Around The Fire returns to New Jersey

Hi, everyone! After almost four months in Perry, Florida, I’ve returned to the north. If you follow me on social media, you know we left camp in the 80s wearing shorts and t-shirts. By the time we hit the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, things were a tad different. Like the postal carrier creed—neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night. Yep, we were in it all. Pete did a great job navigating 2HOOTS while I followed in Snowball. During the trip, I listened to Jan Karon’s Mitford books. Many years ago, I read and loved them. Listening is a whole different thing. I recommend both print and audio series if you like inspirational books.

Arriving home in The Garden State gave me a chance for a second spring. We left Perry as it was turning to summer. Pollen, bugs, and humidity were slipping in. I don’t do well with either of those. Not that New Jersey doesn’t’ have exactly that during the summer. If you read Rainbow Sprinkles, I wrote about the three Hs—Hazy, Hot, and Humid.

Florida was good for my work and reading. I finished several books and enjoyed the local life. Fests happen all the time in the Sunshine State. We went to the Manatee Fest and the Fiddler Crab Fest. The Bluegrass Fest was rainy, so we decided to stay at camp. Crystal River gave me an up-close with manatees. If you didn’t eat Somewhere, you could eat Nowhere. Pete’ enjoyed Grumpy’s Diner while I plowed my way through seafood at the Crazy Crab.

The downside was pizza. You just can’t get a straight-up pepperoni pizza in the area we were. Also, believe it or not, there wasn’t any ice cream parlor to be had. Not even a DQ. Tragedy nearly ensued when we couldn’t find a Dunkin closer than forty-five miles. Say what you want about Walmart; at least we could buy the coffee there and make it at camp.
Flea markets, vintage stores, and antique shops were in abundance, and you know Pete, and I, enjoy poking through those. I post some of my favorite finds on Facebook for #whatsitwednesday, so follow me and check it out.

Leaving Perry, Florida, KOA was bittersweet. We made lots of friends and spent many nights around the campfire with people from all over the US and Canada. So many are coming back next year, and we look forward to returning as well.
We dropped our landing gear at home on Monday, the day after Easter. Hali leaped from the truck and sniffed and prowled, reclaiming her homestead. My sixteen-year-old cat, Baby, stretched and yawned before assuming her regular sleep spot. To my surprise, she made a great traveling and camping cat.
One of the reasons for us returning in April was the Wine, Romance, and More event held at the brookhollowwinery in Columbia, NJ. There were fifty authors from all different genres signing books and fellowship with other writers and especially readers. Agent Carter and the first edition of Felice moved off my table at an amazing pace. I even had an author assistant. Thanks, Desi M., for pitching in and pitching my stories.

NJ is putting on a show with foliage. The forsythia is blazing yellow. Bulb plants like daffodils and hyacinth are coloring my yard with yellow, pink, and purple. Tulips are ready to pop, too.
After collapsing from travel exhaustion, one of the first things we did was set up our deck. The second was a fire in the pit, and then Sunday, a propane fire on the deck. You can take the girl out of the campground, but you can’t take the campfire out of the girl.

I will wrap up by letting you know what I accomplished this winter. First Jazz House went to the final-final galley. I wrote and submitted another story along the lines of Rainbow Sprinkles and waiting to hear back. Felice has been re-edited and will be released as a second edition this fall. Kisa will be going to the editor on August first. A top-secret book I’m cooperating with other authors will be going to another editor in October. So as you can see, I’ve been sitting on my laurels eating bonbons.

I enjoyed catching you up. If you have any questions or comments, leave them in the sections labeled um… comments. Or you could always email me if you’re shy.  
Here's a few highlights from our time...

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