Keepin’ It Light
Edith/Maddie here, writing from north of Boston on a frigid morning.
I’ve been taking refuge from the outside world in my writing again, as I did during the worst of the pandemic. I don’t know about you, but I’m finding the world particularly disturbing, bordering on terrifying, these days.
But when I dive into Cece Barton’s world on a sunny northern California weekend in late May, I can forget about reality for at least the morning. I’m writing the first draft of book #3, Poisonous Pour, and loving it.
During the worst of the pandemic, my fiction was the only thing I could control, and it was an enormous respite to live in my imaginary worlds. I feel the same today, this week, this month. When I can’t control my story are the times when my characters surprise me and I have to keep typing to find out what happens next. That experience always delights this author.
We’ve been talking about goals this month. One of my goals going forward in my life beyond my work is to keep things light, or as light as I can. To that end, I’m barely listening to the news. I’m enjoying cooking new recipes and spending time with friends. Every other week I spend forty-eight hours with my 15-month-old granddaughter (talk about a delight!) and her parents. I’m reading every evening, or howling with laughter at old Marx Brothers movies. Who knows, I might even take up water colors or start a new quilt.
I also have collections of small toys in my upstairs office, which is where I spend at least half of every day.
While I’m writing, I can gaze over at my Amelia Earhart doll and her vintage toy airplane. I can focus on the tiny Buddha to remind me to breath and that all things pass with time. Sometimes Tiny T-Rex hops up and supervises me atop my laptop. I never drink out of the Poe wine glass, but I love having it nearby. “Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore…” is my job, after all.
I have another collection of toys on a bookshelf behind me.
They all have significance and make me smile. The scorpion is for my astrological sun and rising signs, and it even winds up and crawls. The anteater is the mascot of University of California, Irvine, my undergrad alma mater. The lighthouse and starfish connect with my Cozy Capers series, and the green thing is a Puerto Rican coqui frog on a leaf. When I visited my son and his wife there, I loved the coqui chorus that starts up at dusk. Glancing at the larger Buddha wearing a Mexican hat makes me smile, as do the pictures of family that surround the toys.
In a window are a beautiful glass bird my bestie gave me years ago, as well as a murderous note pad, a gift from Barbara Ross.
They aren’t toys, per se, but are favorite things.
I also have my flying angels, Topsy, my childhood stuffed animal, the New England Crime Bake handcuffed lobster, a brass west African warrior princess on her horse, and more.
These things all bring me joy. Take that, Marie Kondo!
Readers: how do you keep things light in times of stress?
