Wednesday 19 June 2013

Website Woes



Way back at the beginning when someone said I needed a website, I balked at the idea. Really? Why? Of course, now I understand about having platforms so people can stop by and check out my books and read a little about me. (I don’t really get that last bit, but I keep hearing readers are curious about writers.) Anyway, the website. I think my initial skepticism has haunted me ever since.  



I succumbed to popular opinion and paid a lot of money to have a website designed just for me. I loved that website, but the designer kind of fell off the edge of the world when, after the first year, I asked him to make some changes. So yeah, that site died. 



Then a good friend convinced me I was better off designing my own site, and therein followed weeks of pure hell. Except I got to hang out with my friend here and there as we tried to untangle the mess I’d created. Finally, another friend recommended a site specifically for designing websites to be used by simpletons who don’t know what they’re doing. I won’t say I’ve mastered the site, but I can now add information when I want to. Sort of.



Or I could until, well, I lost my domain name. Turns out you can’t have a website on-line without that handle. See? I’m cursed!



So, I’m going to be hanging out here for a while until we get things sorted out. I’ve been working hard on the third book for my Stolen Hearts series. I’d love to say it will be ready this fall, but I also write for Super Romance, Harlequin sometimes, and if they offer another contract, I’ll be on deadline with them.



I have a Super Romance, When Adam Came To Town, coming out in September. If I can figure out how to do it, I’ll post the cover here. It’s gorgeous.



I wouldn’t mind hearing other people's website woes. I can’t be the only one website-less. And as they say, misery likes company!  






















Tuesday 11 June 2013

Down By The Bay



Spring in the Maritimes has been cold and wet this year. I live on a fresh water bay, and the water is exceptionally high for June. Between the rain and the cold, I haven’t been spending much time by the shore lately. I meandered down today after my walk between the rain drops and sat, listening to the waves lap at the shore. Our shoreline is not a beach. We have rocks and shrubs, and we’re reluctant to alter it much because ice and high water can eat away at the shoreline, and you’re left with a muddy mess.

While I was letting my mind drift with the waves, I noticed movement amongst the shrubs that still had their feet in the water. First, one duckling paddled out, then another and another. There were eight in all, and mom wasn’t far behind. I don’t know if they’d been hiding there when I arrived or just came along. When the mother (is there a name for a mother duck?) led all eight a few feet from shore, the babes swam close to her. So close they almost looked all of a piece. They didn’t dawdle, but disappeared around the corner and into the small cove where the angry beaver used to live.   

And here I was worried because I hadn’t seen many ducks around this spring. I thought the water was too high for them to stay and make nests. Turns out I should have been worrying about the gimongous Osprey and the eagle that have been circling the cove daily. I thought they were fishing—for fish. I doubt I’ll watch them quite as keenly until those little ducklings are big enough to fend for themselves.