I’m tempted to ask how your summer is going. Here in the Midwest an unexpected heatwave has gripped us in July temperatures as Autumn began. I love summer, don’t get me wrong. But I’m ready for my turtlenecks and leggings and constant hot coffee.

I’ll restrain myself.

Instead, I’m delighted to share the link to an anthology available for free. Autumn Equinox features short stories (or in my case a novella) from several of the Kindle Press authors. This is the latest, and last, installment in a year-long series of anthologies, all available for free. Check it out here and download your copy today.

I’ve contributed a follow-up story to the couple featured in my Kindle Scout winning selection, Tiny Island Summer. If you’ve read my True North series, you know that I’ve sprinkled in updates about my featured characters in each story. I wrapped up everyone’s story (at least in my mind) except for Ben and Darcy.

Another Bay concludes the series by refocusing on a pair that suffers from miscommunication and misunderstanding. Can they listen to what the other isn’t saying and find their way back together? Or will Darcy be moving on from Madeline Island for good?

 

Disclosure: Affiliate links used. I receive a commission, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase.

When I started my first job, I was stressed out. Unbelievably, undeniably, every un you can think of stressed. I was living on my own in a new city, I had bills to pay, and I worked a job that I loved that was very demanding. Long hours during the workweek combined with a lot of weekend time took a toll on me.

I met my now-husband three weeks into the job. I think if we hadn’t met then, we probably wouldn’t have met for years because I didn’t have the time to go out and find a social life. He introduced me to his friends (some of whom I stole to become my friends), he showed me around the city, and he made me prioritize what I wanted out of my life at a time when I REALLY needed to learn that perspective.

Enter adult tap dancing…

I first took tap as a five year old and then on a whim in college signed up again. I love tap dancing. It plays into my love of old movie musicals and that for a long time growing up I thought entering show biz was as easy as it looked in Holiday Inn.

I signed up for lessons through the park district and for two years, I’d leave work early once a week to shuffle off to Buffalo. And we had yearly recitals. Like on stage, in front of an audience (of mostly the parents of the children in the other classes), with costumes and music. And it was fabulous (and my friends came).

Besides spending time with the people I care about, that time to spend doing something I really love is restorative to me. I took a break from tap when I started my life as a stay at home mom and then picked it back up. I’m on a break again at the moment, but know, love, and value that anytime I need to, I can resume. Hobbies are important. Time to unwind and let yourself go into something you love is important.

So if you get a chance to perform in a dance recital, I hope you do!

PS Did you know the heroine of my sweet romance, Tidal Patterns (Golden Shores 1), is a tap dancer? Check out her story here.

Wow…that went fast!

My kids are back in school and our lazy days are winding down. Even though summer has technically ended for them, it hasn’t for me. I hold on tightly to the last few moments before labor day. I don’t think my mind will ever adjust to summer being over in mid-August with the new backpacks and school year.

So…in this lull before sports and homework really kick in and starts our busy school-year schedule, I have a few things left to check off my summer list.

4. Running through the sprinkler

Fresh-cut grass is one of my favorite smells. Growing up, summer was spending most of the day in a bathing suit either at the pool or running through the sprinkler in our backyard. My kids were a little iffy on the whole idea at first. Didn’t stop me from showing them how it’s done and now they are on board.

3. Grilling as much as possible

I love our system for grilling. I’ll marinate meat in the morning, prep the sides in the afternoon, and then have everything ready for the hubs to cook for dinner while I do the dishes. By the time we eat, my kitchen is clean. Hard not to love grilling. I will confess, I love to bake and cook heavy foods like pastas and casseroles. I am looking forward to all my hearty, cold weather favorites. But I always miss the grill (and Johnsonville brats, yum).

2. Bike rides

I’ve really stepped up my bike riding game this summer. I bought a lock and am in an easy enough distance to bike to the pool, the gym, the library, the Starbucks, and most of my friends’ houses. It’s been my go-to transportation and I love it. Especially fun to bike with my oldest and head to the playgrounds together.

1. Spending every second outdoors

I live in the Midwest. We get winter. Winter is very real and very long. I have come to appreciate every season (because honestly, what’s the alternative). But I’ve also come to realize that I need to soak up all the outside time I can (even in winter, when possible).

Not wearing a coat to walk the dog, eating every meal I can outside, lying on a blanket in the sun while I read, these are the things I miss the most.