RANDOM THOUGHTS

I'm transitioning to a new format. . . maybe even a new look on here. With the release of "Awakening Avery" I need to reflect that, although I love historical fiction and the power of illustrating history within the context of a good story, I also think there are lots of great things to celebrate about these days.

So I'm thinking about themed days of the week, like "WHERE IN THE WORLD AM I ON MY CURRENT PROJECT WEDNESDAY?" Perhaps that's too cumbersome. . . .

Okay, so while I mulling over possibilities, (I could use some snappy suggestions), I'll share a few random glimpses into my word today.

My husband attends computer shows, which means he comes home with tons of goofy little technical trinkets. Last week it was a dozen or so rubber heads that when squeezed offer mental health advice to the stressed. In an agitated voice it counsels "Relax! Calm down now! Don't stress! Take it easy!" (What in the world are you actually supposed to do with these?)

I gave one to our little grandson who was immediately dubious. He in turn dunked it in the bathtub. Man down. Voice squelched. Case closed. Or so I thought.

Last night I kept hearing a man's voice off in the distance. I assumed it was coming from a TV left on, or a cell phone conversation, but Tom was asleep, so who was talking? A momentary chill pierced my heart. Someone is in my house! Then I recognized the annoying timber of the voice, the repetitive message playing off in the distance.

Just like those looney women who go down the dark steps in horror movies, or those about-to-be-murdered men who venture alone into eerie parking garages, I got out of bed and went searching for "the voice." And there it was, in the bathtub, my rubber stress-head. Evidently the circuitry had dried sufficiently to allow a brief resurrection from the electrical dead. How wonderful. . . .

Once I was up I couldn't get back to sleep, so I spent an hour writing 3 more pages on Free Men and Dreamers Book 4, which I think we're going to title, "OH SAY DO YOU SEE?" Keep your eyes on the little bar in the top of the sidebar. That's where I'll be posting my progress towards the July release date.

And in the meantime, we've got a cover for "AWAKENING AVERY" which is scheduled for an April release. We're finalizing typeset and then it's on to the printers. Hopefully you hear a lot of buzz about this book in the near future. It's one of my very favorites, and I'm thrilled about the project.

So here's to random blogs, things that go "RELAX" in the night, and midnight writing sessions. See? I really need a blog-plan!