Sadie Jay

I haven't posted any Peppercorn pictures lately, but he'll be 6 months old this week. He's gotten so big! I really didn't want another cat since we already had two, but I don't regret keeping him at all. He's active and has kept our two older boys on their toes, but he's beginning to calm down. I fear a Christmas tree might not be advisable this year, though! I have two books with Halloween scenes simply because costumes are fun! I should have thought about this earlier in the month, but since I'm working weekends now, I'm totally off my schedule and apparently unable to think ahead. I just realized I tend to write holidays into most of my books. Maybe because there are usually emotions involved and that's what I write? It's as good a theory as any. So this week's snippet is going to be the opening of the Halloween scene taken from the third book of the Headphones series:         Scoey adjusted his cuffs. He was sure he looked...

I love getting feedback from beta readers. Sometimes there's a moment of depression when the first sentence isn't "I love it, it's perfect!" Which, of course, never happens. And when I pick through the comments, it's usually not that bad--it's the things I pretty well knew were problematic but hoped weren't! A good beta reader will be truthfully critical but will also say what works, what is good. My surprise with Headphones? Readers really like Elinor-- a side character that is important to Headphones but which I didn't give a high word count. Funny how that works! This week's snippet from Headphones: In From the Cold ; Elinor’s shop was everything good--Earth hues swirled at the edge of Headphones’ vision as she stepped inside. Flowing brown and green silk hung on the walls, creating a soft organic ambiance enhanced by air that smelled of sage and sandalwood. The small shop was tranquil and relaxing, much like the woman who ran i...

 I missed last weekend because my mom wanted to go to Wyoming to see her newest great-grandchild and my folks have reached the age where they can't travel that far alone. So, being the ever accommodating daughter, I took off work and drove them cross country to spend a few days with my brother and his clan, but it's exhausting. It takes days to recover! (crossing Nebraska) This week's snippet is taken from In From the Cold , the book I am slowly but steadily editing. Scoey is moving into The House and Headphones is unsettled by it:           Headphones shuffled through the drizzle and fog. On nights like this, the cold and dampness sank into her bones and even a scalding-hot shower wasn’t enough to warm her. Her family had moved several times over the years, following her dad’s jobs, but somehow always in southern towns, warmer and dryer. Old memories had been flooding in, as if finally being settled,  static , had opened some gate that sh...