Out for the Count

Not for too long, I hope! Tuesday (yesterday), I had thumb surgery (if all went as planned—writing this a tad early). Turns out keyboarding is kind of a tough way to make a living. Should have dug ditches, I think. I’m having two joints repaired on my left thumb. If you get my newsletter, you already know about this, but if you don’t, here’s why I might be absent online for a bit. I’m having tightrope surgery on the lower joint (sounds kind of exciting, no?) and some other surgery on the upper one, the one at the base of my visible thumb. This will be my first ever experience with a tightrope, not having the best balance in the world.

 

Here are "befores" of my poor left thumb. I should start PT after 4 weeks of immobilized healing and it’s a 4-6 months total recovery period. THEN, I get the right one done. "After" pix will be the, I guess. I hope my hands look more normal after all of this.

So, in a year I should have very good thumbs! Wish my surgeon luck!

Good Times in Atlanta

 On Saturday, four of us short story writers presented an all-day workshop for the Atlanta Sisters in Crime chapter at the DeKalb library. Bob Mangeot, Paula Benson, Debra Goldstein, and I covered every topic we could think of, from plotting to submitting.

Here's Debra urging us to rev up the conflict

Giving presentations with others, like this, is much less nerve-wracking than going solo. I had a lot of fun and I think the others did, too. The audience was awesome: attentive, responsive, and appreciative. Many of them told me afterward that they were energized to return home and write short stories. Some even said the talks would help them with their novels.

Paula and I talking about short story structure and plot

Also, I learned new things from the others, and was equally inspired!

Lisa Malice, the president of the chapter, hosted Paula and me in her lovely Marietta home, which made the stay even better! That woman can hostess! And cook.

I thank the chapter for having us and for Debra who, I believe, organized us.

Word Search: Death on the Trek

Please enjoy this word search game based on the second People of the Wind prehistory mystery.

Death on the Trek search

A G N E G N I D O O L F R A G   D C D E N I S O V A N P E G K   Y P P R E H I S T O R Y W A B   Y H S T A R V A T I O N Q S G   R T R F T N O D O T P Y L G G   E O Z Q X L B E A R C L A W A   T L A H T R E D N A E N W K A   S S P R O N O U N C E M E N T   Y E G A S S A P M A M M O T H   M T R N O D O T S A M G O T C

MAMMOTH MASTODON GLYPTODONT NEANDERTHAL DENISOVAN PREHISTORY MYSTERY ENGA TOG BEARCLAW

PASSAGE PRONOUNCEMENT FLOODING STARVATION SLOTH SAGA

The novel is available at these places: 

EBOOK:

Kindle

Apple iBookstore

Nook

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PAPERBACK & HARDCOVER:

Untreed Reads (paperback)

Untreed Reads (hardcover)

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books A Million (paperback)

Books A Million (hardcover)

ALSO AVAILABLE AT INGRAM