Mary Alice Monroe's Blog, page 10

Big News for Friends & Fiction

 

 

 

We have big news for Friends & Fiction!

This summer, we have special guests. Join us Wednesday, June 3rd to help us welcome Kristin Hannah. She’s the New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty novels, including the international blockbuster The Nightingale.

Friends and Fiction is a weekly Facebook Live event every Wednesday, 7 PM ET with my writer friends Patti Callahan Henry, Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, and Kristy Woodson Harvey. We feature endless stories and have so much fun! It’s a weekly ritual that’s quickly become the highlight of my week.

 

JOIN THE ‘FRIENDS AND FICTION’ GROUP

More than 3300 readers have joined our Friends & Fiction Facebook group page. Hundreds tune in live! We share fun stories, offer encouragement and even writing tips. We answer reader questions, spotlight an indie bookstore each week, and give away prizes too. If you have a question to ask any of us, just post it on the group page before Wednesday’s live chat.

 

HOW FRIENDS AND FICTION WEEKLY CHAT GOT STARTED

We started this weekly chat at the beginning of April. The world had changed because of COVID-19. We are all isolated at home, and we were needing connections. So, we had a private Zoom video call just among us writer friends to see each other, check-in on life, and feel connected. The experience was so incredibly uplifting and fun, we decided to broadcast our next Zoom chat on Facebook Live so readers could join us for happy hour too!

So, text your friends, your book club members, your mom or dad… and let’s all gather together on our laptops or phones this Wednesday (and every Wednesday) for a great conversation that will have you smiling, nodding, laughing, and thinking too. And, we’ll give Kristin a big, warm welcome!

I know you’ll leave feeling entertained and happier. I always do!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN FRIENDS & FICTION

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New Book and a Turtle Nest

 

SPECIAL DAY

This photo marks a special day. The official launch of my new summer novel, ON OCEAN BOULEVARD and the date of the first reported sea turtle nest of the 2020 season on the Isle of Palms, South Carolina.

 

TURTLE LADY

This is amazing for a few reasons. The Isle of Palms is the main setting of ON OCEAN BOULEVARD, which is also the Lowcountry island I call home. the story is set against the backdrop of the loggerhead turtle nesting season and the people who volunteer to protect the species. In real life, I am one of those people, a “Turtle Lady”, as we proudly call ourselves. I’m certified to help locate and protect the nests on our beach to help the species thrive.

 

SEA TURTLE NESTING SEASON

May marks the beginning of loggerhead nesting season in South Carolina. Imagine my delight when the team called me on book release day to report the first nest sighting of the season. 147 eggs!

My best friend Barbara Bergwerf is our official Island Turtle Team photographer, and she does an incredible job documenting the season. Here’s the link to our Island Turtle Team page. Bookmark the page if you’re interested in loggerheads. Check in often, and you’ll feel like a “virtual” turtle lady with us. The team patrols the Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island beaches.

The photograph above is pure serendipity! What are the chances that our island’s first turtle nesting would happen on the same day as the book release of ON OCEAN BOULEVARD? This moment is just as special to me as the year that a loggerhead laid a nest on my birthday in May! (There’s a chance that could actually happen again, too. I’ll keep you posted).

 

LIFE IMITATES ART SOMETIMES

This is an amazing moment of life imitating art. And it feels like the turtles came to celebrate the new book. What an uplifting moment in a season that has been full of major change for all of us. Anyone who knows me knows my deep affinity for loggerheads (and all sea turtles). And I know I’m not alone…I met many turtle lovers over the years during book tours. Nature has a magical way of delivering a uplifting moment right when you need it.

 

MEET ME ON OCEAN BOULEVARD

I’m happy to report that ON OCEAN BOULEVARD is a #1 New Release on Amazon. Thank you readers for making it a bestseller! I believe this is a book that will deliver exactly what many of us want right now–an entertaining escape. So many summer events and vacations are postponed or canceled. A lot of people are staying close to home this season for safety. It’s nice to see people turning to books to fill their free time and lift their spirits. I invite you to meet me ON OCEAN BOULEVARD this summer!

 

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

The New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Guests returns at long last to her beloved Isle of Palms in this breathtaking novel about one family’s summer of forging new beginnings against the enduring beauty and resilience of the natural world.

