Catching Up

I hope you are all on my Facebook page, because I have been on there more than I have here. I love this blog, but here’s the thing: When my writing life is going well, I blog less. I’m working on that, but if I disappear for a few days, or um, weeks, just know that I’m writing. Anyhoo, here I am and here is an update for the faithful who keep following this blog. I appreciate you so much.

Books (by others): I loved, loved, loved A Watershed Year. Susan Schoenberger is a fabulous author and after reading her debut novel, I’m certain we’re going to be hearing more about her. Almost Heaven was also a fabulous book. I love all of Fabry’s fiction(Dogwood and June Bug are both wonderful) and this one did not disappoint. I haven’t read The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb yet, but I’m looking forward to doing so. I also have Her Fearful Symmetry, by Audrey Niffenegger on its way and wonder if I will like it as much as I did The Time Traveler’s Wife. I’ve heard mixed reviews.

Books (Mine): Well, they are still out there, so if you haven’t bought them, please do so now. I’ve been hearing that it is more important than ever for authors to market their own books, so there you go. Do you think just telling you to go buy them is too bold?

Writing: Since I decided to dig deeper in my writing and to focus on what I like to call the organic process or the “purity” of writing itself, and not the getting published side, I think/hope my stories have improved. I have some stuff out there and I’m crossing my fingers. I do not think that crossing my fingers is sacrilegious because when i was researching “good luck” for one of my novels, I read that crossing your fingers is actually a Christian symbol of the cross. Who knew? So from now I’m also going to start knocking on wood and see if that helps.

Faith: I know that not everyone who follows this blog shares my faith, so if you are one of those people, please humor me for a moment. My Grandpa passed away last week. It was hard for the family. He was 94, a Christian, and liked to attend church on Sunday. During his last weeks, he reported to my mother on numerous occasions to have seen my Grandmother and talked about Jesus and heaven. He was ready to be with his wife, and with Jesus. The end of his journey reminded me that when it’s time to meet our maker, we won’t care who thinks we are crazy for having faith. You think I’m crazy or weak for believing in Jesus? I understand, but I still do. My grandpa, a builder and a tough guy by all who knew him in his life, wasn’t weak. I have no reason to believe anything else, except that he still lives.

Family: My kids are home. We are a blended family and in the summer our kids are scattered out between visitation and vacation with other parents. The thing I hear most often from well-meaning friends is, “at least you can spend some time with your husband.” Sure, it’s nice to get more time with my best friend, but we are parents. We would much rather our kids be with us all the time. I hear so many parents complaining about not having enough time without their children. I say, be careful what you wish for.

Personal: I know, I know. I sound like such a well of wisdom, but I don’t think I’m wise. I have had lots of time over the past few months, while my children were traveling, to reflect on lots of things about myself and life. Too much time, probably, but here is what I learned this summer:  1) Embrace life, no matter what your circumstances, 2) Embrace people (writers tend to spend way too much time alone), 3) If someone tries to make you feel like you can’t do something, then you are probably supposed to be doing it, and 4) When you think your garden has been destroyed by a storm, wait a few weeks and it just might grow back; and I mean that both literally and figuratively.

How was your summer? What did you read? Learn? Do?

-Tina