There's a building in our community that used to be a charming restaurant. That restaurant went out of business several years ago and the building sits empty and boarded up. Every time I drive by, I imagine it transformed into a bookshop. I can see comfy chairs next to the oversized fireplace, a little coffee shop in the "sunroom", and shelves of inspiring books.

You won't be surprised then to learn that any book about a bookshop is almost an automatic read for me. Add to that long lost artifacts hidden in the bookshop's walls, family secrets, a charming old man, and the possibilities of love, and The Lost and Found Bookshop went right up the TBR pile.

From Goodreads:
Somewhere in the vast Library of the Universe, as Natalie thought of it, there was a book that embodied exactly the things she was worrying about.

In the wake of a shocking tragedy, Natalie Harper inherits her mother’s charming but financially strapped bookshop in San Francisco. She also becomes caretaker for her ailing grandfather Andrew, her only living relative—not counting her scoundrel father.

But the gruff, deeply kind Andrew has begun displaying signs of decline. Natalie thinks it’s best to move him to an assisted living facility to ensure the care he needs. To pay for it, she plans to close the bookstore and sell the derelict but valuable building on historic Perdita Street, which is in need of constant fixing. There’s only one problem–Grandpa Andrew owns the building and refuses to sell. Natalie adores her grandfather; she’ll do whatever it takes to make his final years happy. Besides, she loves the store and its books provide welcome solace for her overwhelming grief.

After she moves into the small studio apartment above the shop, Natalie carries out her grandfather’s request and hires contractor Peach Gallagher to do the necessary and ongoing repairs. His young daughter, Dorothy, also becomes a regular at the store, and she and Natalie begin reading together while Peach works.

To Natalie’s surprise, her sorrow begins to dissipate as her life becomes an unexpected journey of new connections, discoveries and revelations, from unearthing artifacts hidden in the bookshop’s walls, to discovering the truth about her family, her future, and her own heart.

If I had to put a one-word label on my writing from 2020 it would be Jumbled. I started out the year on a pretty solid path but it didn't take long for me to lose my footing. I spent a couple of frustrating months flip-flopping between self-doubt and determination. One week I was writing like a woman possessed, the next I was deleting more than I was putting down. And if that wasn't enough, I couldn't settle on what project to work on (but that's another post). 

We've all heard the advice to go for a walk in nature or manhandle exercise equipment or clean toilets or use all the hot water in the shower or whatever gives you the change of scenery and mental break when you're struggling with your manuscript. 

I've used exercise to jump-start ideas and I crochet when I'm stumped on a plot point. But the busy brain that took over this year was more than either of those could cure. What worked? Switching genres. I wrote a draft of a children's book and a short story. Here's why that helped ... 

When I write women's fiction, I have to be on a computer. I've tried writing longhand, nothing happens. The first draft is a messy collaboration between my brain and fingers. I don't stop to edit or reread. Editing, however, is done on paper but again, different post. 

I've learned over the years, though, that children's books flow from brain to pen. I have to write those out longhand and then edit on the computer. 

And the short story, well, that turned out to be a typed first draft and typed edit. Go figure! 

The switch in formats and genres, allowed my creative braincells to let loose while still working on the fundamentals that are consistent across all writing -- character development, story structure, conflict, plot, setting, etc.

Now for the fun part of seeing what -- if anything -- can become of those new projects. :-) 

I was pretty tickled with myself for rocking the streaks and settling into a routine in October. November was going to be even better. Then ... plot twist ... a three week road trip blew my routine to shreds. It was a good--safe!!--trip but this post isn't about the trip. 

The post is about fuzzy socks (stay with me ... there's a connection, really!). 

I love the idea of socks and have a drawer full of them (there's even a store in The Distance Home that was inspired by my fascination with the Little Missmatched store and their, you guessed it, miss matched socks). Here's the think, though, I don't actually like wearing socks. You kinda have to wear them with most shoes but I've always preferred going barefoot at home. 

Maybe it's a function of getting older, but in the last couple of years I discovered the joy of warm feet in the winter.  

How does this tie back to the road trip? Easy ... we went to Missouri, Colorado, and Utah in November. All three locations had already seen their first snowfall. While packing, I shoved a pair of fuzzy socks into my bag, thinking they'd come in handy since we were staying at an AirBnB and hotels (I like hotel carpets even less than I like wearing socks).

Talk about an attitude change! I took the fuzzy socks off to wash and when I needed normal socks that fit in shoes (and no, borrowing my kid's shoes so I could stay in thick fuzzies wasn't an option). 

Since returning home, I've ordered several new pairs and grumble  when I have to leave the house and need to change, even temporarily.

Here's to happy, toasty feet! 

