A Contemplative Life

Always a pleasure to announce the release of a new novel; Nothing More Complicated: The Hawk Book Four has been a joy to my heart in these difficult times. Despite the blithe title, this novel addresses the effects of depression on three characters, and how their beloveds address a malady that in the early 1960s, when this novel is set, was rarely discussed. This story is also about patience. And healing. And how meaningful is family to which we weren't born, but have found love and comfort within. And this novel sets the stage for a major shift in the plot; Eric's issues have been the main topic for perusal, however a deeper layer awaits, which I did NOT foresee when beginning this tale back in the fall of 2013. It was merely going to be about a man who, well, changed. A LOT. And how that affected his wife and their friends. But sometimes a depth is plumbed little by little, which at times is all we can absorb. This series is that kind of character-driven saga. Below is the f...

This shot has nothing to do with 1963 Manhattan, but it's pretty, and there you go! Snapped in June of 2006 while we lived in Northern England. When writing a saga, characters emerge that at first seem like bystanders. Stanford Taylor, an aloof New York art dealer, came on the scene early in The Hawk , but little did I know how vital would be his role, and certainly how little did I know him, hehehe. Yet over the course of, ahem, MANY chapters, Stanford became one of my favourites to write, to display, to move along the story in his rather formal, detached bearing that alters significantly within the novel. Today's chapter that I just read aloud to myself is a perfect example of how a fictional soul turns into one far more than two dimensions. And how love weaves all through us, even when we believe ourselves incapable of it. Keep sparkling; our lights make all the difference in this crazy world!     Chapter 98   On the third morning of Stanford’s vacation, he woke al...

All that I write is a gift from God. Here's a sample of what I mean, a chapter from Nothing More Complicated: The Hawk Book Four .       Chapter 90   In the small room, Stanford paced between where his sisters sat and where Laurie stood, but Stanford didn’t approach where his father leaned forward in his chair near Constance’s bedside. Stanford kept his distance from his parents, in that he didn’t wish to disturb his dad, and his mother was near death. Stanford had never seen anyone die and hadn’t wanted to begin that ritual with one of his own relatives, much less his mother. Yet, there had been no way to excuse himself from this place at this time. Late on Monday, March eleventh, Constance Margaret Houseman Taylor would leave this world, but Stanford had no idea where she might be going. He’d had to cancel his appointments, well, Miss Harold had cancelled them, all but one. Stanford had personally called Dr. Walsh, but they would meet again on Thursday, at t...