A brief update and two recommendations

 May.

That was the last time I wrote anything here, and I have no excuse except choosing to do other things, many of which were no doubt a complete waste of my time.

Case in point. Driving to Florida with my brother to visit my mom.

I won't go into detail but I will never, ever in a million years drive to Florida if I can possibly help it. I can give you lots of reasons why, but the loss of time would be #1.

Just not worth it.

Oh, and a piece of advice. Never stay at the Knights Inn in Allentown, PA. The check in person when we arrived was busy smoking outside, told us to go in and wait. Then when she began to check us in, she got on her phone to discuss grocery shopping with her kid. My brother finally says, "Will this take long?" She says, "I can multi-task!"

Clearly not, but whatevs.

Anyway. No driving to Florida, and no more 2 star hotels. I deserve better!

Here's a few happy pics from Lieu Gardens...

 

 

Now for my recommendations.

11/22/63 by Stephen King and Mare of Eastown with Kate Winslet.

The book (no surprise) is long. Very long. But I was invested every step of the way with the narrator, who has been shown a way back and given the tools to stop the assassination of JFK. Needless to say it won't be simple, and it definitely won't be easy since time doesn't like people messing around with it. If you're a Stephen King fan, I highly recommend this one.

As for Mare of Eastown, all I can say is wow. Kate Winslet was fabulous as the main character, trying to solve a murder investigation while still grieving (or resisting grieving) the loss of her own son. Her friend Lori, played by Julianne Nicholson of Law & Order fame, was equally amazing. I can't say enough about this show and am sad there were only 7 episodes. 

 

And last but not least, my favorite new song

IWSG - the late edition

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!


September 2 question - If you could choose one author, living or dead, to be your beta partner, who would it be and why?
The awesome co-hosts for the September 2 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, J Lenni Dorner, Deniz Bevan, Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, and Louise - Fundy Blue!  


If I could have the beta partners of my choice, I'd choose Stephen King and Ursula LeGuin. Stephen King, because he can make the most mundane interesting and Ursula LeGuin, because she knows how to choose her words. Her spare descriptions are some of the most beautiful and memorable.

In other news, I've read 31 books this year, the last two some fun Regency Romances.

Oh. You didn't know I read romance. Probably because I don't read them much any more. But...the two writers who made me want to write are JRR Tolkien and Rosemary Rogers.

Yes, I read Shanna,too, and all I can say is that's my kind of pirate...

But back to the two books I read...

I admit, I have a soft spot for the Regency period in England. It was so decadent, and the clothes...to die for, so these were both easy sells. I saw them reviewed and thought, well, darn, I haven't read a fun romance in a while, so why not?

I was not disappointed. These were both fast-paced, hot (but not too naughty) romances with plucky heroines who pulled themselves up from rejection and scandal and made a life before Mr. Hotness walked in. I definitely recommend both to anyone who likes romance, but I especially liked Who's That Earl. The heroine is masquerading as an assistant to an author (who's never seen, of course) when in fact she's the author. Then along comes the Earl...

In television I highly recommend The Expanse, a scifi show on Amazon Prime. I'm on season 3 and oh, boy is it good. Also loving season 2 of The Umbrella Academy on Netflix. If you liked the first season, you're going to love the second. And I say that having not finished watching (I'm on episode 6) so no spoilers!

Now, tell me who you'd like for a beta partner or what books you're reading or shows you're watching or anything that's making you happy.

IWSG April Covid-19 Edition

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

April 1 question - The IWSG’s focus is on our writers. Each month, from all over the globe, we are a united group sharing our insecurities, our troubles, and our pain. So, in this time when our world is in crisis with the covid-19 pandemic, our optional question this month is: how are things in your world? 

 

The awesome co-hosts for the April 1 posting of the IWSG are Diane Burton, JH Moncrieff, Anna @ Emaginette, Karen @ Reprobate Typewriter, Erika Beebe, and Lisa Buie-Collard! 

Well, I pretty much covered how things were in my world last week. Not much has changed except I did find kitty litter. But sadly, no tp :(

I am glad I live in a rural area. It doesn’t make me invulnerable but maybe a little safer. I hope. As of yesterday, there were 253 cases in Maine, and 4 in the county I live in.

In other news, it is miserable and cold and rainy as I write this, and we had hail yesterday afternoon. This is the view from my room.

