March 31

It's the last day of March- and for us it seemed to be lion, lamb, lion... we have rain on our snow today. With talk of more snow to come. I'm not surprised. Last year we had snow in May- and I find I've become more tolerant of the white stuff since I'm not driving in it. I do worry for the Magnolia buds-wonder if they have frozen. It would be a shame to miss them this year.

Question for today- do you read more in certain seasons? Summer beach books, winter cozy by the fire books? Or are you a constant book in every room kind of reader?

March 30

I've been asked when I thought I would hear from the editor of the book I just sent in. That question always makes me smile. I still haven't heard anything from a full book request I sent in last May to Dorechester. Some editors can take up to three years to look at a book. I usually bug them at the year mark and the 18th month mark then write the book off as rejected at the 2 year mark.

But the most recent publisher is Harlequin. They are very good at timely rejections. I know that they like to get things off their desk before the big Romance Writers of America conference in mid July. So, I will most likely hear the end of June or early July. Quick in terms of the publishing business.

Meanwhile I do have another book to write-the second partial I sent off in January and I'm playing with revisions on the book I wrote last Spring-this book is out to 8 different editors. Sure it's great if you don't have to write on spec (without a contract) but when attempting to move into larger markets or new publishers it's not always possible.

March 29

Woke up to seven inches of snow. It looks like a beautiful postcard, everything in shades of black and white or sepia tone. The sky is one color of silver white, while the snow that coats everything is a brighter white. Dark brown, snow-covered branches wave, snow-covered ground gives way to deep silver rippled lake. Geese float across the water, bobbing in and out for food. The red-wing black bird is singing away as if it were sunny and warm. Meanwhile the snow keeps falling straight down, too heavy to even float in the air.

I found a camera. This is not the exact view from my window as the window is higher up. This is the view from my deck, but it's pretty close.

March 28

This morning the lake is a series of steel gray, sparkling ripples. The geese are gone or better yet have yet to arrive for their morning rounds. Only the pair of mallard ducks hang out on the shore. I saw a fat bright red cardinal in the French pussy willow tree. His call fills the strangely empty air. It's cold. The wind blows strong and hard, stirring up more ripples. Bare tree branches shake and clank. The sky is pure white with a few puffy grey clouds and the sun is a lemon yellow streaming weakly through. The weather man is calling for rain and snow starting this afternoon. Perhaps the geese will stay away, hunkered down in their fields where the ground is warm.

March 27

We all survived George's big day out. He came back slightly stoned, drooling from the Novocaine and with five medications. He's still not talking to me-sigh. Gracie, who was dismayed when George was gone for hours, hasn't left my side. Oh, the drama. Pets are a lot of fun- and work- and as I found out yesterday sometimes they are their own soap opera.

TGIF everyone!

March 26

Happy birthday to my friend Debbie who turns 50 today! It's a big birthday and I hope you make the most of it- may this be your best decade ever.

Today I have to take our big dog George to the vet to get his tooth pulled. It's trauma all the way around-because we have to leave him and he doesn't know and can't understand why he doesn't get water of breakfast. Poor baby.

Peace!

March 25

My happy goal for the day is to read my friend Carolyn Brown's latest book from Avalon, "Pushin' Up Daisies." I can't wait to see what fun she has in store for us.

If you have never read her, look for her at your local library or on-line. Carolyn writes fun, fast paced stories of love and women's lives. She has multiple books out-historical and contemporary from Avalon books and has a series of three women's fiction books due out in September, November and January from Sourcebooks. Look for them in bookstores and Walmart.

I hope you get the chance to read a good book today!