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Author: Mary

Distancing

Published by Mary on April 19, 2020

Trees and azalea by my house I’m starting week six of my personal pandemic lockdown. For my day job, I’ve been working from home since early March, and I went into full social distancing mode mid-March.

I feel lucky I live in Washington, where the COVID-19 response has been relatively sane. And, honestly, for me as a writer, social distancing hasn’t been as hard as for some of my friends.

I’m an ambivert and thrive on getting a large chunk of time alone. I have to be self-disciplined, or I’d never get any writing done, so after a few days I’m not the person who stays in bed all day. (I’m also lucky my neurochemistry supports me here.) In normal times, the need to write means I have to sit on my social butterfly tendencies. Now, in this new, weird, loose time, it’s easier. Also my editor slipped one of my deadlines. A lot has been slipping lately. That feels good in some ways (I tend to be stressed; it’s good if I can relax and slow down) and bad in others.

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Once upon a time

Published by Mary on February 23, 2020
Dawn light on my drive

This morning, early, roughly at the new moon, I finished a draft of book three. The working title is The Horned God, but that’s only a working title. (There’s a lot of other Horned Gods out there.)

I’m exhausted and proud. I think I’m going to take a bath and let the sense of fulfillment sink in.

Finding the right wings

Published by Mary on October 12, 2019
Fluffy cat lying on costume fairy wings

Potato, who as we see is practicing to trick-or-treat as Queen of the Fey, is looking through my costume supplies to see which fairy wings suit her best. Although she’s not above gnawing on the wings either.

As for me, I did my reading (of The Deer Stalker, in Seattle), and attracted a small crowd, and people bought books, and that was good!

Now I’m trying to figure out the next book. I’m sort of ruminating on or rolling around in research about ancient Sumer (again)—sort of like Potato and her wings.

Out of season

Published by Mary on August 28, 2019
Apple blossom on a tree in late summer

Today on my apple tree I noticed a blossom, completely out of season—apple trees bloom in May. The tree’s trying to make up for bears eating all the apples early.

It seems like we have a lot of bears this year. The bears themselves are out of their usual place, perhaps, pushed by a couple of fire seasons destroying habitat east of me. (I’m crossing my fingers that there’ll be no fires this year.)

The world is off-balance now, to say the least. I’m coming into writing book three, which will have a future thread in it. In some ways, it’s been the easiest book yet to start—I have some settings and characters established. In others, it’s been the hardest, because I’m facing the future. Our future, our human future, and the future of the planet.

Not everyone feels this way, but I still have hope.

For Seattle-area folks, a reminder: There’s a Deer Stalker book-signing party September 14. Check my Facebook page for details!

Endings and beginnings

Published by Mary on August 11, 2019

This overcast August day, it feels like early fall. I’ve been taking a break in my backyard. Behind the toolshed, it looks very Northwest, with Doug fir and here a baby cedar.

I’ve been relatively quiet lately. It’s been a hard time, a time of reorganization, separating things out as my ex-partner moves on. We’re still friendly, even in a way still partners. He’s still my emergency contact. And yet, as lovers we’re done.

Continue readingEndings and beginnings