For absolutely no reason I’m conscious of, I thought of a bit of family lore today.

It was an open secret in my family that my father, a despicable man on many levels, had affairs for a good part of his marriage to my mom. Apparently, one woman was around for longer than my mother could tolerate.

According to legend, my mother followed my father to this person’s house one night. She watched him go in and stayed long enough to see the porch light and house lights go off.

Her anger grew, fueled by humiliation. She revved the engine and banged the car into drive. She’d taken his shit long enough. She was going to smash his car to smithereens.

As the story goes, she didn’t know how long she sat poised to ram his Buick with her station wagon. But at some point, she took a breath and drove home.

That’s not fury. It’s restraint.

Of course, that was probably the night she threw a hot macaroni and cheese casserole at him as he came through the door.

I am positively shocked to report that I’ve secured tickets to a BTS comeback concert in August!. Woohoo!

It was a true supply/demand fight. The online queue for tickets was excruciating. It was, however, worth it. I’ve been ARMY (hardcore BTS fan) for years now. I’ve seen them perform concerts live on TV and live in movie theaters, but so far, not live in person.

As an avid concert goer, I can tell you that seeing an artist in person is a totally different vibe. Sharing space in the universe. Breathing the same air. There’s nothing like it.

Unfortunately, it won’t be all pleasure. I’m a bit older than their typical demographic. So parking is an issue. I may need an elevator to climb to my first tier seats. I’l have to wear my K-95 mask. I’m not standing in line. Not. Standing. In.Line.

And I’ll be carrying pain meds. But hey, no pain, no Jimin.

I have until August to buy high-powered binoculars and comfortable shoes, build my stamina, and pick out what I’m going to wear.

I better get started.

In case you haven’t heard, the Northeast of the country had a major snowstorm. Meteorologists were quick to say it wasn’t a blizzard. Whatever you call that storm, we were pummeled with 12-18 inches of snow. No matter how soft and fluffy the weather channels say it was, it was still a foot and a half of disguised water that turns into ice. Digging out was not fun. I’m built to write, not shovel.

Of course, the pillowy precipitation wasn’t all bad. My campus was closed yesterday to give the facilities staff and the city plow drivers time to clear the roads, walkways, and parking lots. You know what that meant, right?

A free day! Woohoo! Sadly, fear of injury kept me from trying to sled down the hill in my backyard. And frigid below-zero temperatures made it unwise to make snow angels. Instead, I read, watched Columbo reruns, made a pot of chicken soup, and played with my dogs.

It was a glorious “not-a-blizzard”. The forecast, however, reports we should see one of those this weekend. Will the fun never end?

Tonight (maybe all night), I’m watching Percy and the Olympians, the series. I know I’m not the target audience, but I’m captivated. The characters are so complex. They have backstories that clearly color their personalities, emotions, perceptions, thought processes, and consequently, their decisions.

Have you seen The Brothers Sun on Netflix? It’s another good example. It’s about two brothers who are charged with protecting their family from organized crime. One of the conflicts in the book is that one brother was raised in the family’s criminal enterprise, and the other was raised with NO IDEA about the family business. Although it’s a comedy, the main characters are well-rounded and nuanced in terms of how they see the world and the choices they make.

This is why I write character-driven fiction. Action? Yes. Romance? Yes. Supernatural elements? Yes. But the characters and their journeys of growth, success, and/or redemption are the heart and soul of every story I write.

What pulls you into a story?

My partner and I love Christmas movies. Most years, we start watching them the day after Thanksgiving and continue each day until December 25th. The first one we watch is usually Christmas Vacation. The last one is usually A Christmas Story. And in between, well, anything goes: Christmas comedy. Christmas horror. Christmas romance. Christmas classic. Christmas heartfelt.

This year, I’ve been paying more than the usual attention to what I enjoy the most. With the exception of Love Hard (I adore Jimmy Cho) and maybe Trading Christmas (Faith Ford won my heart), I’m not a huge fan of Christmas romance or rom-coms. I might be tired of the tropes. Or maybe nothing about them matches my experience, observations, or fantasies.

Christmas horror is an interesting genre. Most of them are campy and funny. Some are truly frightening. I could do without gore, but I like them. My favorites are Violent Night, Krampus, and A Christmas Horror Story (featuring Bill Shatner!).

