steak dinner! 🥩 God bless America! 🇺🇸

June 2021 #happythings

1. Pasta e fagioli on a rainy day.
2. MasterChef is back!
3. Unicorn toes and steak dates with KD! 🦄
4. Boy and beast at home.
5. Slept until doughnut time. 🍩
6. Many words earned us time with the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. ❤️
7. The miraculous resurrection of tiny bouquets.
8. Chicken nacho night!
9. Massage day.
10. Dinner with the bunnies. 🙂
11. Puttering.
12. Celebratory shopping at Soma.
13. Sleepover with Sawyer. 😴
14. Quitcast revelations with Jewels.
15. Mid-day Diet Cokes from Sonic. 🥤
16. Bass Pro and bunny friends.
17. Lunch with Adrienne.
18. Friday Night Naps.
19. Dress shopping, Sawyer snuggles, and a night at the ballpark. 🧖‍♀️
20. A celebration of a reasonably good guy. #FathersDay
21. An excellent mail day all around! 📦
22. Making the most of a little downtime.
23. Walking with Reep – always a joy! 🚶‍♀️
24. Team Megibow on Zoom and Laughing with the OGs.
25. A great conversation with Renee Nyen for the it literary podcast.
26. Splurged. 👖
27. 🥥🥥Run away! Run away! Listening to Yaz in Yazoo City! Pirates! Hare Krishnas! Presents for pretty girls!
28. A tale of croissants, contracts, cocktails, and casinos…
29. Sharkhead’s, Yaya’s, and adult juice pouches on the beach.
30. 20 years and we still do. 👰🏻‍♀️🤵🏻‍♂️

July 2021 #happythings

1. Home with our Labrador.
2. Lemon Raspberry Bundt season! 🧁
3. Many words were written and a pre-Independence Day celebration with KD Reep.
4. Independence Day viewing of The Music Man. 🎺🎆
5. Quiet Mondays and easing back into real life.
6. Tempting the Canuck. 👕 #LassoJersey
7. MasterChef with Jewels, Lulu, and Sally (she has a keen interest in food).
8. Doc gave me an A++ at my annual physical. ✅
9. Efficient errands
10. Sawyer celebration and talking some smack to flies.
11. Big breakfast Sunday and the writing of words.
12. CNWR meeting! 🏙
13. Pork chops and ticking off boxes.
14. Chat with the ISU OGs!
15. “Moments” was not quite momentous, but still amusing.
16. Friday puppy snoozles and the return of “moments”.
17. Pool party at B&BB’s in Beebe!
18. Word making, book pushing, and Sunday cooking.
19. Schmigadoon!
20. The support of my Sara(h)s. 🥰
21. My spot on the KTLit podcast is live!
22. -35 pounds! Day 1 of #BFACON21
23. Ted Lasso Day! ⚽️
24. Backroads with my guy.🚘
25. An awesome weekend of Strengths building with #BFAcon21!🤯
26. A box of books!! Harry is so handsome. swoons
27. Release day for AN ABSENCE OF MOTIVE! Saw my book in a Walmart!🍾
28. Steakburgers and book stalking….
29. Grateful for the continued good health of my loved ones. Sad day. 😔
30. Dinner at The Pantry.🍴
31. Getting things done. #BowieStyle