It’s been sixteen years since Caretta “Cara” Rutledge has returned home to the beautiful shores of Charleston, South Carolina. Over those years, she has weathered the tides of deaths and births, struggles and joys. And now, as Cara prepares for her second wedding, her life is about to change yet again.

Meanwhile, the rest of the storied Rutledge family is also in flux. Cara’s niece Linnea returns to Sullivan’s Island to begin a new career and an unexpected relationship. Linnea’s parents, having survived bankruptcy, pin their hopes and futures on the construction of a new home on Ocean Boulevard. But as excitement over the house and wedding builds, a devastating illness strikes the family and brings plans to a screeching halt. It is under these trying circumstances that the Rutledge family must come together yet again to discover the enduring strength in love, tradition, and legacy from mother to daughter to granddaughter.

Like the sea turtles that come ashore annually on these windswept islands, three generations of the Rutledge family experience a season of return, rebirth, and growth.

 

LISTEN TO AN EXCERPT OF ON OCEAN BOULEVARD

 

ORDER ON OCEAN BOULEVARD TODAY 

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Friends and Fiction Weekly Chat

 

The Friends and Fiction weekly chat is a Facebook Live happy hour every Wednesday, 7 PM ET. It’s a highlight of my week! The ritual of logging onto my laptop to connect with readers and my writer friends Patti Callahan Henry, Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, and Kristy Woodson Harvey is uplifting.  The weekly chat generates a lot of lively conversations! We tell fun stories, offer encouragement and writing tips. We answer questions from readers, spotlight indie bookstores, and even give prizes. It’s such a great time together! Based on comments from readers, they’re enjoying this happy hour together too.

 

HOW FRIENDS AND FICTION WEEKLY CHAT GOT STARTED

My writers friends and I started this weekly chat at the beginning of April. It was simply a Zoom video call just among us so we could check-in, see each other, and feel connected. The experience was so incredible, we decided to broadcast our next Zoom chat on Facebook Live so everyone could join us for happy hour.

 

YOU’RE INVITED

We invite you to join us live for the Friends and Fiction weekly chat on Facebook every Wednesday at 7 PM ET. We’ll broadcast live on Mary Kay Andrews’ Facebook Author Page. You can expect to see the five of us–Patti Callahan Henry, Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, and me.

We take turns highlighting our new books out this season. We’ll celebrate the release of On Ocean Boulevard during our chat on May 20th. Visit my book page to learn more and order your copy  before the big release.

Be sure to “Join” our Friends and Fiction Facebook Group Page and then post questions you want us to answer. We’ll be doing this weekly chat through May 27th.

 

INVITE YOUR FRIENDS

Join us, and invite your friends to be part of the fun too. Be sure to grab your favorite beverage for our Friends and Fiction weekly chat. If you miss the live broadcast, we’ll be sure to post the recording by the next day so you can watch it anytime.

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Beach Reading Season is Almost Here

 

Beach reading season feels more important than ever.

With social distancing rules still in place and many beaches still closed to the public, I’ve had many readers tell me their annual beach trips are canceled or postponed this year.

“I really need your book to take me away to the beach”

That comment on my Facebook Page is one that many of us can relate to. Here’s the good news.

 

ESCAPE TO THE BEACH

Books have the timeless power to magically transport us away from the stress or boredom of our current situation to escape to a new place with a new cast of characters.  Books are good therapy, especially the beach reads!

When On Ocean Boulevard is released on May 19, from the very first page I’ll take you to my island town, the Isle of Palms, South Carolina.  You’ll get swept up in the latest summer saga of the Rutledge women who face a season of unexpected changes, but they weather the storms of life with grit and grace.

Through the power of story, we’ll take in the sights of the Atlantic ocean, walk the smooth sandy shores, look for sea turtle nests, and feel the sweet salty breeze on our faces. It’s certainly doesn’t compare to that family vacation or seaside getaway you were so looking forward to, but it will be a comfort nonetheless.

New from NYT bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe. Preorder now and receive it on or near May 19.

 

SUPPORT YOUR FAVORITE BOOKSTORE

You can pre-order your copy and support your favorite independent bookstore through Bookshop.org. The site makes it so easy to find your favorite store and support them with your purchase.

