Best Job

If you've been with my blog for any length of time, you know I retired from teaching last fall. I highly recommend retirement. It's the best job I've ever had. I miss my students but not enough to wish I was still teaching.

The other best job I have is writing. I'm busy working on the last book in The Recon Marine

The old and the new side by side in Boston

s Series. I have goals for finishing up though the deadline is of my own making. What's better than being your own boss.

With another storm in the forecast, I very glad I won't have to worry about all those makeup snow days this year. It could mess up with my Valentine Day's plans. My husband and I have a date with my daughter and her roommate in Boston for dinner. Now if only we don't get that foot or more of snow they're predicting and even more for the Boston area. I think there's a glacier forming in my backyard.

And another word of wisdom from my Old Farmer's Almanac Planner. It's appropriate for Valentine's Day if you're wondering if you love someone. From English poet George Meredith, 1828-1909, "Kissing don't last, cookery do."

Don't forget that today is Abraham Lincoln's real birthday. When I was in school, we always had this day off. Now I have it off again.

I won't be posting on Friday as hopefully I'll be traveling. I'll try to visit everyone over the weekend. What are your plans for Valentine's Day? Are you in the path of the next white-out blizzard mega storm? Is your job as wonderful as mine?

Happenings of the Heart

What do we love? I love being a guest on blogs other than my own. Well, I'm not really a guest here so I guess I just love being a guest. And I love my friends who ask me to guest.  Today I have the good fortune to be a guest at Cate Master's blog. She's running a two week blog special called  Celebrate Amore as a preliminary celebration leading up to Valentine's Day.

Cate asked great questions during an interview. I'm thrilled to have a chance to talk about Beneath the Mountain, Book #3 in The Futhark Chronicles. Perhaps because I'm sending the fourth book off to my editor for one last read through. I hope to have The Heir of Futhark ready for the market by end of the month.

So please visit Cate today. Before the Super Bowl. I'm not saying who I'm for. I don't want to lose readers because I know how loyal some people are. Who are you cheering for tonight? Are you planning ahead for Valentine's Day?

Romance by Susan Kelley

I have two writing lives.  In one, I'm an author or YA and epic fantasy.  My first published series, The Futhark Chronicles, has the first two books now available with books three and four coming out next year.  I have another fantasy series I hope to find a home for this year.

In my other persona, as Susan Kelley, I write fantasy romance.  I have five romances published already, another under contract to be released later this spring and one I'm busy working on right now.  I'm doing the second draft, something that for me usually means a total rewrite.  I managed nearly 10K words this weekend between laundry and cooking. 

This day reminds me of all the romance I'm lucky to have in my life beyond that I read and write.  My husband never forgoes a chance to shower me with gifts.  He buys me flowers at least four times per year and often he'll have a gift card to a bookstore attached.  He knows what I love.  (I love him most of all)

People ask me who I model my heroes after in all my books not just the romances.  My husband always jumps in and says they're all him. 

Well, he's not a great swordsman or an expert horseman.  He's never taken on otherworldly demons or evil witches to save me and our children.  But he has always worked long hours to see we have everything we need.  He sat for hours during my labor in the hospital holding my hand.  He's been a role model for our children and their friends, coaching their sports teams and playing games in the front yard.  He'll do the laundry or the dishes without being asked.  He is a hero.  And if some foul demon creature bursts into the house someday, I know he'll take up the fireplace poker and step in between it and me. 

Did you remember your every day hero today?  Happy Valentine's Day!