Valentine’s Note from Joan (who has a cold)

I’ve given you three table settings this month, because I’m co-hosting our monthly Boulder Media Women potluck. I figured it would be great fun, even though it’s a potluck, for everyone to have a place to sit and enjoy each other’s company. All that silverware is plastic and will get dumped, and the plates can go in the dishwasher, so all I’ll have to wash are the wine glasses. Easy peasy cleanup. I found all the stuffed toys, bath bombs, and lavender scrub at each place setting for only a dollar each, so I’m able to send everyone home from this Valentine’s Potluck with something both inexpensive and fun to mark the holiday. 

I have a cold. I stayed in bed all of Super Bowl weekend, then got up on Monday and ran some errands–and felt so bad Tuesday that my sister said, “You have to rest. Your body needs time to recover.” Since I’m self-employed, I can take a sick day. But I feel guilty doing it. Nevertheless, I figured if I wanted to get well, I’d better give my body a break. So I spent a whole day on the couch–watching the entire first season of Outlander all over again.

I appreciated the 17 episodes even more the second time around. I certainly had a lovely day of rest. While I don’t feel a hundred percent today, I’m at least up and at the computer again. I’m very close to finishing Winter Magic. With any luck it will get uploaded this month (otherwise, it’s likely to get renamed Spring Magic). I’ll let you know when it’s available. I hope you’re all taking care of yourselves this winter. Rest, have a bowl of chicken soup, and curl up with a good book. 

THE MEN OF BITTER CREEK
Now Available!

Thanks so much for supporting The Men of Bitter Creek. If you haven’t gotten your copy yet, you can order it here. I love both these stories, but the second one, The Christmas Baby, is one of my favorites. I have to admit, Winter Magic is going to provide a little competition, which is okay, because The Christmas Baby is historical, and Winter Magic is contemporary. I’ve so much enjoyed having a career of putting characters in terrible trouble–and then writing happily ever after endings!