Welcome to my blog. What’s shaking?

Hello, cats and kittens,

What’s happening out there? This is the first post for my author blog. The pressure is on to write something brilliant here. It’s quarter to three on a sleepy, gray and quiet Wednesday afternoon. I’m listening to bad ’70s music. It ain’t gonna happen.

I’m working on my next book, as my last book (my first novel, “That’s Not It”) is finished, edited, bound and published. It’s crazy to think that it is now sitting on people’s bookshelves, in different rooms, in all sorts of houses, around the country and around the world. Thank you, Internets. If you’ve already read it, thank you. I hoped you liked it. If you haven’t read it, maybe you would like to pick up a copy? Perhaps one for your best friend, too?

Yes, “That’s Not It” has its own life going on now. It’s flown right out of the nest, that one. Aw, all grown up.

The book is also living inside of Kindles and other devices, traveling wherever those devices happen to go. That is kind of weird, no? I wasn’t too sure about e-readers when they first showed up. Now I don’t see how we lived without them for so long. I have to wrestle my kids and husband to get mine back – soon we will be a four-Kindle family.

My next project is called (working title): “How Are You, Sugar?: Memories, Stories and Recipes from Margie Ellen Dorton.” That’s what I’m working on this afternoon – the final edits and proofreading. It’s a memoir and cookbook for my maternal grandmother. (Or as I refer to her on my other blog, my Dear Late Granny.) (That link is to her recipe for Chewy Chocolate Cookies, yum.) I miss her so much. But that’s no surprise, cuz she drove me nuts when she was still here. Theory: The more they drive you crazy, the more you yearn for them when they’re gone. True or false? Please discuss amongst yourselves.

I loved that lady.

When I’m writing, I like to listen to whatever music the characters would listen to. When I was writing my novel, I listened to a lot of Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top and Elvis. Costello, that is.

Now, I’m listening to my Granny’s music and it’s sure not the Stones or Led Zep. More like, the other Elvis, singing “Silver Bells” with Anne Murray. My Dear Late Granny loved her some Anne Murray, so I’m also listening to “Snowbird” and “Could I Have This Dance (For the Rest of My Life)?” That one does me in, cuz it was on the playlist at her funeral.

Yes, my Dear Late Granny made herself a playlist for her funeral, ahead of time. My girl. I blogged about it, of course. Mantra One: Write it out. Mantra Two: Don’t get it right, get it written.

Man, I’d better listen to something a little more cheerful. Doc Watson, anyone?

Thanks for stopping by,

Nancy