I just flipped my paper calendar from May to June. It seems more important when I change the months on my colorful kitchen calendar than when I click on my digital Google one. So month six has arrived–June from the Roman goddess Juno, patroness of marriage and the well-being of women. I’m expecting a lot of good this month, but when I add up the + and -, it’s a wash.
- In California, we get to unmask as the 15th! *Score one on the bright side.
- Our vaccination percentages are still on the rise–over 55% *Score two.
- We’re facing a major drought and already the farmers’ water allotment has been dramatically cut. Watch those food prices go up even higher. *Oops. Subtract one bright side for June.
- We’ve been in the fire season since May, very early. *Alas, subtract another.
My personal half-year recap:
I’ve just signed a contract to publish a new book, so to celebrate that I’ll be doing a special GIVEAWAY. To win a signed copy of this book, you can follow my Weekly Wednesday posts here and on Facebook starting this month about the characters you’ll meet in the story. I’ll give a book to anyone who comments (50 book limit) and answers a simple question that will be at the end of each post. Hope you’ll join in and play the game. I’ll try to make it fun.
And now for the rest…
- After I finished my round-trip from San Francisco to L.A. (mileage count, not a real trip) I kind of flaked for a few weeks, then started walking again. I’m not as rigid in my 4 miles/day anymore, but sometimes I walk longer. My longest day walk so far is 10 miles.
- I’ve received a lot of feedback on one of my WIPs, and I’m going through the comments before I tackle my next edit on that manuscript.
- I finally chose to get vaccinated. There are a lot of things I want to do, starting this month, and to do them, it’s easier with proof of vaccination.
- Maybe the big news is my cherry pie success. The cherries are here after a long winter wait. My mouth watered for a fresh-baked pie, so I made one. Here are my Before and After shots. I intend to eat it all.
Now for the First Wednesday of the Month News!
Submissions are open for the Seventh Annual IWSG Anthology Contest.
SWEET ROMANCE
For submission guidelines, list of judges and their bios, click HERE.
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Remember, the question is optional!
June 2 question – For how long do you shelve your first draft, before reading it and re-drafting? Is this dependent on your writing experience and the number of stories/books under your belt?
The awesome co-hosts for the June 2 posting of the IWSG are J Lenni Dorner,Sarah Foster,Natalie Aguirre,Lee Lowery, and Rachna Chhabria!
I’m afraid I don’t have a great answer to this month’s question simply because I don’t know the answer. Some first drafts sit on my C Drive for years, others a few weeks. My writing experience doesn’t seem to help me out in deciding when to re-write. Wish it did.
Another special thanks to Susan Kaye Quinn for her exciting and unique idea that has engaged so many authors and will send their books on a fabulous journey.
Quote of the Month: “How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness, how the time has flown. How did it get so late so soon?” – Dr. Suess
Sounds like things are going much better for you, Lee, which makes me happy. Congrats on the new release! And the cherry pie! And the vaccination. 🙂
Question about your impressive walking habit…when walking for that long, how do you keep it interesting? What keeps it from getting boring?
Have a great summer!
I take a lot of different walks. Some are on trails in the mountains. Some by the beach and I have so many great beaches to chose from that half the battle is deciding which one. Sometimes I like my urban walk. And then once a week I do my errand walk–parking at one end of town, walking to all the places I need to and then back to the car. That can be up to 6 miles if I take the long way around. There’s always something to see, people or dogs to say hi to, and I get a lot of writing accomplished in my head. Never a dull moment.
Ah, that explains it. I’m car-less and therefore confined to my city walks. No beach, no trails in the mountains.
In NY, most places are not requiring masks if a person is vaccinated. Since I am, at first it felt strange not to put it on. But now, 2 weeks later, it feels quite natural not to have a mask. YES!!
Lee, that cherry pie looks scrumptious. I saw it on FB and since then I had to bake a pie too!!
Oh good. I’m glad you were motivated to do some baking of your own.
Off, drought and fires. Boo!
Congrats on the new contract! Yay!
I just picked up a bunch of cherries, but I don’t think they will make it to a pie. I just keep eating them. 🙂
They definitely are not a good combination anytime. Hope those cherries were delicious.
Hope you have a great June and that all continues to go well. I hear you on the draft question.
