Hi all! Liz here, excited to welcome back our good friend Daryl Wood Gerber, who has some fun giveaways today! Take it away, Daryl!
By Daryl Wood Gerber
Writing can be a very lonely venture. You have no one to talk to except yourself (which some consider a little bit crazy)…
Or your characters (which a vast majority considers bordering on nuts)…
Or you might have a faithful companion. I have Sparky. He is the joy of my life. He loves coming into my office and simply “being there” to support me. He sits calmly on his pillow and rouses occasionally for a pet. He gazes at me soulfully whenever I introduce him on a live chat on Facebook. He stares at me scornfully if I ask to take yet another picture to post on Facebook. LOL
If I need to lie on the floor to gather my thoughts (I think well with my eyes closed – it is not a nap!), Sparky “allows” me to pet him. That stroking motion really helps clear my head. 
If I need to pace the floor to come up with an idea, he follows me. Oy! I have to be extremely careful not to make a sudden turn. He’s so quiet, he could be my shadow. I have tripped at least a dozen times because of him. I’m really glad I never hit my head on a counter top. (Ooh, idea for a murder method.)
But I digress…
If I need to take a long walk to think, Sparky is always up for it. “Snap on that leash, Mom. Let’s go!” He doesn’t even mind if I bring along my cell phone and tape conversations that I want to insert in the book. I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m talking to him. Isn’t life all about him?
If I need to take a break and read someone else’s book, this is possibly his happiest moment of the day. We settle on the patio and he gets a treat and we listen to the sounds of nature, while I drink in the talent of another author.
Writing solo? Nope. Not I. I’ve got a writing partner. And the best thing is he thinks all my ideas are great. (Hmm, must reconsider this last point. It’s not good to have someone who thinks “all” your ideas are great. An author needs a constructive critic.)
Note to self: Get Sparky reading lessons and teach him to speak his mind.
Do you have a two- or four-footed pet that fills your days with love?
Daryl is offering a choice of any one of her books to one commenter. Winner announced Friday!
Daryl’s latest book, A DEADLY ÉCLAIR, the first in the French Bistro Mysteries, debuts November 7.
Here’s a sneak peek:
Mimi Rousseau is throwing the bistro’s first wedding—the nuptials of a famous talk show host. She is sure things will go awry when the bride’s father shows up drunk to the out-of-towners’ dinner. By the end of the evening, things look sweet again…until the next morning, when her benefactor is found dead at the bistro with an éclair stuffed in his mouth. All fingers point at Mimi, whose loan is forgiven if he dies. It’s up to her to éclair—er, clear—her name before the killer turns up the heat.
BIO:
Agatha Award-winning Daryl Wood Gerber writes the brand new French Bistro Mysteries as well as the nationally bestselling Cookbook Nook Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she pens the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. A DEADLY ÊCLAIR, the first French Bistro Mystery, comes out November 2017. Daryl also writes stand-alone suspense: DAY OF SECRETS and GIRL ON THE RUN. Fun tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, and she has a frisky Goldendoodle named Sparky who keeps her in line!
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Welcome back to the blog, Daryl! Great you have a furry companion. We have two cats, but my Birdy, the only one who used to venture up to my officer and “help” me write, sadly died last summer. He lives on in one of my series, though. Best of luck with the new book!
Aw, Edith, I’m sorry for your loss. I’ve had a number of furry companions in my life. They live in on my memory, too. ~ Daryl
Waving hello! I have three cats, but only one (Dexter) shows any interest in writing, and insists on sitting on my lap when I’m at my laptop keyboard. He’s also been known to sit ON the keyboard, which is why the screen is currently held together with binder clips. So far he hasn’t contributed any useful plot points,but he’s very encouraging.
But here’s a true story about an earlier cat, Felix. He too was known to walk across my keyboard, and one time I looked at the screen and realized he had typed “MEW”. Smart cat.
Sheila, that’s really incredible! I think Felix might be helping you churn out 4 books a year! LOL ~ Daryl
We have a Westie named Lily. However, when she gazes at me soulfully it’s usually because she wants to go outside. Sometimes, she’ll stay with me in my office but not always.
Love Westies, Sherry. They’re so adorable! ~ Daryl
I don’t write but I do have a reading nubby. My dog Bandit loves to lie beside me while I read.
A reading pal. Christi, that’s so sweet! ~ Daryl
Our dogs, Jake and Sophie are my computer monitors. When they are ready to go for a walk, they pull my right hand off of the keyboard with their paw — if that doesn’t work, they move their paw to the keyboard to type. And talk about soulful gazes…
Oh, gosh, Celia that’s hysterical. They pull your hand? Willful mutts! LOL ~ Daryl
I have read all of this author’s books. I look forward to reading this latest book.
Annette, thanks so much! I’m thrilled to meet excited fans! ~ Daryl
Hello, Daryl! What a darling doggie! I loved my dogs with all my heart and they were members of the family, but since our last went to Canine Heaven, we have only cats and they are my friends. Funny how, like Sparky, at least one will know when one of us is down or ill, and we will be watched-over!
Best of luck with Deadly Eclair.
Yes, pets are truly intuitive, Tonette. Wish we were as gifted. Maybe if we didn’t “talk” so much. LOL ~ Daryl
It is such fun to meet “new-to-me” authors here. Best of luck Daryl with your new series, it sounds yummy! I am looking forward to receiving your newsletter.
