You Just Never Know

When I was out and about as a kid, I didn’t see much wildlife. Maybe some pigeons and a squirrel or two. Now, when my husband and I go for walks around our neighborhood, we see not only lots of different birds, like sandhill cranes, but also the occasional armadillo, bobcat, raccoon, turtle, and yes, alligator. (And we’ve been seeing a lot more gators lately. Like me, they enjoy basking beneath the Florida sun during the winter.) 

If you had told me, back when I was younger, that I’d one day live in a place where spotting an alligator hanging out on a lake bank was as common as spotting a squirrel running up a tree, I’d have rolled my eyes and went back to playing stoopball. 

 

You just never know.  

 

*****

WRITING

I’m in the middle of revising a short story. The submission window is tight so I’d better get going. 

 

READING

Totally enjoying Kelley Armstrong’s new book, First Sign of Danger (Haven’s Rock, #4).

 

WATCHING

Pleasantly surprised by Season Three of The Night Agent (Netflix). We loved Season One but Season Two left us wondering if we’d keep watching the series. Glad we gave it another chance! 

 

*****

 

Had any “you just never know” moments that have pleasantly surprised you? What’s the most “exotic” animal you’ve seen on a walk? What are you creating, reading, writing lately? 

Here's Hoping

January felt like a looooong month around here. If I managed a creative thought at all, it was like a slow pour of syrup. Only not nearly as sweet.  

But, keeping in mind my “keeping it simple” plan for 2026, I set my fumble fingers to “create” and took an art class, coming away with a not too shabby mosaic flowerpot. While I could’ve done without the grouting part of the project, I did thoroughly enjoy designing and gluing the tiles and doodads to the pot.

 

Here’s hoping for a bright and busy-in-the-best-way possible February!

 

WRITING

Since my writing mojo seems to be hunkered down and dozing with the tortoises, I’ve mostly been playing with a prompt here and trying out a theme there. 

 

READING

If you’d like some chills - of the reading kind, that is! - try A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James. It had me looking over my shoulder more times than I’d like to admit! 

 

WATCHING

We’ve been re-watching Downton Abbey. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy it! When we’re done with the series, it’s on to the three Downton movies, two of them new to us. 

 

*****

 

How did January go for you? Is your creativity hibernating? Have you re-watched and/or re-read anything lately?

Keeping it Simple

This year, I’m keeping it simple. 

BREATHE

CREATE

MOVE

READ

WRITE

 

When life feels like a big game of dodgeball, and I find myself ducking out of the way or catching full on what’s hurtling toward me, I hope that shifting my mindset to one of those five areas will make it easier to get back up when I’m brought to my knees by a dodgeball in the gut. 

 

And, as an optimistic realist - or realistic optimist! – I plan to hold onto hope the way I once held onto those notes that got me out of gym class: tightly, and with gratitude. 

 

*****

 

How are you approaching the new year? What will you focus on in 2026? Any suggestions for me in any of those five areas?

Happy Holidays!

We here at TSR want to take this moment to say how grateful we are for all of your encouragement, interest and support over the last year. Your comments and your visits are much appreciated.

And we hope we gave you something in return! A few chuckles? Some book recommendations? A creepy-crawly shiver or two? 

We wish you all a wonderful holiday season!

See you in 2026!

It's Not Over Till It's Over

I used to be guilty of saying, oh well, the year’s almost over, why bother trying this or that or the other thing. But a couple of months ago, I heard about the 100 days countdown to the end of the year, and seeing that number made me realize, hey, there’s still a big chunk of time left! It’s not only 100 days, it’s still 100 days. 

As of the writing of this post, there are over 55 days left in the year. So, instead of giving up, let’s get going!

 

WRITING

I’m working on the story collection, a drabble and a flash fiction/short story. This story is a little different for me in that it’s heavy on dialogue, but since that’s how it came to me, I’m going with it.

 

READING

I’ve been on a reading roll lately! 

The Private Jet by Sarah Goodwin - an adventure/survival thriller that will have you turning pages so fast you’ll get paper cuts but that's nothing compared to what happens in the book!

Runner 13 by Amy McCulloch - another survival/adventure thriller that will make you feel like a slacker unless you, too, are an ultramarathon runner racing through the Sahara Desert.

 

The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens – will leave you second guessing that road trip you’re considering… 

59 Minutes by Holly Seddon – left me emotionally wrung out in the way only a really good read can. (I received an ARC in a giveaway. Expected publication date 11/18/2025.)

TORTOISES

The tortoises never fail to amuse me. At the vet for their check-up, their very different personalities were on display. They needed to have their beaks and nails trimmed, and while Larry wanted no part of it, Mrs. Larry acted like she was getting a facial and a manicure/pedicure. 

 

WATCHING

We’ve had some good luck lately with Netflix. Two movies – The Thursday Murder Club was enjoyable and The Woman in Cabin 10 was very suspenseful. A limited series – Hostage – was utterly gripping. 

 

*****

How are you approaching the end of 2025? Have you read or watched anything good lately? Do your pets amuse you?

Spooky Season and Birthdays

What do spooky season and birthdays have in common?

It’s scary how they creep up on you!

It’s once again birthday month around here – how did that happen?! - when I try to get all my devilish little ducks in a row for the rest of this year and on into the next. 

I will do this by taking a bit of a blogging/social media break, eating cake, and wondering how many old episodes of Project Runway it will take before Tim Gunn’s catchphrase Make It Work, once again becomes my go-to mantra for writing, for life, and for everything in-between. 

Happy October, everyone!

Fall Focus

I'm glad it's September, even though around here it’s still hot, humid and hurricane season. This summer drained me of oomph. I feel wrung out, much like my sweaty gym clothes after a long plod on the “dreadmill.” I blame the heat. (I usually get to a point every summer where I blame the heat. For everything.)

 

So, this is me, falling forward – not very gracefully - into fall!

 

WRITING

The second session of Camp Draft did not go well: 

* The drabble I wrote and subbed received a rejection. 

* The longer short story with the road trip theme never even got out of the garage. 

* The novella is apparently no longer about a cursed island, but is instead about a deserted island because everyone on it has left due to boredom.

 

In September, I hope to 

* Get back to some flash fiction, writing and maybe subbing.

* See if I can save that cursed island. 

* Start making some strides in putting together another collection of my stories. 

 

 

READING

I’m still behind on my 2025 Goodreads Challenge, but Wally Lamb’s incredible The River is Waiting and Shari Lapena’s page-turning suspense She Didn’t See it Coming helped move me closer to my goal. 

 

 

WATCHING

My husband and I had a “28” movie marathon – we re-watched 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later before watching the new 28 Years Later. In my opinion, the first movie is still the best of the bunch by far.

 

We really enjoyed Woman of the Hour (starring Anna Kendrick) over on Netflix. A creepy thriller made even creepier because it’s based on real crimes. 

*****

 

How did your summer go? Any plans or projects for fall? How’s your oomph level? Read or watched anything lately you’d recommend?