Tag Archives: books

Sep30

Oh Canada

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Oh Canada

Only Canada would have some kind of national holiday on a Wednesday in the middle of the week; National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. Whatever. Guess it doesn’t matter what province you live in, you can’t escape this garbage.

But there’s always a silver lining to every cloud. My granddaughter had a day off school today. So my daughter and granddaughter came here from West Kelowna to see me. I haven’t seen them in two years and it was really a special time. We visited for a while and they checked out my winter home. We went out for ice cream and sat outside in the sun and chatted for quite a while. It’s the first time in sixteen years that we’re actually living in the same country.

Another day, another notice from Canadians Abroad. I think I finally figured out a way to stop receiving emails from them. All my other attempts have proven unsuccessful. And to make it even more annoying, they are sent in French.

Last week I finally got End Zone (the third book in the trilogy) up on Amazon. I’m now leaving Bayside far behind and have starting writing a new novel. The atmosphere here in Summerland is peaceful and very conducive to writing. I’m not enrolling in Novel November or any other program. I’m just writing as the inspiration hits me.

It’s been a wonderful humpday.

Jun27

What Do You Mean It’s Almost July?

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What Do You Mean It’s Almost July?

June has been a busy month here in Washington. And it isn’t over yet. Among other things, this coming week will be Hobby Lobby, Costco, writing group and hopefully a day of rest before July 4th. But I’ll leave that for my next post.

I wrote about Cashmere in my last post. I will mention it again in this one. Today is Founders Day, complete with a car show, a parade, a helicopter drop, a book sale, a laser show, vendors and music. On Thursday I was at a community dinner at the church. The library is also moving to its new location in Riverside Center.

I finally made it to Leavenworth for the first time this year. My first stop was the library where I printed off copies for writers group next week. Linda met me and we picked up sandwiches at Dan’s. Back at her place we watched an interesting series on Netflix depicting the life of Abe Lincoln.

I love the book club I belong to here, although I must admit that I’m not too fond of the book we’re currently reading. While I’ve come to appreciate historical fiction, this one is far too wordy and boring.

I was at a memorial service in Monitor last weekend for a woman who was a member of our book club. It’s hard to believe that just last summer we had a birthday party for her when she turned ninety-nine.

Last night we were out at Union Hill Cider Co. where we enjoyed an amazing performance by a local country singer. Lots of families in attendance so the young kids also entertained us with their dancing as well as with rolling down the hills.

Throw in church, life group, writing group and friends and the days fly by all too quickly. And then there’s editing.

I spent a fair amount of time this month editing. Revelations, the second book in the trilogy, was published yesterday and is available on Amazon. Steve is diagnosed as being bipolar and he continues to struggle with substance abuse. Shocking revelations threaten to tear the family apart. And yes, this book also has a cliffhanger at the end.

Enjoy your weekend!

May18

Little Boy Lost

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Little Boy Lost

I first began writing about Steve and Lisa in 1974. In 2013 I found that original manuscript. And I still had no idea where I was going with that story.

In 2024 I joined a senior writers group in Wenatchee, Washington. That was when I decided to start writing again about Steve and Lisa. An abundance of life experiences now played a significant role in developing the story.

Initially this was to be a novel. But it soon evolved into a trilogy; Steve as a child, Steve as a teenager and Steve as an adult.

Little Boy Lost is the first of the three books, where we are introduced to Steve as a child. Insight is given as to his behavior before he is professionally diagnosed as having a bipolar disorder. The relationship between Steve and Lisa begins, as does Steve’s struggle with substance abuse.

Family dynamics play a pivotal role in Steve’s social and emotional development. There is a great contrast between the way his mother and his father express their love for their son.  And then there is Steve’s interpretation, where he blames his father for absolutely everything that has gone wrong in his life.

Hal enters the story as the vice-principal at Steve’s school. But relationships evolve and Hal soon becomes a central figure displaying a strong sense of support in the lives of the Shaels.

The second of the three books is Revelations. This book focuses on Steve’s senior year in high school. Steve is diagnosed as being bipolar and continues to struggle with substance abuse.

The third book in the trilogy is End Zone. This is the story of Steve as an adult. Steve is now an addict due to the chronic drug use over the years. 

Little Boy Lost is available as an Ebook on Amazon. Revelations will be available next month. Release of End Zone will follow in the fall of 2026.

Mar19

Changes

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Changes

It was a tough decision to figure out where to go this spring. It usually isn’t. And it’s never easy to say goodbye to people either. But it is that time of year again. So I booked a flight and I know where I’m going. The big unknown is how long I’ll be there. And where I’ll be going after.

I don’t enjoy traveling anymore. And this year especially I’m glad I won’t be traveling during spring break. I made that mistake a few years ago long before TSA agents were going without pay, and it was crazy enough back then. The photos I’ve seen of airports today are unnerving. They’re like scenes out of a bad movie. Cancellations due to inclement weather only add to the chaos.