The May 19 release makes it one of the first big beach books of the season, and I’m so excited to continue the story of The Beach House series. Whether you’re new to the series, have only read a couple of the books in the series, or have read all of them multiple times… I know that On Ocean Boulevard will be a great escape for the beach season.

 

 

Pre-order today and then add it to your Goodreads bookshelf today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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THOUGHTS ON THE IDES OF MARCH

It is the Ides of March.  Most of us are beginning to voluntarily self- isolate/quarantine ourselves and our families in hopes of containing the disease COVID-19, AKA: the coronavirus. I am so sorry for my fellow authors who have had to cancel their appearances. My apologies to all my April events that I cancelled. We are all disappointed.  

I’m also sorry for all those dealing with cancelled schools, programs, conferences, etc., as well as for those financially effected by the cancellations. Most of us have never lived through an experience of community isolation. When you ask, “the greatest generation,” they often share wisdom. My 93 year-old-mother in law told me about how, when she was young, there was a polio scare. Think Franklin Roosevelt. Everyone stayed home back in the day of no internet.  She said they all just “made do.” And now, so must we. We are being challenged to act in good faith, be responsible for the community well-being. But what to do with so much time at home?

This experience reminds me of days back when I was pregnant, and the doctor put me on forced bed rest for a few months. It was a shock. I had to leave my career as a teacher. I had little extra money as my husband was a medical resident, so first we exhausted the generosity of my mother and mother-in-law to help with the housework and care for my five-year-old daughter. My church found a kind woman who volunteered to help me. I learned then of the kindness of strangers in times of trouble.  

At first, I felt sorry for myself. I was stuck in bed for a few months with no control over my home, my job. Then my psychiatrist husband took the television out of my bedroom. I was furious! “What am I going to do?” He said to me, “Mary Alice, for as long as I’ve known you, you’ve wanted to write a novel, but you didn’t have the time. Now you have the time.” He gave me a yellow pad and a pen.

I wrote the first draft of my first novel during those few months.  It took a while for that book to be completed, polished and submitted—but it sold! My life was changed forever. I gave birth to a baby—and a book! 

I learned a valuable lesson.  What can seem an obstacle can, in fact, be an opportunity. Saying “yes!” to the universe brings rewards. The window is opened to possibilities. Saying “no!” with fear shuts the window and only creates fear and inaction.  

So, I ask you… What can you do to see this gift of forced time at home as an opportunity?  Do you have a project you’ve been eager to try but had no time? Now you have time! What would you love to have finished at the end of the next fourteen days? A project, or a book pile to get through, cleaning closets, painting a room, learning how to play the guitar, write a book, or garden? You have two glorious weeks.  Don’t waste it sitting in front of the computer or television. Carpe diem!

 

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RECORD-SETTING DONATION RAISED FROM WILD DUNES AUTHOR SERIES

Pictured L to R: Elizabeth Berg, Mary Alice Monroe, Kate Quinn, Signe Pike, Polly Buxton

 

The annual Wild Dunes Author Series raised a record-setting amount of money– more than $8000 –for the local literacy organization Reading Partners South Carolina.

Also newsworthy, we have already set the date for the 2021 event. Keep reading for details!

More than 350 people attended the January 19th event “Wild Dunes Presents: A Conversation with Mary Alice Monroe” featuring bestselling novelists Elizabeth Berg, Kate Quinn, and Signe Pike. The conversation was so captivating… none of us wanted it to end! I loved the wit, humor, insight, and intelligence displayed by this group of writers.

A total of $8,414.57 was raised for Reading Partners South Carolina, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing young students who struggle to read with individualized reading support in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester county schools.

This was a record-setting amount raised from the Wild Dunes Author Series, which I launched more than a decade ago in partnership with Wild Dunes Resort. Along with their stalwart support, local business partners Buxton Books, Firefly Distillery, Mary Edna Fraser, and Holy City Straw Company contributed to the overall success of this fundraising event. Guests participated in a silent auction organized by Reading Partners. And, even the featured authors generously donated their time to be a part of the literary tradition for literacy. Everyone contributed to making this a success in every way, especially for local literacy!

This year, Wild Dunes Resort also provided an all new two-night VIP Weekend Package for attendees, complete with special resort amenities and activities including exclusive meet-and-greet time with me at the South Carolina Aquarium. We had so much fun! It was a special weekend for all.

