by Julie, enjoying summer in Somerville
Last weekend I was taking a socially distant walk with my nieces. We were meandering, looking at houses, watching the full moon rise, discussing whether we’d rather be a werewolf or a vampire, and discussing recipes. At one point one of them slowed down, and looked around.
“This is a perfect night to walk,” she said.
“It’s the kind of night we’ll dream of in February,” I offered.
“Nights like this are why I don’t want to rush summer,” my other niece offered. We kept walking and talking, taking the long way round to get home.
Next month, on August 25, Digging Up the Remains will be released. I’m also polishing Book #4, which takes place right after Thanksgiving. So my imagination is in the fall. My teaching jobs next year have also been in touch, keeping me up to date about the plans for fall teaching. (A fluid conversation these days.)
As I put dates in my planner, plot out the bootcamp I’m doing later this month for folks who want to write a book, and get ready for the launch of Digging Up I feel like summer is already over. And it’s too soon.
This summer is like no other for so many reasons. There can be a desire to wish it away, and I understand that. But my walk with the nieces reminded me that future living ignores the now. And the now has lovely moments that just happen, or that we can work on creating.
This week I’ve been mindful about appreciating the now. I’m eating blueberries, my favorite summer fruit. I’m taking walks, slowly in the heat, but the vitamin D feels great. The nieces are helping me work on some videos and figure out how to self-publish my Theater Cop books. Since it’s summer, they have the time.
I’m grateful for summer in New England, for my family and friends, for my writing, for my teaching and coaching, for technology that keeps me connected and for my prolific friends who are keeping my reading list full. I’m also grateful to all of you for being part of my journey.
I hope that you are all finding ways to enjoy the now.
I have ARCs of Digging Up the Remains, and would love to give three away to folks who comment on this post. Tell me, readers, what are you particularly enjoying this summer? I’ll three names on Monday.
Here’s more about the book:
A festive fall is in full swing in Goosebush, Massachusetts, but when a snoopy reporter is felled by foul play, it’s up to Lilly and her Garden Squad to spook out a killer . . .
Between hosting a haunted house on her lawn, serving on the town’s 400th Anniversary Planning Committee, and prepping for the Fall Festival’s 10k fundraiser, Lilly’s hands are full. She doesn’t have time for prickly newspaper reporter Tyler Crane, who’s been creeping around town, looking for dirt on Goosebush’s most notable families . . . until he’s found dead on the race route moments before the start.
An unfortunate accident? Or did Tyler unearth a secret that someone in Goosebush is willing to kill to keep? By planting nasty rumors and cultivating fear, Tyler sowed a fair share of ill will during his brief time in town. Weeding through the suspects will be thorny, but Lilly and her Garden Squad are determined to root out the autumnal assassin before the Fall Festival flops . . .
Digging up the remains by julia henry will be released on August 25