Saturday, August 30, 2014

The Suckiest Month of the Year So Far

Was what August, 2014, was for me (and many people I know).

I don’t mean to whine, but I had to have a dog put down, my cousin’s daughter committed suicide, two dear, dear friends are battling cancer, and my plumbing stopped up twice on two consecutive weekends. Okay, so that last one isn’t as bad as suicide or cancer; it was a pain in the patoot and extremely expensive. And Robin Williams killed himself. What’s up with that???

Very well, so life is life, and you never know when it will hit you upside the head with a brick, but this August seemed particularly cruel to many of the people I know and love. I don’t like it.

About the only good thing to happen all month was the release in audio format of A PERFECT STRANGER, the first book in my post-Titanic historical romance series. A PERFECT STRANGER tells the story of Isabel Golightly, a young single mother from Yorkshire (actually she came from Upper Poppleton); her six-year-old genius daughter, Eunice; and the hero of the piece, horticulturist Somerset Fitzroy. Ha! And you didn’t think horticulturists were hero material. Well, he is. The book takes place in San Francisco, California, in 1912 (cuz that’s when Titanic sank). The narrator, Lisa Baarns, did a lovely job reading the book, and Melissa Alvarez created a fabulous cover for the audiobook. The couple on the cover are Isabel and her dance partner at the Fairfield Hotel, Jorje Luis Savedra. Jorje is definitely not hero material. But he sure can dance.



I’m holding a contest for audio copies of A PERFECT STRANGER (originally published under my pseudonym Anne Robins, in case you missed it in print form). I’ll get in touch with the folks who won paperback copies of DARK SPIRITS as soon as I can.

Here’s hoping September will be better to all of us. Oy. I just remembered that September 11, a date that will live in infamy thanks to Osama bin Ladin, is also the second anniversary of my lumbar surgery. Gah. Maybe September will suck, too. I sure hope not.

Please visit my web site (www.aliceduncan.net) and my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/alice.duncan.925) Thanks!





11 comments:

Sheila Deeth said...

Hoping your September is better. Meanwhile I still feel like it ought to be May. Where's the year going?

Jacqueline Seewald said...

I have a feeling September will be better, although I can't help thinking of 9/11. People we knew died there.

I love the cover for your new audio. It's arresting. Great that you're bringing out your backlist in creative ways!

Aubrey Hamilton said...

August was indeed an awful, awful month. I sincerely hope September is an improvement because I don't think I can take a repeat.

I did not know about your post-Titanic series and I will look it up, as well as the latest in Daisy's adventures.

Catherine Dilts said...

I love audio books, and your cover is terrific. I hope your September is better than your August. Light at the end of the tunnel and all that.....

Alice Duncan said...

Thank you very much, everyone. August seemed to be horrible for everyone I know. Pooh.

As for the post-Titanic books, Aubrey, they were published under my pseudonym Anne Robins. Long story.

Alice Duncan said...

Thank you very much, everyone. August seemed to be horrible for everyone I know. Pooh.

As for the post-Titanic books, Aubrey, they were published under my pseudonym Anne Robins. Long story.

Alice Duncan said...

I have no idea why my comment posted twice, but Jacquie, I'm so very sorry you knew folks who died in the 9/11 attach. When the nurse scheduled my back surgery that day, she said, "I can't believe they're doing it on that day." I couldn't either.

Elizabeth Delisi said...

Alice, here's hoping September treats you better!

Susan Oleksiw said...

September has to be better, Alice. At least you have a new edition of your book out, and that's exciting. And new plumbing. Even better. Can you tell I'm a relentless optimist?

Alice Duncan said...

Thanks, Liz and Susan! I appreciate your optimism :-)

And Sheila, I keep thinking it's February. Blech.

Alice Duncan said...

Thanks, Zunaira! Appreciate it.