I may have too many favorite comedies to list. A Christmas Vacation is a must watch every year. It’s on its way to being a classic. Office Christmas Party with Jason Bateman is hilarious. (I just watched that yesterday!) Bad Santa with my soon-to-be exhusband Billy Bob Thornton. The Santa Clause series.

I have finally figured out that my favorite Christmas genre is ‘heartfelt”. Christmas Chronicles 1 and 2 with sexy santa Kurt Russell. Red One with the Rock and J.K.Simmons. It’s a Wonderful Life with the inimitable Jimmy Stewart. A Bishop’s Wife with Cary Grant. The Holdovers with Paul Giamatti. These are the movies that make my heart sing and my soul long for something I have yet to identify.

Although, I can’t forget Die Hard. It’s in a category all by itself. Rock on, Bruce Willis.

You might think that lemon is not a flavor of the holidays, but you wouldn’t dare say it to my mom. She loved the flavor of lemons and she loved these cookies. She called them snowballs. I’m happy to share the recipe with you.

Ingredients

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened 

• 1⁄4cup  butter, softened 

• 1 package lemon cake mix

• 1⁄4teaspoon  vanilla

• 1 egg

Pre-heat oven to 375.

Let’s Make Cookies!

Combine cream cheese and butter. (You can do it by hand but using a mixer makes it creamier.)

Mix in 1/2 of the cake mix, the egg and the vanilla until smooth. (Make sure your mixer is on low if you’re using one.)

Stir in the rest of the cake mix.

Drop dough by teaspoon onto a cookie sheet.

Bake 8-10 minutes.

While still warm, dust liberally with powdered sugar.

We joined CSA this Fall—Community Supported Agriculture. In case you are like me and this is a new term for you, when you participate in CSA you purchase a share of the farms crops. This purchase gives local farms the means to buy their seeds etc for the subsequent growing season, while you benefit from a weekly haul of produce and other products. It is a risk to purchase a share because there is no guarantee of a return, for instance, if the crops are bad or the weather is destructive. But it’s a cool thing to do because it supports local farmers. We need local farmers to thrive, now more than ever.

A Fall CSA is shorter than the spring/summer version. As you might imagine, the variety of possible produce is smaller too. That being said, this year we have gotten an abundance of food. Lots of end of summer corn, tomatoes and melon, winter squashes, pounds and pounds of potatoes, cauliflower, cabbage….and peppers. OH MY GOSH. So many peppers.

Because there was no possibility that the two of us could eat so many, we made a dozen or so jars of Hot Pepper Jelly. Have you ever had it? First of all, it’s easy to make. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t be able to do it. Second…it is DELICIOUS. Sweet, hot, yummy with any kind of cheese (especially cream cheese).

I think we might try canning cranberry sauce next. Stay tuned.

My father was in the military long before I was even a twinkle in his eye, serving in the Navy during the Korean War. He never spoke of it, but given the treasures he kept, it was clear he was proud of his service. My oldest nephew was a soldier in Afghanistan. He served multiple tours as a medic. All that he saw, all that he did, had a profound impact on him. He was never the same after his honorable discharge. My ex-spouse was in the Navy for over a decade. He was an electrician onboard a submarine in a time of relative peace.

Although they all served under different circumstances and joined for different reasons, one thing they had in common was a years-long commitment to defending our country and protecting our rights. My heart fills every time I think of the time their lives were not their own,, the dreams and goals they sacrificed or put on hold.

To the men and women who enlisted or were drafted, or currently serve in any branch of the military, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your service, your dedication to our country, and the sacrifices you made in defense of life and liberty. Tomorrow, we celebrate you.

My heart honors you and is grateful for you every day.

(2) Winners of eBook "Gift Baskets" of ALL ebooks
Other Winners of individual ebooks or paperbacks (randomly selected)

One more time, I have set my intentions to take better care of myself. I’m very good at taking care of other people. But remembering to exercise, eat clean, and REST continues to be difficult.

Sure, I can go along for a while but then life happens and I get off track. Again. Then I have to grieve the time lost, pull myself up and dust myself off, and begin again.

So, here I go. Making a fresh self-care plan and trying to figure out what I need to do to be more likely to stick to it. I WANT to stick to it. Anyone want to join me? Maybe we can encourage each other.

