Just…the Beach
Last week, I got to spend some quality time with my oldest daughter, a recent college graduate, when we fled the cold of Ohio for a few days and went to Southwest Florida.
Sunny, warm day, Beach, Southwest Florida. No snow in sight!!!
I must admit, I have this thing for the ocean. Ever since I first set eyes on it at age twelve, I’ve been in love. My daughter feels the same way.
And after the winter we’ve had, holy snowstorm, I felt like I died and went to heaven, standing there in the bright sunshine and not being cold. (See Julie Andrews shot below. Fortunately, I deleted the one of me kissing the ground.)
Here’s what we accomplished on our little trip together:
–We learned the most efficient way to lug large beach umbrellas and lounge chairs every day to a perfect spot on the beach–and back. And plant them in the sand. Without tools. It was worth it, because this enabled us to spend several great afternoons gazing out at the water between reading our books. (Although I was mostly under the umbrella and she was mostly not under it.)
Volcanic Eruption Hibiscus, a flashy chick indeed.
–We counted how many Kindles we saw on the beach every day, mourning that we couldn’t see what bestsellers everyone was reading like you can with a book that has a cover.
–We decided that of all the varieties of hibiscus planted where we were staying, we liked the wildly exotic Volcanic Eruption the best.
–We watched Maid of Honor, one of our favorite flicks. Especially the part where the Scottish guy’s grandmother suggests they name their first son the ancestral Scottish name Athol.
–My daughter took me to my first ever spinning class. For some weird reason, the body part that hurt the most afterward was the front of my ankles. (The rest of my body just went numb.)
The hills are not alive, but I am very grateful.
–We didn’t do much. Ate, biked, walked, sat on the beach, watched some movies. In between her work and mine. And searched for seashells like we did when she was four. And reminisced about past beach vacations when she and her siblings were much smaller. It was a rare, wonderful time with a child who has somehow grown into a adult, and a terrific one at that. With that said, the great weather was just a bonus.
Cover Reveal!
Just wanted to give you the first peek at Olivia and Brad, the couple on the cover for my May 1st release from Montlake. My editor said the idea was to convey a sense of lightheartedness and joy.
Well, I do believe they did it! I love it! The art department at Montlake rocks! This cover really warms me right down to my Ohio-frozen toes. And that’s Mirror Lake in the background…can’t wait to share the details with you soon!
Archie the Snowman, An Extraordinary Story
Once upon a time there was a beloved 24-foot snowman named Archie who greeted children at a local mall from the late 1960’s until 2003. They would walk up to the snowman, speak into a microphone, and he would talk to them about Christmas. His eyes would light up and his voice would project from a secret booth with a one-way mirror.
But alas, as in any great story, tragedy struck. The mall got sold to different owner and the snowman deteriorated and someone threw him away. Ouch.
But in 2011, two wonderful men began a Facebook page to Save Archie. They got thousands of hits on Facebook, people with fond memories remembering the impact that Archie had on them when they were kids.
The community rallied, and Archie was resurrected with lots of love. He was rebuilt, better and stronger than before, but a little less taller (he stands at 15 feet now, and his girth is a bit wider, for true snowman appeal–and middle age, maybe?)
I visited Archie with my 20 year old daughter the other day. We made a special trip, in fact. We listened to him talk to a 4 year old about the truck he wanted and heard Archie tell him to be good. Then my beautiful daughter walks up with her Starbucks in hand and Archie says, “Well, hellloooo there! And what do you want for Christmas?” (It was a different tone than what he used for the 4 year old, that’s for sure 🙂 He had us both laughing. We took pictures and relived fond memories. It was joyous!
It was so great to see Archie back in his rightful place. Of the two men who began the campaign for Archie, one has since died. He was a younger man, in his mid-thirties. I can’t tell from Google what he died from. This saddens me greatly. But it also makes me awestruck. Imagine the change that came from their effort that started so simply and grew into something extraordinary. The impact from what those men started was profound. By spearheading the effort to bring this community institution back, they spread love and joy.
I wish you all a joyous holiday with your families. Reliving fond memories and creating new ones. Getting over the stress and seeing the holiday for what it really is–an opportunity to spend time with those we love.
Sheridan Jeane’s New Historical Romance
My friend Sheridan Jeane has a new historical romance release out today! Check out the lovely Lady Catherine on that cover…she looks like she’s hiding something…
Synopsis: London, 1853. Despite Lady Catherine’s love of fencing, she needs to stop pretending to be a boy and fraternizing with men…but not until after the fencing tournament! Her mother plans to marry her off by the end of the season, so this will be her last chance to enjoy her freedom. When she impulsively puts her reputation at risk to save the life of a dashing competitor, all seems lost when he sees through her disguise, but he vows never to reveal her secret. Thank goodness for gentlemanly honor!
Daniel, Marquess of Huntley, wants to overcome the rumors of his father’s madness so that he can be embraced by London society. His plan is to marry the most proper woman who will have him, and then raise stable, respectable children. He certainly isn’t interested in some hoyden with a penchant for masquerading as a boy and flaunting society’s rules. In fact, he’d prefer to keep his distance.
When an obsessed suitor discovers Catherine’s secret and threatens blackmail, the only path out of social ruin is marriage. But what kind of protection does matrimony provide when a vengeful suitor is plotting the ultimate revenge?
Order Lady Catherine’s Secret from Amazon here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sheridan Jeane writes exciting and emotion-packed historical romances set in the Victorian Era that confront issues of trust and conformity.
With the advent of the industrial age, life was changing. Many people tried to hold on to the old ways of life while others embraced the new opportunities open to them.
Join Sheridan as she explores the clash between the old and the new.
Sheridan has always loved books, history, and stories about amazing people who blaze new trails.
Despite naming their daughter Sheridan because they thought it might someday look great on the cover of a book, Sheridan’s parents urged her in a more practical direction for college. Sheridan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with a minor in English.
Follow Sheridan Jeane.
Website: http://sheridan-jeane.strikingly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheridanJeane
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SheridanJeane
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/photo/author/8120594.Sheridan_Jeane
My May, 2015, Small Town Romance from Montlake Has a Title!
My lighthearted contemporary small town romance has a title–THIS THING CALLED LOVE. Coming in May, 2015, from Montlake Romance. Yay!
