April 29

All right my friends, how many of you got up early/stayed up late to watch the Royal Wedding? No, I didn't. I understand the appeal, though. With all the terrible news of wars and tornadoes and floods and fires and earthquakes, rising gas prices...etc., etc. It is kind of fun to focus on a silly thing like a royal celebration. Monarchies are so odd in the 21st century of elected officials and policy makers. I think it's a nostalgia thing. People like to think that kings and queens symbolize chivalry and golden ages.

Unless, of course, you've ever cracked a history book or read an historical novel. When I was much younger I loved to read time travel novels where girls of today went back in time to fall in love with a warrior prince. Now that I'm older, I think I won't give up my coffee; clean, dry, heated/air-conditioned home, my grocery store that offers more than root vegetables in the dead of winter. Giving up cars and planes and public water for a rat infested manor home, in a time when childbirth was a statistical death sentence. Yeah I could go on.

Maybe it's the fantasy that somehow being rich and/or royal makes your life better. I don't know.

Now for the truth: the first thing I did this morning was watch the yahoo video to see the dress and the decorations in the church and the kiss on the balcony. ;)

My wish for them and all the young people in love and starting families all the best. Cheers~

April 28

The news has been terrible lately with all the weather problems. I am thinking of everyone who has been through storm after storm. Tornadoes and floods are horrible things. I hope that you are all safe and warm. We have flooding here as well but so far the big winds have stayed south. It's hard to think about writing or deadlines when you are worried about your home or your friends and family. Thoughts and prayers to you all~ Please let me know that you are fine.

Cheers~

April 27

Two weeks ago, or was it three? Darn, time flies... I updated my website. Then I got to share the news of my new series and now my website is not up-to-date. Gah! So I hope to get that fixed today. People have commented that I took down my author photo. Well, it was ten years old. *blushes* So probably not appropriate. The one I use on Facebook is from 2009 and was not shot for author purposes so I really can't officially use it. I keep saying I need a new one. I came across my writing goals for 2008- which was, um, four years ago, and on that list was~ Get new author photo.~

I don't like my picture to be taken. I get self conscious and uncomfortable and then when I see the pictures, I think, That's not what I look like. Then I cringe and hope no one else sees the pictures.

I don't know... do I just go down to Walmart or JC Penny and take a head shot and move on? Do I find the local guy who does senior pictures? (Gah, that was a pun, wasn't it?)

I really don't want to do this. SO I'm procrastinating.

I feel like little dog contemplating having to go to the groomer...*tremble and whine*...

April 26

I'm later than usual getting to my blog today. Unlike some people who write all their blogs in one day and then set them to post at different times, I write this blog every day before I post. The problem with that is that I am not always consistent with getting this bit of work done. Tuesdays are the worst offenders because I post to my weekly craft blog as well and I do the same with that...last minute, what should I talk about today kind of stuff. lol

So, my new mystery series will have recipes in the back of the book. I was thinking perhaps I should create a few videos for the website where I make the recipes. Then you can see how I do it and what it looks like as I go along. What do you think?

When I was a kid, I did quite a few cooking demonstrations for 4H. So this would not be anything new to me, plus I can edit out all the bad bits. :)

Let me know what you think. Do you want to see into my kitchen and my wacky cooking mind?

April 25

Happy birthday to my son, Thomas!! May this be your best year ever. (He said he's too old for birthdays now. Ha!)

I'm off to the post office today to mail a copy of the cozy mystery "Gluten For Punishment" to the fabulous Carolyn Hart, NYT Bestseller. Who has said she would read it and give me a cover quote. Thank you Carolyn, I am honored.

Hope everyone had a good weekend. Cheers~

April 22

It's Good Friday and Earth Day~ I forgot to mention Passover this week as well. Such a busy week. My niece gave birth to a 4 pound 8 ounce preemie, Emilia Lyn. (I hope I got the spelling correct.) It's a lovely name. The baby was four weeks early and needs to be watched until she gets up to five pounds. Mama is doing well.

Do you observe Earth Day? I have always recycled and been thoughtful in my purchases. I watched a video about a family who could hold three months worth of garbage in a quart bag. She bought everything in bulk and brought her own glass containers to the store- even for the meat. They used compost-able toothbrushes and made their own soap and toothpaste and deodorant. That to me is a lot of effort. I'd just like to see people recycle their plastic pop bottle, aluminium cans and glass containers. Little bits are helpful- so don't feel as if you have to go extreme to help the earth. Even simply walking to the store helps. Cheers~

April 21

Congrats to my niece Michele, and Tammy and Dave-her Mom and Dad. Last I heard Michele is having her baby girl today. The first grand baby on that side. May their lives be filled with blessings.

Here's a question for my writer friends, have you ever taken a major character in your book and rewritten their occupation, motivation, part they play in the story? Was it a fun puzzle to work out? Or did you find it difficult because you knew them as one person and now you are trying to create them as another?

Have you taken a character from one book and written them into another? Or do you prefer to play with fresh characters ever time?

Would love to know~ Cheers!