11/14/16, Books and Puppies!!

Hi Everyone,

I hope you’ve had a relatively peaceful, and productive week!!! With emotions running high both before and after the elections, some people are elated, some disappointed, others worried about the future, protests in many cities, both before and after—-I find that in times of stress, whether personal, national, or international, what grounds me and centers me and calms me is always work. I’d rather focus on that than turmoil around me, that I can do nothing about. I’ve been concentrating on finishing a book all week, which requires immense focus—I always say that writing the end to a book is like trying to land a 747 airplane on a coffee table, and it’s an incredible feeling of victory when you do. You have to keep a tight grip on it, and tie up all the loose ends to get the ending right. And this one came in for a nice smooth, tight landing after an all-nighter, at 6 am on Friday morning. I just can’t let go and go to bed when I’m that close to the end, and I’d rather just stick with it in the final hours (although I will confess that once in a while, I’ve been known to fall asleep at my desk when I work too long!! But I was wide awake for this one!!!)

Other than that, during breaks in my writing, I’ve been playing with my new puppy, she is 11 weeks old and full of beans, racing around when we let her play in a safe area where she can play in the house. She has charmed everyone who comes in and out of the house!!! Who can resist a tiny one pound puppy!!! We have an epidemic of puppies right now. My youngest son got a new puppy, a Boston Bull (black and white with a smooshed in face,) who is 10 weeks old. He is adorable, and will grow to be about 12 to 15 pounds, although the one he already has is only 7 pounds, and is tiny for the breed. The new puppy’s name is Francis. My new ‘baby’ is another teacup Chihuahua, and weighs only a pound, and will weigh about 3 to 4 pounds as an adult. She’s in that phase of needle sharp baby teeth right now, but really sweet, she’s kind of a pale beige pink color and white, and I think her coat will be medium length, I can’t tell yet. Her name is Lili. She met Minnie and Blue briefly this week, who weren’t too impressed. Minnie being a long hair wags her tail a lot, so it kind of waves like a white flag, which the puppy thought was some kind of fabulous toy which she kept trying to catch. Minnie was not too amused by that, and Blue hopped up on a couch and observed her from the heights. The new puppy’s name is Lili, I’m keeping her in a separate room and trying to introduce them slowly til they get used to each other. I hope that happens soon, so I can have them together all the time. And my oldest daughter is getting a new miniature Brussels Griffon puppy this coming week. She lost her beloved 14 year old dog a few weeks ago, and this one just happened into her life last week, from a breeder who knew her other dogs. So it was meant to be. And my daughter who just got married is looking at Yorkie puppies. So it’s puppy season and dogs galore for us!!! Nothing makes one happier than a puppy, and we all love our dogs, though undeniably they are a lot of work. Lili is not shy at all, and seems happy in her new home. She sleeps with a stuffed toy dog I gave her that’s about ten times her size, she must think it’s her Mom, she climbs into its arms and passes out!!!

I hope you have my new hardcover The Award by now. I’m proud of that book, and I hope you love it, and consider it for your Christmas list. That book is a favorite for me!!! Take good care, Have a terrific week!!

love, Danielle