Last week  I talked about being finished with SCONED TO DEATH, but I spoke too soon.  There was an email with queries from the proof reader and I had to make some more changes.  But now, it really is off my plate.

As soon as I sent off the email with the answers to the queries, I went back to the Yarn Retreat book with the uncertain title other than it's going to have Looming in it.  Yesterday I finished the draft and now am ready to start rewriting.  I have gotten to know all the characters more as the manuscript progressed  and while I went back made changes and put in notes, now I have put it all together and make sure it makes sense and things happen in order.  Thanks to making the potholders, I have derails to put in.  It was interesting to see the difference between making the first one and making one after I was more experienced.  I am so happy that I gained a new craft.  It also has added to my feelings about the trip to Cambria at the beginning of December.  And when I use the potholders I made, I will be reminded of the trip and the book.  

I keep reading about terrible weather predicted for a lot of the country this weekend.  I shiver remembering what it felt like to live in a place where January was cold and bleak.  The weather here changed from sunny days with temperatures in the 70s to some light rain and cooler temps, but nothing like the arctic blast that storm is supposed to bring.  It already is feeling like spring.  A tree in the back of the yard is covered  in white blooms.  The daffodils have gone from green stalks to blooms about to open.  The rain has turned everything a velvety green.  I am so grateful to be able to go outside without having to bundle up and feel the sting of the cold on my face.

Weather definitely affects my mood.   

            I can’t avoid considering new ideas for mysteries and romantic suspense. I’m always plotting, in my head if not otherwise. Using things I see or hear, or wish I did, as  inspirations.

But at the moment I’m holding off a bit on plotting, and am re-reading the first two books in my upcoming Harlequin Romantic Suspense K-9 Crime Solvers series, since I’ll soon have to start working on the third one—and it’ll help if I recall as much about the first two that I can. Besides, that’s a good excuse for reading more than writing—although the cast is off my wrist and I’m able to type a bit more on the computer. Still a bit painful, though.   

Time is marching on though, as usual. It’ll be February soon. Valentine’s Day is approaching! And I do tend to have romances in my stories.

Hmmm. Another inspiration. And then there are my pups lying beside me, also being inspirational.

 I sent off the list of corrections for SCONED TO DEATH.  This time it was really good bye to the manuscript.  The next time I see it will be when I get my author copies.  It's already up on Amazon for pre-sale.

The trade paperback of DEATH AMONG THE STITCHES comes out  January 27.  It feels like my books are doing a do-si-do.  That's the square dance move where you pass around each other.  The Yarn Retreat book is in there too since as soon as I hit send on the corrections, I went back to working on it.  I thought I had the title down, but once I included the potholder making, I thought about putting LOOMING in the title.  My editor suggested  something like DANGER IS LOOMING.  I thought about LOOMING DEATH.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

After all the rain we got, the weather has turned warm and sunny.  The only reminder of the time of year is the low angle of the sun and the still short days.  It was heavenly to take my coffee outside this morning and feel the warmth of the sun.

It is nice to wear lighter clothes, but before I think about it being a forever change, I remind myself that it's still winter even if the daffodils have already sent up their green shoots with the promise of flowers to follow. 

           Yes, I’m still plotting but not doing a lot of writing, at least partially due to how my broken wrist tells me it isn’t time to feel all better yet. But I am running my new mystery idea by some other people now and getting their input. So far, it sounds as if I should keep on going with it!

            And I’m almost ready to start writing my next Harlequin Romantic Suspense book.

            In case I haven’t made it clear enough, I’m enjoying the New Year—sort of. But I expect it’ll keep on getting better and better. Or at least that’s what my pups tell me, especially Roxie, who literally tells me what’s going on and what she wants. Or at least she communicates well with me, with soft sounds and body language.

            And thanks to the special representations of Roxie and Cari on that special cap I bought for my husband Fred, I bought a coffee cup with similar representations on it—including both pups and me!