Five Things - August 12, 2024

Welcome to my blog titled “Five Things” where you can expect just that - five random musings or reflections from the previous week or so. For a photo gallery of our life on the road, our pets, and miscellaneous things I find interesting, you can also follow me on Instagram @tabithalord.

So here are this week’s five things…

1. I’ll be teaching an in-person class at Rogers Free Library on Monday, August 19th at 7:00 pm. The topic is one I love to talk about, and it’s a popular program I’ve hosted on previous webinars and discussed on panels. It’s titled ‘Editing: Soup to Nuts’ and here’s the blurb…

   For many authors, the editing process is a daunting one, but a well edited manuscript can mean the difference between a book that’s ready for the world and a document that sits in a drawer collecting dust. Let’s talk about the different parts of the editing process and how to successfully find and work with an editor. We’ll also spend time discussing the goals of a developmental edit and how to work effectively with beta readers or critique partners. Learn practical techniques that will help make the editing process efficient, effective, and satisfying!

   You can register HERE. Writers friends, maybe I’ll see you there!

2. We’re slowly checking off musical bucket list items as we travel the country, and I finally, finally got to see Green Day! The concert was at Fenway Park. We had great seats (thank you, Ray!), the band did not disappoint, and I got a cool new t-shirt.

3. Since returning to RI from residency, we’ve been doing ALL THE THINGS, from concerts, to dinner dates at our old favorite hang-outs, to Block Island, to time with family and friends. So far, it’s been a wonderful whirlwind of activity, but I may need a vacation from my vacation as I am no longer in my 30’s or even my 40’s. Not sure how it happened, but apparently I’ve been alive for more than half a century. This is shocking, even to me, but true. Taking a down day at a friend’s house yesterday and just chatting and sitting by the water was just what the old body called for. I may have to build a few more days like that into the schedule.

4. My shipment of school books has arrived for the fall semester, and wow, it’s a big pile! I had to clean out a couple of shelves to house all my new book babies, and they all look fantastic. Our focus in the fall will be the mystery, thriller, and romance genres. Not only will we be reading and analyzing novels from those genres, but we’ll be writing our own stories. It’ll be an adventure for sure.

5. “When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” ― Paulo Coelho

Five Things - November 5, 2023

Welcome to my blog titled “Five Things” where you can expect just that - five random musings or reflections from the previous week or so. In addition, at the end of the blog, I’ll keep a running itinerary of our travel plans. For a photo gallery of our life on the road, our pets, and miscellaneous things I find interesting, you can follow me on Instagram @tabithalord.

So here are this week’s five things…

1. Last weekend was RI Comic Con. It’s the first time I haven’t attended this particular event in probably six years. My writer pals sent me goofy pictures, videos, and notes from their adventures. Although I know I am where I should be in my personal and professional life, I was truly sad not to be there with them.

2. Since flying to RI a few weeks ago for a friend’s birthday party, I’ve found myself really missing my Meadowbrook community. I’ve been involved there as a parent, a volunteer, an employee, or Board member for over twenty years, and this marks the first time since discovering the school for our then five-year-old son that I haven’t had a hand in the day-to-day operations or long range planning. The Meadowbrook community comprised most of my friend group. It helped guide me as a parent, as a professional, and it changed the way I looked at educating children. Meadowbrook is a beacon of light at a time when the world really needs it, and I’m so grateful for the time I spent there.

3. We’re currently camped out in the Emerald City, otherwise known as Seattle. While the weather is typical Pacific Northwest rainy, it’s as beautiful as I remember. We always have a good time because Ray’s brother and wife also live here. The four of us met in college, so, in addition to being family, we’ve also been friends for a hundred years or so and can party together like rock stars!

4. Looking ahead to the holidays, I’m thinking about how to decorate our tiny home for Christmas. There isn’t much room, but we can manage a few bows of garland, some holly berries, and twinkle lights. I’m also ready to queue up the Holiday Station on satellite radio! Celebrating the holidays will look a little different this year for sure, but I’m really excited to create some new memories.

