Well, Not Quite Yet....

 

This was the same chair I was sitting in just a few days ago, sipping coffee in the sunshine and thinking about summer.
Oh well.
Happy spring!
Jools

Last Day of Winter

I love the first day of spring, even though here in Bend it often means gray skies and cool weather. That first day feels important though, that we all made it through something. Maybe it's because I've been through some real crazy winters here, like last year. Once in a while, I really like those insane winters, especially if I can hunker down and write. Last year as the snowfall was breaking records, I was writing the first 44 book and all that white powder I watched pile up outside really helped me create the atmosphere in the book.


This year has been practically the opposite. Except for a few dramatic snowstorms, our winter has been mild, with a lot of blue skies. We've even had some warm days where I was able to sit out on the deck and sip coffee. My kind of winter...

But even with the mild weather this winter, I'm still really happy to welcome spring and even happier to be putting the snow shovel back in the garage.

On another note, 44 Book Four will be out in early May sometime. I don't have the exact date, but I'll know soon. Thank you to those who have asked! I love writing this series and it's a thrill that there are fans out there waiting for Book Four.


Happy last day of winter everybody, and hope you all are having a great week!

Jools

This and That....

Greetings from Bend!
Just a quick post to say hi to everybody. I'm knee deep, maybe even higher, in Book Three right now and most of my writing is going into that. I know some writer/bloggers out there are pretty amazing at keeping up with both their novels and blogs at the same time, but alas, not me :)
Thank you to all those who have written....both on this blog and in emails...it means SO much and I absolutely love getting your mail!

The picture above is what I plan to be doing once Book Three is out in February....can't wait to get up to the mountains and play in the snow!
Well, okay, gotta get back to work over here, although first some more coffee.
Happy January!
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

Progress Involves Risk....

“You can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first.”

- Frederick B. Wilcox

Favorite Tree

Happy Friday!
Jools

44 at Bend Library

There's no money being made, there's no fame, no interviews, no guest lectures, no invites to writers' conferences, no hors d'oevres on shiny silver platters, no parade, no key to the city.

But damn, 44 is now available at our local library here in Bend and this really makes me happy!

Hope you're having a great Wednesday, wherever you may be~
Jools

Plenty of Pie

I'm with JA Konrath on the pie debate.
There's plenty.
But it's up to the writer to come to the table with a hungry heart, wild mind, and a plate.
Bon Appetit, wherever you are~
Jools

Happy Monday

"Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls."
Joseph Campbell
 

September!

Sometimes I'm just too darn lazy to add my own ending to a movie. In fact, most of the time I don't like to. After investing an hour and a half or so, I want to be told what happens. Heck, it's not my story! Tell me how it ends!
Case in Point: Meek's Cutoff. I really liked this movie about some families heading west on the Oregon Trail and getting lost, but it needed an ending.
Beginnings and endings are important.

 

Anyway, I took these photos a few days ago around Old Mill and figured they paired nicely with my thoughts after watching the movie last night.
Hope you are having some fabulous last days of summer! Yaw!
Jools

Super Summer Fun Times

My blog seems to have taken an unscheduled vacation, but I’m not too mad at it. Must have needed one and probably didn’t have too much to say... And I sure know how sometimes a vacation is important.  

I’ve been doing a lot of fun things in Bend lately, things like kayaking down the Deschutes , going to the Bite of Bend, driving up to the mountains to see how the snow melt is coming along at some of our favorite trails.

On Friday, I was hanging out on the bridge at Old Mill in the lovely twilight, catching the sounds of the Alison Krauss concert that was going on at the Les Schwab Amphitheater. This is a picture from the bridge that beautiful night.

 A lot of these activities and events will work their way into the 44 trilogy. I really love writing books that are based here in Bend because there really is a lot going on, especially in the summer!

In 44 Book 2, which is scheduled to come out in August, Abby spends a lot of time in the Old Mill area and even has a job working at the concerts. I've seen a lot of concerts there, including Lyle Lovett, Bob Dylan, The Fray, Chris Issak and even the Alison Krauss concert a few years back. It's a magical venue, where you can sip wine with your toes in the grass, watch the sun fall behind Mt. Bachelor, and listen to great music.

