March 5th....Oldest daughters birthday... grandson in his high school play... granddaughters,B'day party... ie...no time for wirting.  Some days are like that.

I finished rereading The Darkest Knight by my friend Gayle Callen. It was her first release. I am so impressed by her writing, her knowledge of early England and her storytelling. 
So, what to read next.  I have a library full of wonderful books...it shouldn't be hard to find one.  How about you?  Have you written up a book list..the books you want to read 'someday'?  Let me help.  I wonder if you have a list of BOOK BY LOCAL AUTHORS.  If you don't, let me introduce you.
Gayle Callen : (from the Syracuse area) - She has 24 books, all about Knights or Dukes or men in Kilts...my recommendation...all or any of them will take you on a historical journey.  Her most recent  release The Groom Wore Plaid  (March 2016) is nothing less than superb (at Barnes and Nobel).  If you prefer midieval she has written six books under the name Julia Latham.  And then her third alter ego, Emma Cane, writes contemporary romance in the picturesque fictional setting of Valentine Valley.
If you would like to learn more about this exciting author visit her Gayle Callen website.  

I just read an article entitled How to write whether you feel like it or not by Joe Bunting.  I read this article because this third book is not coming easily.  I mean this book is actually making me work.  That's not fun.  I'm retired I don't want to work anymore.  With my other two books, I watched a movie in my head and simply had to write it all down as I saw it.  Easy breezy (I jest...it took me two years for each book) 
So the article offers suggestions...take a walk,schedule writing time and stick to it...maybe write for a local newspaper or an article for a magazine(maybe a blog) .  Find a new or comfortable writing nook.  I have a comfy chair that I'm writing in right now, Thistle Dew was written in my bed, Men in Ts on the sofa in the TV room...both locations explain why the books took two years.  Hang out with other writers...This one is my favorite.  I attend weekly critique meetings, monthly writers meetings and host writers retreats a few times a year.  The creative energy is amazing and I am most productive in the 24 hours following a meeting. 
So here I sit,  waiting for my characters to speak to me, writing to you.  Thanks for listening...I mean reading.  Do you have any suggestions for me....to get back to writing the book?

Some thoughts on marriage

It's not easy...actually it's harder than experiencing childbirth, terrible twos and teenagers all put together.  But we do it.  It's a challenge to say the least to expect two people who have been raised in two different families, sometimes including  different religions, values, traditions, customs...and a whole list of differences to live together in harmony forever.  Okay, maybe not every minute is in harmony...that is unrealistic, but forever is doable. 
      Be Friends First.  The person you marry should be your best friend.  This is the person who brings out the best in you and you do the same for him/her.  This is the person who makes you laugh...a lot.  The person who knows when you need a hug.  The person who knows when to offer advice, suggestions, criticisms ..or not.  This is the person you look forward to spending time with...hours, days...years. 
      We connect with our souls...ie soulmate.  Your soul is inside...it's your essence.  Your soul embodies love.  When your soul meets it's mate it is not hindered by any physical boundaries.  Your soul only recognizes its mate by a love connection.  Therefore, your soul knows no bias...  it is not subject to race, religion, gender or any other 'rules' mankind has determined. 
     Compromise works wonders.  It is not always easy...but it is necessary.  As are the words "I'm sorry."  It's amazing how those two words can heal.
     And finally....if a marriage is broken....fix it. In a disposable world people think the can just toss away a marriage and get a new one....it works for appliances maybe, but should not be applied to marriages.  If a marriage needs repair...work together to repair it.  Remember why you married in the first place. Use a photo album to recall happier times, visit places where you shared happy times, go on long walks together holding hands.  Dance a lovely slow dance.
The death of a marriage hurts more than two people. 
 After 43 years, my DH and I are still together....I'm happy writing, he's happy fishing.  Guess what?  I can bring a pencil and spiral notebook on a boat.  It works.
My Mom and Dad celebrated 65 years together.  Dad loves driving his Model T Ford....Mom loves sitting next to him.  The hold hands while watching TV.  They kiss each morning and when they say goodnight.  They laugh together.  They are each others best friend.

I'm working on a new writing/business schedule.  I haven't been very dedicated to this blog...I'm hoping tho fix that.  

The BLIND DATE

Today my thoughts are on blind dates.  My husband and I met on a blind date.   Of course I've been out of circulation since then But I don't hear of blind dates anymore.  Is this because computer dating has taken its place?  Personally I don't think computer dating is better.  Here is my thinking.  
Way back when...when computers were new and not even in the schools yet...(1967 or so)  our school had a computer generated matchmaking dance.  We included some other high schools to attend since we needed a larger number of participants for the computer to match.  We each filled out a scantron questionnaire and waited. Dance night, we were introduced to our match.  My date was a nice guy, too shy to talk and had that perpetual red blush the whole night.  We really had very little in common because he admitted to not actually answering the questions truthfully.
 That's a chance you take with computer matches.
Now, a blind date is similar except that your matching comes from your Aunt Tilly or your best friend....someone who knows you and loves you and wants to see you happy.  Such was my blind date experience. 
My best friend had an awesome boyfriend from a neighboring town. Well, let me go back one step further.  
One Saturday afternoon, Diane, Ginny and I went bowling.  There were three boys laughing at us because, well truth be told, we were awful bowlers as a matter of fact, I think Diane released the ball behind her and might have hit one of the boys in the foot. (my version)  After that afternoon, Ginny and Ed exchanged phone numbers and before too long Ginny and Ed, started dating.  So they set up a blind date for Diane and I to meet two of Ed's friends.  We six had a fun evening and although my date and I didn't 'hit it off' Diane and Jeff did.  So months later..after graduation, Diane and Jeff set up a blind date wit me, her friend and Walt, Eds friend. Well actually ( this is my husbands favorite part of the story) Jeff went into a local bar where he and his friends drank and played darts, and approached Walt and Gene.  "Who wants a bling date with my girlfriends best friend?"  Neither one volunteered so they tossed a coin and the loser had to go on the date with me.
Well, we had a wonderful double date, dancing and laughing and well..the rest is history.  We've been married for 43 years.  Ed and Ginny will be celebrating their 44th and Diane and Jeff will be celebrating their 43rd.  (I can edit this, Ginny and Diane if I got the years wrong.)