5. I’ll be teaching a Zoom webinar titled “Editing: Soup to Nuts” on Wednesday, November 15th at 7 pm EST. It’s only 90 minutes and very reasonably priced (only $35) for as much information as I can pack into the time slot! So, if you or anyone you know have interest, please follow this LINK to register. Here’a a description… For many authors, the editing process is a daunting one, but a well edited manuscript can mean the difference between a book that’s ready for the world and a document that sits in a drawer collecting dust. Let’s talk about the different parts of the editing process and how to successfully find and work with an editor. We’ll also spend time discussing the goals of a developmental edit and how to work effectively with beta readers or critique partners. Learn practical techniques that will help make the editing process efficient, effective, and satisfying!

Our Itinerary, subject to change:

October 30 - November 12: Seattle, WA

November 12 - 19: Travel to Orange, CA

November 19 - January 3, 2024: Orangeland Park, CA

January 3 - 14: Oceanside, CA

January 19 - February 2: San Diego, CA

February 2 - 16: Palm Springs, CA

February 16 - March 1: Las Vegas, NV

March 1 - March 5: Meteor Crater, AZ

March 5 - 15: Albuquerque, NM

March 15 - 17: Amarillo, TX

March 17 - 24: Oklahoma City, OK

March 24 - April 5: Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX

April 5 - 12: Fredericksburg, TX

April 12 - 19: Hot Springs, AK

“Not all those who wander are lost.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

Five Things - April 17, 2023

Welcome to my blog titled “Five Things” where you can expect just that - five random musings or reflections from the previous week or so. In addition, at the end of the blog, I’ll keep a running itinerary of our travel plans. For a photo gallery of our life on the road, our pets, and miscellaneous things I find interesting, you can follow me on Instagram @tabithalord.

So here are this week’s five things…

1. Flexibility is key to our well-being, especially on the road! While we’ve planned out our path for the next several months, stuff happens in the meantime. Instead of feeling frustrated and tense when we have to make changes, we sit with our map and a glass of wine and rework certain dates and places. The more comfortable we are in our tiny, mobile home, the easier it gets to roll with things.

2. We’ve had a blast in New Orleans. It’s a quirky city with terrible roads, but we’ve eaten our way through the French Quarter, listened to some fantastic music, brought our dog to the Vampire Bar, where they served her a pup plate for dinner, met up with good friends from RI, and spent time with one of Ray’s college roommates and his wife. We visited the WWII museum, shopped, and managed to get some work done in between!

3. “Don’t count the days. Make the days count.” - Muhammad Ali

4. I can not stress enough how important it is that we have laundry on board.

5. I’m very excited to teach another Zoom webinar for the ARIA Writing Academy titled ‘Editing: Soup to Nuts’ on Thursday, May 11th at 7 pm EST. A well edited manuscript can mean the difference between a book that’s ready for the world and a document that sits in a drawer collecting dust. If you’re ready to tackle your edits, check out this class. Here’s a link to the full course description and registration: ARIA Writing Academy.

“Not all those who wander are lost.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

Our itinerary, subject to change:

April 19-28: Austin, TX

April 28 - May 8: Medina Lake, TX

May 8-15: Carlsbad, NM

May 15-22: Albuquerque, NM

May 22-29: Santa Fe, NM

May 29 - June 2: Alamosa, CO

June 2-10: Colorado Springs, CO

June 10-18: Granby, CO

June 18 - July 5: Central City, CO

July 5-9: Vernal, UT

July 9-15: Salt Lake, UT

July 15-22: West Yellowstone, MT

July 22 - August 5: Jackson, WY

August 5-10: Rock Springs, WY

August 10-18: Hurricane, UT

August 18-27: Coachella, CA

August 27 - September 5: Temecula, CA

September 5 - October 1: Santa Barbara, CA

Monday Musings 12-6-21

The holiday season is in full swing. Last week, we decorated the house for Christmas. As I write this, the music station is playing carols in the background, twinkle lights are glowing on the tree, and the yield from yesterday’s cookie swap will supply a delicious platter of sweet treats for an upcoming party. Despite this, I find myself shifting back and forth from joy to melancholy.

