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We keep referring to last year as the “lost” year, because a lot of things slid by. I didn’t take care of the yard or my plants last year. This means that most of the flowers out in front of TH2, as well as most of the herbs, died.
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So I’m rectifying that. As it is continuing to be nice out, I’ve been doing yard work. Not killing myself at it, just an hour or so a day. Yesterday, I moved the two tea plants from where they were into buckets. I’ve put them in a place where I think they’ll be happy. I’m keeping them in buckets, though, until I make sure that the next place they’re planted actually makes them happy.
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Today, I’ll get out the trimmer and hack away at the weeds in a couple of spots, clear the blackberry bramble out from around the roses, etc.
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This weekend my husband and I went to a little local plant sale, down in Enumclaw. I’ve been looking for something to put into one of the full sun locations that we have here. Found myself a horse chestnut. I was planning on putting it into a pot just for a couple weeks. However, whoever had been growing it had rudely transplanted it into the pot that they sold it in. It looked as though it had just been yanked out of the ground, and it had just the main root, no root system.
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So I’m keeping it in a pot for the summer, possibly until next year. We’ll see how it grows. It’s the one on the right. The bee balm, on the left, is currently taller than the chestnut.
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This is a picture of all the plants currently residing on my porch. Some are permanent residents, but most will be planted eventually.
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From left to right: bee balm, horse chestnut, lilac, azalea, two elderberry trees.
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Also, cherries! I have no idea if they’ll continue to ripen, if we’ll actually get any fruit. For now, though, it looks like it might be a banner year.
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The book is high fantasy mystery, a Nero Wolf pastiche. I found the book incredibly satisfying. It was rich and deep. The weirdness of the world wasn’t there for the sake of being weird. Every detail felt as though it had a purpose and moved the narrative (and the mystery) along.
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It was immersive in the way that really good fantasy and mystery are. Not a thriller or what I would call a fast read. However, it really held my attention.
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Could I write a book like this? Not only no, but hell no. While I loved reading it, it isn’t the sort of thing that I write. And it makes no sense for me to try to change who I am as a writer.
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On the other hand, writer brain keeps poking at this idea. I chatted about it with my husband a little, and finally realized that I’ve never done a high fantasy mystery before.
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Don’t know what I’ll write about. Not sure when I’ll write it. But I have the idea now, and at some point, I’ll (probably) try my hand at it.
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Why the hesitation? I used to say that I didn’t like other genres mixed in with my mystery. I had some real issues with some well-known (and well-liked) SF mysteries. (Finally realized that it was a me problem, and that I just wasn’t this writer’s reader.)
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So I figure eventually some idea will occur to me, and I’ll start writing a high fantasy mystery.
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In the meanwhile, I have so many (SO MANY) other books to write and series to finish.
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Hope that you’re looking forward to a marvelous week.
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Generally Available Next Week!
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Chocolates and Truffles and Bon Bons, O My!
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Shar Opalbender hates her life.
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Okay, maybe that’s a bit strong. Emo, even.
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Despite her Dwarven heritage, and her family’s expectations, Shar finds no joy in faceting, setting, or polishing gemstones.
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What better way to prove herself to her family (and herself) than to enter, and win, the Realms’ renowned contest, Chocolates Galore!
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And maybe, just maybe, with some magic, luck, and a little help from her friends, Shar also can discover the true meaning of life.
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If there is one beyond chocolate.
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Come enjoy this lovely cozy fantasy with low stakes, delicious chocolates, lots of breaking of the fourth wall, and utter silliness.
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But if you pick it up at the KRP store, you'll get your copy right away.
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On Sale This Month at KRP!
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For this month, the Star Tribes box set is one sale! Get all five books, the complete series, for one low price!
Daniel has had enough as a chef. The burnout convinces him to sell the restaurant to his Sous Chef, walk out the door, and never come back.
Kathra Omezi’s star tribe faces poverty on a daily basis. Twenty-five ships in deep space against the entire Sept Empire.
And then a conqueror steps into their lives.
The Mbaysey tribe, and the galaxy, will never be the same.
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Coming in June!
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A cozy fantasy tale about ice, fire, love, and snow cones!
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When El the Ice Elf asks Mara the fire elemental to marry her, she expects an immediate YES!
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However, a distinct maybe hangs between them.
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Not due to a lack of love, but a lack of tradition.
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The Elves have oodles of ceremonies to choose from.
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As a fire elemental, Mara is singular. She doesn’t know any other fire elementals. She has no true kin. She does want to get married…but the ceremony has to have meaning for both of them.
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El vows to go with Mara to the ends of the world to find rites for Mara to call her own.
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Follow this unlikely couple as they defined themselves, their rituals, and their love in the cozy fantasy sequel to The Ice Elf & The Snow Cone.
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