Reno
There was a wonderful turnout at Fox Point on Wednesday. I have to say, Milwaukee is a fabulous book town! I loved seeing everyone, and special thanks to the readers who brought little gifts for Jaxon. He and his mom will love them.
I spent all day yesterday traveling. My plane was late and I had only 15 minutes to make my connection in Denver. Somehow I managed to find a bathroom AND make my flight! It was all worth it when I saw Wayne on the plane—he joined me for the last leg on our way to Reno.
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Milwaukee
I left Minneapolis in high spirits after the fabulous signing at the Mall of America yesterday. Thank you to everyone who came out and joined in the fun. Today I arrived in Milwaukee with some time to spare, so my escort took me to a few book stores to sign stock AND to a yarn shop. I was so glad to visit Ruhama again, a wonderful yarn store on Silver Spring drive. The shop reminds me of my fictional store on Blossom Street, with ladies knitting and sharing, seated at a table. I was proud to give out some mini skeins of my new yarn line co Read more
Minneapolis
It’s my first day on the "tour road," and I’m in Minneapolis. Upon arrival I didn’t go to the hotel, did not pass go, went directly to the Mall of America (on the pretense of checking out the signing location, when in reality I wanted to try out my brand new credit card). It works!
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My Bags are Packed!
My bags are packed, and I'm excited to start off the Hannah's List tour with a signing in Minneapolis. Just think about it–I'm beginning this tour at the largest shopping mall in America. Is this incredible or what?
Wayne lifted my suitcase, and it was so light he asked if I'd forgotten anything. I assured him I had everything I needed. What I might have failed to mention is that all I really need is my credit card.
I hope to see you soon!
Manatees and Fir Trees
I have yet to sit out on our patio for any length of time and fail to see either dolphins or manatees. Lately the manatees have been visiting our dock area. They are such lovely mammals and always cause a bit of excitement whenever Wayne and I see one. This morning we saw three!
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A Helping Hand
I’ve said all along that the most generous, wonderful people read my books. Word came from the New York publicity agency that is handling the Knit 1, Bless 2 initiative that their office is filling up with stunningly beautiful baby items.
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Clear Sailing
Wayne and I have signed up for a boat safety class this weekend. In my upcoming reader newsletter, under the Q&A section, I talk about how I’m a bit challenged in the area of docking a boat. The memory of me crashing the sailboat into the pier lingers in both Wayne’s and my mind. I still have nightmares of people screaming and running for their lives, jumping into the water in order to save themselves. (Okay, I tend to exaggerate . . . Read more
In Love with Pasta
One of our favorite restaurants in Vero Beach is changing its menu. Stella's serves Italian food and is changing over to more American fare. Seeing that this would be our last opportunity to enjoy their specialty Italian dishes, Wayne and I went to dinner with our good friends, Rhett and Barbara, last night. Although my grandparents are German/Russians who immigrated from the Baltic Sea area, I'm convinced there must be some Italian blood in me, because I love pasta so much. Then again, I'm a huge fan of Mexican and Chinese food, too. I guess I'
Testing, Testing!
I had computer problems this morning. If you ever want to see a writer throw a temper tantrum, then watch what happens when their computer decides to act weird. I noticed, however, that I went through at least three of the stages of grieving.
1. Denial. "There's nothing wrong. It's just taking my computer a little longer than normal to boot up."
Cooking for Others
A reader recently asked me what I’ve been reading, and I mentioned Richard LeMieux’s book, BREAKFAST AT SALLY’S, which is his tale of homelessness. Richard’s enlightening book changed my entire perspective of the homeless–who they are, how they wind up homeless, and the challenges they face.
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Sibling Squabbles
Wayne and I had a thoroughly wonderful Easter with our children and grandchildren. It’s always fun getting the grandkids together, as they are the very best of friends. Cameron, who recently turned thirteen, had me laughing so hard I could barely breathe. His sister, the only girl with two brothers, has learned to hold her own. She got into a squabble with her brother, and her parents put her in "time out." Cameron came to me, and with all the wisdom of his years announced, "Maddy’s got issues, but if you mention it, s Read more