Joan’s First Impressions of North Carolina

Sep 10, 2020

For those of you who might have missed it, I recently moved across the country from Denver, Colorado, to Durham, North Carolina, to be closer to family during the Covid-19 pandemic. In my first month here, I’ve noticed that North Carolina is very GREEN (trees, grass, bushes)—and very WHITE (the sky). 

In the photo on the left, you’ll recognize the table that sat on my porch in Denver, usually covered with a foot of snow. My view has changed somewhat, since I have about thirty pines and pin oaks in my backyard. Very GREEN. In the photo on the right, you’ll see the trees across the street from me, with what has been a typical North Carolina sky for the month of August (this photo was taken at 9 a.m.). Not blue (although there have been days with blue sky), not blue scudded with fluffy white clouds, not “cloudy,” but WHITE. The local folks tell me the white sky is the result of the heat and humidity. I freely admit I miss all those endless days of blue sky in Colorado.
Since I knew no one but my son when I moved here, I’ve spent the month of August relying on “the kindness of strangers.” I joined a tennis club, where I’ve met some wonderful people who’ve proved that the South really is a friendly place to live. Because my house is close to the entrance to my neighborhood, I’ve met everyone out walking their dogs or jogging or just driving by while I’m mowing the lawn (yes, I mow my own lawn—or my son is kind enough to do it for me). I stand at a social distance from my neighbors and converse, but I do miss the days when I might have hosted a dinner party and invited them into my home.
I’m still unpacking. I finally managed to move enough boxes to the side yesterday to get my car into half of the garage. My books are in a dozen bookcases in my garage, which is now air-conditioned—yes, air-conditioned, so the paper doesn’t rot in the constant humidity.

Mini-Vacation

I promised myself when I departed Colorado (where I left many of its most beautiful sights unseen) that I would not make the same mistake in North Carolina. So during my first month here, I made a trip to Carolina Beach to enjoy the sun and sand and sea. 

There was no sun during my day on the beach, but there was a spectacular sunrise the next morning. 

Sunrise in N. Carolina

And yes, that is my own hardcover novel, A Stranger’s Game¸ I was reading while on my two-day vacation. I recently got back the audio rights and wanted to re-read the book to see what I wrote all those years ago and whether I dare try to “narrate” with different voices for the characters for the Audible version, rather than simply “reading” the book, which I’ve been doing in the past. We’ll see . . .

New Audiobooks Now Available!

Sunrise in N. Carolina

Speaking of audiobooks, two of my wonderful Hawk’s Way series are currently available on audio: HAWK’S WAY JESSE and HAWK’S WAY FARON. Also, my British narrator, Pearl Hewitt, has just finished THE INHERITANCE, which should be available soon. You can order each of these from Audible by clicking: Jesse, Faron, and The Inheritance. 

ONE SIMPLE WISH

Just $.99 – Today Only!

Today, and for one day only, get my historical ebook novella ONE SIMPLE WISH for just $.99. In this story, though each feels unworthy, together they discover that love can heal all wounds. Click here to download your copy today!

One Simple Wish

September Contest – 5 Winners!

Enter to win a $25 gift card (Amazon or Barnes & Noble, your choice) plus two downloadable audiobooks: Hawk’s Way Jess and Hawk’s Way Faron. Four runners up will also be selected to win each of these two new audiobooks. Click here to enter to win, and good luck! 

Sunrise in N. Carolina

Bookbub Monthly Promos 

Follow me on Bookbub to learn of new releases, special pricing, and books I recommend. Bookbub is a wonderful community for avid readers like you, a place to find all your favorite authors and learn about new ones. Let’s stay connected!

Sunrise in N. Carolina

Take care and happy reading,