Hi Anne,
Hope your June is great as well. And here’s to finishing whatever WIP draft you have going.
Those cherry pies look wonderful! I, too, have been doing a lot of walking. Before moving to the mountains, I was doing a lot of bicycling, but here it’s mostly my two feet. I need to get back with you on your WIP, my bad.
You can’t beat walking for really seeing what’s around you and for letting your mind do whatever it wants. Very freeing.
As to the WIP, there’s no rush believe me. I’m going to be busy for a while with this new book coming out.
I love walking! Right now, all I have time for is a mile on the treadmill before work. But when I retire next year, I want to take long walks.
Fellow Californian here (San Diego) and can’t wait for the mask lift!
I didn’t realize you were south of me, Gwen! I lived in San Diego when I was a kid. What a beautiful place. Here’s to being maskless.
I admire your exercise/walking goals and success! Your pie looks delicious. I’m excited for the release of your next book. Continue writing your amazing stories!
Hi Mary,
I hope your book is progressing. I’m excited to read it and see how you’ve integrated the CA places you explored on your visit.
Congratulations on the contract. I’m also glad you got the vaccine. Now you can go out and explore your state again.
It has been very freeing! Thanks Ken.
Nice job on the walking! I’m glad you’ve gotten vaccinated. It definitely makes doing things less scary, and more reasonable. It’s allowed me to go back to swimming, for one thing.
Congrats on the books, too. And can I have some of that cherry pie?
I think in my next book promotion I offer cherry pie as a prize. It seems to be a popular item.
Great to hear you’re back to swimming. That’s such a great exercise.
Hey congrats on the book contract! That sounds like a win x 1000. Glad you’ll be able to go mask-less soon, and that pie looks great!
Thanks so much for the visit. Loved your blog post. Keep in touch.
Congrats on the upcoming book! I love hearing what you’ve been up to.
Hi YV. Great to see you here. We need more time to “talk.” Hope your courses are going well.
Congratulations on your new contract!
Your pie looks yummy.
Thanks for the Dr. Suess quote.
Happy June, Toi!
Life sure has pluses and minuses all around. 10 miles is sure a feat for a walk indeed. Hopefully the pluses keep on a coming.
Me, too, Pat. The more on the credit side of my ledger, the better I like it.
I love the idea of walking to a place. I’m going to do it. I wonder how long it would take me to walk to LA? Probably a lifetime.
Congratulations on the new book! Stay safe during fire. My son is in LA and had his first fire scare. He received an evacuation alert and got a little panicked, but he was all right in the end.
I didn’t think I’d make it that far when I started, but I needed a goal to keep me from going more crazy than usual. It worked, and I surprised myself by actually doing the 400+ miles. Who knew?
Sorry about your son. This summer all of CA is ready for evacuation. Look out Oregon and Nevada. Here we come!
A lot of plus points in there. Good luck with the book…and congratulations!
Thank you, Sonia. If past experience holds, I’ll need a lot of luck.
Congrats on the new book contract! Happy news!!
And that cherry pie looks AMAZING!!!!!!!!! Yum.
Hi Lynda,
Thanks so much. The pie was my first in years, so it surprised me that it actually turned out.
That pie looks delicious! Congratulations on your mileage and the new book.
Thanks, Shannon.
Hi Lee. I wish I was close enough to walk to Carmel, LOL. Walking is a great habit. And a great way to walk off the calories in cherry pie. Yummy. Great news about your next release. Good for you!
You helped me with this book, Denise. I won’t forget that.
That pie looks amazing! Our mask mandate just ended today in Ohio and it’s wonderful–glad that’s coming soon to Cali. I feel less anxiety after getting the vaccine, such a miracle. Congratulations on your new book! What a thrill.
Glad you can now set aside your masks. I think it’s going to take a while before we remember we don’t need them. Oh, and now it’s back to thinking how I look. The mask was a real quick way to get out of the house in the mornings without makeup!
Yay on vaccinations. I feel way more comfortable at work (with kiddos) with mine. I don’t know how I’ll feel about going maskless, though. We’ll see.
I hear you. After a year + with something over my face, I might feel naked without it.
I too am tracking that June 15th date in CA, to unmask. I think I’ll go out to eat! Congrats on your latest book. Woot!
