After a gain of 1.6 last week, I’m happy to say I lost 3.2 this week, hitting a major milestone in the process. I’m down 50 pounds even! YES!
I got up very early this morning and began working–finally–on the new book. I spent nearly two hours working on the first paragraph–yes, the first–but that’s typical. The opening of a new story is critically important.
We’ve had plenty of much-needed rain here in Spokane, though a nice, sunny day is predicted for tomorrow. Grateful as I am for the greener than green pasture and the nourishment of all living things, I will enjoy a dose of good old-fashioned sunshine.
I’m at the end of a classic novel, Daphne du Maurier’s THE HOUSE ON THE STRAND, a vintage time-travel yarn. Like many of you, I loved REBECCA, but somehow this one got past me–I didn’t know it existed. It’s a wonderful story, and I highly recommend it. (I confess, I have a weakness for time travel.) I also listened to Wendy Webb’s THE VANISHING, a spooky, haunted mansion story in the gothic tradition–but not the black-lipstick and heavy metal kind of gothic. I’m referring to the sort of book Phyllis A. Whitney, Mary Stewart and many others wrote.
And that’s today’s news, my friends.
Thank you for keeping me company.
Comment
Congrats on the weight loss. So happy for you. We have had a lot of rain in Missouri too. I’m definitely going to check out the book. Love well written time travel stories. Have a great day everyone.
Comment
Congrats on reaching a milestone! You have to be very happy about it. I can’t imagine it was easy for you at times. I struggle with losing even ten pounds.
Comment
Congratulations Linda! I honestly think that every time you lose, I gain. That is not good on my end…literally. But, I’m glad you are continuing to lose.
I pray you have a good and Godly day!
Comment
Linda, 50 LB Loss, that’s incredible Congratulations! I want to lose 50 LBS too, I had been stop talking about it and join WW!
Comment
Congratulations on your WW success!
I was browsing Audible and thinking about THE HOUSE ON THE STRAND. I must make it a read, or listen, soon. Thanks for the reminder. Great hints on good reads.
Glad to hear you’re onto your next book. I’m little over half way on THE MARRIAGE PART. I’m loving it.
Comment
Good to hear about your weight loss. I am enjoying your new book, jusy keep on writing.
Comment
Congratulations Linda !!! That great news. I am enjoying your latest book. Keep up the good work.
Comment
Congratulations on reaching a milestone! I am happy to hear how you are starting on another book…the fact that you take as much time with your opening paragraph is a testament to your excellent way of grabbing the readers from the very beginning! Hope you have a great remainder of the week!
Comment
keep it going!!
Comment
Linda, sometimes early in the morning is a good time to write.also, some of us with ADD have trouble getting started on something new. Some people think it is called procrastination others think OCD oh but others, they turn to their IMAGINATION for inspiration with a little bit of reality. It doesnt neccessarily come when you demand it but when it is ready. Becareful, it will all come when we least expect it.
How is Master Gibson and everyone else doing? CONGRATULATIONS! BALLONS AND CONFETTI WITH YOUR ACHIEVEMENT WITH W.W. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
I await your next blogging and book
Comment
Congratulations on the scale victory!!! You are doing fabulously!
Have you read Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series? I am currently reading book 8 and I love it!
Comment
Linda – Congratulations!!! on your weight loss. I am so jealous. Keep up the great work. I am back to WW thanks to you for the encouragement.
I finished “The Marriage Pact” it was another great book. Good luck with the writing and getting the new book started. I know it will be good.
Blessings to you and yours…
this week.
~Laska
Comment
WTG! on the weight loss! I just started my weight loss journey last month. I haven’t weighed, but I know that I am losing weight. I can tell by the way that my clothes are fitting. My making the decision to get to a healthier weight is because of you. Your story inspired me to get started. Keep up the good work! and know that your journey is helping others.
Comment
wow 50 pounds down – that is quite an accomplishment – Great news and good luck on the writing! Have a Great DAY!!
Comment
Congratulations on your weight loss how wonderful.
Comment
Congrats on your weight loss!! and send some of that rain down my way in South Carolina. We need it bad. Hope you have a good day!!!
Comment
Wow. 50 pounds!! I lost that much once. Three minutes at a time so I have some idea of the will power involved in that loss. We got a very nice rain here in Utah also. It is still cold (I even had to turn the furnae back on) but it was so nice to see the rain come.
They used to say 12 pounds is a size. Are you shopping for clothes? BTW how much are you planning to lose?
Comment
Congrats on your weight loss, that’s amazing! I wish I could loose that much, it would help my hip. We haven’t had much rain but have some headed our way I think. It has been in the 90’s here this past week and very humid. I had to mow the lawn yesterday and it was so hot.
