A Contemplative Life

The Yorkshire Dales, autumn 2019 although I thought this was from spring, lol. (England matters in a post about writing because it was in the UK where I began my first novel!) Reading over Chapter 11 of The Possibility of What If ; my life as a fifty-something is nearly done. Not sure why I felt compelled to read over that random chapter, but I was. I'm posting it below, but first here's a little snippet of what else is happening.... I'll be sixty VERY SOON. LOL. No ahems, no visits from Future or Past Me. Simply this last days in my fifties me, which won't be that different than who I'll be after I turn sixty, God willing. I trimmed my fringe this morning, that's bangs to you Yanks. I'll get a proper haircut next month once shingles are DONE. They're close, but.... Last night I dreamed they had gotten worse. Thankfully that isn't the case. I've been reading through Home and Far Away and this morning I figured out how that section of On Being Br...

  While in seclusion of sorts, I started reading The Possibility of What If, a novel I published two years ago. It's the first of a series, set in a faraway realm with fantastical elements, spiritual ones too. Definitely written in a post-covid era, I enhanced a love story with a road trip, or vice versa. Reading it now, I'm reminded of how frightening were those initial months of COVID-19, and how far we've come. I'm also pleased with the writing, hehehe. And I'm grateful for something to keep myself occupied as I await returning to my usual realm, which feels similarly distanced as where this novel takes place. It was my first foray in a fantasy genre, yet grounded by viable storylines and plausible characters trying to find their ways in a new land, much as my husband and I were when I wrote it, moving to Humboldt County for retirement. I'll probably finish this book today, thank goodness the second installment, Gracious Mysteries, awaits. The entire series...

My latest novel! Having returned home late yesterday, I gave brief consideration to releasing my newest book last night. However Future Me insisted I first get some decent sleep, and thankfully I listened. But on this beautifully sunny (and chilly) day, may I present the final installment in my latest series , the aptly titled That Which Can Be Remembered . Available on Smashwords , and soon enough on other fine online retailers, TWCBR concludes what began as a road trip for Brynn Dahl and her family to find one thought lost to a menacing plague. Along the way they reunite with old friends, then are led to a faraway ranch whereupon dwells a figure from Brynn's past who carries no memories of their life together. I don't recall from where this plot originated, but all these characters are dear to my heart, snippets of Brynn's Vodali language having made their way into my lexicon. Especially in conjunction with my clan's current travails, ohmah polise seems inescapable; ...

A sample of my efforts from this past week, the center of a Myrtle block. Currently Gracious Mysteries , the second novel in my That Which Can Be Remembered series , is available at no cost on Smashwords during their annual End of Year Sale. I had planned to release the final book in the series to immediately coincide with the sale, but I am still away from home and hope to have That Which Can Be Remembered released perhaps on Saturday? Fingers crossed for that publication. This series does take place in a different.... Universe, planet, solar system, you make the call, however their tragedies and triumphs are closely aligned to what we on Earth experience. There is no moon attached to their planet, which isn't a major plot point, but something I paid attention to while writing when a character trekked outside to admire the night skies. Only stars shone, proffering a distinction between our world and that of Brynn, Pollette, Finn, Strivek, Timral, Mo, and the rest. This past week...

This morning's sunrise approaches, reminding me to embrace where I am right this minute. Despite setting aside one story, others remain, lol. One is definitely a work in progress, although it is completed and has recently been through yet another wringer, which all drafts require. But I am nearing the end of possessing That Which Can Be Remembered ( TWCBR ), both as a series and book. And in reading it now, a few weeks away from its release, I am enjoying the story and the sense of closure, which admittedly is a good feeling, having just jettisoned 20K for the hinterlands. Especially since TWCBR comes from a similar start; I gave up on those characters twice before finally committing to their story, dude! It was painful, aggravating, at times depressing. I so wanted to explore their hurts and triumphs, yet it took a good year before I could reclaim that book. When I did, I wrote like Past Me, pounding out a chapter daily, sometimes more, hehehe. A four-part series was trimmed to ...

Releasing a new book is more than dotting i's and crossing t's . It's the culmination of craft and tech blended into twenty-first century art; writing novels will hopefully remain a timeless manner of expression now enhanced by an author's ability to self-publish. Gracious Mysteries , set in an unnamed world in what could be deemed several decades ago, continues the tale of one woman's search for her beloved and the experiences of others caught in a devastating plague. Yet a long-fought war has tempered these characters, and now finding themselves in a relatively safe place, Brynn Dahl and her family can finally set roots on a vast ranch, although not everyone initially joins them; Brynn's eldest daughter Ronan takes a different path, attempting to find peace after years of abuse. Love emerges between Polly and Mo, as well as Ava and Seti. And for Timral and Nasri, budding affection is threatened when Nasri intervenes as one man attempts to cause harm. A novel ...

Having released my novel, I turned a little attention to some EPP...   The days following a novel's release are full of.... Well, I'm still busy with books; I've spent recent mornings reading through Gracious Mysteries , the next installment in this series . I've also pondered what I want to write next, hehehe. I've done laundry, pottered in the garden, worked on some English paper piecing, also taken a lovely drive along Highway 101 not quite as far as Orick but close. I given great consideration to what it means having released another novel; I've been publishing books since 2011, eleven years of poking about with plots and characters, at times wondering why I feel compelled to share these slices of my gray matter as well as chunks of my heart and heaps of my soul. Yet here I am, still at it. Let me tell you why it matters.... Self-publishing is a misnomer; I'm deeply grateful for Smashwords , through which I distribute my stories. I've been blessed w...

The Possibility of What If , my fifteenth novel, is now available for download! So after plenty of assistance from some awesome folks, I am so pleased and a little proud to announce the release of my latest novel, which introduces a new series to my collection! The Possibility of What If is the first book of That Which Can Be Remembered , and I cannot thank enough my husband who is more than my beloved spouse but also my tech champion when things get dodgy. Self-publishing is such a misnomer, why I prefer the term independent publishing. But before I get off topic, let me share what this fantasy/women's fiction series is all about.... While mourning her husband Thaydon, Vodali refugee Brynn Dahl learns that her Yunka spouse might still be alive. During a widespread plague Brynn and her family take to the road in search of the veteran, meeting up with other Vodalis along the way. Meanwhile Strivek, an amnesiac welder, dwells among other vets on a faraway ranch. The only clue to S...