The flood gates opened this past weekend with Memorial Day and man was it a busy, busy, packed and overflowing weekend.  The bridge did seem to keep traffic flowing–slowly, but flowing. Did I mention slowly. I heard several people mention the length of time it took them to get from one point to another–well, I’ve always said the new bridge is like a skunk- pretty, but stinky at the end. The roundabouts are a general CF. But who am I –DOT knows all, sees all and  is pretty much a deity.Besides that, it was a good weekend, a fine one for kicking off the summer season. The weather was beautiful.  The Book Launch at the Quarter Moon was fantastic–thank you, thank you, thank you. The weekly Topsail Arts and Crafts Market begins this Thursday with over 20 vendors (I’ll be there) and June 3, I may be teaching a writing class at CFCC on 210. It’s a fun class, first one I’ve done in the summer so it’s a bit iffy. Not many want to go to school in the summer. So we’ll see. Enjoy what the season has to offer, if it is nothing more than tourist watching (a great and entertaining pastime). Then take a deep breath, Labor Day will be here soon and the traffic will slow. And before you know it we’ll be getting used to the bridge.

QUOTE: “The fact that television and tourism have made the whole world accessible has created the illusion that we enjoy intimate knowledge of other places, when we barely scratch their surface. For the vast majority, the knowledge of Thailand or Sri Lanka acquired through tourism consists of little more than the whereabouts of the beach.” Martin Jacques

WRITING TIP: sign up for my class. Mondays 5:45 to 8:45 on HWY 210 near Harris Teeter

One can’t deny the subtle soft beauty of the sea and sky in the early morning haze,  but the blubbery cnidarians

dotting the shoreline brings a sense of “yuck” as I make my daily trek. I know, I know–they are God’s creatures too, but then so are slugs; however slugs don’t sting. Our little cannon ball or cabbage head jelly is probably one of the least most likely to sting you but if they do it can cause some real damage. Alas! There is beauty in everything and as I peer closer to the critter I notice the fine lacy structure, the “trim” – beige and brown and realize that this globulous mass, does indeed have a beauty of its own.  There is art in beauty, regardless of its structure. And maybe enough to rival the beauty of the sun bursting through the clouds——-naw.

QUOTE: “Were I called on to define, very briefly, the term Art, I should call it ‘the reproduction of what the Senses perceive in Nature through the veil of the soul.’ The mere imitation, however accurate, of what is in Nature, entitles no man to the sacred name of ‘Artist.'”  Edgar Allan Poe

WRITING TIP: I will be teaching a creative writing class beginning June 3 (if enough enroll) check it out if you are interested. I know it’s summer but it can still be fun.

Aint’t no way–nope, ain’t no way I’m going to be out on the ocean when it looks like this. Not by choice anyway. I can only imagine the terror–well, I have been out in about 8 foot seas, but that was long ago and  I was too focused on trying to endure my situation, than to be afraid. Then there are the mountains–I like my land flat and sandy, thank you very much. But I did live in Asheville for a couple years and have driven through the Rockies of Utah. Scared the pee out of me. Mountains are pretty in pictures, think I’ll enjoy them that way. Hmm, what else scares me? Rats-scared as hell of them. Sharks–yep, scared of them too. Roaches–but that’s more of a hate thing. I guess what scares me the most is life. Wondering if I’m going to fail. Wondering if I have what it takes to keep the glass half full rather than half empty. Losing a loved one- that’s a scary thing, watching a loved one go through pain, not being able to help a friend that needs my help, mustering up the strength to go one more day with anything. All this and then–getting older is sort of scary too.

I have a choice with the ocean, the mountains and to some extent the critters, but life-that’s a big one. That’s THE one. Then someone told me , it’s rough but you hold on, it’s scary but you pray and hold on. Life is as scary as I let it be. And then their is faith.

QUOTE: “Oh, we can populate the dark with horrors, even we who think ourselves informed and sure, believing nothing we cannot measure or weigh. I know beyond all doubt that the dark things crowding in on me either did not exist or were not dangerous to me, and still I was afraid.” John Steinbeck

WRITING TIP: Fear can cripple you when it comes to writing-if you know this, explain it on paper.

So excited about the new book SHARK’S BREATH! I hope my readers will enjoy this little journey as much as I enjoyed writing it. Shark’s Breath is a little bit longer than my other books–things got complicated–characters just wouldn’t let go! My characters truly have a life of their own.

I hope everyone will join me at Quarter Moon Bookstore in Topsail Beach on May 25 at 5 pm. There will be some finger food, champagne and door prizes. Please come and help us celebrate and meet some of the folks who helped me in researching facts.