October 6, 2008

My pastor is heading off to a men's retreat with several of the guys in my church next weekend and has asked me to fill in for him.  I'm very happy to do so, especially since the text is from Philippians.  I love the book of Philippians because it is loaded with so much wisdom for daily living.  

The chapter I'll be talking about, chapter 4, seems especially apt given the current worldwide financial gyrations.  If, like me, you're finding all these economic woes confusing and more than a little worrying, meditate on these wise words from Philippians 4:8-9 "...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things...put it into practice.  And the peace of God will be with you."

Fortunately for me, pure, lovely, excellent and praiseworthy things are just outside my door.  The fall foliage is beginning to turn in Connecticut and I've found that going for a walk and reveling in the beauty of this season does so much to calm my anxious heart and mind.  Whether you live in New England or Newfoundland or New South Wales, I'm sure it's the same where you are - there is beauty all around us.  So, if you're feeling anxious this week, I hope you'll get a chance to take a walk, clear your head, and feel at peace.  

This photo I took from a hill near my home doesn't begin to do justice to the scenery outside my door.

September 30, 2008

From Friday afternoon until late Sunday night, every moment of my weekend was scheduled.  It was all good stuff, but so incredibly busy that I was really happy to see Monday come...(at least until I turned on the news and heard the latest plot twist in the story of our national financial crisis, but that is a subject for another time...)

I was so busy during the weekend that I didn't have a chance to write and tell you about the exciting call I got on Friday morning.  My editor rang up to tell me that A SINGLE THREAD has been chosen by Levy Books as their "Need to Read" selection for November.  Hooray!

Hmmm.  I don't hear the sound of you jumping up and down out there.  That's okay, I understand.  I suspect most of you have no idea what that means.  Neither did I until it was explained to me.  Here's the deal.

Levy is one of the biggest wholesalers in the country.  They actually choose, supply, and rack a good portion of the books that get sold in many non-bookstore outlets like Target, Wal-mart, K-mart, BJ's, Stop and Shop, Kroegers, Safeway, etc.  Their "Need to Read" program highlights one book a month and sets it up in a special displays letting customers know this is a book they "need to read".  

So, now are you jumping up and down?  Well, maybe you're not, but when I heard the news, I certainly did! 

September 25, 2008

Yesterday was a day full of little blessings.

First off, I'm enjoying our fall weather in New England immensely so, after dropping my son at school, I took my dog, Oliver, for an extra long walk around our little village.  The air was crisp and clear and the leaves are just beginning to turn.  It was such a pleasure to begin my day like that and I think Oliver agreed; his tail kept waving like a flag.  

Next, I went to the salon and got my hair done.  I don't know about you, but I always feel like a new woman after a trip to the hair salon.  Later in the day, I went to my son's cross country meet and it was great!  He placed higher than he's ever done before and this on a particularly difficult and hilly course.  Watching him come in the shoot and cross the finish line in such great time made my heart glow. 

And, as if all that weren't enough, when we got home we discovered a big package had been left on our doorstep.  Upon opening, it revealed a lovely gold box of Godiva chocolates!  And they were free!  A gift from Godiva thanking us for our holiday gift orders last year (and, of course, reminding us that their chocolates would make wonderful gifts this year as well).

A good walk, a good hair day, a good race, and a box of chocolates.  It's the little things that make life so sweet.   

September 22, 2008

I'm crazy about my mother, always have been.  She has the ability to see the good in virtually any situation. 

For example, when I was a teenager, our house burned down as a result of faulty wiring.  Fortunately, the blaze began on a night when she was off at a graduate school class and I was babysitting. No one was hurt and my beloved cat, Gretchen, escaped.  Still, it was upsetting standing on the street with all the neighbors milling around, watching the flames climb into the night sky.  I started crying.  Seeing this, my mother walked over, punched me on the shoulder (she was never a huggy sort of mom but I knew it meant the same thing), and said, "What are you crying about?  We've got our cat.  We've got our car.  And we've got a University of Oregon stadium blanket.  Now, what the heck else is it that you think we need?" 

Mom always knows how to put things into perspective.  She did the same thing last week, a rocky week I doubt any of us will soon forget.  What with the media talking about things like "recession", "depression", and "world wide financial collapse", just listening to the radio got pretty scary. 

But after they announced the big $700 billion government bailout, Mom rang me up and said, "I don't own any stock or securities so I was starting to feel kind of left out.  But now, since I'll be helpig to foot the bill along with the rest of the taxpayers, I really feel like I'm in the loop again!" 

That's my mom, always able to find a silver lining.              

September 18, 2008

I'm deeply involved in writing at the moment, working on the third book in a series none of you have read yet because the first book in the series, A SINGLE THREAD, doesn't even come out until October 28th. (However, you can pre-order it now and I think you should - probably five or six copies.  After all, I'd buy your book if it was coming out.  Yes, indeed I would.)  

It seems so odd that I'm all wrapped up in these characters and you don't even know them yet, but that's just the way the publishing world works. Generally, books are years in the making.  I'm not sure why that is, I'm just the writer, but there's probably some very good reasons.   

But I digress.

The point of today's blog was to let you know that the reason I haven't blogged recently is that I'm writing and when I am, not much else happens. Writing makes for a  very slow news day.

Whenever I go out and speak with groups, someone inevitably asks, "what does your writing day look like?"  Now, I know that what they actually meant to ask was what sort of writing schedule I keep; how many hours I write, do I write every day, and how many pages I get done in a day,  (I think this also may be a backhanded way of asking why it takes so darned long for me to write a book.  I really don't know why, it just does.  Believe me, I'd do it faster if I could.) so I go ahead and answer the question they meant to ask rather than the question they actually did ask.

But the impish part of me is always tempted to answer literally as in, "My writing day looks like me sitting in a chair and, except for my fingers on the computer keys, keeping absolutely still for hours at a time.  If you had a choice between watching a writer write and watching paint dry, go for the paint.  It's a lot more exciting."  Actually, for me it's very exciting because it's all happening in my head, but writing is not a spectator sport - worse than watching golf on television.  

Tomorrow will be better.  I'm driving to Boston to attend NEIBA, the New England Independent Booksellers Association trade show.  I'll be signing at 1:00pm, so if you're going to the show come by and say hello.  I'm looking forward to getting out and mixing with my favorite people - Book People.  

Also, my friend Pam is taking the day off to drive up and back with me.  We probably won't have time to do much more than eat lunch and then go home, but we'll have lots of time to talk on the way.  I'm driving, which means I get control of the CD player.  I'm already picking my play list for the trip.  There will be lots of Dixie Chicks, Bette Midler, Judy Garland, and Diane Schuur.  I was thinking of bringing along some Frank Sinatra and Harry Belafonte too, but then decided this was going to be an all girls road trip so Frank and Harry will have to stay home.  It should be fun!  Think Thelma and Louise go to NEIBA.

Okay, maybe not that exciting (I hope not!)  But definitely more exciting than watching paint dry or golf on television.