I’m also contemplating taking a break from social media for a while. I keep getting bombarded with questions. When are you leaving? Where are you going? How long will you be gone? When will I see you again? And of course that gets me thinking at how reliant I’ve become on social media. And that’s probably not a good thing. It’s far too easy to text than to talk. But at least I text a fair amount in Spanish so that’s a plus.

I’ve seriously down-sized my newsfeeds. I’m beginning to understand why my parents never wanted me to watch the newscasts on TV when I was a child. And I’m thankful that my kids are grown and adults now. I sure wouldn’t want to be raising kids in today’s world. As a child my biggest worry back then was if we were going to have a fire drill at school with snow on the ground. And the only snow day I recall was the blizzard in 1966 that crippled the entire city of Winnipeg.

I wonder what the history books will say years from now. Will there even be books as we know them? Or will they be digital? What will classrooms look like? Better yet, will there even be classrooms? As it is, I take a fair number of courses online and I listen to audiobooks.

Change is why my life is far from boring and doesn’t lack for adventure. I may be a Boomer, but I don’t live there now.

Dec6

On The Shelf Now

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On The Shelf Now

Today is Saturday and it’s the first gloomy day since I got here in October. I was just outside throwing out some trash and noted the cloudy skies and the cool temperature. Rain is on the way and the forecasted high is only 62 degrees, well below the norm for this time of year. It’s a good day to hibernate indoors.

I watched a movie earlier. And now it’s time to do some reading. I’m in the midst of John Grisham’s new book, The Widow. I enjoy his books and I admire him as a writer. His background as a lawyer and politician enable him to realistically portray courtroom battles as well as the injustice that often rears its ugly head in the legal system.

I grew up watching Perry Mason. That TV series now seems like a fairy tale compared with what goes on today. Grisham presents it much more realistically. You may argue that the times have changed and our society today isn’t what it was back in the 50s and 60s. While that is true, greed and ambition have always been there along with the arrogance that appears to be synonymous with the legal profession.

The Lincoln Lawyer. Matt Haller has his own take on the legal system. He doesn’t sit back and watch injustice repeat itself. He meets it head-on, desperately attempting to fight for change while aiding his clients. He gives loopholes a new meaning, when they’re actually used to defend the innocent instead of protecting the guilty.

And now it’s time to get back to reading The Widow by John Grisham.

Nov15

Today’s Prompt

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Today’s Prompt

I don’t often use a writing prompt. There’s usually so much to write about that I don’t feel the need. But today’s prompt caught my eye.

What book are you reading right now?

I read a lot of books. I belong to a book club in East Wenatchee and read the books online when I can’t be there in person. This past year we’ve read several in the historical fiction genre. And I’ve read a few others on the side.

But right now, and I hope you’re sitting down for this one, I’m reading Virgin River. I see a lot of raised eyebrows and smirks. Quite frankly I’m enjoying the book. While it does follow the main storyline of the Netflix series, there’s a great deal more detail, especially when it comes to the steamy sex scenes with Mel and Jack.

I knew the book existed. Years ago when Linda and I started binge watching the series, I became aware that the series was indeed based on a book. But somehow I’d never gotten around to reading the book, until this month. I wanted a change from historical fiction and I’m a book ahead for book club.

I’m also aware that there is more than just one book. And I plan to check out the others as well.

Much of the Netflix series was filmed up in Canada. I’m not surprised. Movies are often filmed in Canada because it’s cheaper than in the USA.

But I will still take my Cascades over Canada’s Rockies.

Oct9

Countdown

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Countdown

Only twelve days left. Why do the days go by so quickly? The past five months in Washington have been a blur of friends, volunteer work, writers group, book club and writing. I didn’t even get to Canada.

On Monday I went to Leavenworth for one last appointment at Shears. Ann and I went out for brunch and a lovely drive through Tumwater Canyon and Plain where the leaves are already in their autumn glory. Everywhere else, the leaves are just beginning to turn. Fall is late this year.

On Tuesday Linda and I went out for lunch and then to Office Depot. I was delighted to find a mouse pad, not an easy feat around here. Probably should have been more organized and ordered one on Amazon before.

On Wednesday Joanne and I volunteered at the Essentials Table at the Community Church in Cashmere. Then we stopped at the Sure To Rise Bakery. Last visit for me for a while to the Cashmere Library. Downloaded and printed out my piece for writers group next week. Farewell hugs to librarians Lisa and Ashley. And yes we did stop to visit my tree and I took pics. Then it was off to East Wenatchee for a delicious dinner at Olive Garden.

Today is Thursday. I spent the morning going through my closet. Clothes are easy. It’s those darn documents that are so tedious. And I’m leaving tons of those behind in a suitcase. Way too heavy to lug down to Mexico. Warmer clothes too. No use for a Columbia ski jacket or a pair of Sorrels down there.

I’m almost finished reading the book for book club. I will write out my comments and email them to the group as I’ll be back in Mexico when it’s time for the next meeting. Then I’ll be back to reading the books on Libby or Hoopla until I return to Washington next year.

