New Beginnings

During my social media organic growth phase in 2012, things became rather sprawling. I ended up with multiple urls that were a challenge--even for me--to keep up with, much less maintain.

When someone suggested that I take a look at this, it took me a bit, but finally, I got her point. Well, after my husband who is a whiz bang system architect and application programmer broke it down for me. Then I realized it was kind of brilliant.

The truth is: It FEELS like I fiddled with my website(s) for an entire year, probably because I did! But towards the end of the year, I figured out these are the things that I love:

Twitter,

Eating Magic, 

my Goodreads friends, and

being an Indie Author.

Facebook…I'm still trying to wrap my head around.

I also figured out this is who I am:

A reader and a writer. A writer and a reader. A reader and a writer. A writer and a reader. Okay, I think you've got the point.

Thus, I would like to welcome you to my new streamlined and integrated website where my Eating Magic blog posts will be intermingled with other stuff. Like new releases, cover reveals, contests, giveaways, blog hops, and all the other potpourri of a wordy person's life.

To celebrate this rebirth I'm hosting an exclusive event for my Goodreads friends!

I'll Tweet Your Link!

Just leave your twitter handle and the link you'd like me to tweet as a comment on this blog post before noon, Sunday, January 27; I'll come up with a zesty tweet and shout it out to my 1200+ followers. And if you follow me, I'll follow you back.

If you don't have a twitter account, I'll still tweet your link, I just won't be able to mention your twitter handle in the tweet.

Have a great weekend!

The Finest Dark Chocolate For Your Kindle...

I'm re-reading The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman. According to Goodreads, I've been doing this since September 14, 2013. Sigh.

Reading a book for the second time is different than reading it for the first time. The first time is sensory, full of questions, the unknown beckons. The second time it's like: Your eyes are wide open. You know what's coming. You know where the tragedies are buried and the sweetness lives. And you're older, too. Maybe just a little bit, but still, you've changed.

Perhaps, this is why my second reading of The Story Sisters has been so halting. I'm feeling different about Elv. She was the dark heroine the first time I read the book, but now it's Claire. She's like a prism, her love for her mother and her sisters and her ama and her dog, refracting a color wheel of light.

Every day after school she went to the cemetery. While other girls were meeting boyfriends, going to dances, working on the school newspaper, Claire was walking through the wrought-iron gates.

Sometimes her grandmother feared that Claire was evaporating. What would be left of her if she kept disappearing into a smaller and smaller world of her own? Her shoes, her hat, her coat. Nothing more.

Customers listened to Claire's opinion. Her small sulky voice forced them to lean close in order to catch her advice. In the end they all understood what she was telling them: Stones were the only thing that lasted.

I think I've said this before: It's a bittersweet read. The finest dark chocolate for your kindle, nook, or iThingy…

Reunina Lee. I came to Rescue You.

The Cracked Dry Land of My Soul...

When I get to page 327 in Me Before You by Jojo Moyes I decide: I am not going to let this book get to me.

Not gonna' do it.

Thank god I read the last bit of the book in the tub! On page 354 I turn into a weepy, snotty, hiccoughing, slobbery puddle. The water pressure builds all the way through page 361. Well, I get to page 361, toss the book (carefully) onto the bath rug, and let the rest of it out.

So, I've done it. And I feel much better for it.

I do believe in crying. In private. The bathtub, the shower, wandering through the house when no one's home. I do believe, rather passionately, that crying is cathartic. Healing. Rejuvneating.

The cracked dry land of my soul needs these tears to grow.

I am not convinced that you need botox if you let yourself have a good cry whenever you need it. Sigh.

I don't want to spoil the book for you, but I will tell you to read it. READ IT.

And I will also tell you this: If someone you loves is there, at that threshold. GO. Be present with them in that moment. It will transform you, probably at the molecular level.

When I was with grandma, when she drew her last breath, it was like being in the presence of G-O-D.

I'll Sleep in the Box Room

I stop reading Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. Just stop. Louisa and Will--and Nathan--are in Mauritius. I want to hang out with them--maybe forever, but--at least, for a little while.

I love Louisa. She is fantastic. I hate that I am reading a library book. I want to highlight all the good bits and I can't. But I remember this one from early on:

"Jesus Christ," said my father. "Can you imagine? If it wasn't punishment enough ending up in a ruddy wheelchair, then you get our Lou turning up to keep you company."
"Bernard!" my mother scolded.
Behind me, Grandad was laughing in his cup of tea.

If you don't think that's funny, now. Read the book. You will. Louisa Clark is worth getting to know, as Will Traynor finds out.

This story is unexpectedly wonderful. I find myself wandering around my house with a little smile on my face just because of it.

I confess, I am a bit gaga over it.

In fact, if Josie and Bernard will adopt me, I'll sleep in the box room.