Happy Spring

Hello everyone. Spring is here, the snowbirds have returned to their summer homes up North. The streets are less congested, no long waits at restaurants, a time to slow down and enjoy the sunrises and sunsets and marvel at our many tropical plants and trees staging a fashion show for us. Orchid trees are blooming and soon the Royal Poinciana trees will delight us with their bright orange-red blossoms. In spite of all the beauty around me, I still after many years, miss seeing the northern flora and fauna, gathering fruit blossoms, peonies, and lilacs and filling my house with their beauty and perfume.

For me, this is also a time to concentrate a bit more seriously on my writing and painting. Virginia Woolf said, “In solitude we give passionate attention to our lives, to our memories, to the details around us.” I agree; a happy life demands a certain amount of solitude.

Thanks to all of you who have read my latest novel, Decent Deceit. I hope it has brought a few hours of joy and encouragement on whatever path you are following. All of us have moments when we can benefit from the stories of others, whether it be fiction or non-fiction.

In my world, ideas abound. I often awaken from sleep with ideas and titles to write about. Some might call it God’s little nudges! If the idea visits me more than once, I tend to give it more of my attention. Listening to music, socializing, reading – even memories – are all valuable sources for inspiration.

In Decent Deceit you will have learned that on occasion an act of deceit is not always as bad as the word suggests. Even so, the act changes the lives of all who are caught up in the deception, and those secondary characters are an important addition to the story.

How about you? Are your thoughts trying to tell you something important – something that could change your life for the better or bring you a joy you would never have anticipated?

During the quiet of summer, I’ll be blogging more frequently about writing, painting, and life in general. I may even add a recipe or two, or a verse or two of poetry. So stay tuned. I would love to hear from you about your ideas, projects, and the things you do to enrich your life. Questions are always welcome.

Until next time, thanks for including me in your life, and have a great summer.