Thing #1 is Looking at Colleges!

The beach has held some of my most treasured family memories, and over the next several weeks, I’m pressing pause on my Mayhem in the Mountains book tour to make room for a few more. As the grandchildren grow at lightning speed, I find myself trying to freeze-frame special conversations and stages—from Elmo and Barbie movies to soccer, tennis, and college. With the eldest heading into her final year of high school (below - third from left), it’s impossible not to feel how quickly childhood gives way to adult life.

Still, I can’t resist the pull to finish my next novel, a thriller, Michigan Blues. By the time Mayhem in the Mountains came out, I was close to 60,000 words, or about 80 percent through the story. A big chunk was written in Italy, where the scenery and calm helped me sink into the work. Then I came home to a full schedule of speaking and signing commitments.

While I’ve been weighing the ending for Michigan Blues, I often think of this stage as approaching a traffic circle: each exit sends me, and the story, in a different direction. One route may be more exciting, while another may be more satisfying for readers. Most likely, I’ll place myself fully in the historical period, step into my protagonist’s mind, and choose the ending that feels most truthful to the story.

So, while my kids and grandkids were busy discussing the matters of the day——how to save the world and other heavy topics forty-year-olds think they can solve——, I was happy to lie back in the shade and listen. Surrounded by their voices, laughter, and opinions, I found myself grateful for the pause, for the people I love, and for the quiet chance to also mull over each exit on the circle of choices. I think I found it!

Fun Fact – Did you know that the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor has a utility tunnel network of over six miles beneath its Central Campus? And a group of students—potheads, aka Tunnel Bob and friends from Mary Markley Dorm

- frequented those tunnels in 1971, evading the campus security? Yep, it’s true.

Books I’ve read in July:

Lisa See’s - Daughters of the Sun and Moon –Well done, but I dare say quite depressing, especially when visualizing the mistreatment of the Chinese by both their own people and the Californians.

Mary Kay Andrews’s – Road Trip – A fun beach read.

Belle Burden’s – Strangers – I loved it, but it brought back tough memories of my own divorce.

Joyce Maynard’s - In Wonderland – As much as I do love Maynard’s writing, her redundancies are making me consider a DNF and moving on to the next book in my pile. I am a big believer in the “tell-it-once- and- tell- it- well” approach to writing.

Happy August reading! Don't forget to post a rating or review of MAYHEM IN THE MOUNTAINS on Amazon/Goodreads. They are so important for writers and publishers!

UPCOMING FALL EVENTS

August 6 | 7p presentation

Clubhouse

TRADITIONS OF AMERICA AT GREEN POND

Bethlehem Township, PA

September 10 | 6p  

THUNDER ROADS BOOKS - Springlake, NJ

Presentation and Book Siigning

September 16 | 7:00p

THE CLARIDGE HOUSE - Verona, NJ

Mayhem in the Mountains - Discussion

​​September 19th | noon

HEIDI'S PILATES STUDIO, Summit, NJ

Mayhem in the Mountains - Book Discussion

September 23 | 6:30-9:00

SPARTA BOOKS, Sparta, NJ

Discussion and signing of Mayhem in the Mountains

September 30 | 6:30-8:30

TEMPLE B'NAI 0R, Morristown, NJ

​The Gilded City: Beyond the Golden Door, From the Lower East Side to the Catskills

​October 17th | 12:00

HARRISON PUBLIC LIBRARY

Harrison, NY

9th Annual Meet the Authors - Panel Discussion

KATZ JCC, Cherry Hill, NJ

November 5th (interview with Paula Eiselt producer of: We met at Grossingers and November 6th - 10am

Presentation of Mayhem in the Mountains - the Catskills before the Borscht Belt hotels

November 15 | brunch - Keynote Speaker

TRADITIONS AT THE LINKS

Fundraiser for Hope for Heather and OCRF

Syracuse, NY

November 17

National Council of Jewish Women

THE CLUB AT IBIS

West Palm Beach, Fl