Busy Days...Busy Nights

I just looked and realized I've missed posting for 3 whole weeks. Sorry folks! That's just how it is sometimes during this time of the year as book signing, gardening, and pop-up market season kicks off. I've spent the last two days of this long holiday weekend working outside in the garden and have gotten tomatoes, peppers, green beans, cabbage, brussels sprouts and okra planted along with their companion plants of zinnia, marigold and dill. I've lifted so many bags of compost, dirt and mulch that I decided to just take today to recuperate. Which is the key word for writing.

Honoring Our Brave Men and Women this Memorial Day

I do want to take a little bit to remind all of my United States readers why we have a three-day weekend this weekend. It's because of the brave men and women who gave everything to protect our country and the freedoms that our republic offers. They take an oath to uphold our Constitution. My parents were just two of those brave men and women. From the patriots who fought in the Revolutionary War to secure our freedom from the British crown to the Union soldiers who fought for the freedom of those who could not fight for themselves. For the soldiers who fought in the World Wars to those who fought in Vietnam all the way up to more recent times in the Middle East. This is a weekend to honor those brave individuals. So, for all of those brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice...thank you...it is because of your bravery that we remain free.

It has been unseasonable chilly here in Indiana, which has been nice for doing gardening. A lot easier to work in sixty-degree temperatures than when it is in the eighties. Right? Still, by the time I had heaved several bags of dirt yesterday, I still had sweat running down my neck and face. But that's the kind of good work that grounds a person. And when I'm picking my own vegetables later this summer, it will all be worth it. And besides, I need to get it all done this weekend and into the next week because traveling starts next weekend.

So, where will I be? June 7th I will be at Words and Wonders in Seymour, Indiana from noon until 6 pm. We will be located at the Jackson Live and Event Center, 981 C Avenue E right there in Seymour, Indiana with authors, artists and vendors! If you are in the area, stop by and say hello!!

June 11th I will be meeting up with my friend and awesome author of several western romances, the amazing Lynda Cox and we are going to make the 13-hour drive from McKayla Jade's house in Illinois to Wild Deadwood Reads in Deadwood, South Dakota. I believe this is year 8 for this amazing event and I'm so glad to have been there for all of them. This is a family friendly event and a more than just a signing...it is a destination! Come join us for fun in downtown Deadwood during Wild Bill Days with live music and other events then stop in at the Lodge at Deadwood on Saturday to meet all our amazing authors and be sure to buy raffle tickets for the baskets we contribute...all proceeds go to the Shiloh Horse Rescue organization. Some of my favorite things to do? Be sure to have brunch with mimosas at the extraordinary Lee Street Station, take a walk down Main Street and peek into the many shops, grab a drink at the No. 10 Saloon or take a drive over to Sturgis and have lunch at One Eyed Jacks and grab a shot or two at Full Throttle Saloon. While you are out and about, you have to spend some time at Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park or take a drive on Needles Highway. So much to do, so pack a bag and stay awhile!

July 26th I will be at Slow Burn Books in Garrett, Indiana which is north of Fort Wayne. This girl really has it going on with her super cool bookstore especially for the romance fanatics out there. You can find books by Lucy Score, Kristin Hannah, Rebecca Yaros and so many more! Stay tuned and I will post the address and time as the date grows closer.

On August 9th I will be at Hannah House in Indianapolis, IN. That event is a dual-purpose event with my daughter where she will be selling her amazing terrariums, plants and dream catchers and I will not only be signing books but will be giving oracle card readings. That event runs all day, and you will be able to find us somewhere out in the lawn.

The BIG one is on August 23rd as I travel across the pond to Scotland to attend Authors Invade Scotland in Stranraer at the North West Castle Hotel. For the first time in my 35-year human resource career, I am taking a full 10 days away to explore Scotland. With two of my friends, we will be spending the first 3 days of our journey in Stranraer, then traveling to the beautiful Loch Lomond to stay in a castle for 3 days, after that we will be staying midway between Glasgow and Edinburgh near the train station so that we can properly explore those two cities without having to worry about finding a car park. On the list is a day trip to the Isle of Skye and hopefully a jaunt to the Calanais Standing Stones of Outlander popularity.

The last signing for me this year will wrap up at the Peoria, Illinois Civic Center for Readers and Writers Rendezvous on September 27th. Then it will be time for a relaxing writers' retreat in Hayward, WI later in October.

So, you may ask, what have I been doing between gardening and preparing to travel to book signings. Well, I've been reading a lot. It's my go to when I need to wind down at night and fall asleep. I've read some Carolyn Brown, Tina Susedik, Lucy Score, Nora Roberts, Heather Graham, Susanne O'Leary and I've been listening to a pair by Jeneva Rose on my Audible app on my way to work...A Perfect Marriage and A Perfect Divorce...not a pair you want to read at bedtime. I've also been writing...working diligently on the first book of my new Sunflower Acres series which I hope to be able to debut later this summer.

Well, with that all said, I need to get back to work on some writing. I decided to take a break from the yard work today and just write. I hope you all have a lovely Memorial Day weekend and week to follow.