Category: Check-in

I’m back!

Hello everyone! I. Have. Returned.

But wait! Where was I?

Well, for the last few months, my daughter has been working as an au pair in Italy. Several weeks back, I was at my desk, staring at the bleak view out the window, and wondered: Why on earth am I sitting here in Minnesota?

Good question.

So, I started researching whether I could swing a trip to Italy. Turns out that I could. I found a reasonable flight, a bed and breakfast in Pisa (a quick train ride for my daughter and near many of the places I wanted to visit). Then, I made the fateful decision to click Book Now.

And perhaps it’s a coincidence or a bit of synchronicity, but there are portions of The Pansy Paradox series that take place in Italy. I’m beginning to suspect my subconscious knew—long before I did—that I needed to walk the ground for some of those portions.

I’m hoping to write more about my time there. Not so much a travelogue, which sounds boring to read, never mind write. But the odd and unusual and fun. Things that relate to the series I’m writing. Things that made me see something in a different light.

But first, some firsts:

First photo in Europe:

Sunrise over Frankfurt, Germany as we made our descent

First photo of Pisa:

View of Pisa along the Arno River

First flower:

Pansies in a container along the Borgo Stretto in Pisa

Yes, pansies were everywhere in Pisa and Florence. I took that as a sign.

Happy Spring, Happy Nowruz

I stepped outside this morning, dogs tugging on their leashes. A light rain had washed everything overnight. And there, on the back deck, it smelled like spring—if only for a moment.

Then, the dogs pulled me down the steps and into the mud.

But I feel like spring is here, even if it has been chilly, even if we do end up with more snow. I always feel like I’m waiting for the March equinox, which also happens to be the day of the Persian New Year.

To me, it feels like the new year. Being this far north, I sometimes think we should forget about January and February and hibernate until the equinox. Yes, we’ll probably get more snow, but it isn’t going to last. And on the other side is that wonderful halo of green that the trees will soon wear.

That gives me energy; that gives me hope.

Happy Spring and Happy Nowruz!

Of false springs and rabbit holes

We had a lovely week of false spring, topping out at 72 degrees or so. Now, of course, it’s 18 degrees, but at least it’s sunny today. But while it was warm, I took long walks and went out and about in that extra hour of sunshine. Lots of other people were out as well, and we all seemed very happy, tipping our faces toward the sun and letting out a long breath.

Spring in Minnesota is like that.

I also went down several research rabbit holes this week and decided to pick up with language learning again. Low-key, self-paced language learning, which I’m finding I enjoy a lot more than the classroom setting (whether in real life or online).

I decided on Italian (for reasons), and I’m using Duolingo, supplemented by a grammar book and the podcast Coffee Break Italian. It helps that I’ve already studied German, Russian, and a little French. So my brain understands things like: oh, irregular verb, or oh, that’s the plural, without much conscious thought.

Yes, this makes learning a new language easier. It’s also nice to use this part of my brain again. It’s like it’s also waking up along with spring.

A study in contrasts

This week, Tuesday morning:

This week, Wednesday morning:

There’s still snow on the ground, but the roads are clear and dry enough for walking. And most importantly? No patches of ice. And while there’s a wintery mix in our future for Saturday, this week looks amazing for walking. I’m planning on doing a lot.

Also? Daylight Saving Time. I used to hate losing that extra hour of sleep, but now I’m so grateful to have more sunshine later in the day that I don’t mind so much.

In writing, I worked on those debriefing transcripts I mentioned last week. It’s almost like I’m a fly on the wall, listening in. (I mean, assuming flies care about eavesdropping and not simply their next meal.) There are plot points I need to address. But I also want these conversations to unfold naturally, depending on who’s doing the debriefing.

In other news, I have embarked on spring cleaning. Wish me luck.

Another art adventure

I went on another art adventure this week, this time to the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It’s been ages since I’ve been, and I really need to go again later in the year. I want to revisit the Otto Dix War Portfolio before it leaves in August.

For some reason, this painting by Eugene-Louis Boudin caught my eye, so I went in for a closer look. It’s called Vacationers on the Beach at Trouville. It is also the first painting purchased by the MIA after it opened in 1915.

This Van Gogh. That’s all. This Van Gogh.

