Cathrina Constantine has been my May Featured Follower. I hope you’ll buy her book, read it and review it. The sixties! Ah, the sixties!
One of my good friends, S.A. Larson has a new book coming out. Take a look!
I read the excerpt on the author’s blog and now have this book on my list. You can buy it here.
The Tomato Report
Then there’s the on-going tomato saga. No tomatoes, but one heck of a lot of shrubberies. Anyone who doesn’t live in the mountains can’t understand the struggle to get tomatoes before September, and that’s exactly what I’ve set out to do. I’m challenging Mother Nature. Man is she tough!
You might notice the brevity of this post. Let me explain. I’m writing. I’m in the cave, and I am not doing as well as I’d like; however, a little setback like not “getting” the characters, or not “getting” the plot and tension, or not “getting” the whole #!$$! story together is not bothering me. Just wanted you to know.
Quote of the Week:
Keep in mind, Brevity is the souls of wit. . .or sometimes you’re just short of time. Well, aren’t we all?
Toinette Thomas says
I wish I had advice to offer, but I've never tried to grow tomatoes. I have heard that you can make specialty dishes out of the green unripend ones, but you'd perhaps have to Google that. With writing, it just one of things you have to keep plunging at.
Misha Gericke says
I soooooooo want to enter the cave, but my freelance editing and stuff is kicking in big time and I don't want to pull back as that will help me pay for more books. :-/
J Lenni Dorner says
Good luck "in the cave." Don't spelunk too long, since cave blindness is a real thing.
I know not to grow sunflowers too near a tomato plant, but that's really the only tip I have. Good luck!
klahanie says
Hey superstar author, Lee,
Yep, your wait for one of my eagerly anticipated, award winning comments has finally arrived at your blogging door.
I much prefer short posts and thus, well done!
Very kind of you to have featured followers and all those links.
All the best in regards to you writing about caves. Tomatoes? Yep, I'm trying to ketchup here.
As forever n' stuff, your starstruckest fan,
Gary…..
Mark Noce says
Cool covers:) And keep those tomatoes growing! I've got mine planted in the garden too:)
Beverly Stowe McClure says
You can do it. One day, like magic, the characters and story will be there. So will the tomatoes. Have a great weekend.
Heather R. Holden says
Good luck writing, and growing those tomatoes! Both muses and Mother Nature are way too fickle sometimes, for sure…
Shannon Lawrence says
As a fellow mountain dweller, I completely understand about those tomatoes. We tried to start our plants in advance this year, and somehow failed miserably, so will be direct sowing this weekend. We do have three tiny tomato plants that survived our indoor seeding attempts. Good luck to you!
Robert Bennett says
Yay Tomatoes! I should do an update of my own. I've got so many veggies growing including OHGODTHEPUMPKINS!
C. Lee McKenzie says
You've reminded me of my pumpkin story. It is something I'd totally forgotten. Thank you, Robert.
Shilpa Garg says
Cheering and rooting for you as you get the words flowing and tend the tomatoes, Lee. ♥
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Shipla! Really appreciate all the support from my readers.
Shooting Stars Mag says
You can do it! And by that, I mean, the writing and the growing of tomatoes!!
C. Lee McKenzie says
You have more faith than I have in either endeavor at the moment, but perhaps. Let's see.
DMS says
Hope things are going better in the writing cave! Love Cathrina's cover! 🙂
~Jess
C. Lee McKenzie says
Better. Not what I want yet, but we're getting there.
Lexa Cain says
Congrats to Cathrina on her release and Sheri on her cover reveal! And yay for stumbling across a new book to read! Good luck on your tomato challenge, and don't feel bad about not "getting' your book. You know you will crack it eventually and at least you're in your cave trying. I'm in my cave, but with 20 yrs of boxes stuffed into every corner, I'm in re-organization and THROWING AWAY mode. I haven't written in a month, but hopefully June will be different. *crosses fingers*
C. Lee McKenzie says
Caves are cold, lonely places and so dark! I'm not a cave person by nature. That may be my problem. Hope you get your stuff organized and tossed. Here's to June.