The 2021 Wild Dunes Author Series will be held Sunday, January 17th. I’ll announced the featured authors later this summer.

Reading Partners has chapters set up across the country. To learn more about this vital literacy program, visit www.ReadingPartners.org.

 

 

 

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“ON OCEAN BOULEVARD” BOOK COVER REVEAL

 

I’m thrilled to finally reveal the book cover for ON OCEAN BOULEVARD. It will be in stores in just about four months, on May 19.

The cover art captures the feeling I want readers to have when they dive into the story world. Exhilaration!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

ON OCEAN BOULEVARD is a whole-hearted return to the Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island and the sea turtles that call these shores home, as the sixth book in the Beach House Series. Once more the Rutledge women– Cara, Linnea and Julia– are back on the beach! Emmi, Flo, and Toy join them as the Island Turtle Team tends to the nesting sea turtles for a new season. As the turtles continue the cycle of the season, each woman, too, faces her own challenges and decisions that will shape the next stage of their lives. As they learn to trust each other’s wisdom, we witness the poignant passing of the torch from mother to daughter to granddaughter.

 

WHY THIS BOOK IS SPECIAL

What makes this book special is best described by one word that keeps coming to mind. That word is “legacy.” It’s something you’ll see in the story line of the Rutledge women, and in the life cycle of the majestic loggerhead. But, “legacy” is also something that comes from my heart for conservation.

We’ve all seen the photographs of plastic garbage in the oceans, rivers, creeks. Animals trapped in filament, with straws in noses, guts impacted, and sadly, the deaths. It’s heartbreaking, and we all shake our heads and feel overwhelmed by it all.

Many of us wonder, “This plastic problem seems so massive. What can I possibly do to help?”

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP

I explored that in my novel in what I hope is an inspiring way. My ideas for ON OCEAN BOULEVARD were in part sparked by my friend Kelly James Thorvalson, who is the Conservation Program Director at the South Carolina Aquarium. Kelly has launched a program dedicated to cleaning up our mess, literally. Armed with 5000 bags made from recycled plastic, she’s sharing them in cities and towns throughout the state to be used for local beach, creek, river, and parkland sweeps.

In my novel, Linnea sees one person picking up trash, and is inspired to walk the beach with a trash bag. Later, Linnea grows that small action into something bigger than she expected. Like ripples in the water, other people are inspired and soon, more and more people are doing their part to better care for this big beautiful world.

 

MY LEGACY AS A WRITER

Ultimately, I hope that my legacy as a writer is that I leave readers with powerful stories that capture their hearts and inspire their minds with knowledge about how we can all take better care of each other and this beautiful wild world we all share.

 

PREORDER TODAY AND GET IT PERSONALIZED

If you preorder your copy of ON OCEAN BOULEVARD now, you’ll be sure to be one of the first to enjoy it on the May 19th release day.

PREORDER TODAY

 

If you want your book to be signed, and personalized, by me, call my local independent bookstore Buxton Books (843-834-6575). That’s the only place right now where you can request a signed and personalized copy for you … or your mama, sister, book club member, even your BFF. You can also schedule to have it shipped right to your door. It’s almost as easy as Amazon Prime! 

 

ADD TO MY READING LIST

If you’re on Goodreads, do please add ON OCEAN BOULEVARD to your  “Want to Read” List. It’s such a great, informative, and interactive website for avid book readers.

 

SUMMER BOOK TOUR

Coming soon, my summer book tour schedule to celebrate ON OCEAN BOULEVARD. Will I be coming to a town near you? Share your suggestions in the comment box about where I should go for a book signing event in your city.

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ANNOUNCING NEW BOOK AND SPECIAL AUTHOR EVENT

When people are decorating their front porches with pumpkins, that means I’m deep into my annual tradition … story-writing mode. For weeks, I’ve been holed up in my office working on a new novel. Today I’m excited to share my new book announcement with you, along with a few important notes to share.

SEASON OF GRATITUDE

Autumn is a season of gratitude, and I want to say thank you. Readers from near and far showed up in big ways this year for my new release, THE SUMMER GUESTS. That support launched the novel onto the New York Times Best Sellers list and several other national bestselling lists too. That kind of support allows me the honor of continuing to write stories that will resonate with you and will ultimately be a force for good in this world.