Also, apparently, the MIA thought I was in the market for a new writing desk because they kept offering up a variety of options:

In writing-related news (without a fancy new desk), I’ve been working on that second plotline for The Marigold Miracle. Some of the scenes are actually debriefing transcripts, so they’re dialogue-heavy with some sound effects. They’ve been challenging and fun to write.

SUNday

The sun is out today, the temperature is a balmy 35 degrees Fahrenheit, and I’m going to keep this short and venture outside. People are (or will be) out walking, so I’m going to freshen my Little Free Library with some new books, maybe take the dogs on a sniff walk around the yard, and otherwise enjoy being outside without the air hurting my face.

Hope everyone is having an equally lovely Sunday.

Bracing for the cold

Snow before the cold

So, we have a cold front coming this week, a brutal one. I always hope February will be kinder, maybe because it’s sitting next to March, which is (almost) spring. Okay, here in Minnesota, March is absolutely not spring. Still, I expect February to be more compassionate.

Sadly, my expectations are often dashed.

Luckily, I do not need to leave the house until next Saturday. I have all meals planned, plenty of coffee and tea, a new series to binge (Paradise on Hulu—two episodes in, and I’m enjoying it), and plenty to read.

In writing progress, I’ve made it all the way through the manuscript (y’all, it’s 103,000 words) with Pansy’s plotline. Now, I plan to do a first-cut revision and weave in the second plotline, which deals with the character of Marigold in The Marigold Miracle. So, at least I have writing to distract me from the cold as well.

If you’re dealing with any kind (or not-so-kind) weather this week, take care!

Art Adventure

This week, an errand took me across town. And since I was across town, I decided to visit The Museum of Russian Art. It was a great way to get out of the house, offline, and into the world. The visit was the perfect antidote for a week of fire-hose news blasts.

The crowds were light enough that you could take your time at each work of art, but there were enough people that it felt companionable.

Plus, if you’ve never seen a display of 1,000 nesting dolls, I highly recommend it (my iPhone 8 doesn’t do any of the art justice).   In writing, I’m heading into the last part of book 2 (The Marigold Miracle). I won’t be officially done when I reach the end because I have a second plotline that I need to weave into the story. Parts are there, but it needs to be more robust. Still, getting (closer) to the end is pretty exciting.

Artist: Alisa Irisova
Artist: Valery Momot
Artist: Natalia Selivanova
Artist: Alexander Viazmensky
1,000 nesting dolls!

One month in and what I’m working on

Hello February sunrise

Last week, Anno asked what I was working on and whether it was the series about Pansy (she of the sentient umbrella).

And yes, yes, it is. I’m writing the entire series. Or rather, I believe it’s the entire series, three books with a companion novella. I’m writing the whole series first before publishing any of it.

I’m doing this for a couple of reasons. First, I simply want the joy of writing it without any external expectations. If I publish the first book and it’s nothing but crickets and tumbleweeds, that can make the subsequent books more difficult to write.

If the first lands and finds its readership? Well, that could make the subsequent books even harder to write.

Right now, I’m in my writing bubble and having an immense amount of fun, and I don’t want to give that up.

Second, I think the series will be better for it. I’ve already refined the world-building by writing book two. I’m keeping notes of what I want to change in book one. Small things, a sentence here or there, backstory that needs a slight rephrasing. I could probably get away with not doing this, but I really enjoy doing this sort of work. To borrow a word I used a few blog posts ago, it feels like a luxury.

Last but not least, I believe that, in the long run, it will take less time to publish the entire series. There was a three-year gap between Coffee and Ghosts books three and four. Part of that was circumstances (oh, hi, pandemic). Part of it was I had to figure out how to bring back (spoiler) the entity. The entity is Katy’s foil. The series doesn’t work without the entity sticking its nose into things—not that the entity has an actual nose.

I will start publishing once book three is drafted and I feel secure about the content. Not all at once, but readers will know the series is complete.

So, during this first month of full-time writing, I reached ~91,000 words in book two (yes, these are long fantasy books). I’ve written close to 20,000 words this month. Considering I’m still recovering from burnout, I feel that’s significant. It feels like a win.

Also, one month in?

No regrets.