Yvonne Ventresca says
Love the quote and good luck with the story!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks. I'm glad I have some good crit partners to help me through the process.
Trin Carl says
I love that you do featured followers. It's a great way to keep up with your readers. I try to do book tags on my blog. It's similar to the game of "Tag" where when Your "it" you participate in that day's blog challenge. Let me know if you ever want to volunteer. theglobaldig.blogspot.com
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'll have to think about that. I'm on a bit of an overload at the moment.
Mason Canyon says
Congrats to those with new releases. You're on the right track and will be eating tomatoes and reading the results of your writing in no time. You got this!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Bless you, Mason. I love your confidence in me.
Annalisa Crawford says
Good luck with the book! I'm currently trying to get to grips with my ending, and the fact my 'big reveal' is a big, damp squib 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
LOL! I totally understand that.
J.H. Moncrieff says
Good luck with your writing, Lee! Hope it goes well.
We have a short growth season up here in Canada too. Tomatoes are usually okay, but peppers? Forget about it!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I always appreciate the pioneer's when I garden. How did they survive without a corner grocery store?
Lynda Dietz says
I'm completely in sympathy about late tomatoes. Northwestern PA has a short growth season and most things all come into ripeness at the same time (late summer/early fall), making us crazy with trying to eat or preserve it all.
I have no good advice for tomatoes or writing, but hey, I'm happy to cheer you on. Go, go, go! Write, write, write! You can do it! *jumping as high as a 52-year-old can manage without too many jiggles*
C. Lee McKenzie says
Cheering is great and you do a wonderful job. Thank you so much.
Liz A. says
Glad to see you poke your head out of the writing cave. We'll understand as you get back to it.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Liz. I'm glad to know others understand.
Lynda R Young says
I think mother nature often has a mind of her own. Best wishes for your tomatoes.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yes. Like so many women I know.
Sandra Cox says
Hang tough, Lee. You can and will beat that story into submission, then come over and work on mine:)
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Sandra. Call me. Let's dish some writing dirt together.
Shady Del Knight says
Hi, Cheryl Lee!
Mrs. Shady loves Fried Green Tomatoes, the book and the film, plus she loves to eat them that way and often prepares them as side dishes. If your plants don't bear fruit that is fully ripened, then you might consider the green tomato option. An interesting tidbit I found in a Huff. Post article: "Some green tomatoes are meant to stay green forever. Others are unripe versions of red tomatoes that will eventually turn red. And they taste VERY different from one another."
When I am writing something important, I can't tolerate distractions and don't like to take breaks. I applaud you for continuing your blogging activities and thank you very much for taking time to flesh out your comments on SDMM. I appreciate that.
Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend C-Lee!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I love those. I remember looking forward to them when I was a kid. Unfortunately, I never make them quite a well as my grandmother did. I should have paid more attention. Always love your visits, Shady.
Karen Lange says
Short is good and necessary sometimes! Cheering you on through the process. I'm confident you'll work it all out in the right timing. Have a good week!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Always appreciate the vote of confidence.
Nana Prah says
I like your short and direct post.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Me, too!
Spacer Guy says
Tomatoes need love, green fingers and water. Maybe your book needs a deus ex machina to add some chaos or resolution for the characters in your storyline….
C. Lee McKenzie says
Send me one of those deus things and let's see if that helps. 🙂
Elephant's Child says
Congratulations to all those with new releases.
And huge thanks to all writers. You enrich my world and keep me sane(ish).
Good luck with the 'matoes. Tricky beasts. But worth the battle.
C. Lee McKenzie says
We need more like you out there. Just know how much you're appreciated.
Natalie Aguirre says
Love that quote. And I can see the challenge of your tomatoes if it's not warm enough or enough sun. Hoping you make your goal.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm thinking about that lemon quote right now. Something about if the world gives you lemons, make lemonade. I'm afraid I might be mixing my fruits and my metaphors.
