Melissa Westemeier

I planned to write a gratitude post each week this month, but last week got away from me! A Holiday Habit came out last week and even though the launch party isn't until Nov. 21, I posted and promoted it AND I completed a decent draft of A Killing in Yellowstone for my writing group to critique by Friday afternoon. On top of all this, I cleaned the garage, attended G's football game, and added extra tutoring to my schedule. Today feels like reaching the surface after diving

Time has slid through my grubby fingers since I attended UntitledTown nearly two weeks ago. One never knows how these events will turn out, or, more specifically, whether PEOPLE will turn out. Best a gal can do is hold her breath, prepare her materials, and show up. I arrived early to check in and receive my marching orders while asking for clarification about one item on the schedule. In Conversation was meant to be me and two other writers talking in a room and anyone coul

When I was young I remember making umbrellas out of construction paper and our teacher hung them on the classroom wall with the words " April Showers Bring May Flowers ." In May we cut tulips and other flowers from the stack of construction paper to replace those umbrellas. The smell of Elmer's Glue brings me back in time... Spring's a sloppy season for Midwesterners. In a single day we can get snow, sleet, seventy degrees and sunshine, a tornado warning, and torrential rain.

This will always be my favorite turkey--disguised as Darth Vader to escape slaughter. Hearing my favorite song on the radio when I start my car Finding exactly the right amount of a spice or seasoning (or flour or oil or whatever) in my pantry when I'm in the middle of making a recipe Sleeping through the night and waking up before my alarm, feeling well-rested Waking up without that stupid ache in my right shoulder Reaching something on a tall shelf without needing to find a

For graduation I give each of my offspring a trip to the destination of their choice. T and I went to England and Paris the summer before...

It's been a week since Old Habits Die Hard came out, launching the Nun the Wiser Mysteries, and I'm beside myself with joy because...