Sputtering to life

I've been blogging--here and there during the past several months--about my research for a special new story project set in England. Scattered elements have begun to fit together, like pieces of a puzzle, and I've started the first chapter.

It's always exciting to open a file, type "Chapter One," and dive into a book. My normal writing process is to record scenes and ideas as they come to me, whether or not they arrive in any sort of story sequence. Bits of dialogue drift into my imagination, and I take dictation. Emotions or moods arrive with a fuzzy image or action, and I try to make sense of it all on the page.

This time I have to complete the first several chapters before I can move on to the rest, but I'm still jotting notes for later and skipping around within the narrow page range. It's as though I can't force myself to write in a linear fashion, even if I have only a short distance to travel.

The other day I teased my husband a bit about his process for our house remodeling. He often starts more than one project at a time and skips from one room to the other. And, like me, he forges ahead and gets most of the job done once the end is in sight. We're a better match than I'd realized.

Are you a methodical worker or a sputterer? Do you complete your projects in a linear fashion or indulge in unexpected detours?

Bunny day

Every year I'm puzzled by the odd mix of traditions that make up Easter celebrations. Bunnies and lambs, painted eggs and pastel dresses, brunches and hunts and hats. I don't care how or why these things mix and match--I enjoy them all.

Has spring arrived where you are, or are you still dealing with winter? My trees are budding and beginning to leaf, but there's still a wintry snap to the wind at times. I know it's time to put away my comfy corduroy shirts and unpack my sandals, but I'm not sure if I can count on the weather to cooperate with the wardrobe transition.

What are your family's Easter traditions? How do you mark the passage from winter to spring? Are you itching to do some spring cleaning, or have you already cleared your closets?

Sláinte

Happy St. Patrick's Day from someone who celebrates every bit of her Irish heritage on this day each year and conveniently ignores the other parts. I don't remember my great-grandmother, Sarah Bridget Terry, who came from County Clare, but I share her family's name.

The McLaughlins have closer ties to County Antrim, in the north. Several years ago my husband and I visited and shared a meal with his cousins. We stayed at the Bushmills Inn, in the town near his grandfather's family farm, and toured the famous whiskey distillery there. We drove along the north coast, from Portstewart to Ballycastle, stopping to explore the Giant's Causeway and and to sip our afternoon tea near the harbor at Ballintoy.

My favorite memories of our time in Ireland are of shopping for antiques in Moy, a tiny town north of Armagh, and viewing the Book of Kells at Trinity College in Dublin. I hope to return for another visit--and a chance to add some more memories--very soon.

Low-tech pleasures

A couple of days ago I bought a fun pattern to use for making a jacket for the Romance Writers of America's annual national conference in July. Every year I think I should make something special to wear to the conference's gala awards event; this year I'm really going to do it.

One of the best things my mother did for me was to arrange for sewing lessons when I was in junior high. My grandmother had taught me to embroider when I was six years old, so I was already comfortable with a needle and thread. Now I discovered the pleasure of choosing patterns and fabrics, of planning and piecing and stitching the details of a one-of-a-kind outfit.

Unlike my craving for the latest in computer gadgets, I like my sewing machine fairly low-tech. I shopped for a model that handles just the basics: forward, backward, zigzag. No automated buttonhole feature, no decorative stitches, nothing too complicated or electronic. The stand is small and portable; my sewing kit is compact and no-frills.

I find sewing incredibly relaxing, and I'm looking forward to the upcoming project. I'll listen to music and let my thoughts wander while my fingers smooth the pieces and the needle slips through the fabric. I wonder if snatches of dialogue or insights into my characters will tease along the edges of my imagination or slide into place along with the seams. Maybe I'll end up with a new jacket and a new story idea.

What hobbies do you find particularly relaxing? What projects inspire your daydreams?

