Sunshine in February!

I don’t care what T. S. Eliot says, February is the cruelest month.  It’s nasty, brutish, and short.   It’s also icy, and recently, full of editing, which does nothing to improve my outlook:  Like Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest, I know perfectly well that I look quite plain after I’ve been editing.   

Still, it can’t be all bad; if I’m editing, it means I’m making progress on my new book.  And I can’t be in too foul a mood if I’m making literary references (the count is now up to three).  And I got the COOLEST surprise in my mailbox last week. 

In a wonderful synchronicity, two readers sent me packages.  In both cases, I’ve been corresponding with both women for some time, but had no idea of what was coming.  Each wrote saying that she’d enjoyed my work.  And they don’t know each other, either. 

The first was from Linda in Ohio:  a beautifully hand-knitted hat and mittens (left).  These  are a gorgeous shade and the wool is delightfully soft.  They inspired me to take on the attributes—or at least the pose—of a film star of the Golden Age of Hollywood.  I’m no good at knitting and crocheting and I’m in awe of those who can make such lovely things.  Thank you, Linda! 

The next was from Terry in Tennessee:  a t-shirt that reads “Instant Human:  Just Add Coffee” (left).  Terry made it clear that the t-shirt was for my character, Emma Fielding, because Emma is a coffee addict.  The joke is that Terry also knows that I don’t drink coffee (you can see that I’m not even sure how it is properly consumed):  I pattern all of Emma’s coffee cravings on my husband, a true caff-fiend.  Thank you, Terry!

I am humbled by these thoughtful gestures.  When I started writing, I never expected to find the community that I have, with my fellow writers or with readers, or the kindness and generosity of spirit that I encounter in this little world.  Thank you, ladies, for the sunshine in February! 

Go, groundhog, go!

February 2 is a reminder of sorts. In my office, I have a year-at-a-glance calendar, which helps me organize my travel and events. It also means, that for about six months a year, I have TWO of them up, so I can organize the coming year as well. Taking one down is a relief, and it reminds me of some of what went on last year. There were times when I didn’t bother putting my suitcase away, because either I was going to use it right away, or my husband was. I went to

• The South Carolina Festival of the Book
• The Public Library Association in Boston
• Malice Domestic (VA)
• The Festival of Mystery (PA)
• Romantic Times (FL)
• Kate’s Mystery Books Anniversary and Holiday parties
• Sisters in Crime Hollywood Event (and touring)
• Bouchercon (WI) (and touring)
• Two trips to DC, VA, and MD
• The New England Crime Bake
• Several local events

I was glad to have the chance to go to so many new venues (and revisit favorites), because I always learn something from these trips. I didn’t feel like I was getting a lot of novel writing done—and I wasn’t, not the five-pages-a-day kind, anyway. But still, valuable work happened. I also

• Did a *lot* of reading
• Read for an academic project
• Wrote two articles and a short story
• Had various blogging adventures
• Did loads of research (and wrote a few pages here and there)

I have to remind myself that last year was a year for reading and research, that I wasn’t lying around, touching up my pedicure. The suitcase has been put away—for the moment—and I’m still playing catch-up, but progress is being made: on January 19, I finished a draft of my thriller. It’s rough, but it’s there for the editing, which I’m doing now. I’m using all that research I snuck in on planes and during weekends. It’s coming together faster than I thought it would. And I’m gearing up for Edgars Week, Malice, the Virginia Book Festival, Bouchercon in Alaska, the New England Crime Bake, and other trips (check out my Calendar of Events for updates).

Punxsatawney Phil didn’t see his shadow this morning, so supposedly we’ll have an early spring (ha!). Maybe he was inside getting his year in order. Maybe he’s finishing his novel.