Pushing the Reset Button 

I started this blog several years ago, as a way to journal some of the little weekend trips my husband and I, with or without kids, had been taking. And I wanted to show some of the beautiful handcrafted artwork I came across - things I had purchased or, more likely, wanted to purchase but hadn't. And then - life gets in the way, and the blog was abandoned.

I realize it's been a while, but I'm going to resurrect this little blog, and I don't know if anyone will ever read it, but I'm going to try to add something here a couple of times a week - my journey as a would-be novelist, some of those little trips and craft items, dealing with two young adult kids... We'll see if anything comes of it!

The book - I may finally have figured out some of my issues with the story, and instead of writing here, I really should be working on that - I'll get there soon! My goal is to finish first draft and rewrite, and start the agent/publisher process by the fall. I attended a very interesting and helpful seminar last Saturday on writing the bad guys in your book, put on by a Facebook friend, DePaul professor, and author Rebecca Johns. These small talks are really worthwhile! You never know what's going to spark an idea and help those synapses fire.

Right now, I'm transcribing an interview with Theresa Carle-Sanders about her first, brand-new cookbook, Outlander Kitchen! I was very happy to have been asked to publicize this book for Theresa - she's such a nice person, and I'm so excited for her! That interview should come out on Wednesday, on threeifbyspace.net.

What am I watching on TV? I'm caught up on the Night Manager on AMC. How good is this! Other than in the Thor and Avengers movies, I've never really seen anything with Tom Hiddleston - rowr!! (and I went to see the new Captain America movie yesterday, speaking of Avengers - now I'm excited to watch Ant-Man.) Outlander, of course - sure, I wish that they hadn't made some of the changes they have for the TV series, but it's exciting to have it come to life.

And I'm reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - I've been meaning to reread Harry for a long time, and finally got into it. I also found a really terrific series, free on Kindle (at least when I got it), called The Cleaner, by Mark Dawson. Highly recommend! Former government assassin who wants out, now trying to help people in desperate situations using his unique skills. I've also got Le Carre's The Night Manager on my pile, since I'm enjoying the show so much, and I've got a new book coming to review. Too much to read!