I'm off to Florida early Wednesday morning, for a whirlwind tour to promote the McKettrick books, and to speak at a wonderful Book Festival.
On the homefront, my cousin Sherri just had a very serious operation, and came through like the trouper she is. She's one of my all-time favorite people, funny and sweet and a lover of animals. I'll be visiting her this afternoon.
I spent the weekend experimenting with polymer clay beads--and the process reminds me a lot of learning to write. You have to throw a lot of stuff away--in short, be willing to write (or bead) badly, perhaps for a long time, until you can do it well. I think, actually, that we must earn the right to do anything well. The question is not 'is it possible', but are we willing to pay the price? In my experience, success is built not on instant skill (which doesn't exist), but on a series of failures, large and small. Success is a process.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Friday, March 09, 2007
New Baby in the Family--and a Moose
As soon as I'm through with today's pages, I'm off to Babies R Us to shop like a mad woman. My cousin, Mary Ann, just became the very proud grandmother of a baby boy. Haven't heard what his name is yet--he lives in Canada and is the son of Derek and Courtney Readman. Congratulations to the Mom and Dad and all the other delighted relatives!
Life around here is nothing if not interesting--very early this morning, my neighbor called to tell me there were two mooses in my front yard, eating the shrubbery. I rushed to look--and wished I'd had a camera handy. They were a pair of elderly ladies, gray across the shoulders, as though they were wearing shawls. They regarded me with only mild interest, then went on munching. Sights like this always leave me awestruck.
There are fence posts in the ground where the pasture will be, leaning now at drunken angles. Later, of course, they'll be set in concrete. It's fun to imagine my four rascals trotting alongside that fence as I come up the driveway. Like my dogs, they're always looking for a treat.
I plan to have a wonderful weekend, and I hope you will, too. If you haven't read "McKettrick's Pride" yet, it's out there, and for you Orphan Train fans, the re-release of "Caroline and the Raider", the third story in that trilogy, is available, too.
Life around here is nothing if not interesting--very early this morning, my neighbor called to tell me there were two mooses in my front yard, eating the shrubbery. I rushed to look--and wished I'd had a camera handy. They were a pair of elderly ladies, gray across the shoulders, as though they were wearing shawls. They regarded me with only mild interest, then went on munching. Sights like this always leave me awestruck.
There are fence posts in the ground where the pasture will be, leaning now at drunken angles. Later, of course, they'll be set in concrete. It's fun to imagine my four rascals trotting alongside that fence as I come up the driveway. Like my dogs, they're always looking for a treat.
I plan to have a wonderful weekend, and I hope you will, too. If you haven't read "McKettrick's Pride" yet, it's out there, and for you Orphan Train fans, the re-release of "Caroline and the Raider", the third story in that trilogy, is available, too.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
The P-Word
Process.
I keep getting jerked back to that word. I like events better, don't you? But all events are really--you guessed it--the culmination of some process. Everything in the universe works that way, when you think about it. From seeds to galaxies.
Hmmmm. Guess that means I don't get to be an exception.
On the book front, "McKettrick's Pride" debuted at #7 on the New York Times bestseller list!!! I'm lovin' it. If I had the energy, I'd celebrate!!!
And I'm ready to work in earnest on the new book. I've promised myself a trip to the bead store if I get my page quota in.
Process, process, process.
Barns. Books. Bestseller lists. Losing weight. Breaking bad habits.
It's all an inside job. Reaching for some external solution doesn't work. We have to go inside, and develop the attitudes that make the achievement of all worthy goals inevitable.
Now, to practice what I preach.
I keep getting jerked back to that word. I like events better, don't you? But all events are really--you guessed it--the culmination of some process. Everything in the universe works that way, when you think about it. From seeds to galaxies.
Hmmmm. Guess that means I don't get to be an exception.
On the book front, "McKettrick's Pride" debuted at #7 on the New York Times bestseller list!!! I'm lovin' it. If I had the energy, I'd celebrate!!!
And I'm ready to work in earnest on the new book. I've promised myself a trip to the bead store if I get my page quota in.
Process, process, process.
Barns. Books. Bestseller lists. Losing weight. Breaking bad habits.
It's all an inside job. Reaching for some external solution doesn't work. We have to go inside, and develop the attitudes that make the achievement of all worthy goals inevitable.
Now, to practice what I preach.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Making Progress--I Think!
Wow. I spent yesterday trying to catch up, and it seems I just got further behind. Nothing to do but suit-up and show-up, I guess.
"McKettrick's Pride" is out there, and it's selling like crazy--even better than "McKettrick's Luck", which is still very strong. My thanks to all of you for helping to make that happen.
The dogs are sticking close. Bernice follows me from room to room, just in case I try to make a break for it when she's not looking and hit the road again. I love being on the road, but always miss my animals so sorely when I'm away. If you hear of a hotel that will accept 4 horses, 2 dogs and 2 cats, let me know. :)
I'm determined to write today. Yesterday, I was simply too jangled.
"McKettrick's Pride" is out there, and it's selling like crazy--even better than "McKettrick's Luck", which is still very strong. My thanks to all of you for helping to make that happen.
The dogs are sticking close. Bernice follows me from room to room, just in case I try to make a break for it when she's not looking and hit the road again. I love being on the road, but always miss my animals so sorely when I'm away. If you hear of a hotel that will accept 4 horses, 2 dogs and 2 cats, let me know. :)
I'm determined to write today. Yesterday, I was simply too jangled.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Home Again--For a While
It was a mother and dog reunion, when I got home late last night. Sadie and Bernice practically turned inside out with delight--I can't think of anybody who has ever been as glad to see me as those two.
The California tour was wonderfully hectic--I met a lot of nice people, got the star treatment, and even worked in a trip to a fabulous bead store in San Diego, called the Bead Gallery. While there, I got the news that "McKettrick's Luck" was on the New York Times bestseller list for the 4th week in a row--#11 this time!
I also got to stop at Chico's, in Palm Springs. Good thing I took an extra suitcase along! I really loaded up.
The barn is still a work in process. The well has been dug, and some of the trees have been cleared. I'm leaving as many as I can--I love trees and, besides, the horses need shade and something to scratch against.
Working is hard, when I'm on the road so much, but tomorrow it's back to the computer in earnest.
More then.
The California tour was wonderfully hectic--I met a lot of nice people, got the star treatment, and even worked in a trip to a fabulous bead store in San Diego, called the Bead Gallery. While there, I got the news that "McKettrick's Luck" was on the New York Times bestseller list for the 4th week in a row--#11 this time!
I also got to stop at Chico's, in Palm Springs. Good thing I took an extra suitcase along! I really loaded up.
The barn is still a work in process. The well has been dug, and some of the trees have been cleared. I'm leaving as many as I can--I love trees and, besides, the horses need shade and something to scratch against.
Working is hard, when I'm on the road so much, but tomorrow it's back to the computer in earnest.
More then.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)