#30 Days of Gratitude - Day 15: Seasons

 I've always lived in the Midwest, mainly in Michigan. The four seasons are the best part. 

Just when I'm tired of winter, spring comes along. I never get tired of spring because it doesn't last long enough. 

Summer blasts us with 90° days and high humidity. The perfect summer days, to me, are 75 and moderate humidity. 

Fall means warm days, cool nights, and leaves turning colors. I read an old legend about Indian Summer, when Fall chases Summer away then Summer chases Fall away. A great description of the days in September, October, and November. Ordinarily, I wouldn't include November, except for this year. For the past 5 days, we've had perfect summer weather--mid-seventies and sunny. 

We are so busy with Thanksgiving and Christmas, that winter doesn't (mentally) hit until January. Blizzards, lake effect snow, and snowmen. Winter is fun when you don't have to drive in bad weather. 

Since we live about five miles from Lake Michigan, Hubs and I like to go to the beach, except in summer when the crowds are horrendous. Watching the lake in all kinds of weather is fascinating, especially in winter.

I'm grateful for the variety of seasons. They make life interesting.  

#WeWriWa - ROMANCE REKINDLED: The man in Mother's cell.

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors where authors share an 8 - 10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other authors. You can find them here.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by last week and left comments. Sorry it took me so long to get to everyone. This snippet is from my Christmas story, ROMANCE REKINDLED.

To orient you: After Abby got a middle-of-the-night phone call from the police, she and her teenage daughter, Bethany, race to the jail. 

Please excuse the creative punctuation, necessary to keep this within the guidelines. It's also edited some from the original.

“Who are you?” Abby demanded of the old man sitting in the cell next to Mother . . . and holding her mother’s hand!

Florence bounded off the cot with the agility of a much younger woman, all those classes at the Senior Center must be paying off, “Abigail Louise, what are you doing here?”

Abby fisted her hands on her hips, “What are you doing in jail—and who is that man?”

That man rose more slowly than Mother had—he looked to be about her age, or slightly older, and a little taller with a head of thick, gray hair and a weathered face that had seen a lot of sun. When he reached Mother’s side, he placed his arm around her waist. Around her waist! How dare he?

“Abigail, go home, I don’t want you here. How could you drag poor Bethany out of bed at this hour of the morning? And it’s such a nasty night with the storm coming in across the lake.”

I said in last week's comments I'd reveal why Mother is in jail. Sorry. I'm going to tease you a little longer.

Blurb:

Abby Ten Eyck likes her life the way it is. She runs a successful business, has a well-adjusted teenage daughter, and has managed to keep men at bay since her divorce fifteen years ago. Just before Christmas, she’s hit with change. Her mother decides to sell the family home. Then she’s arrested, with an unknown man. Could this new man in her mother’s life create more upheaval? Or could his handsome son be just what Abby needs to revive her dormant feelings?

Sam Watson embraces transition from frenetic Wall Street to a small Michigan resort town. His health is worth moving close to his dad who seems over the moon in love. But it’s the daughter of his father’s girlfriend who fascinates him. Abby Ten Eyck reminds him of his driven self. He must help her slow down before she burns out. Like he did.

ROMANCE REKINDLED is available at:

Amazon  ~  Amazon UK  ~  iBooks  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords  ~ Nook

Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors. 

#WeWriWa - ROMANCE REKINDLED: Grandma's in Jail

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors where authors share an 8 - 10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other authors. You can find them here.

Considering the heat wave hitting most of the U.S., I thought you might like to read something cool--temperature-wise. If you find it "cool" figuratively, I'll be happy. This snippet is from my Christmas story, ROMANCE REKINDLED, which is on sale this weekend for 99 cents.

To orient you to this snippet: Abby, the main character, got a middle-of-the-night phone call from the police. Bethany is her teenage daughter. 

Please excuse the creative punctuation, necessary to keep this within the guidelines.

 

Abby wrestled with the wind as she tried to open the back door—Bethany helped and together they got it open then closed and latched tight. The same wind cut through her winter coat as she slogged through a snowdrift. Dang, I should have worn socks. And boots. Snow and wind froze her feet before she could get into her van parked behind the store. Though it was convenient to live above her shop, on nights like this, she would love to have an attached garage. Snow blowing in from the south had drifted against her vehicle. By the time she got inside, her wet pant legs clung to her calves. She gritted her teeth against the icy-cold that filled her clogs.

Bethany jumped into the passenger’s side, stomping her boots to knock off the snow. “Now, you can tell me why Gram is in jail.”

Blurb:

Abby Ten Eyck likes her life the way it is. She runs a successful business, has a well-adjusted teenage daughter, and has managed to keep men at bay since her divorce fifteen years ago. Just before Christmas, she’s hit with change. Her mother decides to sell the family home. Then she’s arrested, with an unknown man. Could this new man in her mother’s life create more upheaval? Or could his handsome son be just what Abby needs to revive her dormant feelings?

