Wow!!!

Thank you all so much for making the 44 series such a huge hit these past few weeks! It's been quite the thrill having people read about Abby and Kate and the Mortimer Brothers and Bend~ Since Thanksgiving almost 100,000 people have downloaded the free Book 1 and Book 2 is selling really well.

Also, thanks to all those who have left reviews on Amazon, Good Reads, and BN and those who have written to me. It means a lot :)


Book 2 is now available on Apple and it's also in paperback.


Anyway, not too much to report in the way of Bend news, although I did attend the Christmas Parade and have been taking a lot of night walks this past week to check out local Christmas light decorations. It's crazy how mild it's been here, although as I write this on Sunday afternoon, it feels like snow is in the air.

I did get a a chance to go on a little hike up along the Deschutes River earlier in the week. It was a beautiful, mild morning, with deep blue skies and no ice on the trail. We walked up to Lava Island Falls Take Out, the spot where summer rafting companies pull off the river. It's also a central scene in 44 Book 2.

I'm putting the final touches on a play list for the series that I will post soon. One of the songs is Mazzy Star's "Into Dust"...I especially love listening to this while reading Chapter 35 in Book 1.

Thanks again everybody! Hope you all are having a great Sunday and are getting ready for the end of the year celebrations.
Jools

Writing Down the Bones and a Few Other Things...

I haven't posted in a while because I've been writing and being that I tend to scatter easily, I was careful not to lose the words in my head to a blog post, as they needed to go into 44 Book 2 instead. But today has been a good day of editing and I'm right on schedule. I'm excited about Book 2 and it will be out by the end of November.

It's funny about writing. There are so many interesting and magical parts of it. There's the thinking part, and I have to admit that's one of my favorite parts because I can take my brain with me anywhere and call it "writing."I can go for a walk or out on a snowshoe, or even on a glorious autumn hike where I'm able to get those ideas flowing.

Then there is the physical work of writing that requires long hours at the keyboard hammering out the first few drafts, trying to figure out the story and the characters.


But then there's the next part: The Magic part. The part where something starts helping the writer with the story. Helps the book along. It's an amazing time in the writing process, and I only can get to it after putting in lots of hours. But when I arrive, the story takes over, the characters start speaking to each other effortlessly, the plot works itself out. Something reminds me to slip a scene into chapter 3, take a name out chapter 12. It's a magical thing, this part of the creative process, and I always feel very lucky to be caught in it.

Anyway, just some thoughts from this blurry-eyed writer on a windy November day here in Bend.

I'm posting a few pictures, too, of my lovely little city. I had to go downtown a few days ago to do some research and brought my camera along.

Happy creating to all,

Jools

Best Fall Ever, Man

It's really been the best of the best of autumns here in Bend this year. Luckily, I was able to spend a few hours yesterday in the glorious sunshine, walking around Awbrey Butte and Northwest Crossing taking pictures. 

I remember that last year by this time Bend already had a weekend of snow with more on the way.Yesterday it was 70 degrees and blue skies. Lucky us!

Pumpkins rule! Even with warts, er, I mean goose bumps....

Well, back to writing. On an exciting note, 44 Book 2 will be done in early November and will be on Amazon and BN soon after. Thanks again to the people who have written asking where the second one is. It's on the way.....

Hope you are having an excellent Monday!
Jools