Writer. Contributing Editor at The Discarded Image. Digital Content Strategist. Here's where I publicly explore the books I'm reading, the projects I'm working on, and other current interests. Sickbed delights
I spent most of the last 5 days in bed with a box of tissues, a bag of cough drops, and a flu virus, courtesy of the little darlings who inspired my History Lives series. My only comfort was the unscheduled reading time—when I could keep my eyes open, that is. So I started catching up with Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series; I read the first 5 books a couple years ago but still had #6, In the Company of Cheerful Ladies, in my stack. I’m not keen on his other series, but this one is always a delight with personable characters and their wry observations of human nature. I also made it about halfway through P. D. James’ marvelous Time to Be in Earnest: A Fragment of Autobiography; I’ll be reviewing it here when I’m done.
My biggest sickbed delight, though, was a box the postman delivered on Saturday, stamped “Royal Air Mail, Inverness.” Yes, it was our author copies of Hearts and Hands! It is always strange to see my own words printed with such authority and finality, but so rewarding to hold the pages in my hands after pouring my brain into them months ago. And today’s fun errand—as I re-entered the land of the upright and mobile—involved mailing signed copies to the young friends to whom this volume was dedicated. I can’t think of a better reason to get out of bed.
So I’m still sniffling but at least back to my desk, where volumes 1-3 are now smiling down on me in the company of their new little sister. I hope you all are enjoying a healthier start to the holiday season!
