Letters Books Paradise Author Events Readers Photos Reviews Press Home   Alleluia....!! It is the first day of the last year of my daughter's high school life and the first day of my son's second year of college and what that really means is that the house, and thus my office, is quiet. I'm so happy today I am almost paralyzed with joy even though Rachel, the daughter, and her best friend Tricia, who I consider to be my second daughter, just ploughed through the kitchen because they are seniors and can now leave the campus during lunch break. Obviously this has been a month of beginnings and endings for all of us here at Radish Central. Andrew, my son, officially moved out even though he was away at school last year. This means that he took all his furniture, all his clothing, all his toys, all his everything because he is now in his very first apartment. I have yet to see it but I hear it is quite the pad, and he is so excited I think he's levitating. His sister is doing soccer, tennis, choir, a singing group she helped form, work, newspaper, the musical, applying to universities in between car accidents, going to parties and begging me for things I would not buy her even if I could afford them. As you can see -- my life really is just like yours. What a swirl of mad activity. Somehow I have managed to keep my nose and fingers to the writing grindstone in my office in spite of all the noise and comings and goings and lost cell phones and school preparations. I have been cranking with glee and excitement and occasionally a wild streak that keeps me up and wakes me up while I craft novel number six. I'm at the phase now where so much is happening I have to write notes on my arms when I am out in public to keep things straight and because I have SO many ideas. This is my favorite part, besides meeting all of you -- of course, of the writing process. I am totally lost in my characters' lives -- and their emotions are my emotions -- and this is just like heaven -- which it is, by the way. I am still bantering titles back and forth for this baby but rest assured the minute we settle into one you will know. Meanwhile, Searching for Paradise in Parker, PA. is getting ready to jump into the printing machines so you can have it by April 1. I've been re-reading this novel, the fifth sister as I like to say, and I have to tell you I think you are going to love it. August seemed so busy, and as I look through the pages of my little date book here I see that I did several private events, wrote a lot, and then spent a solid 12 days trapped in the house after Rachel had her tonsils out. Anyone who has had a teenager go through this knows it is not fun and Rachel had a tough time, which means that I also had a tough time. I felt like I was breastfeeding again as I woke up every three hours for many days to keep her as painfree as possible. Yikes, to say the least. As I kick through September, which is my birthday month -- big 54 coming up here women, I have a research trip to New Mexico coming up, several events, book chats and towards the end of the month I will start to worry about deadlines. And -- finally, finally, finally, I am working on the newsletter that so many of you have signed up for and that I have yet to send out. Don't hold your breath, but it will happen. It will. I'm also taking a sabbatical for a while from my syndicated columns so I can focus on several other projects. I'm doing pieces for two anthologies and have promised myself that I am going to start writing poetry again and polish some of my short stories as well. I guess I'm just a little busy. As the leaves start to hit the ground I want you to know that fall is my favorite season. I plan to sneak in a mess of hikes and spend as much time outside as possible. I hope that you can also put your nose into the air, take a break, and smell the changing seasons. Happy September and happy every day. Paradise is coming.......... Always,
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