Tag: Real Life

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My Snowy Week: Books, Baking, and K-Drama

I have never been a big TikTok user. I mainly went there to watch videos of people making sourdough bread or scrambled eggs. For this reason, the short blackout of that platform didn’t have a big impact on me, other than to reinforce the mercurial nature of all social media/sharing platforms.

Remember Napster? Yeah. I do too.

They can disappear at any time. Add that to the fact that what we see is controlled by an algorithm and our feeds are flooded with ads, and I find I am losing interest.

And for that reason, I really am going to making an effort to post to social media less, and concentrate on sharing things here and in my newsletter more.

So, here is what I did this weekend…

I made sourdough!

After weeks of voyeuristic video watching, my starter, Suzanne, was finally bubbly enough to jump in and join the cult of cultured bread! I wasn’t quite ready to go full nature-girl on this outing, so I followed Paul Hollywood’s step-by-step and used the KitchenAid.

And look what happened!

Isn’t she lovely? I plan to try different techniques and I’ll have to get a better handle on my timing, but overall, I am pleased!

In other news, I have a new book coming out this week. My latest Intrigue series kicks off with SHADOWING HER STALKER, and should be available wherever Harlequins are sold!

We had a big (for us) snow here in Arkansas last week, and I tell you, I had the best snow-weekend. I read, watched my first K-Drama (The Extraordinary Attorney Woo), read, and napped. I wore soft pants for days and admired the view from my window, It was glorious.

So that’s what I’ve been up to this week. What’s new with you?

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I’m not really anti-social…

I’m not anti-social, but I am becoming more and more anti-social-media. It’s definitely an “It’s complicated” relationship.

someecards meme about being anti-social media
meme by someecards

We’ve been hearing about the perils and pitfalls of social media for years now, and yet…

I still have a Facebook account and author pages. It’s where I tend to connect with family and other people I know IRL.

I’m also on Instagram and by association, Threads. I like to post pics of the dogs or flowers or my cute grandsons, but my feed on Instagram is now mostly ads, inspirational memes, and videos reposted from TikTok. The impermanence of Stories just makes me sad.

I had high hopes for Threads because I miss engaging with other in the author community, but its taking what now seems to be the inevitable turn. Why can’t we have nice things?

Scrolling TikTok left me annoyed by the amount of time I’ve wasted, so I deleted it. I’m also one of those people who hated watching people stage fake oopsie-daisies on America’s Favorite Home Videos, so… Not my thing.

Once upon a time, I signed up for a LinkedIn account, but I don’t use it. Nor do I consider it social media.

I cut ties with The App Formerly Known as Twitter in 2019. What a cesspool.

But authors are encouraged to be everywhere.

They say we never know where we’re going to find our next avid reader, so we cast our nets wide. We ask engaging questions, post endless game memes, and generally do things that don’t suit our personalities on the off chance we might reach new readers. I have watched people I know personally create a whole new “author personna” for social media, and I’m telling you, it’s freaky.

I just…can’t. It’s exhausting. I’d rather be writing.

I’ll keep my accounts, of course, but I am going to curate them more. Some I’ll use purely for book-related promotion, others for more personal reasons. But I’m not going to do the thing where I post to social media to let people know I won’t be posting to social media, though.

Links to blog posts and newsletters will auto-post to some accounts, but if you’re looking for me, you can always find me here.

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Let’s catch up!

This year… 2024 has been a bit of a rollercoaster in my household, but I wanted to take a minute to catch up. I used to laugh when my mother would complain about time moving too fast as she got older, but now… Sorry, Mom. I totally get you.

How is it we’re more than halfway through March? I kicked off the year with my first case of COVID, and things have been a bit bumpy ever since.

But Spring has sprung, and rather than complain about the pollen, I’m basking in the sunny days and blooming flowers. And though things have not been optimal, all is well. I’m finding I’m becoming more and more about the big picture these days.

daffodils

The writing is happening. I’ve turned in the first book for my next Intrigue series – Arkansas Special Agents: Cyber Crime Division. I’m working on book #2 now.

My mom-com manuscript is currently on submission with a number of editors. It’s a story about a single mom and her fabulous support network of family and friends. Cross your fingers!