Start date September 1.

Actually, I more than love it. It soothes me. Heals me. I never feel as peaceful or happy as I do when I can see the waves, smell the water, and feel the ocean breeze. Earlier this week, went to a small beach on the Connecticut shoreline. It took me an hour to drive there, and I stayed a couple of hours. I know some people would say it wasn’t worth the time. But it was for me.

Does the beach affect you the same? If so, take a moment to watch this industrious creature and listen to the sounds of the water.

I highly recommend attending if they come to your town!

In case you want to check them out!

If you live in the wake of the current heat wave, there’s nothing you can do about it.

Except you literally should stay out of the kitchen. Today it was 109 with the heat index. My poor flowers are suffering. Some water today resuscitated them, and we moved all of them to shade in the middle of the yard. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone tended to us like that?

I’ve never been a fast writer, but it’s extremely challenging to write in weather like this. It’s physically uncomfortable, of course. But the scorching temperatures and the New England humidity make it nearly impossible to concentrate. But I’ve made commitments so I keep chugging along. I plan to have a new novella and the final installment in the Living After Midnight series before the summer is over.

Ever hear of the Little Train That Could? I think I can, I think I can, I know I can, I know I can…

Stay tuned.

There are some events that give you cause for reflection. They may make you rethink decisions you’ve made, or trigger an important memory, or fill you with gratitude. June 7 does this for me. It’s Prince’s birthday.

He’d be 67 if he was still with us. Although there is a hole in my heart from losing him nine years ago, I am ever grateful for the joy and comfort he gave me while I was lucky enough to share the planet with him. His music, the way he sang, and played the guitar like a wizard touched me so deeply. He wrote to my heart and sang right into my soul.

He was also more than that.

He gave me the courage to write and, in fact, inspired many, many stories, some yet untold. He led me to the greatest friendships of my life. He gave me my soulmate. And he saved my life. (The details are here. https://www.trevannrogers.com/blog/2024/4/16/repost-from-4-24-16)

Today, I reflect on having him in my life for over forty years. There is no doubt in my heart—It was always love.

If you know me well, you know that I hate yard work. Mowing, weeding, planting, trimming, bugs, dirt... Every bit of it. The problem is that I love beautiful gardens. I enjoy watching flowers grow. But actually doing the work? Ugh.

Fortunately, my partner loves gardens too, and enjoys working with flowers. However, her back issues prevent her from doing everything she wants to do. Over the years, we have taken on a shared philosophy of gardens: Grow if you want to.

So we do the best we can at planting. (That bleeding heart in the middle of the pachysandra? I planted it upside down.) We buy nearly dead plants on sale because we want to give them love and hope. We let everything grow as wild as it wants to, with the exception of growing ON the siding or roof. We hire a great guy to mow and trim and dig big holes. And I get my hands dirty.

The result is that we have wild blueberry bushes, apple trees, and cherry trees on our small hillside. Our pachysandra is taking over half the yard. Little violets are taking over the other half. It’s lovely.

This year, we are going to try to grow vegetables, and sunflowers. Fingers crossed. Stay tuned.

These days, I believe that job Number 1 for me is keep myself and my partner safe. The world is crazy right now.

Job Number 2 is finding joy. Everyday, I want to experience at least a few minutes of joy. Life is too short not to, you know? Today’s bit of joy was very unusual. The students in one of the classes I teach had so much fun doing an activity I’m sure they originally felt silly doing—College students, you know. I let their fun and enthusiasm, as rare as it is, wash over me. The feelings stayed with me the entire day.

Another odd source of joy has been a tv show my partner and I discovered called A.P. Bio. From the first minute, I was captivated by its sheer stupidity. But as we typically do, we said we’d give it a few episodes and make a decision about continuing to watch it or not. And guess what?

It is still fairly stupid. But there are periodic gems that are hilarious, and even less frequently there are meaningful points about relationships, friendships, and life. I never would have imagined that this dumb show would be a source of so many smiles and warm moments. But I let myself find the joy in it.

Spring is around the corner—lots of inherent joy: More sunny warm days. More activities. I hope you find unusual sources of joy, too.

