The A to Z Challenge Blog 2022: the Letter M

Already Friday. Where does the time go? I have a peeve this morning. Whose bright idea was it to put the elastic all the way around a fitted sheet? They were hard enough to fold when it was just the corners. Now, they’re impossible to do. I have balled up sheets in my linen cupboard. But enough about me!

Today’s letter is M. In my writing, M stands for memories. Many of my books contain memories–my own memories–which I’ve incorporated into the plots. Some memories are funny ones, like when I bring in words my granddaughter used to use, like “ahind” instead of behind, things they used to do, like tote around a queen-sided blanket as their blankie. One of them wore a Snow-White costume when we went camping and referred to herself as No Wipe. Then there was the incredibly long wait for a plane to Mexico in Tequila Sunrise, and the agony of having my hair streaked for the first time in Make Mine a Manhattan. Other memories are sad, like the miscarriage in Hello Again, or the sorrow in The Blue Dragon as we packed up my mother’s house and discovered that she was a tidy hoarder.

The most recent and complete memory can be found in Emerald Glow, the book I wrote after my anniversary trip aboard the Rocky Mountaineer.

She’s given up on finding the right man. After a painful divorce, he’s sworn off women. But you don’t always get what you want, especially when a typo can spell disaster.

Following a breakup that’s soured her opinion of men, photographer Lee Andrews is hoping this assignment for an online e-zine will help her set her life on the right path. If she can stay focused on her job and ignore the opposite sex, so much the better.
Alexander Fedorov is a burned-out journalist, tired of covering one disaster after another. His recent divorce has left him bitter and determined to stay as far away from the female sex as possible. This new assignment offers a change of pace. As long as he can avoid meddlesome females, he’ll be fine.
When they meet, sparks fly and personalities clash, especially when the full impact of a small typo and making assumptions makes itself known loud and clear. Both are determined to be adult about the situation, keep their distance, and complete the job. But that may be easier said than done, especially when the attraction they feel for each other is magnetic. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PRPZBKZ

Writing about a place I’ve been and describing something I’ve seen and done adds excitement to the writing task for me and I hope in increases the readers enjoyment since I can be detailed and specific about the places I’ve visited.

So, that’s my M word for today. Check out the other M posts here https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nuoAOJ-BUAXE1Yl2yIArhUHInj902PHVX6_gL4oKiSo/edit#gid=1195767304