Time has passed quickly since my last post. I hope you have enjoyed your summer and been able to stay out of the smoke and/or floods. The fires have been nasty. (We have now covered the weather. Should we discuss the roads?)
My Mom has kept both John and me hopping. We had a lovely visit from our daughter Jennifer and her family. While they were here, Mom decided she wanted the whole house refreshed with new paint and flooring. I have to tell you that the rooms look really, really good. I’m so proud of her. She’s lost a ton of weight and she looks good. Although her body is weak, she has a will of iron. I want to be like her when I grow up! We were able to have four-generation photographs taken. They are a treasure.
I am happy to share that I’m finishing the final chapter in my major rewrite of “Letter of the Law”. Oh my, but I do like this so, so, so much better. Apparently, I’m in the mood for adventure because the last chapters are filled with smugglers, ships, dueling pistols, and kidnapping.
What? Whatever are you up to, Joy King? Have you lost your marbles? Not entirely. In all honesty, life’s circumstances had robbed me of a bit of my joy. Now that things have leveled off in our personal life, I was able to recall why I like writing so much. Thus, why not make it fun? I simply could not resist. Darcy is quite the hero. Elizabeth Bennet is a hoot. Wickham had to resort to drugs to keep wily Lizzy B. from escaping. (Maybe he should have taken the laudanum instead of giving it to her. Hmmm! That’s an idea!)
So, here’s the plan. John just left to get dinner so I can stay at my computer to finish this chapter. I’ll do a quick reread then it’s off for editing. I’m going to crack the whip to get this back as quickly as possible. My son-in-law installed an amazing program on my computer where I can format my own books to look professionally done. If I can’t figure it out I’ll send it off to Marie Force’s formatting fairies (yes, that’s what they call themselves). The cover is finished so I’m hoping to have this available on Amazon shortly. Then I will format the print book. The audiobook will be later in the year.
Whew! I’m worn out just typing this. Not really. It’s just my lungs trying to filter out the ashes so I can get some oxygen particles to my brain. Anyway, I’m off to type. Have a joyful rest of your week.
I was thinking of you today and wondering how you and your family are doing, especially your mother. I am so glad she is improving and keeping you all busy! I completely sympathize with you regarding the fires. My daughter and family were under alert with a fire in northern Ontario that was coming very close. Due to so much smoke, she borrowed her in-laws camping trailer for them, had her horses moved further away and they camped on the property with them for about two weeks. We had the grandchildren for 10 days. Now all are back home and the fire was contained without them losing their hobby farm. Luckily today, we are all getting a good dousing of rain.
So you have decided to take us on a wild adventure! Well I can’t wait to read it! Good luck with that new program and I so glad you had a wonderful family gathering together!
How sweet of you to be thinking of us, Carole. Thank you. I checked the air quality map a bit ago and the skies over most of Canada are horrible from the smoke. I can’t imagine the fear your daughter and family had as they saw the fire approach. Scary! My sister took in evacuees from the California fires. My niece housed three goats belonging to complete strangers. We do what we can, don’t we? Thank heavens for rain. Hopefully, we will get some in our part of the world too.
Take care and thank you for commenting.
Joy, you are a hoot! I can’t wait to read the reworked story. Glad you mom is doing well and keeping busy in her life. Thanks for the update and sharing with us. Take care.
I’m about 1,000 words from done. Yay! Oh, Sheila, I can’t wait to hear how many times you rolled your eyes at my rewrites. Please keep track and let me know. I’m only hoping the edits don’t have too much red ink. I’m ready to get this off my desk. Best to you, dear lady.
Blessings with you and your family. It was so good you all were together for the four-generations photos. I was looking through an old album the other day and came across several generational photos. I am at an age now that most in the photos are gone. You and your family will be so glad you have made those pictures. Thank goodness for technology. And it things don’t go as you planned… you have a fall back plan with the fairies. That works. I am looking forward to this new work you are talking about. Happy launch.
I’ll be honest, Jeanne, I’ve looked and looked at those photographs so many times and each time i get teary-eyed. You are correct. These pictures are our greatest gift to each other.
Marie Force is a writing phenom. She does it all. I’ve learned so much from her and her staff. Unfortunately, I can’t read her books because they are far too ‘grown-up’ for me. However, I do appreciate how willing she is to share what she’s learned from this business. She’s a rock star!
Thank you so much. Oh, speaking of photographs, last week John and I made a quick trip to southern California for a doctor’s visit. 1,495 miles in three days. (We are CRAZY!!!) On the way back we came up highway 1, which is along the beautiful California coast. What we saw was so magnificent. It robbed me of my breath but, unfortunately for John, it did NOT rob me of my speech. I took a zillion pictures through the window while he drove. The coastline and ocean were on his side of the car. Sigh!!! My skills are non-existent. Over 100 wasted pictures of the rear-view mirror. Ugh! At least I have the memories.
Be healthy and happy, Jeanne.
Oh thank you for the update Joy. I’m so glad your personal life situation has improved. 🙂
I assume John is better now and your Mum is amazing. I love that you got your photos with Jennifer and your grandchildren, such lovely memories to keep!
I was only thinking the other week how much I was looking forward to reading the whole of The Letter of the Law in one go and am so happy it will not only be soon but that there is more to read.
You are most welcome, Glynis. Yes, they are the loveliest of memories.
I do hope this story lives up to expectations. I certainly like it better. I did finish it last night. My Mom started rereading it this morning. So far, I get a thumbs up from her. But she’s prejudiced, I think.
All the best to you.
I was looking at your blog last week wondering how you are. I am glad to hear your mom is doing well. I am tickled to death knowing your book is coming out soon. I love Marie Force and all of her books. Speaking of pictures…I am currently making a picture book of my mother’s pictures. A picture book is compressed and is better displayed than a photo album. Plus it’s easy to give a photo book as a gift. You can always crop out the rear view mirror in your pictures.
How sweet you are. Thank you. Marie doesn’t let much get in the way of her writing career. She’s very humble in wanting to share publishing hints that save other authors much anguish and frustration. I appreciate her very much.
What a great idea to do a picture book. I’ve done several back when Kodak did them. You will have no regrets, that’s for certain. Take care, please.
So glad to see that the rewrites are going well, possibly even done by now? I loved the story as it was but it sounds amazing now!
Your Mum is an amazing lady and how fantastic that you got to have a four-generation photo taken. Sadly, that’s never been possible with either of our families.
Even the UK has had problems with moorland fires in the recent past due to the (for us) extreme heat and dry weather, but nothing on the scale of what you folk across the pond have suffered and still are, I gather. It’s cooled down a lot here now and we’ve had some rain too. The farmers and water companies will be thanking whatever deities they’ve been praying to. Hope the same happens for you, too.
Best wishes
Yes, the rewrites are done and the manuscript is at the editors. Yay!
We truly feel blessed to have a four-generation photograph, Anji. When I was little we always had the youngest parents in my class. My Mom is a very young 80. She still loves to wear jewelry, listen to loud rock n’ roll, and socializes regularly. I’ve always known my Mom was cool.
Today the wind is blowing the opposite direction so breathing is easy. However, our friends in western and central Canada are suffering. The world is a mess. We desperately need rain. In other areas they have too much rain. Maybe we all need to learn to share? I wish it was that easy.
Take care, Anji. Big HUGS!!!