It’s July. How did that happen? I honestly don’t know where the first half of the year went. Since we last spoke, I’ve moved into a new house, turned another year older and completed half of my new novel. In truth, the novel was a Nano project just to get me writing again. Then, as they often do, it took on a life of its own and here we are 52K words and three drafts later. Yes, I know I should only have one draft as it’s still the ‘first’ draft, but my path has never been very straight. I tried to outline with this one, that’s what brought all the chaos. I tried to be a planner and map this thing out and was ready and feeling good about it. Then I started writing and everyone was like, ‘Hahaha, silly author! We do what we want and you will just come along for the ride!’ And I was like, oh right – I forgot no one listens to me. Now I do what they tell me and things are going much better. Though, I’m not writing this one alone per se and am learning a lot during this process. I heard the best advice the other day. Someone said to forget about plot and storyline and all those things and focus on: what does your main character want more than anything, and how can you prevent them from getting it. Well, that, I can do.

I recently took a social media detox and found it to be quite liberating. While I have reinstated most of my accounts, I don’t think I’ll have the apps on my phone. My son said to me that people don’t have real friends anymore. This made me sad and wonder if all this connectedness is really pushing us further and further apart in the end. I can click on a box and see how my cousins and great-aunt are doing without every actually checking in on them. We don’t have family get-togethers like we used to. Our kids don’t even know each other. How sad is that? These people who shaped my life and loved me and taught me to take chances by cutting my hair off one summer for no reason are strangers to my son. It’s a shame. Maybe it’s time to find real connections again?

I don’t want seven months to go by before I post again, so here is my commitment to blogs I shall post soon.

• Wonder Woman – A love story, but not the kind you thought.
• My Favorite Books of all time. One of mine might even make this list.
• Seasons of Love. After making it almost seventeen years of marriage, I have some advice to share.

I hope everyone reading this blog is either in a good place, or on a solid road to a good place. Choose to be happy with the life you have while you make consistent effort to achieve the life you want. It can be done.

See below for some pics of the new house, should you be interested.

New House

Office

Master Bedroom

Stairs to son’s room.

Kitchen/Living Room

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