We're getting down to the last days of 2010--it's hard to believe how quickly the year has gone. Yeah, I know, it's a cliche. But trust me, the older you get the faster time flies. Remember in grade school when summer vacation seemed to last forever? Then by high school, those two or two-and-a-half months passed more quickly, and I'd think, geez, do I have to go back again?
For me, 2010 was a great year for my writing career, thanks to a lot of factors. Great readers, both old and new, e-books, and upgraded, more affordable technology. Plus I got to take some fun trips, was an accidental redhead for two unfortunate weeks, and I'm looking forward to more great times in 2011.
But this year wasn't so good for my pets. I lost my sweet cat Lucy in June. This last Thanksgiving weekend, I lost Chrissie, the dog who made me into a dog lover. For people who think of their pets more as their children, you'll understand that how difficult this has been. Lucy had been ill for a long time and she was miserable by the time I made the decision to release her from that misery. Chrissie, though . . . she was sick for only about six weeks. Her downhill slide was alarming. On Thanksgiving, my mom came for dinner and in the four hours she was here, she noticed Chrissie's advancing decline over that short time period. The doctor thought it was liver cancer or at least liver failure. She was scheduled for an ultrasound this week, but she was having trouble breathing on Thursday, and by Friday she could barely walk.
Lucy and Chrissie were about the same age--12 and 13--and it was my great privilege to have them spend their lives with me. I miss them both every single day.
But now 2011 is coming and each year brings new opportunities and joys. I'm looking forward to that.
Alexis: I am so sorry to hear of your losses. (Just became a follower and purchased two of your Kindle books). I am an animal lover (also with chickens!)and lost our one-month-shy-of-twenty-years-old cat. Still have Toonces who is 18 1/2.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who had two cats live to 20 years old. I wish I'd been so fortunate. But things are looking up already--I'm considering a rescue dog, a Great Pyrenees mix who is on her way up from a kill shelter in Texas.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're enjoying the books, Suzanne!
Alexis
Alexis:
ReplyDeleteI am part-way through Home by Morning and loving it. I'm doing an arts and crafts show at the UCSC Marine Lab and in between customers I'll be reading on my Kindle. I do reviews, so expect one for this delightful book.
The setting intrigued me, and I have a personal interest because my grandmother's younger sister died in that epidemic.
I love unusual settings, and two of mine which weren't warmly embraced by my New York publisher, are now seeing the light of day with a small press.
So glad you are offering your back list.
Suzanne, Home By Morning was a book I couldn't sell to NY to I decided to e-pub it. It's my first exclusive e-book. I'm so glad you like it. :)
ReplyDeleteAlexis:
ReplyDeleteI finished Home by Morning...and loved it. I posted my review on Amazon. Just out of curiosity, where in Oregon did you set Powell Springs? (I lived in Medford and Portland briefly...about a million years ago.)
Actually, I turned the Portland suburb of Gresham into Powell Springs. I live near there and I've got a lot of resource material that made it easy for me to imagine how the area looked before McDonalds and Ross Dress For Less got there. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Suzanne, I'm so glad you enjoyed the book. I think not many people know about it yet, or don't know what to make of the time period. But really, the story takes place almost 100 years ago, and that's a historical as far as I'm concerned.
Alexis:
ReplyDeleteI graduated eight grade in a small rural school closer to Gresham than Portland (can't tell you much more because we only lived there for three months, but I made a few dollars picking strawberries.)
I have touted your book everywhere I blog. I know my critique partner bought a copy.