The last time I sat down with Alison Hammer to chat was September 2019 Hotel Albuquerque during the Women's Fiction Writer's Association annual retreat. It was before her debut, You & Me & Us, released [you can read more on that here] and it was so much fun brainstorming marketing ideas and talking writing. Alison is truly one of my favorite people and I'm excited to have her here for a virtual coffee chat. 

Now, pour yourself a mug of something yummy and join us ... 

If we were at a coffee shop, what would you order?
Oh, I wish we were at a coffee shop! I miss them so much, and it would be so wonderful to spend time with you IRL. Depending on the weather, I would order a nitro cold brew, or an Americano. Both with room for the nutpods (a non-dairy creamer) I take with me pretty much everywhere… 
 
At home, do you have one go-to mug or do you pick by mood or whatever is within reach?
I have a few fun mugs, but they’re mostly for decoration or holding pens. When it comes to the mugs I actually use for coffee or tea, I have these big red stackable mugs that are almost like bowls. I love them, and since they sit right on the counter, that’s my go-to! 
 
As a writer, I’m obsessed with writing process. I love hearing how others work their magic. What’s your process like? Do you have certain routines/rituals?
I’m a creature of habit in a lot of areas of my life—including my writing! After my first book took fifteen years to finish writing, I went to the other extreme and started participating in National Novel Writing Month. 
 
This will be my fifth year doing NaNoWriMo, an online program where people around the world are challenged to write 50,000 words in the month of November. I’m super competitive against myself and thrive on deadlines, so it’s great for me! 
 
I usually start the planning process in August or September, so I can have some time to get to know the characters and have a solid outline by November. I have a ritual of starting to write at midnight on Halloween with a glass of champagne as soon as it turns November. 
 
Since I write so quickly, I really embrace the idea of a shitty first draft. That really takes the pressure off of having to make it perfect from the start. The downside of that, is that when I get to my second draft (usually at least six months later), I retype the whole thing. I know it sounds crazy, but it works for me! 
 
Your debut, You and Me and Us released April of 2020. First, I have to gush how much I loved that novel!!!!! Book releases are a mixed bag of emotions to begin with, but you had the added headaches of launching during the pandemic. Setting aside the challenges, what was something positive and memorable from your launch?
Thank you—that means so much coming from you! The emotions around launch were definitely heightened thanks to being just a few weeks into the pandemic, but I always try to look out for the silver linings. 
 
I was lucky that people weren’t burned out by Zoom or virtual events quite yet. I also made a decision not to try and recreate what I had planned for my in-person event (at that point, we thought the pandemic would only be a few weeks, and I might be able to reschedule). Instead, I planned an event that probably wouldn’t have been possible in person. 

Music is a big part of my life (listening, not playing!) so I reached out to Stephen Kellogg—a singer songwriter I’m a big fan of, who also had a book coming out. (Objects In the Mirror is a book of essays that came out in July!) 
 
He agreed right away to interview me and play a few songs. Other than all the technical difficulties (Zoom stopped connecting to Facebook for security reasons and we eventually had to move to Instagram) it was a pretty magical night. One I’ll definitely never forget! 
 
Book two, Little Pieces of Me, is scheduled for release in April 2021. Can you tell us where the seed (or coffee bean :-) ) for this story came from?
The story started brewing (see what I did there?!) one night a few years ago when a friend told me that she’d gotten an email from ancestry.com, telling her that she had a parent-child relationship with a man that was not the father she’d grown up with. 
 
I knew right away that there was a novel-worthy story in there! I took inspiration from what happened to her, and let my imagination do the rest! But I’m really excited for the book to come out on April 13th! 
 
Can you give us a hint about what you’re working on next?
I’m a crazy person and I’m working on several things. This week, I’m hopefully finishing up the second draft of my 2018 NaNoWriMo project, a story about three girlfriends who are dealing with the loss of a friend, while trying to help raise the baby she left behind. I promise it’s not as sad as it sounds! 
 
I’m also getting ready to start my fifth NaNoWriMo. I’m working on this one with a co-writer I’m really excited about. We’ve been working on the story together since July—and we’re actually going to announce the project on Halloween at midnight EST. It’s my NaNo tradition to start writing at midnight with a glass of champagne, so we’re going to do it together on Instagram Live! 
 
(it will be saved on IGTV for anyone reading this after Halloween!) 
 
Back to the coffee shop. Do you eavesdrop on folks at neighboring tables or tune everyone out?
Oh, I totally eavesdrop! Pre-pandemic, I actually did most of my writing at coffee shops. To me, it’s the perfect balance of white noise. If a room is too quiet, I look for distraction. If it’s too loud, I can’t focus. Coffee shops seem to have just the right balance for me. But I definitely lean in when I hear an interesting conversation! 
 
