Spring weather in Northeastern Ohio is pretty consistent––until this year. Snowdrops begin to peek through the snow in February followed by Daffodils in March and then in April the magnificent Magnolia tree blooms. We begin uncovering patio furniture the first of May and by the middle of the month we put out the beautiful hanging baskets we received on Mother’s Day.

But Mother Nature threw us a curve ball beginning in January when she dumped 19” of snow on us followed by weeks of record-breaking cold followed by record-breaking warm spells. Ice buildups began and water poured into the dining room. Inside, buckets were strategically placed through February and outside, the Daffodils began to sprout. March brought days in the 70s. People were out in shorts and flip-flops and the Magnolia’s buds were ready to open. Then in April we went back into a deep-freeze which killed the buds. People who were tricked into planting early, suddenly were covering everything at night. The one thing that did grow and grow well was the grass. My first mowing of the season came three weeks early! Last week while on the John Deere, I spotted a Magnolia blossom that had managed to survive!

Mother Nature is still teasing us with Spring. We’re not predicted to get out of the 50s for another week. The good news is I haven’t been tempted away from my writing time. The June 30^th deadline for getting this manuscript ready for editing is still possible.

As I mentioned in my last blog, I was asked to do a reading during the BOOKS IN THE WOODS event on March 28^th. I’d never done a formal reading before, like other authors who read poetry or excerpts from memoirs. But I was committed to the project and would follow through. So, I GOOGLED Author Readings and watched YouTube videos. I spent two days re-reading It Started With Besse and marking the various sections that I thought would most depict the story and fall into the forty-five-minute time slot. An hour before I was to leave for the event, I did my last read-through. I had a copy of the book with the pages flagged that I would read from and three pages of script attached to a clipboard.

Upon arriving at Wildwood, I noticed the posters announcing the four authors who would be doing lectures. My time was 3:15, the event ended at 4:00 –– I was the last to speak. Feeling relief over the fact that I didn’t have to go in “cold” and there might not be many folks around at the end, I enjoyed the afternoon at my table signing books and chatting with customers.

3:15 finally came around and I entered the lovely room with windows on three sides overlooking the woods and gazebo beyond. There were only three people in the room, and I wondered if I could keep their interest for forty-five minutes. I climbed on the stood (I’m only 5’1”) and while Linda, the woman in charge of the event, was announcing me as a local author more folks started entering. A few seconds of panic raced through me while I reminded myself that I don’t do well reading out loud. Then my mind caught a few words, “Pamela is here today to discuss her books and her writing process.” Well now, that changed everything!!! Give me an audience and a microphone and I can talk to a banquet room full of people!

The historic mansion and its location in Lake County, Ohio was the perfect segue into It Started With Besse and how I found mystery, intrigue and suspense in locations that my audience could identify with. The forty-five minutes flew by followed by a heartfelt round of applause. The only problem arose when everyone in the room stopped by my table to chat and purchase books and by then the event was officially over. In the end everyone walked away happy and next year I’ll request a speaking spot in the middle of the afternoon!!!

This coming Saturday, March 28^th, I will be participating in Mentor, Ohio’s BOOKS IN THE WOODS. This event, held in the historic Wildwood Cultural Center, features over 25 authors, storytellers, and illustrators from Northeast Ohio. I will be selling autographed copies of The Tanner series, plus my latest book, WINDSWEPT. This year, I’ve been asked to do a reading followed by a Q&A session.

The book I will feature is: It Started With Besse. I’m excited to show the audience how I took familiar, local locations and turned them into a high energy, action-packed story full of intrigue, gunfire, explosions and of course the questions of who are the bad guys and what are they after.

For those of you who are local, I hope to see you there.

I knew eight years ago when I adopted Teddy from a rescue that he had luxating patellas. This is a relatively common condition in dogs, where the kneecap slips out of its normal position. Most dogs learn how to pop it back in and for Teddy, it was never an issue––until now. On December 29^th he had surgery to remove the ball at the top of his left femur which would relieve the pain caused by the top of his leg rubbing against his hip. All was going well and he was using that leg most of the time. Weather permitting––Mother Nature wasn’t turning off the snow machine––we were doing laps around the driveway two to three times a day so he would get in the habit of using both legs. Then on his sixty-day vet visit to the hospital it was found that his left knee was out of its socket and couldn’t be moved into place. Well, that put a new spin on our situation. He would need professional therapy.

Last week he began, twice-a-week sessions at the Cleveland Veterinary Rehabilitation center. It’s a beautiful facility with the latest equipment and procedures. His rehab consists of thirty-minutes in the gym followed by a session on the water treadmill––timing is determined by Teddy. You must understand that he is a three-pound Yorkshire Terrier––not a Water Spaniel. The only time his body gets wet is at the groomer’s! He won’t even walk on wet grass except for short potty breaks. He’s loving the gym routine––a chance to show off how cute he is––the continuation of the water therapy is questionable.

