Penny Watson's Blog, page 24

I Wanna Be A Real Boy!

Real boy? Real books? Such a conundrum!
Last night an author on Facebook commented that she preferred "real" books, not ebooks. She likes to "touch" them and "smell" them. And then a whole slew of authors chimed in that they, also, preferred "real" books.

And I thought....hmm.

1. That whole smelly book thing is creepy.

2. I think she means "print books" but used the unfortunate term "real" implying that digital and audio books are somehow not "real."

3. I would imagine the millions of readers who...

Happy (Third) Birthday To Me!

Today is the third year anniversary of my heart attack. Hard to believe it's been three years!

I am happy to be alive. I feel grateful for all of the wonderful and positive things in my life.

Thanks to all of you for your support, encouragement, and good wishes!


Here are some heart-healthy links, from my blogs and other sites...

Penelope's I Wanna Stay Alive Diet And Exercise Plan
Is Your Heart Trying To Tell You Something?
Penelope's Heart Healthy Diet
Tips For Heart Health
Heart Healthy Living Onli...

Alaska Heart, Tulle Death Do Us Part, and Plotting Chart

Sam Wayland's Bag Of Doom, aka THE MARKERS


Monday morning updates: Alaska Heart, Tulle Death Do Us Part, and Plotting Chart (and...as an extra bonus, A Work Of Art).




1. ALASKA HEART by Christine DePetrillo



This book is just chock full of my favorite things! A sexy, rugged, outdoorsy hero, who happens to be the Iditarod-winner and have eighteen gorgeous sled-dogs. A breath-taking Alaskan setting. Adorable secondary characters. Laugh-out-loud banter. A suspenseful storyline that takes us on a hair...

Books On The Horizon!

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Summer Reading Recommdendations

HAPPY SUMMER!
I have been thinking about the whole concept of "summer reading"...basically, it's supposed to be mindless stuff you can read on the beach, under an umbrella, while sipping a cold frosty drink.



Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!

Then I realized that summer reading is all about the ANTI-ANGST. Nothing too heavy, too disturbing, too conflicted. In fact, it occurred to me that I love summer reading ALL YEAR LONG. Since I love quirky, funny, light-hearted stuff. My regular reading list...

Lobster Roll For The Win!

Front of Black Point Inn

Maybe it was the salty sea breeze. Or the view of the ocean. Or the hike on the Cliff Walk. Or the lobster roll.

Whatever it was, it worked like a charm. My trip to the Black Point Inn was relaxing, productive, and inspiring. I wrote a ton, got a good feel for the whole story, hung out with some of my bestest buds, and managed to consume a ridiculous amount of seafood (crab cakes, clam chowder, grilled shrimp, lobster roll, fish chowder, and salmon....and of course wine...

Writer's Retreat For One, Please

Well, my husband is back to work. My daughter is off to sleep-away camp. My son is long-boarding every day with his friends.

Which leaves me with a whole week to write.

Peace and quiet.

Ahhhhhhhh......................

So, hubby suggests "Why don't you head up to the Black Point Inn for a writer's retreat?" (Black Point Inn is a charming hotel in Scarborough, Maine).

And I said, "Huh. That is a crazy fabulous idea. I could relax, go on some hikes, enjoy the ocean, work on my book, and have cocktail...

Day #4: It Was The Best Of Times, It Was The Worst Of Times (DESCEND!)

Cristian In Cavate, Bandelier


Our last full day in Santa Fe...

I was determined that my kids would get some sort of awesome cultural experience, and appreciate the geography of New Mexico. So, we headed to Bandelier National Monument. It has super cool ancient Pueblo cliff-houses, called cavates, that were carved out of the soft volcanic ash. The kids were able to climb up the ladders and peak inside. We also saw the remains of ancient common houses and other ruins.


Ruins At Bandelier



Cool Rock F...

Day #3: Hummingbirds for the Win, High Altitude Sickness for the Loss

Anna's Hummingbird, Santa Fe
☼
After a rocky start to our vacation in Santa Fe, I was determined that Day #3 would be a success!

☞HIGHLIGHTS

✯The Loretto Chapel, which was right next door to our hotel. It's lovely!✯

The Loretto Chapel



The "Miraculous" Staircase at Loretto
There is a sweet story about this unique spiral staircase. Supposedly when the chapel was built in 1878, they decided that a ladder would be the only way to get to the upper story. The sisters of the chapel prayed for a soluti...

Day #2 Of Vacation: Where's The Beach? (aka, Those Damned Kids)

Day #2 of Vacation:

My hubby is an obsessive fly-fisherman. On our first day of vacation he got up at the crack of dawn and went fishing with a guide. The kids and I were exhausted after our hellacious misadventure in the airport, so we all slept in.

Finally, I forced the kids to wake up so we could start exploring Santa Fe! I adore this sweet, charming town. It has everything a girl could ever want...gorgeous vistas, shopping, amazing museums, art galleries.

Wait. Wait. I know what you're think...