Writing Thoughts and Plans for 2019

Before I get into my writing thoughts and plans for 2019, I wish you, my readers and fellow writers, a wonderful year. I hope you and your families are blessed with joy and good health.

I received a promising sign for the new year. Though winter is mild on Vancouver Island, where I live, I was surprised to see the Hellebore in bloom. What a beautiful flower! It has some black spots this January so it’s not perfect. But then again, neither am I.

Finishing Touches

I’m late to wishing you well because I’ve had my head down, going over my copy editor’s notes for my next novel, Sunflowers Under Fire. Next blog post, I’ll show my cover and let you know when my book will be published.

The larger pile on the left are the notes on the chapters I submitted to my writers’ critique group in Campbell River. Kristin Butcher, Jocelyn Reekie, Shari Green, Sheena Gnos, Janet Smith, and Liezl Sullivan gave me not only constructive comments but also the support that kept me moving forward. Their notes are finally destined for the shredder.

The pile on the right is the copy edit manuscript I got back from editor Rachel Small. She was so great to work with and came on the recommendation of superb fantasy/thriller author J.P. McLean.

Over the Holidays

Getting back to writing follows a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s celebration with both daughters and their families. It rained almost every day of our younger daughter and family’s visit, but on one of the two days of sunshine, we took our granddaughters skiing on Mount Washington. Robert and I sat in the lodge; he read and I worked on my copy edits. We were avid skiers back when our knees were better.

Off to San Miguel de Allende

We’re also off to San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico for six weeks. While we’re there, I’ll be attending the San Miguel de Allende Writers Conference, which this year features authors: Paul Theroux, Jennifer Clement, Susan Orlean, Adam Gopnik and Christina Rivers Garza.

I’m particularly interested in hearing Jennifer Clement. She’s an American- Mexican author and the first woman president of Pen International (elected 2015). I also hope to hear Susan Orlean read from The Library Book, one of the notable books of 2018. Her story revolves around the burning of the L.A. library in 1986.

The conference also has an Open Mic time, during which authors can read from their work. I plan to read from my novels, A Cry From The Deep and The Rubber Fence.

Back in 1996

Robert and I were in San Miguel in 1996. We had gone there because Rob wanted to study the lost wax process for bronze sculpture at the Instituto de Allende.

I took some art classes as well and found such delight in painting that I’ve been dabbling in the art form ever since. Unfortunately at the time, I became quite ill during our stay there. I suffered from a bad bout of bronchitis–lasted a good month–and then came down with Hep A, so we had to come home early. This time, I’m expecting a healthier stay.

Above is a watercolour I did on our first visit to SMA. Luce was a voluptuous indigenous Mexican, who posed for both Rob’s classes in sculpture and mine in painting. I was so impressed with her composure. On her breaks, she walked with ease in her glorious nakedness to look at our work. She was so comfortable in her skin that I wanted to bottle her confidence and bring it back to North America for all the women who obsess about their bodies, thinking they are less than perfect.

Besides writing, I hope to take some art classes again in SMA.

More Blogging

This year, I plan to blog more often. I’m also excited to get going on my other writing projects. Upward and onward.

What About You?

Have you made any plans for 2019 that you’re excited about? I’d love to read about them.