L.K. Latham's Blog, page 7

No more heat!

The poor folks stuck at the Burning Man Festival are finally on their way home, and I don’t want to add to their misery. So no mention of Global Warming and how HOT it is here. 

Once upon a time, I would leave of the house once or twice a month to refresh the body by moving in new ways; refresh the mind with artful contemplation; refresh the creative center with new ideas.

AND THEN, that which we shall not name, happened, and I was stuck inside the house for what seemed like forever. Long story short: I’m doing it again. I went to see Seeing the Invisible at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Check out Seeing the Invisible: https://seeingtheinvisible.art

I’ve been wanting to see it since it arrived in Austin, but I did this and did that and before I knew it, I read it was about to leave town. So, off I went. 

Well worth the trip. If it is in your area or heading to your area, check it out. The results for you will be different wherever you see it.

Here’s the concept for the exhibit: an art exhibit with minimal carbon foot print. I always enjoy visiting the Ladybird Wildflower Center, although not so much when there are no cool and pleasant breezes. (Notice what I did there? I didn’t use the H word.) So exploring the grounds to locate the beacons to see the art exhibits was half the enjoyment. Each piece grew out of the ground and the surrounding flora. 

I would have enjoyed it more if I’d had my iPad, but it was too – you know – to carry anything more than my phone and a bottle of water. Seeing the art through the app on my phone was still worthwhile. Can’t wait for the day when the virtual sculptures can appear without having to see them through an app. 

Cookies!

See what I did there? I just made you forget about the – you know – those temperatures we’re not talking about any more, because if we don’t talk about it anymore, they’ll go away.

While my mind is deep into Midnight Wilds, let me share more authors attending RAVE 2023.

If you’re in Vegas during this time, drop in and visit. I’ll be reading and signing this year.    Whether or not you’re attending the RAVE, check out the Facebook group to visit with all the authors and their books.

Looking for your next read?

Find my books at most booksellers:

A little rain, please

Never thought I’d look at a weather forecast and hope a hurricane would move just a little closer my way. 

Although I no longer live on Galveston Island, I still give heed to tropical storm and hurricane notices for the Gulf Coast. It is fascinating to watch maelstroms and bedlams whipped up and thrown onto our shores by the seas. The more I learn about storms, the scarier they become. So I held my breath as Hilary slammed into the west coast of the US and Mexico this week, and this morning I yelled, “ouch,” when I saw Harold landing in Texas and Mexico. 

And yet, it’s so dry and hot. A part of me wanted just a little of the torrent of rain and wind to blow through the area. Just a little rain? Just enough of a breeze to drop the temps a few degrees? Is that too much to ask for?

Of course, I worry for everyone in the way of Hilary and Harold. They will not enjoy the rain or wind. There was a wee bit of cloud cover this morning to prevent our usual 100+ temps. We only made it to 100 today. (That’s too hot whether you use Fahrenheit or Celsius.)

My thoughts are with those in these storm’s paths. I hope they make stay safe and dry. In the meantime, I’m still hoping for just a bit of rain.

While my mind is deep into Midnight Wilds, let me share more authors attending RAVE 2023.

If you’re in Vegas during this time, drop in and visit. I’ll be reading and signing this year.    Whether or not you’re attending the RAVE, check out the Facebook group to visit with all the authors and their books.

Looking for your next read?

Find my books at most booksellers:

So Close!

Ever been so close to the end of a project you can taste it? That’s me with Midnight in the Wilds (formerly Midnight Goblins). I’m so close but, but there’s still so much to do: I want to scream. I won’t. The project is still on for release in early November. Not giving you an exact date yet, as I tend to always find one more thing that needs to be done.

While my mind is deep into Midnight in the Wilds, let me share more authors attending RAVE 2023.

If you’re in Vegas during this time, drop in and visit. I’ll be reading and signing this year.    Whether or not you’re attending the RAVE, check out the Facebook group to visit with all the authors and their books.

Looking for your next read?

Find my books at most booksellers:

RAVEing About Authors

RAVE (Reader and Author Vegas Event – It wraps up the 20Books Conference.) is coming. Loving the one for Urban Fantasy and not my favorite just because my name is on it. And very honored to be on the same list as so many of these other authors. Stop by for a visit if you’re in the area.