As I was scanning the horizon on Friday night, right before the sun disappeared, I couldn't help but wonder if summer would ever really happen up in the mountains this year. I’m a little worried because of the crazy amount of snow we received this past winter (Mt. Bachelor broke a record) and that my favorite hike, the trail up to Green Lakes, won't be snow-free this season. It’s an awesome hike that follows Fall Creek up to the lakes, wandering past waterfalls, wildflowers (in July), and a ridge made of black, shiny obsidian rocks. When you make it to the lakes (about 4 1/2 miles away), you're right under the incredible South Sister, with Broken Top just to the  right. It's stunning and no matter how many times I go, it always takes my breath away. I try to get up there at least a couple times during the summer and early fall.

In other news, I wanted to shout out a huge congratulations to the 44 Blog Tour Giveaway winner, Krysta Banco! Thanks Krysta for leaving such great messages on the tour! Your winner package, which includes a print version of 44, was mailed out so you should be getting it soon!

Well, don’t want to overwork the blog on its first day back, lest it will be off on vacation again. I hope you all are having the best of the best of summers!

Jools

Unfocused

On Sundays I like to force my wild mind into a more reflective mode, which is not always easy to do because, well, it’s wild. But I have a serious talk with it on Saturday night, and it finally agrees to settle down for Sunday and give me a break. I’m no fool, though, I know it's not giving in. I think it just gets exhausted from fretting and focusing on the wrong kinds of things all week that it, too, needs some rest.

So here it is Sunday and being that it’s nice and quiet inside my head, I have a chance to think about all the great things that surround me every day, things I sometimes forget to notice when I’m trying to get the print version of 44 perfect or attaining my daily word count goal (ha!). Things like an amazing family, one great giant lion cat, blue skies, warmer weather, juniper trees, a million shades of green in bloom, baby deer, kayaks on the river, hiking down a dusty trail in the afternoon sun.

I hope wherever you are, you’re having a great Sunday, too.

Jools

Around Town

I’ve been busy at work writing the sequel to 44, as well as getting ready for my first Blog Tour (Yaw, thanks Bels!!), so I haven’t posted here as much as I had planned. Plus, honestly, I’m kind of new to the blog world (at least the writing end of it) and sometimes I just sit at the computer not knowing what to say. I’m hoping for a big breakthrough here soon.

In the meantime, in the spirit of consistency, I’m going to do postings of photos from around town, just to give readers a sense of Bend. In 44, I wrote about Drake Park, Pilot Butte Drive-in, Thump Coffee, Mondo Pizza and the Deschutes Public Library. In the sequel, I’m excited to include Old Mill, Les Schwab Amphitheater, Pilot Butte, Jackson’s Corner, and the Tower Theater.

I really love this aspect of the series, having the setting take place in the place where I live. It doesn’t hurt either that I love living here in Bend!

Happy May and here’s hoping that the sun will come out soon!

Jools

A Walk on a Sunday Afternoon

Because I love living in Bend, it was easy to use the town as the setting for my second book, 44.

Last time I posted, I put up a picture of the footbridge that is in the opening scene of 44. A body is found in the river under it, caught up in branches and floating face down.

This particular bridge is one of my favorite places in all seasons. It’s a great place to play “Pooh Sticks” in the summer and in winter it’s fun to watch ducks slide on the ice when the river freezes over. There’s an amazing giant tree (it would be so great to insert the particulars here but I have no idea…) on one side that turns a stark yellow in the autumn. On the other side is Drake Park, full of life and fun and just a short ways from downtown. You can stand in the middle of the wooden bridge, stare at river and contemplate life, think good thoughts. Or figure stuff out. Or just be.

Anyway, I knew it was just perfect for a murder scene.

Awbrey Butte is also in my book and today I took a short walk up, camera ready for the incredible views of the Cascade Mountain Range that you usually are lucky to see. Seven mountain peaks, and always snow drenched during this time of year. Alas, however, today the cold spring clouds settled in and hid them.

Anyway, happy reading! Have a great week!

Jools