thinkhappy's blog
I have been working with a wonderful screenplay writer, Jill, and we've put together an film adaptation of Megan's Way which really highlights Megan's relationship with Olivia, her teenage daughter, and grows the part of Olivia--you'll really see her shine! We've changed the title to Pieces of Me, which I feel suits Olivia's story a bit more appropriately.
I have exactly one day left to live frolicking carefree. Tuesday I return to the real world of school, schedules, homework, and being responsible. Ugh! There will be no more waking at 8 a.m. to the patter of little boy feet running from the bedroom to the computer or television room, no more eating dinner at 7 p.m. without having given it a thought beforehand, no more evenings spent doing absolutely nothing productive. Nope. Done. Another summer-gone-by.
With my husband's recent return from Iraq, I now feel the impending end of summer--which I loathe and love equally. I loathe the end of our blissful family time, carefree, when every day holds such promise of fun outings. I loathe the idea of school, schedules, and homework, and I LOVE the return of my guilt-free writing days! The end of summer is a double-edged sword for me. I don't wish away the days with my kids, in fact, I wish for more. But I also long to write--alone at my keyboard, music blaring, cat at my feet--oh, life is good!
I recently connected with John Weaver, Page One Lit. We had a lovely interview about Megan's Way, and I thought I'd share it with you. The newest Megan's Way intro video is located there, as well.
Many thanks for reading, and please feel free to share it with friends
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Something happens to my brain when I am on vacation. I'm not talking about how the stress indicators become almost non-existent, or the sudden onset of the ability to sleep later in the mornings. I'm not even talking about the increased desire to eat more and exercise less. I'm talking about the way my mind thinks while I'm relaxing in the sun, goofing around with the kids, or watching a drive-in movie. Suddenly the work-in-progress and the upcoming manuscript ideas take on a life of their own.
Thirteen days. You can do a lot in thirteen days. You can lose a two or three pounds, you can get pregnant, you can drive through more states than I can think of. You can run miles upon miles. Thirteen days can hold so many promises, so many secrets, so much love. Thirteen days can seem to drag on forever--or pass by so quickly that you barely felt the hours fade into one and other. Our estimate of when my husband will return from Iraq is thirteen days. Thirteen days seems like it's right around the corner.
Tonight was fabulous...I think! The boys and I made the most delicious fruit smoothies, grabbed our sweatshirts and flashlights, and headed for an evening walk on the beach. We arrived at dusk--the cool evening air sent my hair whipping across my face, and the boys did the "watch me fly away" dance that children do, with their arms out at their sides and their faces turned toward the sky. Waves slapped against the shore as we made our way across a hill of rocks to the point, where a sole red light blinked on a metal tower twenty feet above our heads.
Bonfire (n): A large fire built outdoors, as for signaling or in celebration of an event.
That's the online definition of bonfire. My definition varies slightly:
Bonfire (n): A large fire built outdoors as an excuse for a gathering of friends.
Today was beautiful here on Cape Cod, 90 degrees with a light breeze. The boys and I rented kayaks and sea cycles (I had no idea there were such things!) and gave our muscles a workout. Jess and I decided that it was time to figure out how we could convince our family that moving to the Cape full-time was a smart thing to do. Our best argument is that the quality of life would be much more active on Cape Cod than in Maryland. The humidity in Maryland makes it difficult to breathe, much less be very active.
Friends come and friends go throughout our lives. Sometimes they remain contstant for months, or even years, and then suddenly, they're drawn down a different path and we fall out of touch. Other times, we walk hand-in-hand for years and years and never seem to feel a need to let go. Less likely, is the meeting of two adult women who instantly feel as though they were drawn together by some all-knowing power. They click from the moment the first word is spoken--warmed by the ease in the air in which they talk, sharing secrets, and catching up with lives lived far apart.
Today marks day 9 of our vacation. We've had a fabulous time, and it's been a full year since I have been able to really relax. There's something about the smell of the salty Cape air, the fullness of the days, and the ease of simply being, while on Cape Cod that makes all of my stress disappear. I can honestly say that the moment I enter Cape Cod, my mind goes into relaxation mode. But today, something else, something unexpected happened.
When I began the Women's Nest, I had hoped it would become a community where all women felt welcome, where we could share our good days and bad, where we could laugh, cry, SCREAM, and just be ourselves without judgment or worry. It feels as though we've created, and continue to create, such an environment.
I've always said that you, the members, make the community what it is--I'm just a facilitator--and I truly believe this.
I'm staying at the same cottage community on Cape Cod that I did last year, when Megan's Way was published, and yesterday I had an I-can't-believe-it moment. It was a really good feeling.
The thrill of seeing my book featured in a magazine never wears off. A few months ago I was interviewed by a lovely woman who writes for Hagerstown Magazine, Cheryl Keyser. Cheryl was a joy to speak with, and I was happy to see that she included Megan's Way in the July/August issue of the magazine. She had very kind things to say about me as an author, though she did note that I'd been writing for fifteen years, and really I had been waiting about fifteen years to write.
I've been feeling a familiar urge lately, and no, it's not because my husband is in Iraq
. It's the urge to put fingers to keyboard and create an alternate world. I am aching to write my next two books. Yes, two! I have seven chapters done on one of them, and I'm working on the outline (in my head, of course) for the next.
