Whodunnit?

mainly sunny, breezy, cool temps 8

Much cooler than normal, but I'm beginning to appreciate there is no 'normal'. the great news is when I took trudy around the pond we saw a whole hot ot bees. Phew. bouncing up and down on the dandelions. Last year there weren't many at all, so this is a relief. have to make sure we don't step on them, or eat them (trudy).

Did the first 'new' writing today. 2,000 words. felt good...a relief. and I like what I did. It's getting to that complex stage where all the threads need to start coming together. But in what order? And how to make it seem natural? And while it's necessarily complex when you're reading it I want it to feel as though this is the only way the events could possibly have happened. I want it to feel simple. But rich. Like ice cream. There, I said it. My books are edible.

A dear friend, Bob Knightly, wrote to say his first crime novel, Bodies in Winter, is coming out (under the name Robert Knightly) in the UK in August and the US in November. He's a great guy. Michael and I met him at the wonderful Black Orchid mystery bookstore (with Bonnie, the legendary owner) a few years ago. The bookstore has since closed, and Bob had moved to Albany. He's a retired Brooklyn cop. A lovely, kind man. Like John Lamb, a former cop who does that wonderful Teddy Bear mystery series. Only Bob's writing tends to the more noir.

And heard from another friend today - Mike Harding in Winnipeg. His wife Leslie is raising money for Habitat for Humanity...going on a 1,000 mile bike ride, through North and South Dakota. People do amazing things for other people! I think we'll give a modest donation.

Am off now - make lunch. Feels good to be back writing. Always afraid it won't happen and I'll be left with a book 3/4th finished...and you'll have to figure out the rest for yourselves! Doesn't seem worth the money.

Speak tomorrow.