Comment
Glad to hear you have been doing well, and congratulations on the 50! One of my favorite stories of all time is a gothic novel titled The Bride of Kilerkarran any Kathleen Westcott it was published in the 70’s and I read it on a plane in 1978 going to Italy where we were stationed with the army. One of the interesting things I found about the book is that Ms. Westcott mentions in an afterword that her father worked for the government and that some of the technicalogical items in the book were in development but were not yet known to the public… items such as surveillance and sound systems that can be run at a distance of miles, the ability to add scent to a room by remote control, small microphones, watches with locators or GPS in them, this story is a mix of ghost story and murder mystery in the best fashion. Have a wonderful week.
Comment
Glad of your weight loss. I am so glad you tell us about other authors. I read the first Marriage book and enjoyed it very much.
Comment
Glad you are doing well. That is really great with the weight. I`m proud of you
Comment
Wow! 50 pounds that is amazing!
Comment
I also love time travel novels. Keep of the good work with WW.
Comment
Congrats on the weight loss!! I’m working on mine too.. went up some the last week or so, but hey, I’m still fighting! Trying to beat this diabetes I was just diagnosed with a few months ago….shew it’s kicking my butt!!
Have a great week until next week!
Lynn
Comment
Getting started is hard and important to get right for many things, interesting that it is hard for you too. Just got Marriage Pact, I am looking forward to getting in to it.I am struggling with weight right now,and am discouraged with my ability to stay motivated.
Comment
Congratulations Linda! Fifty pounds is quite a milestone! You are an inspiration to all of us. Weather here in Vermont is improving and we are supposed to have at least the next five days with no rain in sight and temps in the mid to upper 70’s. Great for picking fresh strawberries now. Wishing you all the best with the new book and hope your day is a good one.
Comment
Happy for you and the weight loss. I’ve following FedEx’s tracking , knowing my gift book is on the way. What fun !!! According to the tracker it should arrive today–(Since it was in Orlando yesterday)–I’ll let you know . How well I remember Rebecca and all those SIGHS!!!Oh my! I think I should read it again!!!
Love Clare
Comment
Wow, 50 pounds, that’s wonderful. Try picking up a bag of dog food and carrying that around all day, Wow, I’m so happy for you. Wish I had started when you did, I might be down close to that amount also. Excited about your working on a new book, you just can’t keep us readers happy you know. You finish one, we read it and right away we want another one. We just haven’t figured out how to get you to right faster, seem you want to have a life also, lol. Just kidding. We love you and so enjoy hearing about everything, well, a lot, of what’s happening in you life. So see, you do keep us happy.

Hoping the sun shines for you and yours. Take care.
Comment
I think that I’m jealous , my weigh is down only 30 lbs. would like to loose 20 more .Congratulations on your loss of 50. talking about time travel reminded me of two of your books from July & Aug. of 1992 There and now & Here and Then . I have a habit of rating the books that I read on the first inside page . I have ” KEEPERS & TRADERS” then there are the giveaways . I guess I could be called a book hoarder. Love to all,HAVE A BLESSED DAY, Nadine
Comment
Congratulations on the weight lost.Just starting the Marriage Pack (thank you) .One question ,is there ever going to be another Mojo Sheepshanks book?This series started me reading first person books so thank you on that because I was missing some great books
Comment
Linda,
Congrats on the great weight loss! That is a lot of hard work and you have stuck with it. New clothes are in your future. Best wishes for continued success.
Comment
Yeah!!! Congrats on losing all that weight. You must feel great.
I understand about the rain. I feel like I was living in Washington. It rained every day for 2 1/2 wks. Now that the sun is out, it is hot & humid. It seems like there is no happy medium.
Glad to hear you have sat down to start writing your next book. I will add The House on The Strand to my reading list.
Comment
Congratulations, Linda. 50 pounds off is amazing and not losing tract through the ups and downs! Keep up the good work.
I enjoyed all those authors you mentioned and I again want to tell you how much I enjoyed the Marriage Pact! Thank you for being you!! Blessings.
Comment
Congradulations!
Its a long road. The journey can b fun, also trying . Good luck on getting into the new book.
Comment
Congrats on 50lbs down! Good job! Glad your writing more, I always am happy to look for a book of yours, finally going to be able to start Marriage this weekend! We’ve been getting rain in the afternoon like always for that’s how it is in the summer here in fla. Well, gotta run and take my dogs out for a walk, rather they run! Have a great weekend!
Comment
Congratulations on the weight loss. Good luck with that first paragraph of the new title.
Have a good day!
Comment
Love your inspirational updates on the weight loss! I too lost 2 pounds last week… keep inspiring us with your updates and good luck on the new book. I am enjoying The Marriage Pact this week. It was such a beautiful afternoon and I sat out in the back yard reading while my grandsons played in the swimming pool!