Forgot to say, our dear sweet girl Candy crossed the Rainbow Bridge and we have not been adopted by another…yet! You are so right, dogs look at you as if they understand every word and really want to talk back or Candy did anyway. I am sure she would have had highly intelligent things to say!
Judy, lovely to meet you, too. I do appreciate the image of the Rainbow Bridge. So beautiful to behold. ~ Daryl
I write only under protest and Sam the cat tries to cover as much of the keyboard as possible.
Write under protest! Ha! Barbarakay, I love that. ~ Daryl
I keep insisting I am an EDITOR but the writing group I facilitates insists that I write.
Daryl is one of my favorite authors!
Aw, thanks, Linda! ~ Daryl
I’m a reader, not a writer, but all 3 of my cats help. If I’m at my computer, one by one they will come in, sit on my hands, the mouse, and/or the keyboard to get me to stop. Then they will pat at me until I get the hint that they want me on the sofa, under the blanket so they can lie on top of me while I”m reading. Gee, it is such a burden! 🙂
Looking forward to reading A Deadly Eclair.
Ginny, I think cats really get into the reading thing. They know you’re calm and so they get to be calm. ~ Daryl
Sounds like you’ve got a very capable assistant. Give him a pat from me.
Will do, Mark. He’s “very” capable. Of getting his way. LOL ~ Daryl
Wow what a wonderful assistant I would say plus the cats! Kinda sounds like our house 2 small dogs and 3 stray cats one of the small dogs loves to come into my office and sit on my lap and look out the window for deer or rabbits. When she sees one she jumps off my lap and runs to the door and then once out doesn’t know which way to go as she doesn;t know which way my window faces. All of our rooms have a window and some of them huge windows so they get confused ! I can’t wait to read your new release in print !
Peggy, thanks so much! Yes, windows can be very distracting! ~ Daryl
I don’t have a pet right now but have loved it when I have. There’s so much comfort in having that little one to pet and cuddle with. Instead, I pet and cuddle with my 2 little grandsons whom I babysit; the 6 y o I just keep after school, but I have the 17 mo old all day, 3 days a wk, lately, which is just right for me w my MS fatigue. I would get lonely if I didn’t have their little hugs and kisses though. Legallyblonde1961@ yahoo.com
Karaleigh, I think grandsons are very much like pets. So lovable. But they do get “their way.” Ha! Sorry you suffer from MS. My heart goes out to you. ~ Daryl
Thanks! I’m very blessed mine isn’t worse. I can’t work as an RN anymore and can’t drive, but I can still walk!
Aw, Sparky is so cute! I have two cats. They usually allow me to pet them, and are always up for going outside as well. And one of them doesn’t have any trouble speaking her mind! Don’t know what I’d do without them. mbradeen@yahoo.com
Mbradeen, cats are very good at speaking their minds. My protagonist Mimi has pets. You’ll be surprised what kind, I think. 🙂 And they speak their “minds.” LOL ~ Daryl
I have four four-footed friends to help be around the house—two dogs and two cats. They all enjoy being at my feet at all times, but especially when I’m cooking—maybe something might fall towards the floor and end up in a mouth.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Suekey, Sparky wouldn’t think of eating anything I ate. He sniffs at steak, but I don’t think he’d eat it if it fell on the floor. He needs it in his bowl. Very picky. ~ Daryl
My kitty is always either laying in my lap or at my feet.
Jana, what a lovely constant companion to have. ~ Daryl
Sounds like you have a wonderful assistant. We don’t have any pets.
You know how much we love Sparky too. He sure is a big help. I have my helper and he fits my lifestyle perfectly. Tyler rescued us when I rescued him. He is laid back, but loves to play and enjoys our time outside relaxing, playing with the big dogs, me talking on the phone, him chasing critters. My family all love this special guy too. Now if only he would adjust to the time change already, lol. A Deadly Eclair is an awesome first in what I am sure will be a long and wonderful new series.
The time change. Oy! Kay, it’s hard, isn’t it? Sparky is at a loss during this time. ~ Daryl
Right now i only have 1 totally white (Hemingway) cat. 5 and a Boston Terrier, 12 both are rescues..as have been all my pets, ( all cats, but for my Stella dog)). Stel loves to eat/sleep, LDH cat loves to lay on my books when i’m up doing other things I can’t wait to read A Deadly Eclair! Thanks so much for this opportunity!
I have rescues, too, Sheryl. That’s just the way to do it, don’t you think? They love so much! ~ Daryl
I have two one year old cats, Hamilton and Jefferson. They are my reading buddies. It’s nice to read a book while one of them is keeping me company.
Dianne, I bet. What great names! ~ Daryl
Welcome back to blogging. I have a dog and cat. Would love to win a book.
We have 3 four rooted furry friends that are always present and accept unconditionally. My special girl has now been my help mate and I’m really impressed with her inventiveness. She can read me like a book! I can’t imagine life without them.
I love our two dogs but they are more distracting than head-clearing for me.
I have two dogs and a cat who “assist” me when I’m writing. They all sprawl on the foot of the bed and snore encouragement – but they’re great at keeping my feet warm in the winter!
I have Josie a little dog I rescued. She’s a sweetheart.
My cat fills my days with love. I recently bought him a chain with a little bell on it because I was going to get killed in the kitchen tripping over him while cooking. Why didn’t I think about that 16 years ago?
Your book’s cover is beautiful. ( :