Finally, tell me something about yourself that will make the people at the next table scoot closer to hear better. ;-) 
Hmm. When I was thirteen I was in a montage on America’s Funniest People. I was part of a stunt at Universal Studios that involved a plunger, a nail and a water balloon. I haven’t seen the tape in years, but I’m trying to find it! 
 
This was so much fun, thank you for having me. Can’t wait until the world is safe enough for us to get together in person at a coffee shop! 
 
xo! 

Where to find Alison and links for her fabulous books ... 

www.alisonhammer.com/

Facebook and on Instagram

Intuitive Editing by Tiffany Yates Martin.
​This book is a game changer! My copy has  sentences underlined, exclamation marks next to entire passages, and tons of flagged pages. Tiffany's approach is straight forward and, dare I say it, intuitive (groan, I know!). And, as an author herself, she understands the writer's mind.

This book is so much more than a "how-to edit" book though. Tiffany's strategies have not only helped with editing, but also with the brainstorming process on new projects. 

The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass.
​I've loved all of Don's books (and his workshops; seriously folks, if you're lucky enough to attend a workshop with him, do it!!!!), but this particular book spoke to me the most. As a reader, I gravitate most to books that leave me raw and inspired from the emotional journey. 

I find myself going back to the Emotional Mastery Checklist in the back of the book on every manuscript to make sure I'm pushing myself to dig deeper. 

On Writing by Stephen King.
​This is just one of those books that every writer needs to own and read and reread when you're doubting why you ever thought writing a book was a good idea. 

I'm not a fan of horror, to be honest, but I am a fan of anyone who is this brilliant at telling a story. This book is inspiring and empowering and an absolute delight to read (and reread).

Rotten Reviews & Rejections edited by Bill Henderson & Andre Bernard.
As writers, we deal with rejection and harsh or just plain weird reviews all the time. It's part of the business that you can't escape. Though we never wish rejection or crap reviews for another writer, there's a comfort in knowing you're not alone. And sometimes, you need the reminder that even the best of the best received their fair share.

This isn't a how-to or even an inspirational book on writing. But it's a good reminder that we're in good company and that keeping a sense of humor is essential. 

I'm dubbing the last Friday of each month as Happy Mug Day (and not just because I want to show off my pretty mug).

So, what's making me particularly happy right now ... 

Streaks. No, not streaking (no one would be happy if I was doing that). Streaks is an app that helps motivate you to stay on track and form good habits. What I like about it over my to-do list and planner: the challenge of keeping a streak going.

I was amused the first time my son commented about keeping a streak alive in Snapchat. I admit, I did the old eyebrow raise. Now I'm as obsessed with keeping mine going in this app. Granted, I've blown a few of the streaks and grumbled when they were reset, but my competitiveness takes over to see if I can break my previous streak each time. 

Sometimes, it's the little things that give us that boost of happy. :-) 

There are books that grab you by the heart and don't let go, not even after you've finished reading and tucked the book back on the shelf. Alison Hammer's debut, You and Me and Us, is one of those books. I was honored to read an advance copy and the moment it released, I bought a couple of copies for friends because oh my goodness I loved this book. 

From Goodreads:
Alexis Gold knows how to put the “work” in working mom. It’s the “mom” part that she’s been struggling with lately. Since opening her own advertising agency three years ago, Alexis has all but given up on finding a good work/life balance. Instead, she’s handed over the household reins to her supportive, loving partner, Tommy. While he’s quick to say they divide and conquer, Alexis knows that Tommy does most of the heavy lifting—especially when it comes to their teenage daughter, CeCe. 

Their world changes in an instant when Tommy receives a terminal cancer diagnosis, and Alexis realizes everything she’s worked relentlessly for doesn’t matter without him. So Alexis does what Tommy has done for her almost every day since they were twelve-year-old kids in Destin, Florida—she puts him first. And when the only thing Tommy wants is to spend one last summer together at “their” beach, she puts her career on hold to make it happen…even if it means putting her family within striking distance of Tommy’s ex, an actress CeCe idolizes.

But Alexis and Tommy aren’t the only ones whose lives have been turned inside out. In addition to dealing with the normal ups and downs that come with being a teenager, CeCe is also forced to confront her feelings about Tommy’s illness—and what will happen when the one person who’s always been there for her is gone. When the magic of first love brings a bright spot to her summer, CeCe is determined not to let her mother ruin that for her, too.

As CeCe’s behavior becomes more rebellious, Alexis realizes the only thing harder for her than losing Tommy will be convincing CeCe to give her one more chance.  

You and Me and Us is a beautifully written novel that examines the unexpected ways loss teaches us how to love.

Last week, I talked about setting and keeping boundaries, especially these days. But here's the thing, sometimes, not even boundaries help. Sometimes what you need is to chuck it all and take care of the most valuable resource you have: yourself. 

What I'm doing these days ... 

