Well it's official. Summer ended yesterday at 3:50 a.m. with the arrival of the autumn equinox. I'm not sure what time zone that refers to but I do know I was most likely asleep and missed the event. However, this morning an overnight meeting of cool and warm air above the meadow behind our cottage was evidence that a different season had begun.
I love autumn and am happy to live where four seasons keep us on our toes - surprising and disappointing us and definitely keeping alive weather conversations everywhere. I'm usually caught off-guard by how quickly summer fades into fall because by the end of July, it seems endless. But this summer was a literal steamroller as the days sped from one excitement to the next. Here are some of my personal highlights:
1. 50 That's the number of years my husband and I have been married in 2019. The actual anniversary falls on our Canadian Thanksgiving weekend but because there was a lot of family on the island at the beginning of July, we were treated to a surprise party that included a wonderful scrapbook of photos from 1969 to the present (were we really that young??), a very funny 'roast' and of course, Champagne. The celebrating continued when my husband accompanied me to NYC at the end of the month for RWA.
2. The Romance Writers of America Conference
Deciding to go to RWA this summer was a no-brainer. My second Heartwarming was released in July, the location was close to my hometown of Toronto and my husband hadn't been to NYC since his teens. Highlights included meeting fellow Heartwarming authors, all every bit as graciously welcoming as I'd imagined; the Harlequin parties and other events were as spectacular as ever and NYC itself - despite the heat and crowds - awesome.
3. Cottage Life
The island where we summer each year recovered from a very wet spring and flooding, bursting into greenery everywhere. But this summer, especially in late August, there were hundreds (some islanders claimed thousands) of Monarch butterflies. They were all over, flitting among swaths of sunflowers and goldenrod and roosting in tree branches at dusk until they disappeared in mid-September. We also had a plague of frogs, leaping frantically as we walk in the grass around the cottage. The butterflies have gone, but the frogs are still here. :)
4. Contract, contract!
A huge burst of excitement occurred the first week of September with the offer of a two book contract from the Heartwarming team. I admit I was taken aback as well as super surprised because I'd never submitted a proposal that involved two books tied by one story. A best-case scenario, I'd rationalized, was that I might sell one book and have to combine both stories in it. But now I get to write about 4 people instead of 2 and...oh my, I just looked at the calendar. I better finish this post!
5. Sybil Jean
I'm certain my daughter and her partner were fans of the Downton Abbey TV series because they chose that name for their first child and my first grandchild. At one year old this month, her personality is already living up to her dramatic name. She's a charmer and we got lots of Sibby-time at the cottage, which was the highlight that superseded all of the above.
What was a summer highlight for you?
Happy Autumn Equinox everyone!
Janice Carter
Twitter: twitter @JaniceGCarter
email:janicecarterbooks@gmail.com
I love autumn and am happy to live where four seasons keep us on our toes - surprising and disappointing us and definitely keeping alive weather conversations everywhere. I'm usually caught off-guard by how quickly summer fades into fall because by the end of July, it seems endless. But this summer was a literal steamroller as the days sped from one excitement to the next. Here are some of my personal highlights:
1. 50 That's the number of years my husband and I have been married in 2019. The actual anniversary falls on our Canadian Thanksgiving weekend but because there was a lot of family on the island at the beginning of July, we were treated to a surprise party that included a wonderful scrapbook of photos from 1969 to the present (were we really that young??), a very funny 'roast' and of course, Champagne. The celebrating continued when my husband accompanied me to NYC at the end of the month for RWA.
2. The Romance Writers of America Conference
Deciding to go to RWA this summer was a no-brainer. My second Heartwarming was released in July, the location was close to my hometown of Toronto and my husband hadn't been to NYC since his teens. Highlights included meeting fellow Heartwarming authors, all every bit as graciously welcoming as I'd imagined; the Harlequin parties and other events were as spectacular as ever and NYC itself - despite the heat and crowds - awesome.
3. Cottage Life
The island where we summer each year recovered from a very wet spring and flooding, bursting into greenery everywhere. But this summer, especially in late August, there were hundreds (some islanders claimed thousands) of Monarch butterflies. They were all over, flitting among swaths of sunflowers and goldenrod and roosting in tree branches at dusk until they disappeared in mid-September. We also had a plague of frogs, leaping frantically as we walk in the grass around the cottage. The butterflies have gone, but the frogs are still here. :)
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| Photo by Kirk Andrew Best |
4. Contract, contract!
A huge burst of excitement occurred the first week of September with the offer of a two book contract from the Heartwarming team. I admit I was taken aback as well as super surprised because I'd never submitted a proposal that involved two books tied by one story. A best-case scenario, I'd rationalized, was that I might sell one book and have to combine both stories in it. But now I get to write about 4 people instead of 2 and...oh my, I just looked at the calendar. I better finish this post!
5. Sybil Jean
I'm certain my daughter and her partner were fans of the Downton Abbey TV series because they chose that name for their first child and my first grandchild. At one year old this month, her personality is already living up to her dramatic name. She's a charmer and we got lots of Sibby-time at the cottage, which was the highlight that superseded all of the above.
What was a summer highlight for you?
Happy Autumn Equinox everyone!
Janice Carter
Twitter: twitter @JaniceGCarter
email:janicecarterbooks@gmail.com
Great post. Congratulations on 50 years of married life! Friends of mine celebrated 50 this year too. I hope the surprise party was fabulous. Between Sibby and new books to write, there is so much to look forward to! My summer highlight was was visiting with long-distance family. Those visits are precious and never long enough.
ReplyDeleteThanks Elizabeth and I completely agree with you how important family visits are, no matter the distance.
DeleteCongratulations on good summer (well, not the frogs). Hope the rest of the year goes equally as well. It's still hot where I'm at, though there's that indefinable feeling of fall in the air.
ReplyDeleteHaha Callie, yes the fogs were (and still are) a distraction. I’m learning not to look down anymore...I was so afraid to step on one. Most are very small.
DeleteI loved your summer! Mine was an up-and-down one this year, punctuated by loss, but there was lots of kids, grandkids, friends, and each-other time, so no complaints. Congratulations on your contract--and on the butterflies! I love reading about your island life.
ReplyDeleteThanks Liz and I’m sorry for your loss. Spending time with extended family helped, I’m sure.
DeleteCongratulations! On the anniversary, the contract, the granddaughter, and all the rest. My summer just flew by, with lots of work on the yard and a new manuscript to show for it. Happy Autumn!
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth and congrats to you too! What’s autumn like in Alaska?
DeleteThis autumn the late summer rains finally arrived with a vengence. Fortunatly, we're in Arizona for a few months.
DeleteAn August release and RWA National and the Heartwarming party--and road trip to get there. I also enjoy reading about your cottage life. Congratulations on your anniversary!
ReplyDeleteThanks Virginia and congrats on your release. It was great meeting you at RWA. I’m in awe of your solo road trips!!
DeleteWow! You had a great summer. Mine went by so fast, I'm still in whiplash. lol
ReplyDeleteHaha, whiplash is what I’ve been feeling too Patricia. Did I mention there was a lot of company between those highlights?
DeleteLovely, Mama! So proud of you for the new contracts. And hope fall on the island continues to be as beautiful as that first picture.
ReplyDelete❤️❤️❤️
DeleteHappy autumn, Janice! Your summer sounds lovely. Congratulations on the new contract!!
ReplyDelete