As a wildlife enthusiast, I loved observing this big guy over spring break. Who says the dinosaurs are all gone? My opinion? They have merely downsized!  Don't rewrite the natural history books yet, I am no expert. Anyway, this iguana spent time sunning among the plants on the ledge above him, then swam through the pool and into the grounds, much to the surprise and consternation of several swimmers. Don't get me started on pelicans, which I think are very much like a pterodactyl, and great entertainment to watch soar effortlessly above a bay, then dive for dinner. Several found a school of fish and dove into the banquet. I could only imagine the dinosaur version. I wonder if they also fished?

What did I read on break? I finished Martha Wells' Witch King,  Rebecca Yarros' Onyx Storm, a Japanese folk tales collection by Kyota Ko, and Yangtze Choo"s The Fox Wife. ​ I cannot imagine anything more fun than relaxing into several different worlds of fantasy. 

Now that I've returned from a sunny spring break, it's time to get back to work! As you may have noticed on my  Good News page, I am putting together a workshop on writing a synopsis. Check out that page for registration and more information. There are many forms of synopsis, from elevator pitches to long forms, and we will be discussing and practicing three of them. 

I could show you what it looks like outside right now (a blizzard), but I won't. While DC enjoys cherry blossom time, we've had a spring teaser in Colorado, but winter is not done with us yet. That said, it's perfect weather for staying cozy inside and working on book 3, my WIP (work in progress). I packed notebooks and wrote pages of notes as part of my pre-writing efforts, which help me focus when I get days like this with my computer.

Since I write about animals, or rather, people who can turn into animals, I thought it was absolutely necessary and required that I take myself to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on a recent visit to sunny California. Fun fact, rhinos can easily hide among rocks! Who'd a thought? How many can you count in that photo, and are you sure?

My fans and friends know that one of my favorite things about Colorado is live wildlife sightings, whether it's on my drive into the mountains or in my own backyard there. It is such a thrill to see them in their natural habitats, which can make most zoos problematic. Not so with the Safari Park. Word of advice, wear good walking shoes. If you are lucky enough to go there, you will marvel at the size and arrangements of the different habitats. One disadvantage is that there's more space for the animals to hide from you! 

Now, while I have resumed work on book 3, I had a thought about zoos. What if a Netah was accidentally caught and taken to a zoo? Would they survive with the actual animals? If they transformed into humans, would they become dinner? How could they escape? I would love to explore this situation, but will not do so right now, because I don't want to get distracted from the progress I made today. I managed to edit the first four chapters and add new scenes and moments. I then turned to my outline and fleshed that out. Having made a false start a year ago, I realized I still had some good material in the original and figured out where it could be used in the new version. That feels like progress. The zoo situation feels like a short story. I could make it a bonus piece, or submit it. Stay tuned. 

​Thanks for reading!

I'd like to acknowledge my new CPO (chief promotions officer) who has made it her practice, when sitting at her favorite diner, to place copies of the two books in my Netah series on the corner of her table, and then handing out table cards to anyone who pauses for a look. Her favorite diner is the Towson Diner on York road, if you happen to be in the neighborhood.  

I just placed a new order for these cards for my own use at Vista Print. I have already managed to talk my local salon, several restaurants, and some gift shops into placing these on their counters for customers to take. I also had them on hand at my bookstore appearances. Talk about an easy way to reach neighbors and visitors to my area. Now my reach is extended to Baltimore!

So, how to extend my reach elsewhere? If any of you kind readers have ideas, please email me at [email protected].

On a different note, my wrist is healed, typing is easier, and I'm back in business working on book 3. Some exciting things are already happening to Josh at the summer games, especially when it comes to attention from some female Netahs. The summer games include things like racing and dancing. Try to picture a meadow filled with elk spaced out evenly from each other while they practice their new line dance routine! Yes, that happens. 

To my skier friends, enjoy the snow while we still have it! Stay warm. 

Thanks for reading.

I missed a month of posting because of this! Right hand fingers are a little more mobile now, so here goes nothing...

I mentioned the SCBWI bookshop promo and my appearance at Bookies bookstore in my last post. Today I want to say thank you to the folks who arranged the Bookies event for 35+ local Colorado children's authors, and to those who came to visit. If you missed it, but you still need holiday gifts, I highly recommend their new location for its space and cozy vibe, not to mention their support of us locals.

I remember from before I became an author, the thrill of meeting book authors in person. It was as close as I got to a celebrity. From the other side of the table, celebrity is the last thing on my mind. It's all about the readers. The most fun  part of events like that is meeting readers, chatting, and especially seeing their eyes widen when I give them my elevator pitch. That's the one or two sentences I recite that sum up my books. 

Don't get me wrong, this was no lining up for hours, the line going around the block, for a chance to get the latest Harry Potter book. Instead it was tables spread out around the store, each shared by two authors, waiting to meet and chat with anyone who wandered by. Opportunities like that are rare for authors. The low key, no pressure set up meant everyone was relaxed. How fun it was to discuss the state of YA publishing with a fellow writer who came to shop, who happened to be an editor and writer herself! These were my grateful Thanksgiving thoughts, which I couldn't share in November.

With my wrist in a removable brace, and finger movement improving daily, I am not looking forward to the holidays as I usually do. No baking or knitting for me for a while. I'm trying not to feel sorry for myself, because I did get to help decorate a tree with two of my favorite little boys, and I will have family surrounding me for the next few weeks. I am one of the lucky ones. I hope you find yourself in a good place, good frame of mind, and good health. Happy Holidays!