Tech envy

A few weeks ago I took my laptop to the local Mac shop to have a new operating system and more memory installed. I was thrilled with all the cool updates...until I saw a television commercial that evening for a new laptop: a very thin, very chic laptop pulled from an envelope. Suddenly the computer on my table looked old and clunky, and the fun icons on its desktop didn't seem quite so up-to-date.

I'd contracted another case of computer envy.

This craving for computer-related gadgets is crazy. I don't know enough to understand the power and speed behind computerese acronyms, but I do know enough to be dangerous: where to shop. I drool over the sleekest frames and the widest screens. I dream of pricy software and fancy fonts.

My laptop travels in style in its own backpack, briefcase, or faux-croc tote, depending on the occasion. An external speaker pumps up the volume on its iTunes collection, and an electrical converter keeps it humming overseas. It's got its own travel kit with cleansers, backup batteries, and extra wires. I'm currently shopping for a briefcase on wheels for those long treks through the airline terminal. How do I love my laptop? Let me count the accessories.

Do you have a craving for tech goodies? Are you a cell phone fan or an iPod carrier? Do you navigate with a screen on your dashboard? Do you use technology in your work or save it for play?

Off riding with the posse

I'm talking about my love-hate relationship with plotting at the Wet Noodle Posse site today. Please stop by for a visit.

Ignoring plotting while I write my books is a bit like performing a high-wire act without a net, but I haven't gone splat yet. For years I thought I'd developed some nasty habits, and I tried to get rid of them. Lately I've decided my plotless writing habits aren't so nasty after all, and I've chosen to embrace them. There are probably better ways to write a book, but I'm stuck with the method that works for me.

Are you stuck with a habit you've learned to accept?

Culture in the kitchen

One of the things that made last weekend's trip to Texas so enjoyable was the opportunity to sample some regional recipes. Yummm!

At one lunch, author Lorraine Heath was kind enough to let me taste her chicken-fried steak. I know this may come as a shock to some of you, but I've never tried this dish. I loved it! And I was assured by the other diners that this particular sample was a good one: crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, seasoned just right and covered with a creamy gravy. I can hardly wait to test some other samples to see if I can find a local chicken-fried steak that approaches Texan quality.

The following evening, I enjoyed a cup of crawfish bisque soup. The bisque might not be typically Texan, but the soup was my first taste of crawfish. Delicious!

Because I couldn't think of an example of a well-known regional dish associated with my part of the United States, I asked some of the Houston residents what they considered to be "California" cooking. Instead of a dish, I got an ingredient: alfalfa sprouts. That made me smile.

What are your favorite regional dishes? What are some of the regional specialties in your part of the world? Do you think of something other than alfalfa sprouts when you think of California cooking?

How do I love thee in ten words or less?

Tony Catanzaro, the handsome guy on the cover of A Perfect Stranger, is a nominee for Redbook magazine's "Hottest Husband" of 2008. His wife, Tina--who could win an award as the sweetest and most supportive of spouses--wrote a wonderful tribute. Take a moment to give Tony your vote--I'm sure Tina would appreciate it!

Here's a video clip of an interview featuring Tony and Tina. Look closely, and you may see the cover of A Perfect Stranger hanging on a wall.

I marvel at Tina's ability to capture and communicate her admiration for her husband in such a short message. I may be able to spin fictional love stories, but if I had to summarize and jot down my feelings for my husband, I'm not sure I could find the right words. Where would I start? With his wicked sense of humor that always makes me laugh? The way he wanders into the room where I'm working to give me a kiss "just because"? The fact that after thirty years together, we never run out of things to discuss?

What would you say about the special person in your life if you were limited to a handful of words?

A Spanish stranger

Look what I found today: a new cover for one of my books. A Perfect Stranger has been translated into Spanish as Un extraño and is being offered for sale overseas.

I'm wondering how my words and story sound in another language and whether Nick and Syndey will appeal to foreign audiences. Perhaps I'll receive a copy of this edition to add to my bookshelf.

Have you ever browsed through a bookstore in another country?