With three of our kids living on the west coast, and the last one nearly out the door, our traditions are shifting. I miss cookie baking day with the kids, evening drives to look at Christmas lights, annual trips to watch the Nutcracker, dinner by candlelight each night through the season. I could go on. We always focused on experiences rather than things during the holidays. With a big family, we wanted to make memories not accumulate stuff, and I think we did.

This year, we made an unexpected trip to LA for Thanksgiving. One of the kids needed surgery, and we all gathered in support of him and to celebrate the holiday. While we were there, we were went to another son’s apartment to help him and his lovely girlfriend decorate. The significance of my husband and I becoming part of their newly forming traditions wasn’t lost on us. Change is in the air and our family is at a sort of in-between state. When my feelings of nostalgia tip into sadness, I find great joy watching our kids enthusiastically build their own traditions.

It’s easy to allow the season to become stress-filled and overwhelming, but I hope we’ve modeled for our kids that it doesn’t have to be. Instead, it can be a season of mindfulness, meaningful experiences, and celebration.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Wishing you happiness.” - Helen Keller

Wishing you and yours a season filled with joy, peace, and love!

In other news…

The RI Author Expo is this Saturday, December 11th from 9 am - 3 pm at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick. Signed books make excellent gifts, and this event showcases over 100 Rhode Island authors, myself included. For the first time, I’ll be signing books from the HORIZON science fiction series and the TACTICAL SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL romantic suspense series, so if you’ve found me as Tabitha or Maggie, come say hello!

In addition to celebrity guests, book signings, a cool raffle, entertainment, and snacks, there’s an excellent line-up of panels and programs. I’ll be presenting this one at 11:15 am…

Editing: Soup to Nuts

For many authors, the editing process is a daunting one. But a well edited manuscript can mean the difference between a book that’s ready for the world and a document that sits in a drawer collecting dust. Let’s talk about the different parts of the editing process, and how to successfully find and work with an editor. We’ll then spend some time discussing the goals of a developmental edit, and share techniques that will help make the editing process efficient, effective, and satisfying.

Monday Musings 11-29-21

It’s the end of November already, and it’s another month with five Mondays. That means a double post to Monday Musings and Dear Maggie!

We’re just returning home from an unexpected trip to LA, as one of our boys had a medical issue which needed handling. He’s on the other side of it now and doing great, thankfully. I’ll admit, I’m pretty exhausted but relieved, and very grateful for the extra time we got to spend with our kids (minus our oldest who’s currently deployed) and their significant others this Thanksgiving.

Now that I’m home, and my head is back in the writing game, I’ve got some exciting things coming up….

First, the RI Author Expo on Saturday, December 11th from 9 am - 3 pm at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick. Signed books make excellent gifts, and this event showcases over 100 Rhode Island authors, myself included. For the first time, I’ll be signing books from the HORIZON science fiction series and the TACTICAL SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL romantic suspense series, so if you’ve found me as Tabitha or Maggie, come say hello!

In addition to celebrity guests, book signings, a cool raffle, entertainment, and snacks, there’s an excellent line-up of panels and programs. I’ll be presenting this one at 11:15 am…

Editing: Soup to Nuts

For many authors, the editing process is a daunting one. But a well edited manuscript can mean the difference between a book that’s ready for the world and a document that sits in a drawer collecting dust. Let’s talk about the different parts of the editing process, and how to successfully find and work with an editor. We’ll then spend some time discussing the goals of a developmental edit, and share techniques that will help make the editing process efficient, effective, and satisfying.

For a full listing of the day’s activities, click HERE.

Once the Expo is in my rearview, I’ll be finishing up the draft of Moving Target, the next book in the TSI series. I’m already working with the amazing Steven Meyer-Rassow on cover design!

The draft of Dreamwalker, an urban fantasy/thriller, is currently with my agent. I’ll probably need to do a little more work before it goes out on submission, so stay tuned.

There’s more, but I’ll save it for next time! Just for fun, here are some pictures of Daisy having a bath and getting ready to travel out west with us!