See You in September

by Judy Ann Davis

“See you in September. See you when the summer’s through.”

Can you name that song?

Of course, “See You in September,” which was originally sang by the group, The Tempos in 1959. It became much more popular when it was later released in 1966 by the group The Happenings. Since then, it has been released by various other groups like The Pacemakers.

It’s one of my favorite songs since Labor Day and September signal the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. The clever landscape artists will arrive in Pennsylvania in four weeks and will paint our hillsides in colors of gold, scarlet, and tangerine. Autumn brings cooler misty nights, foggy mornings, and warm sunny days.

It’s sweat shirt weather and the sound of crackling leaves and the bubbling laughter of children as they gather at the bus stop. It’s the smell of wood smoke in fireplaces and outdoor fire rings. It’s also the most wonderful time to play a game of golf in moderate, cool temperatures. The downside? Trying to find your golf ball among the early falling leaves.

September also reminds us that we need to finish all those fair weather chores before winter creeps up on us. The mild weather lets us reassess what we hoped to accomplish and determine what we really need to get done.

For me, September is a new beginning and a chance to evaluate the writing projects I want to complete before the holidays come galloping into my life to distract me. I love September in Pennsylvania. 

Enjoy the fall.  And I’ll see you in October—right here on this blog!

                                                                                      ~~*~~    ~~*~~    ~~*~~

I have edited and released a second edition of “Up on the Roof and Other Stories” with a bonus short story included. It’s a collection of nineteen eclectic—humorous and serious—short stories exploring the lives and relationships of the young and old.  You will laugh, you will cry, but you will be able to relate to the dilemmas of the life. 

A grizzled old farmer, Pop, climbs up on his farmhouse roof to meditate, check his chimney and antenna, and ends up talking to God on his portable phone in “Up on the Roof.”

In “Bald Revelations,” Maureen is convinced her husband of twenty years is planning to leave her when he purchases ten new pairs of black socks and starts singing Beach Boy songs

LINK:  https://www.amazon.com/Up-Roof-Other-Stories-Revised-ebook/dp/B07364JF79/

Find Judy Ann Davis at:

Blog: http://judyanndavis.blogspot.com/

Website: http://www.judyanndavis.com/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Judy-Ann-Davis/e/B006GXN502/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudyAnnDavis4

A Day in the Life by Suzanne Rossi

Hi everyone!

I often get readers asking me about my writing routine--how often do you write, do you have a word count quota, do you plot or fly by the seat of your pants, morning or evening?

The answer is I need routine. I try to write a little every day. A wise person once said, "If you can't write a chapter, write a scene. If you can't write a scene, write a paragraph. If you can't write a paragraph, write a sentence. If you can't write a sentence, write a word. If you can't write a word, go shopping."

When I first began writing, I could knock out a chapter a day--4,000 to 5,000 words at a time. Of course, it wasn't until years later that I realized I wasn't very good at it. The more I learned about the craft, the more my writing improved. Whole chapters a day became a thing of the past. Now I'm happy with a scene. Word count is no longer relevant. My daily goal is to write something good and cohesive.

I used to plot my novels out in 3-5 chapter increments. Then along came a book that demanded I keep writing--that happens. I discovered I could be what we call a pantster--just writing and worry about what you're writing later. Plotting takes time, but generally requires less self-editing. Plowing ahead with words will get me done with the book faster, but the editing process may take as long as 3-4 months. It's a push. Now, I use a combination of the two.

I'm a morning person. Before my husband retired I was up at 5:30 AM and after my second cup of coffee (a must have--can't function without it) I could get down to work. Now that he's at home all day (which took a lot of adjustment on my part), my day begins around 7:30 or 8:00. My writing day generally starts about an hour later. I also need to be isolated while I work. An office area with no window views and no distractions like TV is good. If the words are flowing, I ignore lunch. If not, I eat and go back to my work later.

That's it--a day in my life. Kinda boring to some, but once a character or plot get a hold of me, I don't find it dull at all.

Before I let you go, I'll take a moment for some blatant self-promotion. I learned earlier this week my next book, RENDEZVOUS WITH DEATH, will be released in all formats on August 29, 2015.

When reporter Shelley Jackson discovers the body of her friend and informant in an alley, she teams up with the dead man's brother, architect Jason Mallory, to solve the crime. But two more murders, a couple of arsons, and whispers of unsafe building practices tell them the deaths are connected to the city corruption being investigated by Shelley's newspaper.

Their relationship heats up with nights of hot sex while their search for the truth has buildings crumbling around them. But the killer is watching from the shadows of respectability and planning for the couple's demise. Can they reveal the killer before they become tomorrow's headline?

Thanks for reading today. Hope to see you again next month.

Oh, and by the way, if I find I can't write a word, I do go shopping.

Suzanne