​This is the first year that I realized I was Irish. Now you might find that odd, but when I was adopted the agency told my parents I was English and French. Nowadays, with DNA testing readily available, I discovered I’m actually over 52% British and Irish and only 17% French.

I suspect my birth mother (or the agency) just avoided mentioning my ancestry since in the 1950’s there was a greater stigma attached to that. I’m definitely at home in Celtic countries, one or another.

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So Happy St. Patrick’s Day (even though he wasn’t born in Ireland). Me? I’m skipping the green beer and headed for the single malt. (#St.Pat’s)

​Terry Pratchett had a profound influence on my life. Between his amazing stories, his wit, humor and sharp prodding at human frailties, I found hours of enjoyment as I trudged the streets of Anhk Morpork with Sam Vimes, or fought nasty fairies alongside Tiffany Aching.
I honored him in my Time Rovers series (Cynda rents a room at Pratchett’s Bookshop.) When I wrote about Sergeant Ramsey (Keats’ nemesis), I thought of Sam Vimes and what it was like to be a copper. My Demon Trappers series was sparked by reading Good Omens (see below) and so Mark Helwig​ immortalized that book in his illustration of one of my Biblio-Fiends.
I love so many of Pratchett’s characters as they were all rich in their own way. But one of my faves is the Patrician, whose “voice” is firmly stuck in my head courtesy of audiobook narrator Stephen Briggs. The Patrician is a complex fellow, a “benevolent” despot who knows he’s smarter than most and makes use of that cunning (and ruthlessness) to make the city of Anhk Morpork at bit less dismal. Quite Machiavellian.
Sir Terry has joined hands with Death (whose comments on life were always in caps) and journeyed on. He leaves behind a rich legacy which will always remain immortal. Requiescat in pace.

​After a glorious weekend in Chattanooga (I really like that town) I’m back at my desk. Connooga went very well. I reconnected with some author buds, met some new folks and sold a healthy number of books. Always a win-win in my opinion.
The spouse and I opted to stay at the Residence Inn this time and get a room that had two bedrooms. After you’ve been married for-evah, getting a good night’s sleep is at the top of your list.  Since I am a very light sleeper (unless exhausted) and my husband is a light snorer (and insists on breathing), the two bedroom thing was perfect. Res Inn rooms have a full kitchen, so I could store away my edibles. It proved quite workable so we’ll do that in the future.
This week I’m slaving two projects at once — laying out a schedule for the new social media book I’m co-authoring with Tyra Burton, and trying to dream up a plot for another work of fiction. It’s kinda weird see-sawing back and forth between these. I feel very tempted to put explosions and car chases in the midst of a chapter on Snapchat.
So that’s what’s up in my world. How about yours? Anything new? Please tell me you’re having more fun than I am…