Sam Watson embraces transition from frenetic Wall Street to a small Michigan resort town. His health is worth moving close to his dad who seems over the moon in love. But it’s the daughter of his father’s girlfriend who fascinates him. Abby Ten Eyck reminds him of his driven self. He must help her slow down before she burns out. Like he did.

ROMANCE REKINDLED is available for 99 cents this weekend at:

Amazon  ~  Amazon UK  ~  iBooks  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords  ~ Nook

Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors. 

Monday Morning Musing: Mini-Vacay & a Parade

Did you enjoy Mother's Day? My family made sure I did. Dinner with daughter's family, breakfast with son's, a walk along the channel leading to Lake Michigan. The weather wasn't so great, but at least it wasn't raining.

https://www.bayshore-resort.com/

https://www.bayshore-resort.com/

Last week, Hubs and I took a mini-vacation. A couple of days up in Traverse City. We stayed at the Bayshore Resort right on Grand Traverse Bay. In fact, our room had a balcony with lawn chairs where we could watch the wildlife--a pair of geese and their babies plus plenty of seagulls--and enjoy the quiet lull of the waves. Since Traverse City is about a three-hour drive north of us, I expected the weather to be cooler. On our first day, the sun was shining and the temp reached the high 70s. Delightful. Second day was cooler by a couple of degrees and the sun played hide-and-seek with the clouds. That night the rain came and didn't let up until we were almost home.

It was great getting away for a couple of days. I found the hotel on Groupon, which had a great rate. May is not a heavy tourist month in northern Michigan. Still, we had a fun time. Many shops hadn't opened for the summer yet. My favorite one in Leland called Two Fish Gallery was. 

I found my Mother's Day gift there--from Hubs. He just didn't know it until I told him. He and the clerk had a good laugh over him saying I wasn't his mother so he didn't need to get me a gift. It's called an art pole and goes in garden. I think it will go on my deck instead.

We got home in time to go to the Kinderparade, part of Holland's Tulip Time Festival. Oldest granddaughter marched along with her 5th grade class. The Kinderparade is the only one of the three big parade's during the festival that we attend. On the way back to our car, I found a food truck offering oliebollens. I mentioned them in last week's post. I said the Dutch pastry had about a thousand calories. I was wrong. More like two thousand, with the choice of lemon, Bavarian cream, or chocolate filling. But, oh my, was it good. I did share with Hubs, so maybe I didn't eat all those calories. And doesn't sharing mean all the calories drop off?

This is blog-week. Somehow, the middle of the month always catches me unawares. Besides my regular Weekend Writing Warrior blog, Sunday was the 13th and that meant my monthly blog on Paranormal Romantics. How could I write about anything other than Mother's Day? Wednesday is double-duty day. My 3rd Wednesday of the month Family Life column on Pandora's Box Gazette will be about Date Night, and since it's also the 16th, my regular blogging date on The Roses of Prose. I haven't written that post yet, so it will be a surprise. LOL

In between all that, I'm finishing the first draft for Numbers Never Lie, the romantic suspense that is taking for-ev-er to complete. After the writing retreat I went to a couple of weekends ago, I got so many ideas for that story, thanks to our speaker Jennifer Probst, that will make my story better.

One more thing this week: I'll be at the Saranac (Michigan) Public Library for Ladies Night Out on Thursday. If you're in the mid-Michigan area, I hope you'll stop by and say hi.

I guess that's it for this week's edition of Monday Morning Musing. Have a great week.

PS Don't forget that during the month of May, 25% of the proceeds from my science fiction romance The Chameleon (An Outer Rim Novel) will go to the ALS Association. You can read snippets from The Chameleon on Weekend Writing Warriors this month.

Cover Reveal - Romance Rekindled #ChristmasStory

I am so excited to let you see the cover for my Christmas novella. Romance Rekindled takes place in Far Haven, Michigan, the locale for my Alex O'Hara mysteries. If you read the short stories I wrote the past two years on The Roses of Prose blog, then parts of Romance Rekindled will sound familiar. I loved the characters in Christmas Jailbirds and Mistletoe Kiss so much, I gave Mother & Daughter their own story.

Here's the blurb (thanks to my brilliant daughter)

Abby Ten Eyck likes her life the way it is. She runs a successful business, has a well-adjusted teenage daughter, and has managed to keep men at bay since her divorce fifteen years ago. Just before Christmas, she’s hit with change. Her mother decides to sell the family home. Then she’s arrested, with an unknown man. Could this new man in her mother’s life create more upheaval? Or could his handsome son be just what Abby needs to revive her dormant feelings?

