Dear Kids and All Readers,
In May, I will be traveling to the East Coast for the birth of my grandson.
Even though I’m fully vaccinated, I have to quarantine for ten days at a hotel before the big event. (I’ll spare you the good reasons.)
Instead of fretting about the isolation that some experience in quarantine, I’m embracing the idea. I’m even looking forward to it. Why? Because time away from my daily responsibilities should give me an opportunity to carve out space just for myself. This “retreat” within quarantine, or my “Quar-Retreat,” will provide a welcome chance to walk, story plot, recharge, and get some serious writing done–purely on my own schedule. Ah, solitude. Isolato as the Italians call it, remember?” What a welcome gift for any writer!
So you know, I have been busy here at home. Publishing activities for my Book 3, Walnut Street: Phantom Rider, have ramped up as I work with my editor and built an advance reader team in anticipation of the book’s November 9, 2021, release.
Then, there’s Book 4, Saffron Street: Island Danger. The first draft is about twenty percent finished–only. For me, this has been an itch needing scratching for a number of months as I’ve been constantly pulled away to do other things. I’m counting on changing that during my Quar-Retreat. I will drift away blessedly to Botanic Hill at my computer and help my detectives solve their fourth case.
So, get a clue, Readers. With inspiration and hard work, I hope to report by late May that I have been productive while Quar-Retreating. Specifically, I want to made a very serious dent in my Book 4 writing. We all need to get away occasionally for some “Me Time.” Where is your favorite retreat spot? May you get to spend time there soon.
