Facets of a Muse

Examining the guiding genius of writers everywhere


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Good-bye, January thaw

Every year, or mostly every year, we get some relief from below-freezing temps here in MN. The past couple weeks have been mild, with the occasional below freezing day, but in general, we’ve been enjoying sunshine and snow-melting temps (except it wasn’t enough to melt the skating rink in the yard from the rain we got a couple weeks ago).

Now the sub-freezing temps are back, just to remind us that yes, it is still winter, below-zero wind chills and everything. In a way, I’m glad we’re back to “seasonal” temps. We’ve been having fewer and fewer days with what I call “old-fashioned” winter. You know the ones, when we had stretches of single-digit highs and double-digit negative wind chills.

I kinda miss those. Minnesotans, I think, take pride in our state’s rep for being the “refrigerator of the North.” We’d shrug and consider a week or three of highs in the single digits above zero as a given, and we all knew how to dress for it. Sure, your face hurt as soon as you stepped outside, but that’s what scarves are for.

I don’t ever remember school getting called off (well, maybe once) because the wind chills were -20 F to -30 F (and that was back before they reworked the calculation). Those were the few times Mom would take us to school and pick us up (if she didn’t have to work). Of course, we lived eight blocks from school (small town blocks), and walked (no in-town bus service back then). And we wore snowpants, boots, coat, hat, scarf, mittens, the whole shebang. Every single day in the winter.

Sometimes I really miss those days. There’s something invigorating about that crisp cold air, and the sense of conquest when you can go for a walk in sub-zero wind chills without freezing your ass–or your face–off. The clear blue winter sky. The sunshine sparkling on the snow. The brisk air. Sun dogs. Winter has its own beauty.

As long as you don’t have to drive in a snowstorm or blizzard.

Edits on book 2 are slow, but progressing. I’m trying to take days to work on my police procedural as well. I’ve got a mini-retreat with my Writing Sisters, and a submission deadline in two weeks. I still have no idea what to submit. It might be a case of asking for help with the plot for Book 3. Or at least the opening chapters.

Stay warm and keep writing!


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Slow progress, but progress

This week … well, looks like this year’s starting out to be a bigger dumpster fire than last year was. If I could snap my fingers and have anything at this point, it’d be a toss-up between transporting the family to another country with some sort of sanity (including citizenship) and vanishing the ungodly amount of corruption fueling the dumpster fire, starting with the head jack-off and his idiot cronies.

If only. If anyone doubts the existence of the seven deadly sins (we’ll put GREED at the top of that list), I know which direction to point them in.

Anyway. Let’s hope someone (many someones) finally grow a pair and do their jobs.

I’m almost finished with my book 2 back cover copy, thanks to my daughter’s help. It’s that thing where you look at something like back cover copy that you know isn’t quite right, let someone who isn’t familiar with it revise it, and it suddenly feels a lot more “right.” Another day or two to let it sit, and I think it’ll be ready to send to my publisher.

Started working through edits on book 2. Hmm. Some good suggestions, some that have me scratching my head and wondering why. I remind myself that it’ll all work out.

My big push, though, is to work through the revisions for my police procedural. I think I’ve let things steep long enough for me to have a good feel for how I need to adjust things. It’s a matter of writing those through before adding them to the manuscript.

Hope you are all well and maintaining your own sanity. Keep on writing!


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Musing a new year, 2026 edition

Whelp, it’s a new year. Leaving last year’s dumpster fire in the rear view. The path forward looks, well, hmm. Filled with opportunity? A light way at the end of a very long tunnel? Pray sanity starts to make a comeback. And common sense. And reasoning. Sigh.

“Starting the year on a sour note, love?”

“Shit!” I look up from my computer to find my Muse leaning against the partition wall separating the alcove from the outside door to my writing office. “When did you get here?”

He chuckles. “Nice to know I can still surprise you.” He settles into the other recliner in the alcove. The aroma of fresh-brewed coffee suddenly fills the air. A travel mug appears in his hand. “New year, new focus? Or is it just focus?”

I shift so I can look at him. He’s full-on rustic rogue today, complete with red flannel shirt over a white tee, sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms, worn-well jeans, and … his furry bear paw slippers. “Really? The slippers? That ruins the whole outdoorsman vibe.”