Since the beginning of the week, the ice cream truck has been driving down our street between 6:00 and 6:30PM. You already know how I know—the music! Oh, that jingle still brings me joy.

I can still remember what I bought. If it was Mr.Softee, I bought a vanilla soft-serve cone with chocolate sprinkles. But if it was the Good Humor truck, oh boy. I got an ice cream bar, vanilla covered in milk chocolate, with this, big yummy piece of chocolate in the middle. You can’t even find that today, but it was extraordinary.

We were lucky. The Good Humor man came by every day at the same time. And my sister and brother always bought treats for us. As I grew older, I learned it wasn’t just about the money. He was dating my sister! Can you believe that?

He should have been giving me FREE ice cream.

Please join me in welcoming author Tina Donahue discussing her new book, Love Me After My Death!

LOVE ME AFTER MY DEATH 

A REELSHORT Original Story 

• Contemporary Romance Featuring:

• High Drama

• Star-Crossed Lovers

• Revenge

• Tortured Hero

• Enemies to Lovers

• And a Devastating Secret That Threatens These Lovers

There  was  a time when Caroline would’ve done anything for her former sweetheart, Eric Martin.  

That’s why she agreed to marry him.

Six  years  ago,  Caroline faced a dire ultimatum from Eric’s mother. Marry Eric, and Stacy—Eric’s conniving girlfriend—gets the life-saving operation she needs. Out of love, Caroline agreed, hoping that in time, she and Eric would be able to rekindle the spark they once shared.

But that hope was in vain. Since that fateful day, Eric has harbored nothing but brutal resentment for Caroline; the last six years of marriage have been a nightmare.

As  their  marriage  descends deeper into emotional warfare, Caroline receives a shocking, tragic diagnosis of her own.

While  Caroline  quietly  prepares for the end, an all-too-familiar face returns—with a devastating secret to reveal.

With time running out, the question remains: Will Eric finally see Stacy for who she is, or will everything fall apart before Caroline’s last breath? 

 EXCERPT

If I could run away from Stacy without looking like a loser, I would, wanting only to put the past behind me forever.

Slugging her would also be great for all the shit she brought into my life.

Steeled against whatever she intends to dish out, I face her, my emotions hidden behind indifference I’d show an annoying stranger.

I lift my chin and look down my nose at her. “Were you speaking to me?”

She blinks at my cold tone and question, her confidence shaken.

Score one for me.

“Uh… yeah.” Her smile wobbles, confusion in her eyes. “I didn’t expect to see you here so I said hi.” She laughs self-consciously. “Hi. Long time no see, right?”

I frown. “Do I know you?”

Another blink. Her cheeks redden. I suppose with the same embarrassment I felt around her. Eric, too, when they pawed each other or kissed in my presence.

“Yeah, we do know each other.” She clears her throat. “It’s me, Stacy.”

I don’t react.

Frowning, she speaks through her teeth. “Stacy Hill.”

I pretend to think about that then shrug. “No wonder I didn’t recognize you. You’ve changed.”

“What?” Hand to her chest, she titters. “No I haven’t. I’m the same old Stacy. Looking as good as ever.”

“If you say so.”

She wrinkles her nose. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

God, I love yanking her chain. Despite my urge to simply lie down, I put on the act of my life. “Your hair’s thinner than I recall.” I drag my gaze down her then up. “You’ve also gained weight.”

She steps back. “The hell I have.”

“Don’t worry. Six years will do that to some women.”

Pure hatred for me flashes in her eyes. At one time her disdain would have bothered me. At this point, I couldn’t care less. To be honest, I’m waiting for her to leave.

She remains and crosses her arms over her chest… a protective gesture. 

“What are you doing in this hospital?” She taps her foot, waiting for my answer.

I’d cut out my tongue before telling her anything personal. Knowing her, she’d use the information to destroy me. She’s good at turning love into hate. 

“My turn for a question.” I tilt my head to one side. “Why are you back… invading this space?”

Her face pales. I’m not surprised. In the past, I was never direct. Nice worked better for me. No more.

She sizes me up as if she’s uncertain where I’m coming from. Then her gorgeous face grows ugly with her signature venom.

“Surely you can’t be that dense. You know why I’m here.”

