By Louise Ure
What are you doing here? It’s Christmas Day, for crying out loud! Go take a walk on the beach. Go play in the snow. Go sit by the fire.
But before you go, let me first pass on a few Holiday odds & ends.
First of all, take a look at the terrific Christmas present I got this year from my friends at Mind Over Eye in Los Angeles.
Didn’t they do a fine job?
Thanksgiving is the traditional time of year for gratefulness, but for
me, this week is one of reflection and thanks giving. Of remembering and looking ahead.
A time to say thank you to the readers and booksellers and librarians who give us a try, to the friends who make videos and come to signings, to the publishers and agents who support and encourage our work.
I always start off the new year with such a rosy glow. A promise to outweigh the naughty with nice. To be a better writer, a better
wife and daughter and sister, a better human being. I have such high hopes for 2008. For myself, for our country and for our planet. Come on, politicians, don’t let me down again.
If you have a moment, stop over at Moments In Crime today, too. That’s the new St. Martin’s Minotaur blog where I was posting last week. (I’m blogged out after all that. That’s why today’s post is so short.) Linda L. Richards got holiday duty over there, and it will be cold and lonely unless we join her for a cuppa. Her book, Death Was the Other Woman, promises that whatever drink she serves will rich and dark.
And mark your calendars for January 5. That’s the day that Elaine Flinn has rounded up her posse of questioners over at Evil E to interview me. When she brings the likes of Zoe Sharp, Ken Bruen, David Montgomery, Allison Brennan, Nick Stone, Paul Guyot and Ali Karim together, you know it’s going to be good.
Now, go enjoy Christmas Day. Want to tell us what you’ll remember this Christmas for? Was there one special moment or gift or event or thought?
Any New Year’s resolutions you’re willing to share?
XOXO
Louise
” What are you doing here?”Wanted to see what pix you had chosen for us today, Louise. The cards evoke lovely remembrances of holidays past. And I’ll remember this as the first Christmas in decades to have spent over a week back home. (Now, off to roast a turkey.)
A Joyous Noel to every one!
I’m on my way to get coffee, but wanted to stop by and wish all you cool people a Merry Happy. The trailer looks great, Louise. Can’t wait for the whole book!
Mornin’, B.G. and Patty,
How nice to see you here. (In SF, the sun’s not up yet and there’s still a full moon high in the western sky.)
Merry Christmas to you!
My new year’s resolution/vow/promise/prayer is always the same: “May the worst of the new year be better than the best of the previous one.”
In particular, though, 2008 needs to be the year I really get my two artistic pursuits going (writing and photography) and get out of the hated computer work that’s slowly sucking my soul dry.
Merry Christmas to all that celebrate it!
Merry Christmas to all my friends at Murderati, and best wishes for the New Year.
Tammy, I’ll toast to your New Year’s vow/promise/resolution. And I hope you get your second wish to focus on your creative side.
Happy Christmas, Dusty! Hope you’re enjoying the day.
Well, we got back from Urgent Care with my oldest who has croup so badly she’s been having a difficult time breathing.
I think I’ll remember this Christmas for that. But who knows . . . the day is young.
A joyous holiday to you, Louise. May your New Year be bright and filled with successes aplenty.
Merry Christmas, Louise, and holiday greetings to everyone here…
So far, this Christmas is noteworthy for its mellowness, which is a great good thing, that I’m hoping carries over into 2008.
Pari, hope your daughter feels much better very soon.
Pari, my holiday wish for you is a day of the kind of mellowness Rae has. Yes, all seems calm and bright out the window today. Sorry you had to include a trip to Urgent Care in your holiday memories this year.
Pari – I can relate. Mr Woodstock and I spent a very LONG Christmas Eve last year in the emergency room, after he cut his ear. (Dont’ ask)
I got a great grandson for Christmas! Born early morning Sunday. Today is his first Christmas, first Tuesday, first snow, first family party, which he slept through!
We’ll have a quiet afternoon and evening, I’m working on finishing up Ann Patchett’s RUN, and I think I’m just at the point where I understand the premise she’s working with.
Merry Christmas to everyone who blogs and reads Murderati! And let’s hope 2008 brings a little peace on earth. We need it badly.
Woodstock, what an incredibly fine Christmas present he is! Welcome to the world, young great grandson.
While I’m combating my Christmas toothache with some serious painkillers, there is a soft snow falling, a fire blazing in the fireplace and I do think life is good…although I might not in a couple of hours. 🙂
Pari, you have my absolute sympathy! Croup is an underrated illness, in my opinion.
Woodstock, oh congratulations and a very Merry Christmas indeed!
Merry Chrimbo, everyone…
The oral steroid the doctors shot into my kid’s mouth seems to be working; she’s about 50 percent better . . . which is lightyears better than she was this morn.
Merry Christmas to you all. Thank you for the sympathy — Rae, Louise, Woodstock and Fran!
And, Woodstock!!!! Congrats on your GREAT grandson. What an incredible gift. Wow.
FRan, so sorry about the toothache! Isn’t there some law about now being sick at Christmas? Jude Law, maybe.
Thanks for the Chrimbo greetings, Simon. I wish you so much happiness in 2008.
And Pari, wonderful good news about the kidling. May you have a peaceful night.
Late to reply – because I DID take the day off. Ta Da!
Stunning trailer, but then I already told you that. 🙂 But folks, wait until you read The Fault Tree! Mesmerizing.
And do stop by Evil E on Jan 5th (you won’t believe some of the questions. Oh, My.) But then, like Louise said – you never know about that bunch. 🙂
Hope you had a lovely Christmas Day, Elaine. See you on the 5th!
Santa, by all accounts, you did a great job on your overnight run. Now, if you could just manage some of those Brown-McCarthy gifts mentioned above …
Hey, thanks for the plug, Louise! Things have been a little quiet over there, but I don’t mind the quiet. You know: like a lot of you, I’m a writer: there’s so much noise on the *inside* of my head, I don’t mind a little peace around me!
Seriously, though: someone had to end up with Christmas week. And, anyway, there are only 52 weeks in the year which means there aren’t enough to go around, so I don’t mind so much.
It was terrific of you and Pari and Elaine and others to drop by, though. It’s been making it all quite fun.