November 24, 2022
It’s almost Christmas again so I’m pausing to be grateful for another year and bring a few updates. At a time of thanksgiving, I hope each of you find beauty in the gift of sharing your life with those you love.
I had the pleasure of visiting family in France just as the decorations began to go up. Beautiful to appreciate the architecture and watch the window lights highlight the cobbled streets.
Decision or Destiny in my Day Job:
There is an interesting question I enjoy with those who crave the discussion of ideas. It is a question about the impact of decisions and destiny. It was a great joy to sit at a table and ponder, with colleagues, wave function probability in the context of this question while my writing mind twisted all kinds of creative ideas. (grin).
Decision or Destiny to meet an 88-year-old French Veteran with a connection to the 1800s? Not decision on my part that he joined me on the Tram. Yet, my decision to thank him for his military service and share my seat which led to a conversation about his meeting with Eleanor Roosevelt so many years ago. Ahhhhh – life is incredible!
Decision or Destiny in Writing: Planner, Pantser, or some Creative Combination
November is NaNoWriMo month and I’m very excited to not only get my 50,000 words, but also to have written in a completely new genre – Romance! I have to credit several authors with their inspiration for this new turn. Nan Campbell, Melissa Brayden, and Ana Hartnett Reichardt, who recently connected with me through a writing conference, have been open, kind, and supportive with their guidance and friendship. Melissa’s book The Forever Factor released in November and arrived on my doorstep the day I left for Paris.
Fate (raised eyebrow and smile) ensured It made the trip with me, and I’ll share a few pictures of it along my journey. I marvel at serendipity and love the idea of a book having its own little life in the world. I took this copy along with the idea of it finding a new home and it did! It is an excellent read for inclusion and diversity. See if you can spot it along the trip and guess where I am:-)
New recommendation after this recent trip to France, Dirty Chai: Chai tea with espresso. My newest happiness:-)
Decision or Destiny in Friendship:
It was good to connect face to face with a few writing friends in October. It is so energizing to sip tea/coffee/wine and talk writing craft! Near Halloween I visited one writing friend and realized he’d really let himself go. Hahaha! Reginald having a spot a tea. He was still in better shape than Anita Koffen. I considered a Kickstarter fund to raise money to get her a box.
I also had one on one time with my editor which is always exciting! This year was extra special. I’m still writing Science Fiction and loving the way character depth is occurring naturally. It was a scene in Book One of my Science Fiction that led me to write the back story for a couple. That back story led to the rough draft for the Romance last year and a full fleshed out writing this year during NaNoWriMo. I’m encouraged at the growth I sense in my writing and the support I’ve found to expand and diversify my writing even more.
Decision or Destiny with Family:
The past several years have found me focusing better on time spent with family. Taking the time to just enjoy each other and reflect on this beautiful thing called life.
Decision or Destiny in Life:
September was a rewriting of the song “Islands in the Stream” to “Islands in the Street” as Hurricane Ian pushed little sand islands up into the streets.
Now you’re up to date with my world, well the little I can squeeze into a few paragraphs. I hope your future is full of good decisions and amazing destiny!