I'm reading.
I’m not reading heavy, literary, topic-based books. I’ve started and abandoned five different novels in the last few months. And I’ve resisted attempts at discussing what I’m reading. The novels that have kept my attention are ones that allowed me an hour or two of escape each day. I’m not looking for answers to profound questions or a grand “a-ha” moment. A fellow author suggested (with a not very subtle eye-roll) that I was being shallow, that as a writer I was supposed to be deeper than that. I won’t be swapping titles with that person again.

As a writer, I know just how hard it is to spin a story that transports someone to a different place, a different time. Why then should I feel guilty for enjoying and escaping into a world that someone else has lovingly created? The fact that someones hard work can give me an hour of peace in a day where I feel like my head is spinning like a cheesy horror movie, is brilliant. I'd be delighted to hear from readers that my books did that for them.

Maybe I’m not “learning” from an authors carefully honed craft. But I am honoring that carefully honed craft by letting her words transport me. I am escaping, I’m okay with that. And when I put the book down, I’m in a better place.

I'm learning.
In the last few months, I've devoured several MasterClass courses on writing (plus a couple on cooking and science because life isn't all about writing), and signed up for a few online workshops. I'm reading and re-reading books on writing and personal care. 

I've also been working on two projects that are outside of my regular genre and, for now at least, just for fun. What a fun exercise to stretch my creativity and re-discover the joy of writing for the sake of writing.

I'm watching TV.
I'm not usually a big TV watcher. Not because I have anything against it -- there are actually a lot of programs I really enjoy -- but because life gets too busy and by the evening, I'd rather sink into the tub with a book. But now that we're all home and the usual afternoon/evening mom-uber driving is down to a minimum, the evenings allow for more downtime.

It's been fun binge watching new or new-to-us series with the entire family. And I've even watched and rewatched a few feel-good movies.

I'm taking me time.
One positive that's come out of the last few months is that I'm relearning the importance of taking time for myself, whether that's half an hour to sit outside and read or an hour to listen to an audio book and crochet, or 10 minutes to just sit and breathe and let my brain settle. Yes, there are a million things to do but there are a million reasons to slow down as well.  

I'm not worrying about writing.
There are days I can whip through my word count like it’s a bag of gummy bears. Other days, I sit at my desk, open my manuscript then promptly close it.

I know the “write every day” rule. I don’t. I can’t, especially not lately. But whether I’m consciously thinking about them or not, my characters are always with me. And I find that when I’m not forcing myself to think about them, they’re more forthcoming with their secrets. Most of the time I can lose myself in the writing. But sometimes the anxiety of everything happening around me crowds out the words. Those days, I give in. And I don’t feel guilty because I know the stories are safe.

My one piece of advice to writers, especially as 2020 winds up: Do whatever you need to nurture yourself. And do it without guilt!

For anyone who follows me on social media, you've seen my obsession with crocheting and yarn. Over the years, I've expanded my repertoire from scarves (seriously, how many scarves can one person use and my friends were beginning to dodge me for fear I'd push yet another scarf on them), to shawls and blankets to amigurumi creatures. [You can see a number of them here].

For me, yarn therapy = brain therapy. I crochet when I watch TV or listen to an audio book or when I need to unravel a story idea. Busy fingers help quiet my brain. 

If I'm stuck on a story idea, I'll crochet something that doesn't require thinking. The repetition of the stitches is soothing, and allows my brain to wander. I can't tell you the number of times I've had "ohhhhhh" moments when I've stopped agonized and allowed the brain cells their freedom. Amigurumi creatures are more for stress relief and fun. I mean, really, how can you not smile seeing these?

If you saw my Monday post, you'll see how obvious this choice for a book recommendation is. I saw it at a bookstore and, of course, had to buy it immediately. There are plenty of lines that had me nodding, ones I underlined, and a couple that made it onto sticky notes as constant reminders. Bonus: worksheets at the end of each chapter that make for interesting (and sometimes uncomfortable) moments of reflection.

From Goodreads:
We've all been there: stuck in a cycle of what-ifs, plagued by indecision, paralyzed by the fear of getting it wrong. Nobody wants to live a life of constant overthinking, but it doesn't feel like something we can choose to stop doing. It feels like something we're wired to do, something we just can't escape. But is it?

Anne Bogel's answer is no. Not only can you overcome negative thought patterns that are repetitive, unhealthy, and unhelpful, you can replace them with positive thought patterns that will bring more peace, joy, and love into your life. In Don't Overthink It, you'll find actionable strategies that can make an immediate and lasting difference in how you deal with questions both small--Should I buy these flowers?--and large--What am I doing with my life? More than a book about making good decisions, Don't Overthink It offers you a framework for making choices you'll be comfortable with, using an appropriate amount of energy, freeing you to focus on all the other stuff that matters in life.
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