• Nan in Search of Clarity–Day 4

    Sometimes clarity comes because you’re having a pretty okay day. Today was pretty okay. I got my hair blonded and cut and I worked. Did the rest of the first read-through on my current editing gig. Great story! I love it when a story captures me to the point that doing any kind of editing is pointless until I’ve read the whole thing through first.  Finished it this afternoon and started the actual edit, but it’s mostly mechanics. This is a first-rate writing and I love it! Tonight, we watched the newest episode of Outlander. I confess I’m hooked–as hooked as I was/am on the novels. These books are huge–both…

  • Nan in Search of Clarity–Day 3

    You know, I really don’t want these 30 days to be just me whining about my state of mind, my feelings…for one thing, it’s going to get pretty damn boring and for another, it’s not me. I’m not really a whiner by nature. Even though I kinda feel whiny, I also want to share good stuff that happens. Today was a good day and I didn’t cry once. We read the story of the crucifixion this morning during our devotion time–only two more in the Lenten Devotional that we got from church–it’s been nice to share that each morning, and reading the whole account from the gospel of Mark was…

  • Nan in Search of Clarity–Day 2

    It was a pampering day–mani/pedi and lunch with sister PJ. There is camaraderie in going to the nail salon together, even if we don’t get to chat while we there. Is it silly that it’s nice just to know that she’s there with me? I don’t think so. When I got home, I worked on an editing gig that I just got for a little while and then went with Hubs to supper and the grocery. Weirdness–my appetite sorta sucks right now–this isn’t a complaint, just an observation. Nothing really sounds that good and for some reason, my aversion to sauces and dressings has gotten really, really bad. Like, please-please-…

  • Nan in Search of Clarity–Day 1

    It’s been a long, very hard winter and I can’t seem to get my head back on straight after the deaths of my friend, David and my dear sister, Kate, after dealing with Dee’s continuing illness and seeing my dearest pal, CL suffer through breast cancer surgery and radiation. It feels as though I’m in a fog, in a state of…I don’t know what. Not confusion exactly, but more like I’m trying to walk through half-set jello. I’m unmotivated to write or to work or to put much effort into anything at all. I’m disorganized and scattered. I have the attention span of a very small child. Even simple things…

  • November Memos

    Okay, so maybe these are actually early December memos. No matter, here we go… Hey, Cancer, You SUCK and I’ve had quite enough of you attacking my loved ones, so cut it out! Got it? Scram! They need a break and frankly so do I, so go away and never, ever return, okay? Fiercely, Nan ******* Dear Cloudy, Gray Skies, Buzz off and let the sunshine in… Please? Nan ****** Dear Christmas Cookies and Fudge, Somehow, you’ve gotten the mistaken idea that I made you for my own pleasure. Well, I didn’t. I made you for my clients and friends, so stop calling to me from the freezer in the…

  • Chasing Summer

    It’s November 2 and it’s chilly and breezy here at the lake—like wintertime chilly. The sun is shining today, but on Halloween–just two days ago–it snowed! Snow on Halloween! Sheesh! We just walked down to the dock to take a look at the lake, and the wind nipped at my nose so bad, I had to wrap my scarf around my face. Now, as I sit by the window, working and watching the wind scatter our tidy piles of raked leaves back across the yard, I’m wondering what the hell happened to summer? I know summer was here—after all the cottage is still open (although we’re closing up next weekend).…

  • The Zen of Traveling

    I’ve done a lot of traveling this year…well, for me a lot of traveling. I went to Chicago for the Chicago North Romance Writers Conference—a blast, by the way! Then I went west to stay with Grandboy while his parents went even further west for a business/pleasure trip. I was home for about twenty-four hours before heading to Albany, New York to attend a family wedding and then on to visit friends near Syracuse. Had a great time on all those trips, but I’m rather glad that for a while, most of the traveling I’m doing is back and forth between home and the lake. Husband and I have traveled…

  • A Word From the Editor…

    Most of you know that I make my living as a freelance copyeditor. I hope one day that the writing will bring in enough income that I can do it full-time, but right now, it’s important I maintain my editing clients. I’m okay with that because at this point in my career, I can be pickier about the projects I take on. I’m getting more into fiction editing, which I adore, and I have several nonfiction clients whose work is always a treat. All in all, things are good on the editing front. One of my clients is a huge computer title publisher and I’m just crazy about them. The…

  • Hi, It’s Me…

    I promised myself that I would blog again once this book was done and guess what? It’s done! Clap hands!! Of course, I realize that this is only a first draft and once my betas and my  editor have been through it, there will be more work to do, but for now, Book 3 of the Women of Willow Bay series is officially finished! I’m so happy, I’ve been Snoopy-dancing all day long. I’m not sure why the book took so long. Actually, most of was written several months ago. But I changed it up—a lot—and suddenly it got bigger than anything I’d planned. I confess, it’s my own fault.…

  • 8-Sentence Sunday Redux

    So last week, I posted my eight and realized after I did it that I’d forgotten to sign up. DUH!! It’s been that kind of month, Mes Amies. However, here are the eight sentences from The Summer of Second Chances that I posted last week, and Sophie and Ben just cannot catch a break. That delicious kiss intensifies when suddenly… “Sophie.” Ben pulled back and reached down to grasp her hands, “Soph… somebody’s at the door.” Squinting up into his passion-dark eyes, almost navy in the lamplight from the living room, she blinked in confusion before she finally heard the knocking from the utility room. Someone was rattling the hook…