It feels like a thousand years since I last posted on this blog and not just because of how long it’s been (since last August). It’s a whole new world. I hope you’re all safe and well, and staying home as much as possible.

The big news from here is that my composter arrived last week and I cannot tell you how excited I am about it. I’ve gotten very obsessive about growing tomatoes. I also adopted a little sister for Nelson – Nina.  (Nina, Nelson and the tomatoes are pictured above.)

I’m about to launch into marketing for my new book, The Language of Loss, to be published in November by New World Library. Those of you who have read this blog before know all about my Marketing Whore hat that I’m about to put on. 

I’ve learned to teach on Zoom – and will be doing a Master Class on Memoir and Personal Essay through the Writers’ Program at UCLA Extension in the fall. The Lake Arrowhead Retreats are on hold indefinitely and also my monthly Lit Salons and  Vroman’s workshops. (FYI: I’ll be interviewing Deborah A. Lott about her new memoir, Don’t Go Crazy Without Me in a virtual interview at Vroman’s on July 17th at 6:00 – Come join us via Crowdcast – Register on Vroman’s website.)

How is your writing going? Are you stir crazy or liking this excuse to hunker down at home? Are you reading more now?  A lot of people have lost concentration for reading – my book club for instance. We’ve given up on books – we just Zoom once a month, catch up on each others lives and drink wine.