Time for a snack. Yummy watermelon. Then I’ll be off to small group for dinner and Bible study.

Have a great evening!

Oct3

It’s That Time Of Year Again

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It’s That Time Of Year Again

I never liked fall. Frost came, plants died, leaves fell off trees. And then winter descended. But then I discovered Washington State. Vermont, eat your heart out. The trees here are gorgeous in the fall.

But fall is also a bittersweet kind of season. It means it’s time to pack up and head for Mexico for the winter. Envy me all you want. There’s a lot of preparing and organizing that goes along with this type of lifestyle. And in my case, a lot of procrastination.

Today is Friday. After running around all week I decided to stay in today and get into some of that organizing. But it’s already afternoon, and what have I done all morning? Okay, it was productive to check my newsfeeds, email and what’s app. Also checked other messages and texts. After that I headed for my happy place. Writing.

But I’ve moved on now from my WIP to this blog post. And I’m determined to continue sorting through documents later today. Documents? I have literally pounds of those. Legal documents. Medical history. They all pile up.

Then there’s all the paper I pretty much successfully avoid. Tap my card and no receipt please. I can easily follow that one online, although I’m fascinated by the hoards of people who still want that paper copy. Do they still put them in folders in file cabinets? I wonder.

However I think I’ll continue my procrastination just a little bit longer. Yesterday at book club I got a copy of the new book and I’m determined to read it before I head to Mexico later this month. After that I’ll be looking for books on Libby while I’m gone.

Have a great weekend!

Sep2

When You’ve Gone Through The Entire Alphabet

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When You’ve Gone Through The Entire Alphabet

It’s time to go back to Plan A, second time around. Or maybe it’s third or fourth time around. I’m really not sure. But I’ll have to see if this Plan A works out.

I had hoped to publish two books this summer. But it looks like it will be next spring. Far too complicated to publish in Canada while I’m still in the USA or in Mexico. And I’ve decided to go straight back to Mexico next month instead of taking any side trips to Canada.

And that’s okay. The third book in the trilogy will be ready to publish in the spring.

I did an interesting workshop online the other day. It was all about choosing titles for books. Right now I have a title carved in stone for the first book of the trilogy. Now I have some new ideas to toss around for the second and third books.

It’s September and the kids are all back in school. School Year’s Eve is over. And that date varied from state to state. Actually the term School Year’s Eve was a new one for me. I guess I watched too many TV commercials this year. That term was never around when I was a child nor when my kids were school-age.

It’s September and temperatures in the 100s are still in the forecast for this week. I hope I’ll still be around to see the leaves change color. Fall has become my favorite season.

Talk about plans changing……………..booking flights today was on my radar but Alaska’s website appears to have the flu today, or maybe it’s that new strain of Covid. Whatever. Or maybe someone up there doesn’t want me to book flights. Hmmmmm.

And now I’ll turn to a different type of writing. I need to make some notes to be read at book club later this week.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Apr17

My Mind Is Wandering

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My Mind Is Wandering

Yesterday afternoon I was chatting with a friend online. I told her I might have to come back to Winnipeg to take care of a legal matter. She told me that my life would make a great book. Today another friend told me to forget the book. Just go after the screenplay.

I actually began writing some memoirs a few years ago when I was living in Leavenworth, inspired by a course I was taking at the time. I thought they might be nice to leave for my granddaughter. But the more I got into it, the more I realized that there were a lot of things that had gone on in my life that I didn’t want her to know about, especially since my children didn’t even know about them.

I once contemplated writing an autobiography. But if I wrote an autobiography, no-one would believe it. People would think it was fiction. In all honesty, I’m living this life and I have a hard time believing it. But my close friends who have been there for me throughout the years continue to assure me that my life is very real and is definitely not fiction. They’ve seen the crazy things that have gone on, especially in the last couple of decades.

And that brings me back to the legal issue which is a daunting dilemma. My close friends know about it and that’s enough for now. There won’t be anything in my blog until the matter is resolved. And that will take time.

It’s a glorious spring day out there today. The sun shines brightly in the sky and the temperature is hovering around 90 degrees. I went out to the flea market on my street very early this morning in order to avoid the stifling heat later on in the day.

My neighborhood has taken on a very different feel this week. La Feria de San Marcos begins on Saturday. Three weeks of music, rides, vendors and celebration. Thousands of people throng here not only from Mexico but from other countries as well. Hundreds of worker have been at it for weeks now setting up. And I am living a mere two blocks away from one of the main stages!

Emiliano came unexpectedly for an English class today although the kids are off school this week for Semana Santa. We talked about the solar system and watched a short video. He is looking forwarding to seeing Minecraft over the holidays. He enjoys the game and is excited about seeing the movie. So we watched the trailer together in English.

I’m still listening to audiobooks but this morning I have a music playlist on in the background as I write this. Everything from Backstreet Boys to Marianas Trench. Actually it’s great music for writing memoirs, but I’m not going there today, or anytime soon.

Time for lunch. Ricardo made lasagna. Yummy!