Welcome to another bit of rambling with me. Doesn’t this photo below look like a great place to meander? Although it does look a bit spooky. 🙂
Whew! What a whirlwind of a week! I have had lots of challenges to maneuver through over the past seven days.
The biggest one, of course, was my mess-up on the publishing of Painting Christmas. Another lesson learned. I’ve never been that close to the wire before and didn’t realize the cutoff date KDP had for uploading the manuscript.
But all’s well that ends well and the book is now up and available on Amazon and KU! I truly hope everyone enjoys this holiday story.
I am pleased that the Fresh Fiction site is featuring Painting Christmas also! We often say marketing our books is the hardest part of what we do and I wholeheartedly agree. So, when some free advertisement comes along, I do a happy dance!
Remember the lady in the UK battling cancer that Ruby Sloane facilitated several authors joining together to create a mini-book festival for her? I received a lovely email from Hannah thanking me for my video and for sending her A Beggar’s Bargain. I am honored for the opportunity to brighten someone’s day. We lift ourselves by lifting others.
I had a lot of kiddo activities this week. My youngest grandson, Connor had a band concert and he played a solo. The band director told us it was a piece he’d learned in college but Connor nailed it! He takes it all very seriously.
Sydney is finally off crutches!!! Hallelujah! And she played four different roles in the High School Musical Shrek. I got to attend two of the shows and I am SO impressed with these kids. They work so hard.
I only had to deal with one disaster this past week. Yay me!! On the way home from Shrek The Musical on Friday night, I had a flat. Ugh! I was not in an area that felt safe to pull over, so I drove to a lighted gas station before I stopped. As a result, I ruined the tire. Turns out it had a long metal staple in it and could have been repaired if I’d not continued to drive. Roadside assistance AND my daughter came to the rescue.
I had been told that with a 4-wheel drive vehicle if you replaced one tire, you had to replace them all. Turns out that is true, but only if the tread doesn’t match. Luckily, my tires are all still relatively new, so I only had to buy one. Still, I had a moment of sticker shock. It’s been a while since I had to purchase a tire.
However inconvenient it was, I am very grateful this happened in town where I could get help, and not out on the highway away from home. That being said, I am leaving on Wednesday to go to Missouri for a short book tour. It’s been two years since I went and I’m looking forward to seeing all the friends I’ve made up there.
So, I will be mostly off line and out of pocket until I return home on Sunday. I don’t know if there will be a Monday Meanderings on the 19th, but I may manage a short one. I will be at Teri Polen’s BMR on the 19th. Have you been enjoying all the posts over there? I’ve met some new authors, and discovered things I didn’t know about others. I love her yearly event, and don’t know how she pulls it off, but she does!
Oh my goodness, I LOVE this quote. It certainly applies to us overthinkers. At some point, we have to take action.
Remember the Dragon Oracle Cards? It’s been a long time since I pulled from them, but this one has a great message. Right now earthly matters are disturbing and chaotic, so if we can rise above them, all the better!
Before I close out this post, I want to share with you what Sally Cronin’s husband, David, relayed in a post yesterday. Sally is currently hospitalized and is fighting stage 4 cancer. Sally is such a wonderful person and so supportive of all us authors. I hate that she is faced with this battle. Please add Sally and David to your thoughts and prayers. Here’s the link to David’s post: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2026/10/11/sunday-round-up-update/
I’ll check in when I can during my travels.
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Except for the flat tire it seems like you had a good week. Congratulations on the publication of Painting Christmas and for Sydney’s recovery and Connor’s solo. It was a shock to read about Sally’s condition and you are certainly right, Sally is a wonderful person and so supportive of all authors.
Hi Jan, the news about Sally is devastating. It’s good to read about things going right with Sidney off crutches and in a play and Connor doing so well with his music. Sorry about the tyre but it’s best not to take personal risks. Hugs 🤗
That concert and musical looked wonderful! I’m praying hard for our poor Sally.
Hi Jan; such a mixed week! Excellent that Sydney’s off crutches at last, and that Conor has such an aptitude for music, but lousy luck with the tyre. I also received the unwelcome news about Sally from David; life just isn’t fair. My thoughts are with them both. Hoping things improve for them. Thanks for your news, may the next week have only good tidings all around.
I was so saddened to hear of Sally’s cancer. Not Sally!
I know, Liz. I feel the same way
What a whirlwind of a week. Wonderful for your granddaughter, horrible news about Sally.
It seems most of my weeks are whirlwinds, but it’s the life I have created. I agree about Sally. Thank you for visiting.
It’s wonderful your grandkids are so talented, Jan! It’s too bad you had to replace the tire. I hope your book tour goes well. 😍🙏
Thanks, Tim. I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment!
My pleasure, Jan. 😍
Great report, Jan. Best wishes on the tour. Nice to see your grandkids doing so well.
Thank you, John. Happy you stopped by!
I just picked up Painting Christmas. I look forward to reading it. Glad your flat was fixed. Safe travels!
Yay!! I sincerely hope you enjoyed it, Priscilla.
Hurrah for your recent book successes! And hurrah for grandchildren who play instruments and perform in musicals! And hurrah for schools which offer these opportunities! The opposite of hurrah, however, for the news from David about Sally. She was one of the first people who made me feel welcome as a WordPress blogger. I shall pray for her! Deep breath in. Deep breath out.
Well said, Will. Sally is such a wonderful person and means so much to this blogging community. Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment. Glad you enjoyed the post!
Quite a week for you, Jan. Yes, the price of tires is crazy these days. Thank goodness you only had to replace one. I always enjoy your grandchildren pictures.
I was so sorry to read the news about Sally from David. She is a wonderful and supportive friend.
Thank you so much for visiting and leaving a comment today, Pete. I truly appreciate it. I know Sally and David appreciate any good thoughts!
I started your book last night. It was hard to put down but I had to sleep! Love the grand pics and sorry about the tire. I lost a couple trannies way back before they started recommending replacing all four tires. I used to do two at a time. Yay for being able to do one. Love the dragon card! I am praying for Sally and David. Xo
I am so happy you are enjoying Painting Christmas, Denise!! Truly, I appreciate it. Yes, I am learning about four wheel drive vehicles. Glad you enjoyed the post today and I know Sally and David appreciate all prayers! Have a great week!
A busy week. Safe travels!
Thank you, John! I appreciate you stopping by! Hope all is well.
I stress over meeting the pre-order deadlines on Kindle–that I’ll miss them. Now, thanks to you, I see it’s not so bad. And HS productions–I love them. There is so much passion and commitment in them. Kudos to your grand.
I learned from this pre-order debacle. A lesson I won’t soon forget. It can be remedied, but it caused a bit of panic. Thank you for stopping by and I agree about these kiddos and their passion for what they do. It’s inspiring.
I’m glad everything worked out with Amazon and, especially your grandkids. Enjoy the trip (travel safe) and have a good week.
Thanks so much, Dan!
Hi, Jan! 🙋
That’s really so wonderful! Seeing those kids play made me smile. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I’m so sorry to hear about Sally having to fight stage 4 cancer. Sending my heartfelt prayers to Sally and David 🙏
My weekend was so wonderful and joyful; I started participating in new challenges, as well as writing to my blog for fun. ☺️
Have a lovely new week ahead! ☺️
Thank you so much, Aptivi! I appreciate the kind words. I love that your weekend was joyful!! We need days like that. Have fun with the new challenges! I’ll head over to check it out.
You’re most welcome, Jan! Of course, we need such joyful days like that! 👍
Thank you so much! Of course, I’ll have fun! ☺️