Turning Toward Autumn
The Equinox, First Day of School, and Hints of Fall Colors
September marked the beginning of the end of summer and its too-hot days. Mornings and evenings grew cooler—I can walk on local trails in the morning and sit on my deck while enjoying the sunset. There are more root veggies at the farm stand, the first leaves are turning gold, and acorns are piling up beside walking paths. The Autumnal Equinox on the 22nd made it official. I welcome the change—don’t you?!
My Fall Semester OLLI classes have begun, as well. I’d love you to join me sometime. Scroll down almost to the end to see the details and find the links.
Heart Full of Gratitude - My Editor / Book Coach / Cheerleader
In October, my book baby, Force of Nature, will celebrate its first birthday! Wow! Watch for announcements about ways to help me celebrate this fall!
It takes a village to birth a book successfully. I could never have brought Force of Nature to completion without the strong encouragement and expert assistance of my editor, Rebecca Inch-Partridge. We’ve worked together for several years now, and she is so much more than “just” my editor. Besides reading the massive first-final draft and giving terrific advice about how shape and polish it, she helped me figure out how to cut it from its original 177,000 words(!) down to a manageable size, while at the same time infusing it with more heart and spirit. She walked me through the process of sending book proposals to publishers and encouraged me to keep going during the pandemic, when I was dragging my feet. She helped me write the back-of-the-book summary, negotiate my contract, and she was even the emcee at the grand Force of Nature launch party. You best believe I’m working with Rebecca on Book 2 right now!
Deep bow of gratitude goes to Editor, Book Coach, Friend, Rebecca Inch-Partridge!
Field Trip - Creating Space Deep in the Heart of Nature
Rather than a couple of daylong field trips, this month, in an attempt to create space in my life and find some much needed quiet and peace, I joined my friend, Linda, at a delightful retreat at the Land of the Medicine Buddha in Soquel (near Santa Cruz). Nestled under towering coastal redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) and near the rugged New Brighton State Beach, the setting was magical and positively fizzed with energy.
It was organized by Road Scholar as a five-day women’s retreat, so we met a dozen women from all around the country, resided in comfortable rooms, ate delicious organic, vegetarian foods, and meditated and practiced qigong in community. It’s been much too long since I sat in meditation and practiced focusing on my breath as a way of centering and relaxing myself. What a lovely reunion it was! I came home refreshed and renewed. Just what I was looking for—space.
September’s Books
This month’s books are a little different than my usual fare. I experimented by reading 4 out of 5 books outside my usual pattern! Historical or realistic fiction and nonfiction often make up the majority of what I read. Not this month! So, hold onto your hats as I share several delightfully fun, clever and lighthearted, dare I say “beach read” mystery novels with you! (And 1 truly frightening “warning” political nonfiction.)
Cluelessly Unscripted is the debut novel by Patricia Puentes. She describes it as a “show-biz romance mystery” and that it was, but so much more. Puentes is an entertainment journalist, so knows the inside scoop. She is also a long-time “ex-pat,” a Spaniard living and working in California, who has traveled the world and speaks several languages. Her main character, Sol, is all those things, too, as well as the main suspect in an intricate theft mystery. Readers travel back-and-forth between London and Barcelona, eating and drinking at all the authentic places only locals frequent. The romance is… oh, I’ll leave that for you to enjoy! (There is a sequel in the works that I’m eager to read!) 5*****
Miranda Writes is the first in a series by a sister Black Rose Writing author, Gail Ward Olmsted. There are strong similarities to the book above, both clever mysteries with strong female main characters who must face danger and protect their reputations in a man’s world. Miranda, is a journalist and a lawyer, who finds herself the suspect in a legal mystery that threatens to ruin her career. She is smart, courageous, and fun! (There are 2 more in the series, both on my TBR pile!) 5*****
After I’m Buried Alive and Deep Trouble, books 1 and 2 in a 3-book series by sister Gold Country Writer Catharine Bramkamp, are also mystery romances. The twist is that the strong and smart central character, Victoria, is a “woman of a certain age!” Like the first book above, these archeological mysteries take place in international hot spots like Ireland, Italy, and Egypt. Bramkamp travels widely in real life and brings her detailed personal knowledge of these exotic spots into her fun storytelling. 4****
Finally, Ministry of Truth by Steve Benen, is one scary, very series look at modern American political history. (The audiobook is narrated by Rachel Maddow.) The title is an ironic reference to the government agency in George Orwell’s novel 1984 that constantly rewrites history and disseminates disinformation as news. In this book, that effort to rewrite history by one political party is shown to be very real. It’s a beautifully written, richly researched, terrifyingly important book. 5*****
You can read all my book reviews on Goodreads.
A Writer’s Life
We’re coming up on the one-year birthday of Force of Nature. Thanks to each and everyone of you who has purchased my book in any of its formats—paperback, hardback, audiobook, ebook! I bow and bow and bow in gratitude for your support, your interest, and your kind words. It has been a wild ride—nothing like what I anticipated, because it’s been sooo much more. Many of you have written wonderful reviews, others have attended my talks or invited me to speak to your book clubs and other organizations. Force of Nature is considered a “break out” success, and I’ve been swept away by the results. Word of mouth is the greatest power on Earth, and I have you to thank for that!
Check out the Photo Album and the Book Club Kit on my Force of Nature website. Watch for information on how to celebrate that one-year birthday with me this fall!
An Educator’s Life
Despite retiring from teaching middle school almost ten years ago, I am still teaching! It’s in my blood and brings me great joy. These days, I teach students “55 and better” at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) program at Sierra College. My Fall Semester classes have just begun, and I’d love to have you join me sometime.
I teach a series of interactive discussion courses called Women’s History Through Literature. This semester we’re reading two historical fiction novels, the powerful The Women by Kristin Hannah (about Army nurses in Vietnam) and the astonishing Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray (about the first woman Presidential Cabinet member, Frances Perkins).
I’m also teaching a similar literature course focused on the fascinating nonfiction book Eager by Ben Goldfarb about the once hunted, then distained, and now revered beaver. In a monthly series of Zoom interviews, OLLI and I shine a spotlight on a variety of local authors and their books, while supporting the Sierra College Food Panty.
A Short Poem From The Trail - Water, Water Everywhere
Water played a starring role one summer. Single-handedly causing all the calamities of the first days, And creating the audacious beauty of every day. We followed it, forded it, and crossed it on rocks, on logs, on bridges. We pumped it, drank it, washed with it, soaked and swam in it. We oohed-and-ahhed it, proclaiming its beauty and power.
Hi Joan! So good to hear from you. Even better, to read 📚 and catch up with The Force of Nature, Soquel, fantastic photos, and waves of more to come. Your story makes me smile 😃. To my new / old friend, wish you well, good health, and the promise 💖 of more. Happy fall. Joyce.
Bright and lively update. Thank you for inspiring us with your inquisitive mind and clever explorations.