Ugh. I am also working on something new, tentatively titled, THE READING ROOM, and still reading The Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith

I finished October Faction, which I really enjoyed, watched the new first episode of Westworld, another episode of The Americans, and am loving Picard.💗 Thanks to a promo I saw on FB I have a free month of CBC All Access and I’m pretty sure that will give me enough time to see Picard through to the end of the first season.

Did I mention panicking? Not full-blown can’t breathe OMG panic, but just these little moments that freeze me in time. Is my throat sore? Why am I suddenly warm? I’m never warm. I’m getting sick. I’m going to die and take my entire household with me…Then the other part of me kicks and says in a quiet soothing voice, no, no, it’s okay. You’re imagining the sore throat. See? And you’ve got your little heater a foot away, a down vest and scarf on, so of course you’re warm. Take a deep breath and go look at some cute animals to calm down.

There, isn’t that better?

I'm not dead yet

Well. A lot has happened since I last posted anything.

I missed IWSG thanks to the demise of my double-u key, which threw me for a loop for a while. I have since discovered that replacing the double-u with the q can help spell check and auto-correct. It’s a pain in the ass though and very time consuming but it works. Mostly. If this was a desk top I’d have already bought a new keyboard but replacing the keyboard on a laptop isn’t so easy, not to mention I’d be without! However, I’ve found a work around as far as writing goes. Gaming however, is a different story, especially for the games I play, all of which need the double-u key to move forward. Assigning a different key isn’t very practical, especially in combat situations, so I haven’t been playing 7 Days to Die (insert sad sigh), or anything except scrabble on FB, and way too much of that lately.

I’ve read a few more books, bringing my total to 9 plus the 2 I’m currently reading (The Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith and A Trail Through Time by Jodi Taylor). I’ve watched Lock & Key (recommended), Riverdale (on season 3), Sabrina (didn’t like the first episode of season 3 but did like episode 2, convincing me to keep watching), and am still watching The Americans. Oh, and I’ve started The October Faction which I’m finding fun.

Of course, the biggest news is Covid-19. I’m not going to say much about our government’s response, except to say it was lacking and still is imo, and that I wish Trump would shut up and let the experts explain things so they don’t have to correct him later. I am going to comment on all the morons who are buying a lifetime supply of whatever they can. I have not been able to buy toilet paper because the shelves have been empty. Nor could I buy cat litter. Of any kind. Personally? I’d like to see all these hoarders put on an island with NO toilet paper! No. Not an island. Cuz then they’d have the ocean to wash their bums off. Seriously. WTF? These are the people that ruin it for everyone else and they are of every ilk, selfish little shitbags thinking only of themselves. In times of crisis some people rise to the occasion. Others turn into the assholes we love to hate on tv.

Thanks to the virus, I’ve been laid off as the shop has gone to appointments only. My sister is primarily working from home as a teacher remotely while our roommate is still going in to Lowe’s every day. I think the only ones happy about this are all the dogs who get to have their people home.

I will be participating in Jemi Fraser’s blog tour for her new book, Dancing with Dementia, so do come back for that on the 31^st. I’ll try to participate in next month’s IWSG but boy, it takes a long time to write anything without that one key.

If there are any other authors needing some extra love (I feel horrible for anyone trying to release a new book right now), please contact me. I’m happy to host a guest post, promo, or whatever I can do to help.

Now. Tell me how things are in your neck of the woods. Got hoarders?

A delicious brunch I had in January

Bruno having snuck up on bed unnoticed

Stay well!

The Moon

We had a full moon the other night and I took some pics but only one came out well enough I care to share it, and even so I did add a filter to it. The view is from our yard looking across the street toward our neighbors (yes, the barking dogs neighbors).

In other news, the days are getting shorter and colder, there are no flowers except for a few stray asters here and there, and I miss summer. I have also put aside THE TRAIN TO SOMEWHERE (to rest so when I come back it will be with different eyes...I hope) and am diligently working on revisions to a previously completed tale set in an alternative timeline. I'm still enjoying Lucifer on Netflix, as well The Americans and The Good Place (highly highly recommended). Currently reading Cress by Marissa Meyer. Oh, and I finally saw Captain Marvel. Loved it. And Good Omens. Wicked fun. But then, I love almost anything Terry Pratchett.

What's new where you are? Seen any good movies lately? Watched any good shows? Read any good books?