Barbara Fisher says
Ah, the sixties indeed!
I love your tomato reports! Your post might be short, but the tomatoes certainly aren’t. Wishing you every success with the tomatoes and the writing. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Barbara. I just know I'll bring in a good tomato one of these days. Oh, and maybe a good book.
Chrys Fey says
Yes, challenge Mother Nature. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
It never ends.
DEZMOND says
those tomatoes really need to ketchup 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Oh, you! I'm reduced to ROFL!
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – looks like a house move is on the cards for getting some tomatoes?! As Donna says … no tomatoes – time to write …
I like your last sentence … but it could be amended:
"Keep in mind, Brevity is the souls of wit. . .or sometimes you're just short of WITS. Well, aren't we all?"
Cheers good luck with said writing and those 'ruddy' tomatoes! Hilary
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm often short of wits and I do like brevity. Did Shakespeare say everything that's worth repeating? Thanks for the good wishes on both of my battle fronts.
The Happy Whisk says
Here's to you kickin' some serious writing butt. And also, some tomato butt as well. You can do it. I betcha. I just betcha.
C. Lee McKenzie says
All I need is more encouragement like yours. Merci.
Donna K. Weaver says
Sorry about your tomatoes being uncooperative. Now get back to writing!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Good advice!
M.J. Fifield says
When I still lived in the White Mountains in New Hampshire, I had a surprising amount of success growing tomatoes in containers on my patio. I tried to do the same on my patio here in Florida, but no luck. Partially, the heat, my own lack of know-how, and partially because of the wild rabbits living in my backyard that love to eat the plants.
Best of luck down in the writing cave. Hope you get all your story elements to cooperate soon. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Plants know so much more about when to grow and when not to grow than we do. I wish I had plant wisdom.
Jacqui Murray says
"Failure is not fatal"–that's news to lots of people. Excellent advice.
C. Lee McKenzie says
That gives me hope.
S.A. Larsenッ says
I admire your efforts with the tomato plant. #NoThankYou But that's probably because I remember having to help with my parent's garden when I was young. Then again, I love tomatoes! Best of luck. Hoping you get some in abundance! Thank you for sharing in my cover reveal. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
I was my grandmother's weeder. I still hate that job! Glad to share the cover. Good luck on the book.
T. Powell Coltrin says
Love is in my heart for the 1960s since I grew up during that era.
Yeah, good luck on fight Mother Nature. I NEVER win. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
We may both be in the loser corner on this tomato one! 🙁
Pat Hatt says
Show mother nature who's boss and keep on pushing through the writing too.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Pat. Today more words go on the page.
Yolanda Renée says
Keep at it, you're almost there!
Congrats to all the new releases!
I'm getting caught up on TBR list before I tackle a new writing project. I owe so many folks, plus, the inspiration comes from the reading!
C. Lee McKenzie says
You are so right about the reading inspiration. I just need more time so I can get through those books before I fall into the pillow face-down.
Elizabeth Seckman says
Nothing wrong with being brief when you're on a writing role. Cheers to a great word count!
Love Churchill!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Elizabeth. I'm at 60K. I only need about 10K more.
Bish Denham says
Enjoy being in the cave! And may your tomatoes bust out in bloom soon.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Come over and let's chant together.
H.R. Sinclair, Southpaw says
Come on little tomato plant, you can do it! And those minor story setbacks, be gone!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks. I needed a pep talk.
L. Diane Wolfe says
You don't have as long a growing season as we do. I already have 2 dozen tomatoes forming on my plants.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Oh, now you've done it! Cut me to the core.
sage says
If you get a lot of green tomatoes that you have to pull before a frost, make green tomato relish! That's what I did when I lived in Utah and seldom got more than a handful of red tomatoes
C. Lee McKenzie says
Will do.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Just keep fighting for your tomatoes and your stories!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I need the #IWSG Wed to come more frequently!