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This writing update comes to you from the shores of Lake Superior. It’s a balmy 64 degrees Fahrenheit at Black Beach, one of my favorite beaches around here. There are at least 50 tourists congregated at the tiny inlet on the other end of the beach near the picnic tables. I’m not sure why they don’t come down to my corner, maybe they know something I don’t, like a monster is going to appear from rocky bottom waters and pull me into Gitchi Gumi, the seagulls might turn into vampire gulls, or there could be an ancient curse that the tourists sense that I’m too dense to notice. Whatever the reason, I’m glad that I have a private outdoor “office” space.

This week I got my fantasy novel back from my copy editor. I plan on making the edits within the next week. If all goes well, I hope to have the book published by the end of August.

I’m making progress on my romance story. I’m enjoying the little surprises that my imagination added. It’s coming along nicely. My goal is to have the draft done by next Friday.

This weekend between writing sessions, I plan to continue to explore the area we moved to. I have a book that gives locations of 150 waterfalls around Lake Superior. I’ve visited many of them over the years, but there are some that are super close to us to explore.

My husband and I moved to the Northshore of Minnesota. Most of the boxes are emptied, but I still have to hang artwork and find homes for items. I’m not a fan of cluttered areas, so the piles are bothering me. We’ve been here a week and still don’t have Internet. Thank goodness for the data on my phone.  

We live in a quiet neighborhood where white-tailed deer wander down the middle of the streets in the evening. I’m glad the speed limit is 25mph for the sake of drivers and the deer. I find them funny, but I’m sure the people who love to garden aren’t huge fans of them. When we walk our dogs, there’s always deer watching us go by, often standing near someone’s flower bed or garden. 

The songbirds chatter almost non-stop. I love hearing them, and it was something that I didn’t hear often enough in Idaho. The other unusual sight is watching the seagulls hop along the sidewalks, calling out to their friends.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the northshore of Minnesota, we’re near Lake Superior. This section of the lake has cliffs and rocky shores. The lake reminds me of the ocean with its vastness; it’s not as blue as the Pacific and not as blue-gray as the Atlantic. Our first week here it rained everyday, and the weather is much cooler than in central Idaho. I’m definitely going to miss the mild winters. 

The other thing the Northshore is known for, besides the rocky shores of Lake Superior, are all the waterfalls. Gooseberry Falls in Gooseberry Falls State Park and High Falls in Tettegouche State Park are among the most popular. There are many other waterfalls and hiking trails abound. And, if you’re a lighthouse lover, Split Rock Lighthouse is a beautiful historical lighthouse to tour.

Now for my writing update. 

I started a romance story in Idaho while I packed up our previous house. Writing is a nice break from the joys of filling boxes. I didn’t bother to work on it during our trek across the country, but resumed working on it today. I’m a little distracted by the newness and sounds of my neighborhood, so it’s taking me a little longer to find my groove.

My most recent novel, Artful Magic, is with my copyeditor. I’m expecting it back mid-June. 

The third novel in my Rockton Treasure Hunting series will be published at the end of the May. I have some final tweaks to do for the cover.

I hope everyone has a good weekend.