Life now is all about Teddy!!

I was surprised at the feedback I received for the SPECIAL CONTEST I ran in November and December. More than one of my readers want to see more of Emily Elfin, Marblehead’s quirky real estate agent. Emily and her psychic abilities played a big role in Olivia Bentley’s life in the first and second books but seemed to fade away in the rest. I loved creating the excentric character in my first book, In The Shadow Of The Lighthouse, and kept her in a more minor role in the second book in the series, A Beacon In The Dark.  So, I’m excited to announce that you will find Emily Elfin turning Olivia’s life around, once again, in Chapter 1 of the fifth book in the Tanner series.

Now, I just need to come up with a TITLE!!!

It was more than holiday stress that took the wind out of my sails and slowed my writing to a crawl. On December 4^th I took my tiny 3.25 lb. Yorkie, Teddy, to the groomer. On returning home some three hours later, I lifted him out of his booster seat and gently set him on the ground next to the car. I DIDN’T NOTICE THE PATCH OF ICE!!!! I watched as all four legs were going in different directions as he tried to gain footing. Then I watched as he limped up to the house on three legs. An hour later I determined that although the leg didn’t seem broken, it was not weight bearing. This was not just a bruised knee.

Early the next morning I bundled little Teddy up in his booster seat and drove to his vet. X-rays showed a dislocated hip and promptly referred us to a local veterinary emergency hospital. He was a brave little guy and sat patiently in the waiting room until a technician took him for examination. Four hours later it was determined that his leg would not stay in the hip socket and he would need surgery.

He had that surgery on December 29^th. Back home and wearing the horrible cone, he was confined to a pen for the first five days, with limited exercise. Now we are in the therapy phase with short, but frequent walks on a leash.

For the past few weeks the majority of my time has been split between the holidays and Teddy’s care. Now that we have finally stepped into the new year, I will have the time to jump back into book five in the Tanner Family series. AT LEAST THAT’S THE PLAN!!!!!

I’m offering a special contest for all of you who have asked for the 5^th book in the Tanner Series. How would you like to be included in the plot? It’s easy! As a fan of the series, what would YOU like to see happen? Is there a character in the early books that you would like to see more of? Is there a plot twist that you would like to see continue? Here’s your chance to express your ideas through this SPECIAL AND LIMITED TIME CONTEST. This is what I have so far in the outline: 1) The twins, Andy and Freddy, are now 13 years old. 2) Olivia has a life-altering situation to deal with.

To begin, press the CONTACT button. Add your contact information and in the COMMENTS section let me know your ideas. The contest will end on December 31st. If I choose your post then you will win an autographed copy of the book AND you will also become a character in the story!!

Hope to hear from you!!

I want to give a huge Thank You to everyone who stopped by my booth at the Lakeside-Marblehead Lighthouse Festival on Saturday, October 11th. I enjoyed chatting with so many of you who love the Tanner series and are eager for me to have the fifth book ready for purchase next year at the event. I’m thrilled to say that 20 people who love the Tanner series showed up just to get their copy of my first standalone title, WINDSWEPT. And I sold 17 copies of the first book in the Tanner series, In The Shadow Of The Lighthouse, to folks who had never read my books! I’m already signed up for next year!!!

Watch for a future blog where I will be posting the details for a special contest where you can win the chance to appear in book #5!!

I’m so excited!!! The Lakeside-Marblehead Lighthouse Festival is being held on Saturday, October 11th. Once again I will be there, in the Wesley Lodge, signing copies of the first 4 books in the Tanner series. I will also be debuting my first standalone title: WINDSWEPT.

This peninsula-wide celebration offers fun for all ages, featuring 100+ arts & crafts vendors, a pumpkin decorating contest, hayrides, a farmer’ market and children’s crafts. And of course, it wouldn’t be a lighthouse festival without tours of the Marblehead Lighthouse and the Wolcott Keeper’s House.

I look forward to talking with many of you from previous years and meeting those who are new to my books.

See you there!!

I approved the cover design for Windswept!  I love how the team was able to take the gates, that are bulletproof in the story and put them into a tropical background. Covers help set the theme and give the book energy and in my case mystery. I think the cover achieves that along with being eye-catching.

The editing process is finished and I am now waiting on the final approval for the book. Hopefully, it will come this week because I will need about fifty copies of the book to take to the Marblehead Lighthouse Festival on October 11^th.

Waiting is sooooo stressful.