Sam Watson embraces transition from frenetic Wall Street to a small Michigan resort town. His health is worth moving close to his dad who seems over the moon in love. But it’s the daughter of his father’s girlfriend who fascinates him. Abby Ten Eyck reminds him of his driven self. He must help her slow down before she burns out. Like he did.

Now, drumroll please, here's the cover from the fabulous Florence Price of The Novel Difference.

 Romance Rekindled will be available at most ebook vendors (Amazon, B&N, Kobo, iTunes, Smashwords, etc.) on Monday, December 4th.

#WeWriWa - #8Sunday The Case of the Meddling Mama: The Mother

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hops for everyone who loves to read and write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

My snippet is from my newly-released The Case of the Meddling Mama an Alex O'Hara Novel, third in my PI mystery series. Apologies for the creative punctuation, which was done to keep within the sentence limit. 

From Ginnie, I learned the following about Karl Trimmer: thirty-two, computer programming consultant, worked at home—in a new condo in Country Club Estates, a new development north along the lakeshore.

“Where did he live before that—an apartment?”

“No, he lived at home.”

Although I was surprised, I had to remember how bad the economy had been a few years ago—a lot of people fresh out of college or who’d lost jobs moved home.

“I wondered about that, too,” Ginnie tapped her short, no polish nails on the chair arm, “His mother has health issues, and since Karl’s an only child, he took care of her.”

“And what changed that he moved out—did she die, or move into a nursing home?”

“Oh, nothing like that, he hired a homecare worker to stay with her during the day--his mother can get around with a walker, and Karl got her one of those medical alert necklaces, so she can call for help if she needs it.”

“Are you concerned about her disability?”

“Maybe a little, she’s only fifty-two and I don’t understand her illness, but Karl said it can be debilitating, and . . .”

The Case of the Meddling Mama released last Monday. It's available at:

Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Kobo ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes ~ Smashwords

Blurb:

Once again, Alex O’Hara is up to her ears in mysteries. After surviving an attempted murder, all she wants is R&R time with Nick Palzetti. But his mother leaving his father (“that horse’s patoot”) and moving in with Alex puts a crimp in their plans. Then Nick leaves on assignment and the teen she rescued from an abusive father believes his buddy is doing drugs. Meanwhile, Alex has two easy cases to take her mind off her shaky relationship with Nick—a philandering husband and a background check on a client’s boyfriend. Piece of cake. 

This is the last snippet from The Case of the Meddling Mama. Next week I'll introduce a new story. Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors.  

#WeWriWa - #8Sunday Meddling Mama: Klutzy Alex

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hops for everyone who loves to read and write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

Is it the weekend already? Hubs and I returned home from visiting our son & his family in Arizona. Michigan welcomed us with snow and bone-chilling cold.

My snippet is from my upcoming release, THE CASE OF THE MEDDLING MAMA, an Alex O'Hara Novel, third in my cozy mystery series. Along with some creative punctuation, It hasn't been edited yet, so suggestions are welcome.

This snippet is from the first chapter and continues where last week's snippet left off. While Alex tries on a bridesmaid dress for her friend's (the store owner) wedding, she's introduced to a potential client.

Poor Ginnie—a deer captured in the headlights had nothing on her—with her blond hair and fair complexion, her embarrassment was even more apparent, so I figured I’d better do something to break the awkwardness. With a smile, I leaned over, held out my hand, and said, “Hi, I’m Alex O’Hara, reluctant dress shopper.”

“Ginnie Bakker, also a reluctant shopper,” she said as she shook my hand and returned my smile. “I like your dress.”

I preened—didn’t get a chance to do that very often since elegant clothes were not my normal attire. In fact, I felt more comfortable in the jeans and T-shirt hanging on hooks in the dressing room. Give me a good pair of running shoes, and I’m happy.

“The gown is for Ellie’s wedding next month,” I said as I twirled around and nearly ended up on my face, pins scratched my ankles through my socks, and I almost wrenched my ankle—high heels and I never got along.

“Whoa, are you all right?” Ginnie said, putting out a hand to steady me.

While I laughed, Ellie rushed up to us saying, “Is Klutzy Alex at it again?”

Rough blurb:

PI Alex O'Hara, just rescued from another kidnapping attack, needs a break to enjoy Nick's attention when his mother shows up, claiming she's left his father, and is moving in with Alex. No way is she sleeping with Nick with his mother down the hall. Her new case, a background check on a potential suitor, is exactly the direction she wants to take the agency. The teen boy they rescued from an abusive stepfather is sure his buddy is doing drugs. And Nick's job takes him away. Again. At least the background check should be a piece of cake.

Be sure to check out the other authors. 

A Mini-Vacay

Last weekend, Hubs and I took a mini-vacation up to Traverse City (Michigan). Just for fun. To see the colors along the lakeshore. Because we needed a break from everyday ho-hum. Two out of three ain’t bad. I thought we might be too late for the great foliage change. Nope. We were too early. I didn’t realize Lake Michigan affects so much. In fact, the colors were much better inland.