He flaunts his ridiculous slippers. “I love these things. They’re warm.”

“They don’t match the rest.”

“Since when are you the fashion police?” He gestures to me. “You live in sweats. And three pairs of socks and slippers.”

“Right, but our house is cool and I work from home.” Anyway. His coffee is making me long for another cup of coffee. “Don’t suppose you could magick me a fresh mug of java?”

“Sorry, love. The trick only works in my world. Most I can do is offer to pour you some from the pot–oh, look, you haven’t made any today.”

The empty coffeemaker looks forlorn all by itself on the shelf above the mini-fridge. “Excuse me while I get a pot going.” It won’t take long; it’s one of those two-cup units.

“It’s a new year. Let me guess, your intention is to reboot your writing habits.”

I glare at him.

He grins, his dimples sinking deep. “You know, if you would just focus, you’d be better at maintaining the habits.”

“Easy for you to say. I figure the holidays are good for chilling.” Except that doesn’t mean setting my writing aside. It does mean I have other internal stuff to manage that seems to get worse over the holidays. “I’ve been working on stuff. I’ve almost got my back cover copy finished for book 2.”

“True. But then you have to go through the editor’s notes on Book 2.”

“Oh, gawd. Don’t remind me.” I have no problem editing my stuff based on editor feedback … unless that feedback is, um, questionable. I now know the background of why a book I read was published the way it was. I haven’t read through all the notes, but there were a couple right off the bat that my writing teacher would have countermanded.

I have an awesome writing teacher.

“You’re still working on your police procedural, right?”

Another thing I’ve been putting off until I get Book 2 finalized. I pour myself a fresh cup of coffee, sweeten it, and return to my recliner. “Yes. And I need to have revisions done by the end of the month so one of my critique partners can beta read for me.”

“Well, then, you’d better get your shit together.”

“I know, I know. I need your help with the procedural edits. And with another pass at my back cover copy.”

“I’m not going anywhere, love. Bring it on.”

And so the new year begins. May your days be filled with writing or writing-adjacent activities! And take a few minutes each day to get outside and just be. Let Nature fill you and renew your spirit.


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Happy Solstice!

The solstice says it’s officially Winter, but damn, the weather we’ve been having the past couple weeks (outside of the three days above freezing we just had) has told us that we are well into the COLD and snowy season. Last week, wind chills in the double digits below zero, before it thawed and we got rain, before it froze yet again, and just to make sure we’re paying attention, blizzard conditions after another flash freeze of wet roads.

Yep, pretty sure it’s winter.

And the holidays are breathing down our necks. The holidays can be filled with joy and laughter and incessant repetition of every Christmas song we’ve heard hundreds of times over the years. It’s lights (my favorite), decorated trees, cookies, and gathering with family.

It’s also time to remember those who aren’t with us any more. It’s twenty years now since my mother passed. She loved Christmas, and the season hasn’t been the same since. I’ve been feeling … I’ll come right out and say it: depressed. More than usual. It’s a heavy, tight feeling that I really can’t describe. My husband reminded me that I get like this every year at this time. This year, though, seems worse for some reason.

I think anyone who has lost a loved one tends to feel that loss more during holidays when families gather. I think it’s worse when that holiday is one which the loved one enjoyed. We gather, and we put on a brave face and try our damndest to keep the tears inside, because we know that once they escape, we’ll weep for the loss. We’ll cry for the memories, for all the times we wished they were here so we could tell them about the good days, and get a hug to help with the bad days.

On the bright side, sunset will start getting later, and then sunrises will start getting earlier. Sure, a minute or two each day, but after a month, that’s a half-hour more of daytime! Whoop! Because nothing says the dead of Winter like sunset at 4:30 in the afternoon.

For those who will be traveling this week–safe travels! And for those who are missing loved ones, it’s okay to be sad that they aren’t with you. Cry a little or a lot. Take a break from “peopling” to recenter yourself. Enjoy the furry warmth of a cat (or two!) on your lap. Hot cocoa, warm blanket, and a heartwarming rom-com or feel-good Hallmark movie can quiet the sharp pain of loss.

And there’s always writing!

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