Speaking of friends… I’m planning some trips to visit girlfriends this year. We’re spread out geographically, but somehow have managed to remain in one another’s pockets for decades. I’m feeling the need for a little time with my ladies.

On the homefront, the grandsons are growing and thriving. The house is a mess, but it’s our mess and we can live with it. It’s almost time to start haunting the garden centers – yay! But mostly, the dogs still rule our lives. Our sweet Sally has not been feeling well lately, so we’re spending some extra time on the puppy cuddles.

Catch a snooze with Sally (lab) and Timber (germador)

Can you blame us? Look at these big babies! Fodder turned from his desk and caught his co-workers slacking off. It happens most days. As a matter of fact, he snaps a pic and sends it to me with the caption: Daily Dog. I smile like a goof each time I get a new one.

I’ve been listening to a ton of audiobooks. I’m on book 17 of Louise Penny’s fabulous Three Pines books. I’m trying (and failing) to pace myself. My favorite read so far this year has been The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston. It may not be for everyone, as there’s some time travel involved, but I really enjoyed it.

How about you? How is 2024 treating you so far? What are you reading? Catch me up!

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Hello, December

Hi friends. Can you believe it’s December already? Me either.

Truthfully, I won’t be sad to leave 2021 behind. This has been a hard year. Not that it’s been all bad – just a bit of a slog. Tons of good things happened, and I have been keeping up with my monthly #happythings lists. I’ll post the year-end wrapup here at the end of the month.

But a New Year is coming. I have high hopes for 2022, how about you? Is there anything you’re looking forward to?

If you’re looking for some holiday romance – I have some for you. I have a new one-hour short story called LOVE ON DELIVERY available in both ebook and audio formats, LONG DISTANCE LOVE is on sale, and our favorite New Year’s Eve gone wrong/right story, THE LAST FIRST DATE is always a fun way to spend a night in.

So, take some time to curl up in your cozies, maybe add a splash of “special coffee creamer” to your mug, and be sure to breathe deeply.

Peace, friends.

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So many things to tell you!

First…. I typed The End on my June 2022 Harlequin Intrigue release FOOTHILLS FIELD SEARCH! I’m super-excited about this one because it’s a part (book #3) of a multi-author series called K-9s On Patrol.

I got to write about a yellow Labrador retriever named Winnie, who is a trained search & rescue dog.

As you can see, my black lab, Sally, is trained mainly in kitchen search and scarf, but she’s pleased that I was able to help rep the breed.

Sally in her natural habitat

Then, we had to offload this one this weekend. I mean, the maintenance and upkeep alone…

Our daughter’s wedding!

And finally… Harry will be released into the wild tomorrow!

TRIAL IN THE BACKWOODS – the third installment in my Raising the Bar Brief series from Harlequin Intrigue hits the shelves 9/28/21! Look for Harry and Alicia at a bookstore, Walmart, Meijer, or other mass merchandiser near you!

Whew! I don’t know about you, but I need a nap. Is it October yet?

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I’m so excited!

You guys… I read a news story the other day that fit the series I just signed on to do with Harlequin Intrigue so perfectly I literally made this face:

It’s one of those cases so wild it’s hard to believe it’s true. I have a whole squad of hamsters running in their wheels!

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Busy, busy, busy!

As I write this I’m getting ready to do an interview for a podcast. It also just occurred to me a couple of days ago that book #2 in the Raising the Bar Briefs series, FOR THE DEFENSE will release on Tuesday. Oh, and did I mention that I’m trying to finish drafting a book that will release next summer?

So what have I been doing? If you said hanging out with Fodder, napping with the beasts, watching Ted Lasso, you’d be right! Or, should I say, spot on!

Ted Lasso pointing the affirmative

But I have been working here and there. This is part of my new process. I know that the work will get done, and I’m not stressing about it.

So let me remind you of this. If you want a paperback copy of AN ABSENCE OF MOTIVE (Book 1), today is the last day to buy one in stores. Tomorrow, they will switch out the stock. Of course, ebooks will be available in perpetuity and you can order paperbacks through Harlequin.com.

In case you missed it, I chatted with Renee from the kt literary podcast recently and had a new book deal announced. Yay!