That aside, we did have fun. We drove around the peninsula that could be considered the Mitten’s baby finger. Northport, Leland, Glen Arbor, Empire. Quaint towns, lots of tourist shops, great for buying birthday and Christmas gifts – and a Christmas tree ornament for myself. We even took the scenic route around Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. No, we didn’t climb the dune. Been there, done that – when we were a lot younger.

Everywhere you go around Traverse City, you could stop and take pictures. Again, I’ve done that and have a hundred pictures somewhere. This trip, I just enjoyed the journey. Besides, only one day was sunny. Cloudy the second day and rain on the third.

Still, it was great to get away from home. A break from revising the latest Alex O’Hara novel for me, from fall clean-up outdoors for Hubs. We came to the conclusion that a little break every now and then is good – but we both like sleeping in our own bed.

On another note:

Author Liza O’Connor graciously invited me to visit her blog with a post celebrating The Case of the Bygone Brother (An Alex O’Hara Novel, Book 1). I chose to write about Lake Michigan, the setting for the Alex O’Hara books. Here’s the link if you’d like to visit. http://www.lizaoconnor.com/2015/10/diane-burtons-fun-facts-about-lake.html

Have a great week.

The Wedding

When I started this blog three years ago, I didn't know what I was doing. Not sure I'm doing it right. Not sure that that matters. I wanted a place where I could write whatever I wanted. Musing on a variety of topics. I've shared bits and pieces of my life, my family, my writing. And you, my readers, haven't complained--or are too polite to. LOL So pardon me as I mus on a recent event that overshadows my health issues, what's happening in the world, and sports event. It is the best thing that happened this year for my family.

I'm sorry for not posting last Monday as promised. After my company left, instead of writing a post about my son’s wedding I took a nap. All afternoon. It seems that preparing for a wedding, the event itself, and the post-wedding activities are more exhausting than I expected. Then add in house guests for a week along with late night conversations and I was one tired puppy. Also a bit brain dead.

photo credit: Kameren Scott

As you can see, the wedding was lovely. The weather spectacular. My son looked handsome (I’m not prejudiced, of course) and his bride was beautiful. They looked so happy. I hope as life throws them curves (it always does) they recall how happy they were a week ago Friday. That should get them through anything.

The only flaw in having a beach wedding is the sand. I’m still finding sand in my sandals, which I’d left at the top of the dune before walking barefoot to the site. Sand shifts, throwing off my balance, and I prayed that I wouldn't fall on my butt. Good thing I had my son on one side and Hubs on the other. Even better were the two groomsmen who helped me back up afterwards. They were so sweet.

Speaking of sweet guys... With the exception of the bestman and my son-in-law, I haven’t seen the groomsmen since they graduated high school about twenty years ago. Wow. What a difference. My son’s crazy friends who made the movie “Julius Caesar in the Hood” in my front yard for an English assignment—complete with the theme from Chariots of Fire blaring from a car radio in the finale—have grown into handsome, responsible, charming men. How great it was to see them again. How special that my son has kept in touch with them all these years.

I was so touched by the bestman’s toast. He’s known my son all his life. (His mother and I have been best friends since before Hubs and I met.) The boys grew up together, were roommates in college, and consider themselves brothers. He related stories that really captured my son’s essence and his heartfelt toast had many of us surreptitiously wiping away a tear.

My grandkiddies performed their duties as flower girl and ring “master” admirably. Imagine a 4 y/o twenty feet from Lake Michigan and being told he couldn’t wade in until after the pictures were taken. He bore up well. LOL His sister looked so much older than seven with her “updo” like the bride’s. An old pro (this was her third time), she reminded me of the time I was a flower girl, also at seven. Good memories. And for the first time, I danced with my son. An event I'll always hold dear.

I looked so forward to my son’s wedding for months, talked about it incessantly (or so it must have seemed to my friends and readers), and now it’s over. The letdown is tremendous. I figured a good night’s sleep, maybe an afternoon nap, and I’d be back to normal. Didn’t happen. Maybe my son and new daughter going back to Arizona has something to do with it. I won’t see them again for months.


Friends and family are posting pictures on Facebook and I’m reliving the wedding each day. Despite being tired for a week, I wouldn't trade the time for anything. It was wonderful seeing my son with the woman he loves marry the woman who loves him. Besides, sleep is vastly overrated. LOL

I’ve managed to prolong the good feelings about the wedding by blogging about it—first on the Roses of Prose last Tuesday and then on Friday on Facebook’s Fiction Fanatics Feud. After today, I think I’ll give this topic a rest even though it’s so precious to me.

Or maybe I’ll use the event in a book someday. Imagine the scenarios.