Book Release Day at my local Barnes and Noble (Mt. Pleasant, SC)

 

DON’T MISS THIS

I’ve also been busy working on a literary project dear to my heart. The annual Wild Dunes Author Series. I started this special event more than a decade ago for two reasons–as a way to connect notable writers with avid readers in an intimate setting, and to help support vital literacy programs.

 

SAVE THE DATE: JANUARY 19, 2020

Mark your calendar for “Wild Dunes Presents: A Conversation with Mary Alice Monroe” featuring distinguished authors Elizabeth Berg, Signe Pike, and Kate Quinn. Join us January 19th at the world-class resort located in my island town, the Isle of Palms, South Carolina.

Wild Dunes Author Series: January 19, 2020

The theme of the conversation will be women of power and influence throughout the ages because their novels poignantly capture strong characters in their historical fiction books, which cover vastly different time periods. I’ll also ask them about their writing lives and get them to candidly share personal stories. And, I always try to take a few questions from the audience, too!

WHAT TO EXPECT

Everyone has so much fun at this annual event. Your participation will directly support Reading Partners, our charitable beneficiary. With your ticket you’ll receive refreshments, hors d’oeuvres, and a $5 book coupon. You’ll also get access to a silent auction that 100% supports the charity. And there will be a book signing too.

NEW THIS YEAR! 

For the first time ever, Wild Dunes Resort is offering a VIP Weekend Package with this event. The deal includes a 2-night stay, 2 tickets to the author series with reserved seating, plus 2 tickets to additional exclusive events to enjoy during your weekend trip.

2020 Wild Dunes Author Series and VIP Weekend Package

ENJOY THE GIFT OF EXPERIENCE

I think this kind of event would be the perfect gift of experience for the book-lover in your life this year. It’s also a great excuse to take a long weekend to explore Charleston, SC with your spouse, your mama, your sisters, or your dear friends.

Condé Nast Traveler voted Wild Dunes Resort as one of the 10 best resorts in the south. And Forbes.com named the Wild Dunes Author Series as one of the top 10 reasons to visit Charleston in the winter. The event is a sell-out, and it’s so much fun!

TICKET INFORMATION

 

THE NEW BOOK

I’m thrilled to share this with you. The title of my new novel is ON OCEAN BOULEVARD and it will be released May 19, 2020. Book cover and story details coming soon. Meanwhile, my team is already working on the summer book tour schedule. But, we also welcome reader suggestions. Is there a place near you that I should include during book tour? Send us details at: info@maryalicemonroe.com and put “book tour suggestion” in the subject line.

 

ON OCEAN BOULEVARD is a return to the beach I love most dearly, the Isle of Palms and is the latest installment of The Beach House Series. If you haven’t read the series yet, that’s okay because I always write a book in any series to be a stand-alone. You’ll enjoy the novel nonetheless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ON OCEAN BOULEVARD will be released May 19th.

The incredible saga of the Rutledge family at Primrose Cottage continues because of you, my wonderful readers! So many of you told me during book tour that you’re not ready to let the series go. And quite frankly, neither am I.

 

WANT TO READ IT?

Please add ON OCEAN BOULEVARD to your Goodreads Bookshelf as a book you “Want to Read.” You’ll be among the first to see the new cover and read the details.

 

If you’ve read the series, which book in the series is your favorite? Which character(s) do you like the most? Share your thoughts in the comment box.

 

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REMEMBERING TWO ICONS OF THE LITERARY SOUTH

Hearts across the Lowcountry of South Carolina and beyond broke–mine included–when the news hit. The deaths of my friends and fellow writers Dorothea Benton Frank and Anne Rivers Siddons. Their passings were only days apart from each other.

 

Together with Anne River Siddons, who’s wearing her signature red-framed glasses in this photo.

Dottie and I at a friend’s book release party

I was honored to be asked by Garden & Gun Magazine to write an essay with my dear friend and author Patti Callahan Henry that celebrates their lives and influence in southern fiction. Read the essay: Remembering Two Icons of the Literary South.

They will be dearly missed by family, friends, colleagues and their legions of readers. But, we can all take comfort in knowing that their legacy lives on through their books.

