It's Been a While

 Much has happened since the last post. 

This was released in March 2021. The last in the Macy McVannel series. I do think Macy will return in later  books, just not as a part of the series. 

Then this has happened:

This is a collection of short stories I have been working on for a couple of years. My former ebooks were placed into  this book. It is hardcover, paperback and ebook.

I am looking at getting all of my books into audio books and Mp4 downloads. It is a work in progress.

The current project is a Christmas book, this year it is not a children's book. I will work on a children's Christmas book every other year.

I have books in the works for 2022 already. I'm getting Only a Start & Beyond ready for it's third edition. Let's Write Fiction will be coming out with writing programs built in. Keep watching for those to come up. Chaos is a thriller I am working on. The Standard Bearer is middle grades historical fiction based on the Battle of Mill Springs during the Civil War. I have a beginning chapter book titled: Karson Kids: Buried Treasure. Those are all keeping me busy. 

I've been having work done on the house. My main bathroom has been remodeled. The two decks are under destruction. It needs to stop raining long enough for them to finish. I am looking at a new roof for the barn and my arts & crafts room being torn out and redone, with insulation, a heating and a/c unit, new walls, flooring, and lighting. Eventually there will be some remodeling done in my kitchen and half bath. Then I will do some serious landscaping, I have a koi pond I want working and a gazebo in that area. My garage needs lights and a garage door opener. I want the lawn around the house to be flower beds. I am planning a lilac hedge row along the road side of the yard. I want hydrangeas and a rhodendron tree. I also want a burning bush, a flowering almond, a field of lavender, and a magnolia tree. My maple tree has to be moved so it is nowhere near the electrical wires. There is lots to be done. 

Meanwhile I am going through family photos and am almost ready to start sending them out. I cannot possibly keep them all. I will organize the ones I do keep. No one should have to shoulder this again, 

My website is up and running and you can find all my books there. More will come in the next year. Hope you all are keeping busy.

TTFN

Bittersweet

 Today an offer was accepted on the home where I spent my teen years. I had to be done as no one lives there anymore. All of us kids are scattered to the four winds. I have one sister who still lives only a mile away, but she has her own home to worry about. My brother lives the farthest south, my youngest sister live the farthest west, and I live in the foothills. 

I remember my Dad and Grampa building it. When they let me off the bus after school, my grandparents would be there. Gram always had a snack and Grampa would be laying block for the foundation. For the first two weeks of my 7th grade year, we live in a local motel. Mom or Dad dropped me off for school and I caught a bus to the property after. We moved a mobile home onto the property in front of the construction zone. 

I remember Dad walking off a board for a bismark donut one day and scraping up his back. Another day he was carrying tar paper and missed a step also tumbling to the foundation. There was also the day he off balanced himself on the ladder and it came down. How he didn't kill himself I will never understand.

We moved into the house in October the year I was in 8th grade. By then we had all learned to mix morter, string a brick line, and had laid a row of bricks on the back of the house. Even Mom laid brick. When the sub floor went in before the walls went up, every kid in the neighborhood had his/her dad's hammer and we were all pounding in nails. One every 4 inches. It was a project. 

The project was in the family until now. Fifty-five years and it's help up well. It has good bones. I am glad the family who bought it has children. The house needs kids. 

It is the first home my daughter lived in. The first four years of her life were here. My nieces and nephews have all made some memories here. It was a good place to live. It was a safe haven, if we needed it. It was where love was.

We raised dogs there as well as chickens. There was always a garden. As a kid we mowed the lawn with a push mower, all taking a turn. There were apples, cherries, pears, and mulberries. Dad also planted strawberries and grapes. As we grew older, Dad filled us up with veggies from the garden and eggs from the chickens. 

There is no place to go home to anymore. But it was a good place at the time. 

TTFN

New Year, New Ideas, New Game Plan

 I am a bit behind in wishing everyone a Happy New Year!!! My new year had a quiet start for which I am very grateful. It gave me time to absorb the changes in my life that began in November 2020 with the death of my Mom. No, she did not die of Covid-19, in the long run it did help the process. Being isolated at age 90 is never a good thing. Yes, my sister saw her every day and so did my brother-in-law. But, she could not attend the teacher luncheons anymore, because Michigan spent most of the year in lockdown. My siblings are also grieving as are Mom's grandchildren. They do it in their own ways. 

I have again chosen to write letters to Heaven. This time they are not just to Dad. I write to them both. The letters are in a journal and allow me to keep the sad days at bay. Neither of them saw my new place. Dad was gone when I bought it and Mom was not well enough to come down, although she wanted to.

My two biggest fans of my books are gone, Mom had a copy of G is for Gymnastics and she had seen the layout for Santa is for Real. Something Borrowed, Something Blue is about to launch in Febrary. 

While watching a so-so movie the other day, I came up with four story ideas, so, I am still writing. My brain won't let me. Would anyone be surprised to learn the title of one is Macy's Big Day? Tentative Title for one is Who Killed Donna Dorrance? Their is a Sanctuary spin-off dealing with elder abuse, When Parents are Hurt, a second Sanctuary spin-off Lizzy's New Home, and Teddy Brinker and Tommy Huff return in Valentine's Surprise. These book will not see the light of day before 2022 if not until 2023. I have the current ones to finish. 

As to my new game plan, well I will continue writing, coaching and selling Paparazzi Jewelry. Everyone needs a side hustle. I am also finding ways to give back. With all my books there are charities who are getting $1 for each book sold. I am continuing to do this with each book I write. I will be fitting them into one of my charities. G is for Gymnastics goes to Holt-Mason-Dansville  Gymnastics Program. Santa is for Real goes to Ele's Place. Secrets is going to KY Victims of Violent Crime. Out of the Flames goes to the Faubush Fire Department. I would have to look up the others to find out where they are going. If I can I will see if I can get the charity listed under the book on my website. 

If you have not checked out the website: rebeckavigus.com you should. All books can be personalized when purchased from the site. Just tell me who is getting it. 

Hope your New Year is taking shape.

TTFN