Hot Reads and Weather

I love the heat and hate winter. I don't enjoy the rain like some people do. But even I think we need some this week. So let it rain, a bit.

I've read some good books in between working on my outline for my next book and finishing up some line edits for the one coming out shortly. Lesser Evils by Joe Flanagan was a great read. The

main character is so human and interesting. The story is suspenseful and very dark, but the ending allows the light to shine through. I will read more by this author.

I have a stack of library books to read but that won't stop me from going to the bookstore today. In other good news, my local library has extended their hours for the summer. I guess that means that donations are up or the county powers-that-be found money in the budget to actually put toward a worthwhile thing.

When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry. William Shakespeare

Father's Day was great at our house. Two of our boys took their father golfing which they all enjoyed despite the heat. I prepared some of my husband's favorite dishes, corn on the cob, pasta salad, meatball sandwiches, and the other children make time to spend at least part of the day here. My husband is an excellent father and deserves all the love that came his way.

The imprint of the father, remains forever on the life of the child. - Roy Lessin 

I'm polishing up the first page of First Dragon for a workshop we're doing at my next local writer's meeting. We're having three outside professionals come in and they'll evaluate first pages with the writers being anonymous. I also made a short list of fantasy publishers I intend to query that book too. My favorite is closed to submissions until the end of July so I'll probably wait until then.

Wonder Woman was great. Really glad I went to see it. We also rented The Batman Lego movie last week. It wasn't as good as the first Lego movie, but it was okay. My husband wants to rent the second John Wick movie next. I guess I can stand some endless violence and a main character I could care less about for an evening.

I won't be posting next week as my husband and I are going away for a few days to celebrate our anniversary. Finally. My next post will be for IWSG July version. The optional question for that post is: What is one valuable lesson you've learned since you started writing?

Did you see both Lego movies? One better than the other? Summer getaway plans on your agenda? Ever attend a workshop where pages were critiqued in a group situation? Did you learn anything?

Happy Summer Solstice

The Summer Solstice is celebrated all around the world. Where I live the exact time for the solstice to arrive is at 6;34 PM. The daylight will last for 15 hours, 5 minutes and 40 seconds. The longest day in another summer that seems really short. Events are flying by. And today is the Full Strawberry Moon.

Yesterday, Father's Day came and went really fast. Two of the sons took their dad golfing at the Hershey Country Club. It was a fun day for my dear husband. My sister visited last week, the reason I'm so behind visiting blogs, and now I won't see her for another year. We have the best time together and stay up late every night talking. My daughter is leaving for Morocco on Wednesday so the house will be a little quieter and a lot more empty.

Not much writing was accomplished last week but I hope to make up for it this week. I'm going to be optimistic about it. This article tells me my life will be better if I'm optimistic.

Recent events really reminded me how mean social media can be. Good thing I'm not famous or people might be attacking every little thought I have on Twitter.
"Words are like bees: They have honey and a sting." German proverb

Lots of writers seem to love coffee, chocolate and wine, but not necessarily in that order. There are many great things about coffee but it really can kill you. A lethal dose of caffeine can be imbibed by drinking somewhere between 50 and 200 cups of joe rapidly. So you need to be careful in your writing cave and spread your 50 cups out over the entire day.

Ribs are almost better and ankle is much improved. Back doing some walking today, just a little slower. Still not trying the jogging and still am watching every step. Just glad to be moving again. The pool is warm and perfect so I'm happy there.

Are you having an optimistic week? Can you imagine 50 cups of coffee in one day? How much is too much for you? Are you spending some time enjoying the longest day today?

Thank Others

I'm taking a short break from blogging next week for my first little summer getaway. I don't believe I mentioned that earlier this week, my husband and I celebrated 31 years of wedded bliss. With our fifth and sixth kids now enrolled in college, one finishing up next May, we've had some lean financial years. We've stuck together through thick and thin and not matter how thin, my husband has always supported my writing. I've tried to be as supportive of his activities. But in case I don't say it enough in private, I'll say it in public. "Thanks, dear."

Yes, I call him dear. We're going to celebrate our anniversary and Father's Day by going out of town, on Monday. We're still paying a lot of tuition so we vacation on weekdays when rates are cheaper.

This writing journey has involved a lot of help and support from others. I plan on thanking lots of people over the next few months. Today let me thank a very successful writer who has given my so much advice over the years. Not only about publishers, but simple things like questions about word processing programs, web tools and promotion.

Natalie Damschroder has a blog at Indulge Yourself. She writes for a variety of publishers and is a very active member in CPRW, the local chapter of RWA. And she's so generous with helping writers just starting out. She will answer any and all questions and do whatever she can to help others' careers along.

Happy Dad's Day

Here's my wish to all the fathers out there.  It's a tough job and not everyone can do it.  I think in bygone days it was easier being a father.  Before women went to work, men could come home and relax.  Many men never changed a diaper or got up in the middle of the night to take their turn with feeding the baby.  Dinner was on the table, clean clothing in the closet and the kids had their homework done.  Weekends might mean mowing the lawns or doing other chores around the house, but their biggest responsibility was bringing home the bacon.  Really, it wasn't that far removed from the days of the cavemen.  LOL

But today's dad, hopefully, takes a bigger responsibility not doing the laundry and cooking but also in raising the children.  He's more involved with his children including the moment of birth.  He can change diapers, bandage a wounded knee and attend a PTO meeting.  He reads to his children at bedtime, helps them with their homework and perhaps coaches their sports teams.  We sometimes hear about superwomen who have careers and do it all, but we also have lots of supermen.

I was a lucky girl growing up.  We lived on a farm so my dad was home all the time.  Despite getting up at 4:00AM to milk the cows, he still had the energy to pass baseball with his tomboy daughter.  In the winter he played board games with us and as often as not helped my mom with the cooking.  He lectured my brothers on keeping the bathroom spotless and would pitch in and help my mother with the laundry when he had time.  He remodeled our farmhouse and taught me most of what I know about powertools.  We all learned to drive the big tractors, milk the cows and butcher(yuchy) hogs, chickens and wild game.  My brothers had to take their turns with the dishes the same as the girls did.  My dad taught me more about equality than any textbook or other life experience.  He was my hero.  He was also a real WWII hero.  My hometown honored him and many others of his generation with banners flying from the light posts of the river walk. 

My father never finished high school.  He dropped out to enlist and fight during WWII.  But he loved to read.  He kept a dictionary by his reading chair so he could look up words he didn't know.  He loved to learn.  I miss him every day.  Happy Father's Day to the best.