If you’re in Vegas during this time, drop in and visit. I’ll be reading and signing this year.    Whether or not you’re attending the RAVE, check out the Facebook group to visit with all the authors and their books.

Looking for your next read?

Find my books at most booksellers:

RAVEing about Vegas

It’s hot here in Texas, too hot. Average high this week: 103F. Do I need to convert that to centigrade for everyone to understand how hot it is? I think not. On top of the high temps, our annual intake of Saharan Sands just arrived. Beautiful sunsets (Not up early enough to see the sunrises, but I’m told they’re beautiful, too), but also sneezy times full of lots of coughing. In case there are any doubts, I’m inside and not budging outdoors.  

I’m making daily offerings to the electric gods to make sure the air conditioner stays on. I live in Texas, which is proud of its very own power grid unconnected with any other in the US. When the Texas grid fails, we’re expected to vacation in Cancún. (According to our Senator.)

Anyway, I’ve packed my bags – just in case.

Speaking of packed bags, I’m off to Las Vegas in November! Banner here Once again, I’m venturing to the annual 20Books conference. I learned so much last time, that I’m taking the plunge for a second visit, but this time, I’m part of the RAVE: The Reader & Author Vegas Event.

If you’re in Vegas during this time, drop in and visit. I’ll be reading and signing this year. So excited! So nervous. Would love to see you.   Whether or not you’re attending the RAVE, check out the Facebook group to visit with all the authors and their books.

Looking for your next read?

Find my books at most booksellers:

Keep Cool!

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A look behind the scenes – Part 2

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A look behind the scenes

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Inspirations

Just back from a long Mother’s Day weekend, and what a weekend! We can only make the trip once a year, so we have to pack the weekend with a full year of catching up and loving. It was as exhausting as it was fun. Luck was on my side when my partner and I merged families. 

When not listening and talking to family, I’m enjoying the desert. If you’ve ever been in any state that hugs the Gulf of Mexico, you understand what a contrast the desert is. When we left, it was so humid; it felt like I was swimming at the airport. Once off the plane, bang! I needed water, lots and lots of water.

Of course, every trip to the desert provides me a chance to sit in awe (much too hot to move around much) at the beautiful colors of the desert. 

Towering over me almost everywhere I went, cactus. I swear, some of these were taller than the trees in my yard at home.Whoever says the desert was bland has never experienced the vibrant colors of Spring in the desert.And let’s not forget bringing a little of the desert color to desert. Yum! Enjoy these shorts, the beginnings of Mary Midnight The first time humans heard Mary Midnight, was on a small radio station in Galveston, Texas. The streets are often are safe to walk, as long as you listen to the whispers blowing on the breeze at midnight. Some monsters should never walk the streets.

Continuing with my own NaPoWriMo

Didn’t even come close to writing a poem a day during April’s National Poetry Writing Month. I am, however, still reading my Poem-a-Day from Poets.org, AND I’m still finding time to write poetry every day. Since writing more poetry was my intention for participating in NaPoWriMo, I’m claiming success. 

The best part about reading a poem each day is the time it lets me just think. I like to read a poem before a yoga session or a walk outside. A little time each day to quiet the mind and think is delightful. 

As my last illness faded, I got back to my poetry.

Wild flowers snap into bloom.Breezes cool, sun warms.Then the fog drifts in. Shoulders ache.Seed in the feeder, birds sing,What? Cotten in the ears.Aching spreads to the head.Sleep, just a little longer,The aches remain.Breath thick and sticky.Ribs sore from hacking.Wait, same thing, again.Wait, drugs lift the fog,Stop the ache, dissipates soreness. Sweet breezes still cool, Sun remains warm.Another Spring.Another journey delayed.Wait, words will flow again. Enjoy these shorts, the beginnings of Mary Midnight The first time humans heard Mary Midnight, was on a small radio station in Galveston, Texas. The streets are often are safe to walk, as long as you listen to the whispers blowing on the breeze at midnight. Some monsters should never walk the streets.