Yes. Going out to eat! I’m so sick of my own cooking.
So many rich tidbits in here. I don’t know where to begin. The pluses and minuses of June, the 10 mile, gulp, walk, that mouth-watering cherry pie. Not fair, and a book going to the moon! Wow!! Enjoyed all your goodies, except I didn’t get to taste that pie! LOL
I got carried away with this post, didn’t I? Writer on caffeine, I guess. I’ll save you a piece of pie next time. Promise.
Hi, Lee!
Walking and wall calendars are favorites of mine too. I’ve only ever had a single piece, but your cherry pie pics bring back fond memories of my great-grandma.
A book contract? That’s fantastic!
Happy writing!
My grandma taught me how to make crust and I bless her everytime I bake a pie.
Yes. I was pleasantly surprised to get an offer to publish this one. It’s a challenging subject.
Wow, you sound busy. I hate that about the fires. Stay safe. Congrats on sending your book to the Moon. Sounds like another story in there somewhere. Love it,
That moon adventure is really quite creative. I have to say, I’d never have thought of that, but I’m not a scientist like Susan is.
Your pie looks delicious. I want a piece.
I hope we can unmask soon too. Vancouver, Canada doesn’t seem to be doing too bad on the COVID front.
We are very fortunate. I’m still being cautious, but I do feel so much better now that I’m vaccinated. I didn’t expect that.
You can a slice of my next pie, Olga.
That pie looks delicious! *wipes drool off keyboard*
You’ve inspired me with more than the pie. When my still-under-construction neighborhood builds the parks, I’m going to go for walks.
Yay! Keep track of your mileage and let us know how far you get. Keeping track is rather motivating–at least for me.
I do have to make more pies, but I have to find people to help me eat them. I want to gobble it all, but that isn’t wise or even possible.
Wow. That pie looks awesome.
Congrats on the upcoming release. Let me know how I can help.
I hate that you are dealing with fire season and water shortages.
Hope your muse is singing on your shoulder.
I’ve got you on my list for victims, I mean, bloggers to help! Seems you’re also doing a bit of publishing, heh? Want some help spreading the word?
Congrats on the book contract!
Thanks so much.
LOVE your positives. Including the delicious looking cherry pie.
A big, big empathic sigh at the negatives. Drought and fire are incestuous cousins. I would like never to see either of them again.
That’s a perfect way to name them, “incestuous cousins.” They couldn’t be a worse match.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed and our go-bags by the door.
I love Dr. Seuss and that’s a great quote! I’m quite envious of your cherry pie and the mouthwatering photo. Now that we have a new dog in our lives, I’m getting a good walk in every day, but it’s not quite 10 miles worth 🙂 Happy June!
That 10 mile day was the one and only so far. I’m not sure how I got so carried away. Maybe I was writing in my head and forgot to turn around at my usual 2.5 mile mark.
Dr. Seuss is timeless!
{Waves out my virtual window from just north of you in Northern California}
I am so looking forward to June 15th! I, too, have a paper calendar that is so much more satisfying than the automatic Google app.
Another Californio! I love it. Please come by again.
Time seemed at a standstill, yet it’s June already. Congrats on the contract. If you’re doing a cover reveal or tour, let me know. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Thank you so much, Anna. I’ll be hunting down unsuspecting bloggers to lend me a hand, and I’d love to include you on my list. Time flees so I’ll probably be in touch sooner than later!
I feel the same way about revision–it depends on the project.
Thanks for the visit, Samantha!
Lordly those pies look good, Lee. I haven’t had a pie in so long. Mexico isn’t big on pies. More into cheesecakes, I mean decadent cheesecakes and triple fudge cakes. Congratulations on your new release. That is great news.
Triple fudge cakes? Those sound darned mouth-watering. I’ll have to investigate.
Grats on the new contract! That’s awesome! I hope you stay safe this summer and the food prices don’t go up too high.
Fingers crossed!
Congratulations on signing a contract! Best of luck with your new book.
Though I usually prefer decadent, exotic flavors, my favorite traditional pie is cherry.
I’ll call you next time I have the energy to put one together!
