What's wrong with this sentence?

When you write something, anything, and then you check it over, often your brain deceives you into seeing what's supposed to be there rather than what's really there. I read my work, I double check my work. My crit partners read my work. My editor reads my work and then I read it again. STILL, there's always something that sneaks through. The same is true in any job, anyone who has to write something, whether it's a technical brief or a legal opinion or a financial report. Multiple eyes on a project and still something will sneak through.

I recently got an email from a friend who pointed something out to me. I swear, it took me reading it three times to realize what was wrong with this sentence, because I know what it's meant to say (but that's not what it says).

They sliced cheese to drink with their wine.

Facepalm.

In this age of technology, the error is easy to fix, but holy cow. With all the people who have read this, you'd think someone would have noticed sooner. One must always factor in for human error.

And now, back to work on the second Hillendale novel. Have you picked up FAMILY ALCHEMY yet?

"The main characters Brynn and her aunt Nora, with their supernatural powers, grab you by the heartstrings right from the start and keep hold until the very last word." - Jennifer L. LeClair

You can buy it here!

Going down the rabbit hole

One of the fun parts about writing is learning new things.

One of the hazardous parts about writing is chasing those new things down rabbit holes or, to use another analogy, chasing squirrels.

Sometimes, in the interest of adding authenticity to a story, it's necessary to do a lot of research. Sometimes, that research drops in your lap. Which brings me to where I am right now.

I've been writing the second book in the Hillendale series, and in December, I went to a winter solstice party. Essentially, it's a celebration of the changing season, and what better ritual to incorporate into a book about two "maybe" witches? Since my new book also takes place in the summer, I switched the calendar to observe a summer solstice, but with summer comes different rituals.

And down the rabbit hole I go.

Google is a wonderful thing. You can find out dozens of things about dozens of cultures and rituals. I even found a street sign I was looking for on Google images when my friends who live in the area I was looking for "forgot" to get back to me. Seriously, people don't understand why I ask certain questions, I mean what could be so exciting about a street sign? Nothing, but I was looking for authenticity. Which takes me back down the rabbit hole.

As an author, I'm entitled to engage in artistic license. As fellow author Mary Doria Russell said when I saw her recently, "fiction means I get to make sh!t up." So yes, I can make up everything about how indigenous people might celebrate the summer solstice, and I can make up everything about how witches might celebrate the solstice, and I can make up everything about how paganism intersects with Native American customs, but I'm looking for some measure of authenticity.

The funny thing is that once I get the information I'm searching out, a lot of it doesn't actually make it into the book. Nobody wants to read an author recounting her research in the middle of a story. As they say, the devil's in the details. It's in the nuances that the authenticity comes through, but you don't get those nuances without understanding your subject matter.

That artistic license often becomes a conglomeration of everything I learn. Take, for instance, COOKIE THERAPY. I interviewed three different firemen for that story, and each of them told me something different. From the "expert" who counsels writers, to a friend who said "It's fiction. Make up whatever you want," to the third guy who said, when I ran a scene by him based on information provided by the first two, "If you do that, the fire's going to kill him." This is where the author throws her hands in the air and cries uncle. Enter artistic license, and a disclaimer that any mistakes are the fault of the writer. In the end, I think I got it right, and attending the Writers Police Academy (which also had firefighters) confirmed it.

Tapping my sources, but soliciting others. Do you know anyone who celebrates the summer solstice? What rituals do they practice?

News!

By now, you know that I have a NEW RELEASE today (you did buy your copy of FAMILY ALCHEMY, didn't you?).What's it about? Well, let me put it this way. If you liked PRACTICAL MAGIC, I think you'll like FAMILY ALCHEMY.  So, without further ado, here's an excerpt.

Buy it here!

Let me know what you think. This one has all the supernatural without the love story. Thmbs up? or thumbs down?

Walking through the past

How was your holiday season? Did you survive? Are you happy it's behind or are you missing the company of friends and family?

Where I am, the weather has been unseasonably warm, so we've been making the most of it by going out for walks every chance we get. I've seen some fun things, which I post on my "Out and About" posts on Instagram, and in an effort to get out of the house, I talked the Big Guy into a trip to my hometown to see an outdoor light display.

Overlooking the koi pond

When I was a kid, my sisters and I walked to school (not going to call up the folk story about "two miles uphill through a foot of snow" stuff). It was about a mile each way, though, and yes, sometimes it snows in Illinois. The best part of the walk was the place that makes Lombard, Illinois famous--Lilacia Park. Every year the town has a Lilac festival, and the park blooms with several colors and varieties of lilacs and tulips. My sisters and I often walked through the park on our way to school. I remember stopping to read the sundial (never did figure out how that worked) and looking over the koi pond (before koi ponds were fashionable).

A few years ago, I'd heard they did a Christmas light display in the park, but I'd never taken the time or found an opportunity to go back. Through the magic of social media, I'd seen some of my family and friends who still live in the area post pictures, and while the Big Guy and I were sitting around on New Years Day, we figured we needed an adventure, so we made the trek--quick before the display ends.

Rastas

On one end of the park, there is a deer statue that children have climbed onto for as long as he's been there. His name is Rastas, and he has stubs where his antlers should be. Naturally, Rastas was my first stop.

As I led the Big Guy along the familiar paths, past the light displays, beside the knoll that used to be shrouded in trees making for a secret hiding spot, past the wishing willow tree, I saw so much more than the abundance of colored lights and Christmas designs that decorated the park. Memories filled in all the spots left barren in the winter. The time spent with friends and family. The building inside the park where I bought my summer pool pass. The library where I spent so much time growing up.

Moving lights - a Christmas train

Sometimes when you need to recharge after the holidays, it's nice to revisit those places that are dear to you (or revisit the deer!). What are you doing to "recover" from the holidays?

Now available in audio!

Happy New Year

Have to keep moving forward. One of the last things someone I loved very much said to me.

With the new year comes a new release. It’s something different for me, and yet kind of the same. This one isn’t a romance (which isn’t to say it doesn’t contain some romantic elements). FAMILY ALCHEMY has the magical, paranormal feel you might expect from me, with characters who have “extra” gifts. Does a talent for alchemy, for creating something special out of ordinary ingredients, make you a witch? What about making a wish that comes true, except not in the way you intended? It’s a coming of age/new adult novel with a twist and provides a foundation for a continuing legacy that will follow through the series, set in a unique little town (my inspiration for this book!).

The book releases January 14. I hope you’ll love it! And I hope you’ll let me know what you think!

You can pre-order here!