August 2021 #happythings

1. The gathering of energy pennies like Scrooge McDuck. 🪙💰
2. Bob Jog 5k with Kelli. 🏅
3. A good/productive afternoon for the Ethridge men.
4. Sally made me nap. 😴
5. Brainstorm 🌩 with Katie and Kristina.
6. Ted Lasso – the best part of any Friday.
7. 7k words today!
8. Hit the 50k mark! Over 10k this weekend. Closing in on the finish line.
9. Spotted in the wild with my Canucks and Aussies!
10. Deal announcement. 📢
11. Playing with me plot bunny. 🐰
12. Baked sugar cookies for my sweet sugar babies.
13. My boys!
14. A fun evening of Ethridge mayhem.
15. Rumpus nap with Sally. 😴
16. Thankful I am vaccinated, praying my family comes through this well.
17. “I’m sorry to inform you that you have earthworms.”
18. Two negatives and mild positives. Chat with my Cabinet. 💻
19. Officially cleared to live in our bubble again. Chat with the ISU OG.
20. Ted Lasso is like a rainbow 🌈!
21. Trader Joe’s sea salt dark chocolate caramels.
22. Great chat with the ladies from Categorically Romance podcast! 🎙
23. A good BFA call with Jess and crew.
24. Release day! Walmart, Luigi’s, and Small Cakes. 🧁
25. MasterChef and reader recovery programs.
26. “Sorry I touched your label maker area.”
27. Leftovers feasts and big fires 🔥
28. College football makes revisions more bearable.
29. Butter roll. 🥮
30. Celebrating Luluday with microwavable cups of Steak ‘n Shake chili. As one does.
31. Got fresh with Bill over dinner. I had him at Hello Fresh. 🍋

September 2021 #happythings

1. Chicken-fried steak and spaghetti arms – the perfect accompaniments for MasterChef.
2. 2 puppies to cuddle = the perfect snooze.
3. Fresh hair!
4. Woo pig! Boiler up! College football is back! 🏈
5. Sweet Sawyer cruising in the cozy coupe.
6. Laboring the day away doing everything EXCEPT writing. #cooking #cleaning #reading #listening
7. Puppy playtime with a couple of big babies.
8. Concocted a new pitch!
9. BFACon follow up Zoom.
10. A baby deer in our yard! I love baby animals!
11. Farmer’s market and the Razorbacks beat Texas!!
12. Pretty yellow butterflies fluttering by…
13. Steak night! 🥩
14. Ultrasounds of a sweet baby boy. #comingsoon
15. Post-work puppy pile.
16. Friday Eve.
17. Beard After Hours. 🤣
18. Revisions and football. Almost ready to spike this book!
19. Come From Away! Lasso Emmy wins!
20. Bad dogs and cute boys.
21. Checking off Achiever boxes.
22. Chicken melt sandwiches and bacon baked on The Rock grill.
23. Wedding prep!
24. A lovely night with the Prewitt family. Getting ready for the big day!
25. Joey and Ben’s wedding!
26. Home again to a festival of meat!
27. Surprise pastries and a great BFA zoom call.
28. Release day! Rico rice and smashcake sundae with Kelli!
29. Starting GBBO S9. Mmmm cake!
30. Flu shot and pizza dates = swinging with the Ethridge’s.

October 2021 #happythings

1. Fridaying as hard as I can.
2. Prologue written!
3. My bed. I love my bed. 🛏
4. Electricity, clean water, a fridge full of food, a roof over our heads, and most of all, our health. Simple things are everything.
5. Simul-watching Love on the Spectrum with Jewels.
6. Stitch Fix delivery rocked! 👖
7. Post work recharge with the puppies.
8. Ted Lasso finale. 😢
9. Flora the peek-a-boo bunny!
10. Early to bath, early to bed. 💤🛌💤
11. I made the PW bestsellers list! #46
12. Our last night with Todd Packer. Have great adventures, sweet puppy!
13. Trader Joe’s SeaSalt dark chocolate caramels. 😋
14. Two-handed puppy petting.
15. Sometimes, a girl just needs a long chat with her sister.
16. A beautiful day at the zoo with my guys!
17. Tony Bennett + Lady Gaga + Cole Porter = 🥰
18. Mondays only last 24 hours.
19. Good UP visit. 🚂
20. Dinner rebellion.
21. A book release and a plan comes together. 🎁
22. I’m getting a boost! 💉
23. Feelin’ cute, went on a date with my guy, bought some mums.
24. Proposal chapters and synopsis roughed out.
25. Making plans to make a plan with Brinda Berry. 🗓
26. Completed the dreaded synopsis. Dun-dun-dun.
27. Turkey taco bowls – yum!
28. ⚡️Brainstorming with Jewels. ⛈
29. Hanging with Sawyer: singing the A-B-Cs, eatin’ some cookies.
30. Out and about with my three guys! Oh, and, snakes can’t wear pants. 🐍
31. Pedis, Home Goods, and Senor Tequila with KD Reep! Treats! 🎃

