I’ve just joined a new site called Bublish. Stay tuned for “bubbles” of information about various books.

https://bubli.sh/FH08dAs

It’s been a while since I’ve posted something here, been getting my ducks in a row. They look pretty straight now, so here goes–Work on ALL THESE LITTLE THINGS, is progressing. Not as quickly as I would have liked, but it is doing so. The premise here–oh my, even bad guys are human. Now think of how frail we are all, how susceptible we are to…everything. This story has been fun in a twisted sort of way. I do hope my readers like this book, finishing it up now and getting ready to send it to my editor. So I’m looking at  June /July for the release. Heck! With the coronavirus,  I don’t even now if stores will be open or if we’ll even have markets, but that doesn’t stop the writer whose head is constantly building scenarios. Stay well out there my dears. God bless and to quote Charlie Chaplin, “smile…you’ll see the sun come shining through if you just smile.

QUOTE: “For every minute you are angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

WRITING TIP: Do you smile when you are writing something funny? You should.

Nearing completion, I thought I’d offer a little snippet of what the new book has to offer. Hope you like it. Hopefully it will be out by mid JUne.

Rae pushed past the empty crate boxes stacked willy nilly among the marsh grasses and softly spewed curse words as she progressed beyond old fishing buoys and decaying nets. Eyeing the one armed crabs scurrying from hole to hole, hiding as a foot neared, raising their one claw in defense, she cursed again, “What the frigging’ hell are all these little things?” Rae kicked at the tiny crustaceans and moved forward toward the waters of the sound………………….. Spying an oar-the oar, swollen from high tide waters, an oarlock welded by time jutted from the wood. Its spike rusted yet still sharp. Rae picked up the pace, careful to keep balanced in the muck. “Man oh man, I’d hate to fall on that thing,” Rae muttered. “And it being under the water at high tide, man that could really hurt somebody.”
The oar lay Just as the instructions had noted; across a cinder block and dipped into the oncoming tide. A discolored, rusty looking rope was tied to the long pole and then between the holes of the block. A length of rope led away into the oaks and myrtle bushes thickly lining the perimeter of the marshy sound-line.
Yes, it was the right place and the right time. Rae’s eyes followed the fraying rope attached to the block into the wooded area. For a moment the pungent aroma of marijuana filled the air. Rae dismissed the odor, smiled and continued following the rope.

Yooza, Yooza, Yooza. Finally made it in to this, been trying for a while. The 21st and 22nd…y’all come now. Lots of vendors from all over our area, many you’ve never seen before. All kinds of stuff by artisans talented beyond belief. Make a day of it in downtown Wilmington!

  The above picture is of the CLOUD NINE, my father’s fishing boat. The one I worked on for a few years..great times! I use those times often in my writing, they take me to a place I’ll never forget. Yes, the past was a great place-a place I personally like to visit but not live.

I’m presently finishing the last (at least for a while) book in my murder mystery series-ALL THESE LITTLE THINGS, and have been doing some research into my  next novel. It will be set in the 60s and so that’s where my head will be for a while. I sort of dread it because though I think I had an extremely cool childhood, I do not want to live there. I’m a little scared about going in that direction, but am compelled to do so. Drat and damn the life of a writer…these feelings of being compelled to do something drive me nuts.

QUOTES:  I realize there’s something incredibly honest about trees in winter, how they’re experts at letting things go..Jeffrey McDaniel

The past is a great place and I don’t want to erase it or to regret it, but I don’t want to be its prisoner either..Mick Jagger

WRITING TIP: Everything is fodder. Do not be afraid to explore and use it.

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-tvyeh-d4ec8f Check out this site to hear my podcast with Dr. Tonya Nagle. It was fun despite wishing I could have done a better job – do I really sound like that?

Every year around this time I pay homage to the daffodil, my favorite flower. So once again, here is a pic of ‘a host of golden daffodils.’ These jocund flora offer such promise and hope as they burst forth from still cold ground-(the reason I love them). There is always hope even in the darkest hour.

Trying to get through the dreary winter, the daffodil reminds us that spring is coming. And for me, that other wonderful things are just around the corner too-new friends, old friends, things we have no idea will come.

Wordsworth said it best:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

To the people I love and to those whose lives have been difficult this winter, I wish you the joy and promise of the daffodil.

J. Manning presenting his newest book at the luncheon.  And it was a great MEET THE AUTHOR LUNCHEON! Thanks to everyone who came and listened to our local writers. The food was great and venue perfect. Thanks to all who helped out.

Cathy Teoste Richard AndrascikJoey Jones Beverly HeydeCarol Ann Ross Leslie Tall ManningJ. ManningJoe Decicco

This year the MEET THE AUTHOR LUNCHEON will be held at Surf City Gifts, the little shop next to IGA. Surf City gifts has been around since the 50s, so you know it’s stood the test of time. It’s year three for our MEET THE AUTHOR. The first year there was no luncheon and it pretty much stunk-hardly anyone showed up. The second year was a great success, even with all the confusion. This year it will be perfect, or at least, that’s what we’re aiming for. Authors will move from table to table rather than guests. (what chaos last year!-my bad) The menu will once again be shrimp creole or turkey chowder-with roll or corn bread and tea or water. It’s a simple menu but a yummy one, and the price is right-$12.50. These dishes went over well last year, empty bowls were all that was left.

We truly have some great Indie authors in our area. I hope you will check them out. Tickets go on sale the 23rd of this month at Surf City Gifts and Surf City Coffee (the shop around the corner next to PEAK). There are only 40 seats available so get them quickly. C U there. Carol Ann Ross