Cynthia Lord's Blog, page 43

My Weekend

I spent the last couple days at my friend, Robin MacCready's house up in South Bristol, Maine. I drafted a reader while I was there, and I took some walks along the shore and in the woods with Robin's dogs.



The puppy's name is Ponce and the bigger dog is Roxy. Roxy is in Touch Blue. I wrote some of Touch Blue at Robin's house, and I often put little mentions of things that have meaning to me in my books. Those little details carry depth with them. Roxy was my writing partner on this wharf beside me while I wrote those scenes.

I remember as I sat there working, the wharves of the surrounding cottages and houses were moving and creaking with the waves. Each wharf had its own sound--like they were calling and answering each other, having a conversation.  That detail went into the book, and since Roxy was part of that moment, I found a spot to honor where and how that writing took place.

So in Touch Blue, as Libby is talking to Aaron on his first walk home from the ferry, she points out "Mrs. MacCready's dog, Roxy."

And here she is.

Five on a Friday

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1.  It's been fun giving Cookie new treats to try. I think this was his first broccoli, because he was a little suspicious until he took a bite.  And then it was a big hit!

2.  I'm off to a writing retreat today.  Which will be both fun and helpful, because I have something I need to write and this should give me a good opportunity to finish drafting it.

3.  Then on Monday, I fly to Ohio for a few days of school visits in Mason.  All 800+ fifth graders read Rules so that will be a great visit! And I haven't been to Ohio in a few years, so it's a treat to go back.

4. The temperatures will drop into the 20s tonight here in Maine.  It'll be our first "good" frost. As long as it kills off the ragweed, I'll be happy!

5.  We've had a lot of rain lately, but yesterday, the sun came out. We were all really happy to see it!

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Taking It In

Stonington, Maine. Photo by my husband, John

One of the things I love about fall is it's a season of bringing things inside: both physical things, like the garden hose from the yard, but also thoughts and energy.  It's a preparing time, and I often find it a creative time.  After the exciting, busy bluster of summer, it's nice to slow down, gather everything up, and bring it all in.

Mystic Pizza!

On Monday, I drove to Connecticut to visit my friend Debbi Michiko Florence who just moved to that area from California.  Debbi and I have been friends since 2004 when we both started blogging.  So it was a huge treat to see her again!

  

We had lunch at Mystic Pizza!  Which was both delicious and fun.  In the restaurant, they had the movie, Mystic Pizza, playing, and I bought a pizza cutter as a souvenir.

But the best part of going was spending time with Debbi! 



And her husband, Bob, and---




Her pup, Trixie!

Happy Columbus Day!

Barred Island, Maine. Photo by my husband, John

The Guinea Pig Song

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I just met you, and this is crazy,
but I heard the refrigerator. 

Feed me, maybe?

Touch Blue

Yesterday, I drove up to Waterville, Maine to spend time with this adorable book group (and a few siblings who came, too!).  The kids had read Touch Blue and they asked me great questions. 



I had brought my bin of plastic lobsters, fishing gloves, and lobstering tools, and I showed them how to band and measure a lobster. They became very good at it! 

  Thanks for  a great morning!:-)

Five Things on a Friday

1. I took this photo a few years ago when I visited Prospect Harbor, Maine. I was out walking and I came upon this pumpkin all by itself. Doesn't he look like he's dreaming of adventure?

2.  Will it ever stop raining? 

3.  I have chicken soup already cooking in the Crock Pot. If you can't beat the cold weather, make soup!

4.  I'm visiting a girl's book group tomorrow up in Waterville, Maine.  The girls read Touch Blue, so I'm planning to bring my lobstering tools with me so they can try banding and measuring plastic lobsters.

5.  And yay!  My editor said she loved my novel revision. "You hit it," she said. :-) 

Foliage Season

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Wordless Wednesday

Freeport, Maine. Photo by my husband, John