OUT OF IT

Between writing and keeping the house clean for prospective buyers, I'm about to lose it. This picking up and putting away and scrubbing and dusting is for the birds. We rush around like crazy before a viewer comes, then we have to go and lose ourselves for 1,2 or more hours. We're getting fat because we often kill time by going to Wendy's for a Frosty.

And the madness is showing up in my dreams. This morning I dreamed I was in my car when my cell rang. We're in the process of changing to a voice-over?? system (or something like that) so I figured my guy was testing it. Still, I was miffed. He knows I hate to talk and drive.

"What!" I snapped, trying to dodge traffic.

"Hon! Hon!" he says, all panicky. "Did you dispose?"

Did I dispose? "Dispose of what?"

"You know!" His panic increases. "Did you?"

And I woke up. Never did figure out what I was supposed to dispose of. Cat litter? Garbage? Old clothes?

I asked when he woke up, but he just looked blank. Some places it's best not to go.

RELEASE DATE

I finally got the release date for my romantic mystery, THE MAN IN THE BOAT. Looks like it'll be available in MuseItUp's bookstore -- link is: https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=338&category_id=69&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1 -- on March 16th, and probably Amazon soon after that.

Muse rearranged the schedule to push up a release from one of our authors who's battling cancer. The historical romance, GARNET GALE GETS HER MAN, was due out in June but they moved it up to last week so that she could see it pubbed.

So if anyone likes romantic mysteries, my book's out this week; anyone who likes historical romance, Nan D. Arnold's book is already out on Amazon and at Muse!

AND STILL MORE TRAVELS

We finished up our visit to Anna Ruby Falls and the covered bridge by swinging back by the Indian Mounds near Helen, GA. I think this mound preceded the Cherokee but they used it, too. Now it sits in the middle of a cow pasture and boasts a gazebo on top.

I took a photo of the mound and the sign with my phone. My guy took one with his camera. Then he did some arty stuff to it and it looks really cool. Bet you can tell which one's which!

BLOG VISIT

So today, Penny Ehrenkranz kindly invited me to be interviewed on her blog and give an excerpt of THE MAN IN THE BOAT coming out this month from MuseItUp. I hope. Not got a final date yet, but as far as I know it's still on.

Anyway, I was surprised and pleased at several people turning up to comment. The link, in case you want to go see it later, is: http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/

For a confirmed introvert like me, it wasn't bad at all. No talking face to face, no nervous giggling or dumbfounded silence, no bunch of strange faces staring at me. I rather liked it. Hope they're all that easy.

MORE TRAVELS

Last week, after viewing Anna Ruby Falls, we hung out with the ranger for a while. He was very kind, telling us about the falls and other places of interest around Helen.

One was a covered bridge. That got my guy excited since there aren't that many of them around anymore. The road had changed; the pavement went on over a new bridge, but the old covered one lay right below. We could pull off to see it with no problem. In fact some EMC workers were eating their lunch there and offered to move, though it wasn't necessary for my guy to take his pix.

A grist mill and other things had been around the bridge at one time but had been washed away. The bridge itself wasn't as picturesque as some, but...

While reading the marker, I discovered that -- ta dum! -- it was the very bridge filmed in the 1951 Susan Hayward movie, I'D CLIMB THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN.

How about that! Here's the sign (taken with my phone, not my guy's nice camera).

And here's the covered bridge. Imagine taking shelter from a thunderstorm or snowfall. If it could only talk!

MERMAID BLUES by Joel Brown

This is the second in this series I've read, and I'm looking forward to the next from Joel Brown.

Baxter, a folk/pop singer who had one big hit decades ago, is trying to make a comeback when a local Lothario turns up dead. Naturally, Baxter's semi-involvement puts his new record contract at risk. Naturally, Baxter keeps prying into the murder. And naturally, more corpses turn up.

Poor Baxter. His romance with the record company's representative fizzles (after he spends a fortune treating her to an exclusive dinner in the top of the lighthouse). His comeback concert is hit by a thunderstorm. His ex-wife's husband still annoys him no end. But he keeps nosing around looking for the killer while trying to tend to his paternal duties. He's a likable guy in a hairy situation.

The atmosphere of the touristy harbor town is wonderful. The characters come to life. And the ending is one I didn't see coming. Good read!

TRAVELS

Took a day off last week and went up to Anna Ruby Falls near Helen. We stopped at the Cleveland McDonald's to grab a biscuit and they have the cutest display of Cabbage Patch Kid dolls! Guess it's 'cause Babyland General, their 'birthing' place is located here. Maybe you can see something from my phone pix.

And then on to the falls! They're gorgeous. Although the photo makes them look like three waterfalls, they're actually twins, separating at the top and falling below into two distinct falls before merging back together.