I can guess, or be honest and tell her the truth. I prefer to play with her feelings as she did with mine.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Eric, dammit.” Fists clenched, she steps toward me. “I’m here for him. If it wasn’t for you, he and I would already be married.”

I stroke my wedding ring, proof Eric belongs to me… at least in the eyes of the state. She notices the gesture.

“If you say so, Stacy.”

She curls her upper lip. “From what I hear, Eric regrets your marriage.”

“I thought you regretted it.”

Her eyes widen, then narrow. “Pretend all you want with me, I know the truth. Eric loathes you.”

My stomach cramps. Unwilling to give her the upper hand, I fight my sorrow, offering no reaction.

Confusion flares in her eyes, then pure meanness. “Maybe he wouldn’t still hate you after all these years if you hadn’t cheated on him.”

Stunned, I gape then shake from rage. 

“Are you serious? You can’t be.” I get in her space. “I never cheated on him and you damn well know it. I’m not you, Stacy. I’ll never sink as low as you.”

She laughs softly. “Does Eric know that?”

He’s clueless when it comes to her, and she’s fully aware of it.

The gloves were off before, now my claws are out.

“Have you forgotten the part about you cheating on him? I was there, Stacy. I saw what you did. Guess he doesn’t know about that, huh? Did you lie your way out of the problem?” My voice is vicious. “Wonder what he’d say if I let it slip how you whored around on him.”

“Go ahead.” Her smile couldn’t be more smug. “He’ll never believe you over me. I made sure of it.”

I’m not surprised by her comment, but something about it nags me. A matter I’ve forgotten and need to recall… or ask her about.

“How can you be so sure he’ll believe you?”

********

  Praise for Love Me After My Death:

FIVE STARS - AMAZON

"WONDERFUL TEAR JERKER"

This one broke my heart in all the right ways. A great read.

- Carol J.

FIVE STARS - AMAZON

"FANTASTIC"

Read it all in one weekend! Loved entering their world on a deeper level. The ReelShort adaptations are the best.

- Sam

Available on Amazon https://shorturl.at/8sNUy

About Tina:

Tina’s an Amazon and international bestselling novelist who writes passionate romance for every taste – ‘heat with heart’ – for traditional publishers and indie. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. She’s won Readers’ Choice Awards, was named a finalist in the EPIC competition, received a Book of the Year award, The Golden Nib Award, awards of merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competitions, and second place in the NEC RWA contests. She’s featured in the Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Before penning romances, she worked at a major Hollywood production company in Story Direction.

On a less serious note: she’s an admitted and unrepentant chocoholic, brakes for Mexican restaurants, and has been known to moan like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally while wolfing down tostadas. She’s flown a single-engine airplane (freaking scary), rewired an old house using an ‘electricity for dummies’ book, and is horribly shy despite the hot romances she writes.

MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/tinadonahue

Bluesky: @tinadonauthor.bsky.social

Website/Blog: https://tinadonahuebooks.blogspot.com/

Newsletter: https://tinadonahuebooks.blogspot.com/p/newsletter.html

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tina-donahue

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/146988.Tina_Donahue

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/tinadonahue

Amazon author page: https://amzn.to/1ChWFkO

Sweet ‘n Sexy Divas: https://sweetnsexydivas.blogspot.com/

Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/AuthorTinaDonahue 

Okay, it’s not really typhoon season. At least not in New England. But it sure feels like it.

In all my life, I’ve never experienced so much turmoil and uncertainty in our federal government—certainly not in the judicial branch. Statewide, things are so hot either. My workplace is also crazy, largely because of the need to respond to the widely tumultuous external environment. Chaos seems to reign from the top of the food chain to the bottom.

My home life hasn’t been much better. Two of my televisions—yes, two—spontaneously stopped working at the same time. My refrigerator decided to stop closing tightly and refused to stay cold. In addition, for some unfathomable reason my electric bill states my usage has inexplicably doubled since this time last year. Shall we also talk about the rising costs of everything else?

I’ve been trying to figure out what I can do to restore and maintain a sense of calm in my life and in my stressed out body. One important thing for me to do is to get back to my routines and to do lists. I should not let disruption in the outside world disrupt my peace. I’ve learned that breathing intentionally calms and soothes me. I need to make sure I give myself 5-10 minutes everyday to focus on breathing exercises.

What do you do to help you face the storm outside?