November 2021 #happythings

1. Kicked NaNoWriMo off with over 2k!
2. Words, chat, and SATC.
3. Raising Cane’s with my guy.
4. Aimee Sue’s birthday! Christopher got a new kidney!
5. Off to Chicago – dinner with Carol and Dan. 😀
6. Michael and Kelsey’s wedding! 👰🏼🤵🏻
7. Home sweet home = puppy love.
8. New tires.
9. Team Megibow call.
10. Tempted by Tazz’s Taste Temptations! Mmmm. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
11. Snoozles with Sally.
12. Date night with my sister-wife, KD Reep. 🍔 🧁🍨
13. A David Bowie kind of day… #GetThingsDone
14. Nesting day. 🏡
15. Vegging with Jewels and the QE guys.
16. 53 today! Cards, donuts, cheesecake, and interpretive dance.
17. Tazz’s Taste Treats burgers – yum! 🍔
18. Chat with the ISU OGs.
19. Hot dates at the Tractor Supply store!
20. A new MacBook Air! 💻
21. Recording the Categorically Romance podcast with Karen Booth. 🎙
22. Bill’s birthday! Bill day! Happy Bill day to us all!
23. Happiness is being the middle puppy in the puppy pile. 🐶
24. Friday on a Wednesday!
25. Thankful. So very thankful.
26. It’s Brinda Berry day! It’s Brinda Berry day! And the Hogs win! What a good season it turned out to be!
27. Spending a small fortune on the Star Trek Storytellers set and smiling about it.
28. Achiever® day! Words, foods, cleaning, lounging, chatting, and general homebodying.
29. Burgers, fries, and trash tv.
30. Massage day!

December 2021 #happythings

1. Toasty peanut butter crackers are the best!
2. Santa shopping.
3. Signed up for HB90 with Jewels.
4. Tree’s up and Captain Kirk has the con. 🛸
5. Christmas wrapping, Chex Mix, and more decor!
6. Pushing buttons and admiring sunflowers 🌻 with Kelli.
7. Sauna time.
8. Making Jewels cry. Again. Hey, everyone has to have a hobby.🥲
9. Laughing and planning with the ISU OGs.
10. 3 years at RSG. 😊
11. Christmas with our kiddos! Sweet treats and sweet boys. 🎁
12. Freddie’s and wandering Lowe’s with my guy.
13. The happiest day with K & A.
14. Chatting with my girls.
15. RSG Christmas lunch! 🎄
16. Lumping with Jewels. 📺
17. I’ve lost 50 pounds! Celebrating with Costco danishes.
18. Loungewear on a rainy day.
19. Putting the plan into action.
20. A drive-by Reeping! 👱🏻
21. Post-work puppy pile and pork loin perfection.
22. Tazz’s burgers to kick off the pre-holiday fast food feasting! 🍔
23. Holiday kickoff naps and cheesy holiday movies. 🏰
24. Singing “Laughter in the Rain” as I walk hand-in-hand with the one I love…through Home Depot.
25. A Festivus for the rest of us! A sunny Christmas Day with my guys.
26. Kidwell Boxing Day Zoom and car dumplings with my darling! 🥟
27. Simple silliness with my sweetheart.
28. Words appeared in my document!!
29. Awesome chicken sammiches.
30. Boilers win! 🏈
31. Hanging with my guy. He really is the best.🥰