Springing to Life

by Margie Senechal

Happy St. Patrick's Day and for me, it's finally beginning to feel like Spring, whose official debut is only a few days away. 

We have two days of sunshine and 60+ degrees before the rain returns. Although rain and Spring are synonymous in the PNW. As are fall and rain. Good thing I love the rain. 

I love it when Spring is in her full glory and it seems as if the trees rain green. Even with the snow a couple of weeks ago and freezing weather, I have grape hyacinth, tulips, and bleeding hearts rising up through the leafy blanket left from Autumn. 

Last week I finished the first/second draft of Suitcases and sent it out to some beta readers. If you didn't receive it and would like to read it and give feedback (good, bad, or indifferent), IM me your email and I will send it on out. 

This is the first time anyone has read more than a few chapters at a time, so it's a bit nerve-wracking. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't checking my email a bit more frequently. I'm happy that I was able to finish it close to the timetable I set for myself back in January. 

Next Saturday, my sisters, mom, and I are driving up to Belfair, WA so I can scout it out as the potential setting for Suitcases. Potential in that I already set it there, but now I need to put in some details. I so appreciate that they're totally cool with escorting me on these little setting sojourns because my 230,000+ miles car and I aren't able to do it all by ourselves. Plus, we have a lot of fun together when it's just the four of us. 

Last time we did one of these trips, it was to Camp 18 on the way to the beach--Bigfoot is memorialized there. And that was for a crucial date scene in my novel, La Sabrananque, which will end up with a new title someday.  And it was also this time of year--apparently, Wendy's birthday celebration and my need for a day scouting trip arrive at the same time every year. Lucky that.

In honor of Spring and new beginnings, I'm hoping to focus on a middle grade project, Banned Book Bandit. I also need to craft an outstanding query letter for Suitcases once I hear back from readers and make any necessary changes. 

That's my Spring Agenda. Maybe next time I'll have pictures from my latest setting scout expedition to share. 

Happy Spring and Happy St. Patrick's Day! Stay safe and well!