Hi Lee – congratulations on the new book … but excellent news you’re back walking and keeping your health in good order … also helps the brain with that fresh air. Cherry pie – looks so good – I’m into fresh raspberries, and separately!! fresh asparagus … one with cream, t’other butter or mayonnaise … simple but delicious – then I need to walk them off!! Cheers Hilary
Walking is the way I treat myself. I love to eat good food, so exercise is a must or I’ll need to buy larger clothes. Love raspberries in the summer. Adding cream sounds like a perfect complement.
Congrats on the new book contract! Very exciting!
I’m vaccinated and we’re basically mask-free in Illinois. I’ve been doing a lot of walking as well this year. It does help clear the cobwebs. Love the Dr. Seuss quote – I wonder daily how it’s gotten so late.
I still see people out walking who are wearing a mask, even thought the WHO said outside could me mask-free. I think it will take time for people to adjust.
Hi, Cheryl-Lee!
Happy June to you, dear friend! I hear ya when you tally up the goods and the bads and the columns wind up equal length. Here in Florida we are experiencing bone dry conditions and desperately need rain. That’s bad, but the good news is that the rainy season officially started the first of June. That’s good, but the start of the rainy season coincides with the start of the dreaded hurricane season. That’s bad. Things are opening up in Florida and people are getting out and about. That’s good, but algae blooms and red tide are choking our waterways and beaches and killing wildlife. That’s bad.
Congratulations on signing a contract for a new book! Your ten mile trek is an impressive achievement. Isn’t it funny how, when you relaxed your rigid goal of walking four miles per day, you found yourself far exceeding it? That cherry pie looks good enough to eat! 🙂 You are a person of many talents, dear friend.
I like the quote of the month by Dr. Suess. Without exception, my blog friends constantly complain that the months and years are passing by at lightning speed. They’ve been reporting the phenomenon as long as I’ve known them. It seems that way to me as well. I can’t imagine cave men whining about time passing too quickly, and their life spans were much shorter than ours.
It’s great to see you, dear friend Cheryl-Lee. Take care of yourself, smile and have a wonderful month!
That is quite the list of pluses and minuses, Shady. It seems our weather is a major topic all the time these days. Poor planet. We’ve really messed it up, so no wonder it’s grouchy.
I’m excited to see this book out. I’ve been “playing” with it for some time now, and I’m pleased a publisher thinks it’s worth putting out into the world.
I’ve often wondered how it would be if the concept of time returned to the sun’s rising and setting if we’d be a happier species. I doubt I will ever know the answer.
Thanks for your visit. As always, you give me a lot to consider.
Congrats on your new publishing contract! I can’t wait to hear more about it. And so glad you got vaccinated. I was fully vaccinated at the end of April, and it’s definitely improved my quality of life, though I’m still being careful.
I think we will all be a bit careful for a while, but like you, I’m glad it’s done.
Hi,
My comment just disappeared so I will try it again.
Congratulations on your new publishing contract. I’m happy for you.
I will take my second Covid shot next week. I look forward to getting it behind me so that I can return to my fitness center.
Wishing you all the best, Lee, and have a lovely month of June.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Hi,
Congratulations on your new contract. That sounds good.
I get my second Covid shot this month. I am glad that I did it. I look forward to returning to my fitness center.
Wisbing you all the best, Lee.
Have a lovely month of June.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
The second one made me a sleepy for a few hours, but that was all. Good to be done with this at least for this year.
Congrats on the new contract, Lee!
Keep walking!
If I could have a one-on-one with any author, dead or alive, Dr. Seuss would be top of my list. Well, there are other authors too…
But he was a master at capturing kids’ and adults’ imagination. I’d like a one-on-one with him, too.
My blood center forces us to walk or pay extra for our health insurance. Talk about incentive! Wow! A new book contract. Good on you. 🙂
Hi Roland! What a great incentive to walk. Sounds like a great strategy.
How did it get so late so soon? — that’s perfect for how it feels!
Congrats on the new book contract – so exciting!
Thanks Jemi. Now the work begins. Love Dr. Seuss.
Congratulations on your book coming out! And that pie looks amazing! I can’t believe we are already in June!
It’s the first pie I’ve baked in ages, so I was surprised and pleased it turned out.
Keep up those daily walks.
That’s great news about your upcoming book!
The walks keep me sane, and now they’re such a habit I can’t do without them.
Thanks re: the new book. I didn’t think this would happen.