Share your stories about Anne and Dottie. What are your favorite books by these two writers?

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HOW TO BE READY FOR HURRICANE SEASON

 

As we enter the thick of the Atlantic hurricane season, our first serious, threatening storm approaches the Southeastern coast. Are you ready for hurricane season? Is your “go pack” ready? I have tips to help you be ready to evacuate ahead of a major storm.

Hurricane Dorian is strengthening in the Atlantic Ocean, fed by the warm waters, fulfilling the warnings of weather experts on the effects of climate change.

How does climate change and global warming, affect hurricanes?

Let’s take a quick look at how climate change and global warming affect hurricanes:

Warm sea temperatures

Warm sea surface temperate act as fuel for hurricanes. The higher the sea temps, the more energy the hurricane gains. 

      2.  Rising Sea Levels

Concurrently, as the ocean warms, terrestrial glaciers and ice sheets melt. Sea levels are expected to rise to a conservative estimate of two feet by the year 2060.  Even a one foot rise in the next decade can pack a punch of water surge during a storm. Storm surge is when powerful winds drive a wall of ocean water onto land.  For coastal areas and low-lying nations, this can be deadly and destructive. 

       3.  Slow Moving Storms

Research also contends that global warming is weakening the atmospheric currents that keep weather systems–like hurricanes–moving.  This means slow-moving storms. Sluggish storms can prove disastrous—even without catastrophic winds—since they can heap tremendous amounts of rain on a region over a longer period of time. Remember the floods of Hurricane Florence in 2018 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012? 

What can we do?

Of course, hurricanes are natural phenomena, and there is nothing we can do to halt any single storm in its path (though some people may try). What we can do, however, is limit the burning of carbon-emitting oil, coal, and gas and strive for more efficient wind and solar energy.  This would reduce future warming and the ferocity of tomorrow’s storms—not just for us, but importantly, for our children and our grandchildren.   

How do I prepare for a hurricane?

In the meantime, if you live on the coast, make sure you have your “go pack” ready!

Make an emergency supply kit

The Department of Homeland Security recommends having an emergency supply kit readily accessible so that you can evacuate more quickly. The kit should include some essential items that you’d need to live comfortably for an indefinite amount of time. Some of these items include:

Cash or travelers checks
Important family documents and mementos like copies of insurance policies, birth certificates, vehicle titles, social security cards, financial records (including current tax year receipts), a copy of your apartment lease, wills or trusts, personal photos and irreplaceable letters, passports
Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
Extra batteries
Important contact information for family and friends (in case your cell phone dies)
Extra checks if you keep a checkbook
Extra copies of your home, office and car keys

Keep these items in a predetermined, consolidated location (a marked, sealed rubber tub is ideal) to ensure that you don’t forget anything important when considering what to take with you during a hurricane evacuation. You will be stressed, so this will make it easier for you.

Additional important evacuation items

There are a few other important evacuation items you’ll want to gather that probably won’t be in your grab-and-go bag. They include:

Prescription medications, daily supplements and medical equipment like CPAPs
Valuable jewelry, wedding photos and videos, letters or other important personal mementos not in your grab-and-go bag
Computer and power cord, or external backup drive
Small electronics, like cameras or tablets, and their charging cords
Charge cards you don’t keep in your wallet (or copies of both sides)
Small irreplaceable art or collectibles with value (or lock them in a high, safe place away from potential flooding and looters)
Diapers, baby products and something with which to entertain children
Pet food and supplies
Your own bed pillow (if you have space)
Any small devices you regularly use for pain relief
Toiletries, especially any expensive items

And your pets!  For me, my dogs and canaries are on the top of the list.  Don’t leave pets behind to fend for themselves. Not only can it end tragically, but the experience will be traumatic for your four-legged (or winged) pet. 

Oh yes, and don’t forget a good book!

My new novel, The Summer Guests, opens with a hurricane threatening the coasts of Florida and South Carolina (similar to the current real-life hurricane forecast situation as of August 31st). An eclectic group of strangers is forced to flee their homes to the safety of the foothills of North Carolina. During what becomes one of the most challenging weeks of their lives, they discover that what they treasure the most in life isn’t what they brought to the mountains, but what they take with them once they head back to their homes. Get your copy today. 

Be safe out there. Be smart. And God bless.  

 

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