So, yeah, that’s where I’m at. I need to go get ready to try to string coherent words together. Wish me luck!

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Back to blogging

I’m coming back to the blog.

Why? I miss it. I miss the interaction I get to have with people here, even if it’s only a few.

Aren’t blogs kind of, you know, dead? I don’t care. I’m tired of chasing trends, disenchanted with social media, and want something more personal than my newsletter.

Will you still send newsletters? Of course! But there will be a little more of me in the posts here.

How often will you post? I’m not sure. I think not weekly, but maybe a couple of times a month.

About what? General babbling. Life, writing, books, anything, and everything.

Is anyone still out there in the blog-o-sphere?

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Hello, it’s me…

My husband would make faces if he knew I’d used the Todd Rundgren line, but he’s down there and I’m up here and he never looks at my blog anyway, so there you go.

Hi, friends. How are you holding up? I hope you and your loved ones are well. We are okay here. I have voted, but Fodder has not yet done so. Don’t worry, I’m a pro-level badgerer, so he will get it done.

We’ve been mostly holing up, which is good because someone *points to self* had a book to write. And guess what? I did!

I finished the rough draft of SMUGGLER’S BLUES (Pine Woods #2 for Harlequin Intrigue) yesterday. Yay! It’s a bit of a hot mess at the moment, but I have a month to whip it into shape before it’s due to my editor.

last lines from the book and THE END
Screenshot of the last lines typed – definitely subject to change

In the meantime, my editor is taking her first crack at book #1 – tentatively titled ABSENCE OF MOTIVE. I’m also plotting and planning to write something completely different for NaNoWriMo – a RomCom!

If you’re a writer or other type of creative reading this and flipping the bird at your screen, please know I’m not saying these things to brag. Staying busy has been the best way for me to cope with what’s happening all around us, but I know it’s not the same for everyone.

We’re over a half-year into this thing. Like the rest of you, I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss traveling. I miss going to the grocery store without suiting up like I’m touring Chernobyl. Fodder and I are still not dining-in at restaurants, but we are supporting our favorite locals. Since we live in the boonies, I bought some nifty cafeteria trays we use for our in-town car dining.

Date night means schnitzel night!

Fancy, right?

Tell me, what’s helping you get through? I’d love to hear from you. To know you’re okay and I’m not flaunting my schnitzel for naught.

Be well. And if you are one of my American friends, don’t forget to VOTE!

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Monday Mayhem – On grief

On Friday, our friend Michelle lost her battle with cancer.

This isn’t the first time I’ve dealt with grief. I’ve lost grandparents, both my father and mother, all but one aunt and uncle, a few co-workers and acquaintances, and grieved each and every one of them.

But this one is hitting me hard.

There are a lot of reasons why I may not be dealing well. It happened too soon. The disease progressed too fast. She was too young, too bright, too vibrant, too determined. All of those toos and too many others.

Her family asked if I would write something about her life, not knowing that she was the reason I became a romance writer. She loved the fan-fiction I wrote and was always after me to write something original. She gave me her story, and I gave her a prologue for her birthday in 2009. She read it, liked it, and then pushed me to write the rest of the story which would become the first novel I wrote, Contentment.

Here is the last thing I wrote for Michelle:

Michelle Kelly lived a life filled with passion and unmatched generosity of spirit. Family, friends, acquaintances – no one was immune to her bright smile or the mischievous twinkle in her eye. She had a laugh that drew people to her and used it well and often. Michelle will forever be known as a determined shopper, willing and able volunteer, world-class adventurer, and master of all things organizational. Her wit was stealthy and her humour good-natured. She frequently amused her friends by misappropriating words with intent to tickle. 

But mostly she loved. Michelle loved her family and friends with unreserved gusto. Shakespeare had the measure of Michelle Kelly when he wrote, “And though she be but little, she is fierce.” Our Michelle was the fiercest of women – bright, beautiful, and brave. 

How do you say goodbye to someone who altered your life in such a profound way? Someone who shared your highs, lows, passing enthusiasms, and enduring loves?

The truth is, I have no idea.

So I’ll just sit with it a while. Feel all these feelings, and cry all these tears. The only way forward is through, right? I do know one thing for certain. Kelly Clarkson was right, my life will suck without her.