I am one of those people that loves a song more after I hear the words. I write to music and depending on the type of scene I’m writing, prefer different tuneage.

For me, I connect best with songs that have a deeper meaning.

A song that makes you feel the music in a deep heart-and-soul-ache-make-you-want-to-cry sort of way. The song might not even be a sad song, it’s just the intensity of the emotion and the story the artist is able to convey with their words or arrangement of the music. Even an instrumental can tell a story, like Chris Botti’s “Hallelujah” or Jeff Beck’s “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers”.

One of my favorite singer-songwriters is Florence Welsh, the Florence behind Florence & The Machine. The bio on her website succinctly describes her writing:

…music, at its best, is a kind of magic that lifts you up and takes you somewhere else. “I want my music to sound like throwing yourself out of a tree, or off a tall building, or as if you’re being sucked down into the ocean and you can’t breathe,” says Florence Welch. “It’s something overwhelming and all-encompassing that fills you up, and you’re either going to explode with it, or you’re just going to disappear.” (Source – http://www.florenceandthemachine.net/biography)

I hope one day someone will say that about my novels…

Happy Monday.

Last weekend I went to NYC for my sister’s baby shower. Of course my visit coincided with the arrival of frigid temperatures. I love navigating NYC on foot, but with an artic blast, not so pleasant.

Needless to say, it was still a great trip. How can a trip to NYC, not be great? Especially when it involves visiting family, making new friends, and research for an upcoming project.

So I can make the sensory details accurate, I took countless pictures and pages of notes, much to my daughter’s chagrin. She’d peer at me as I feverishly took notes when we were out and about or I’d stop to take photos of seemingly random things. “Oh,” she said with an exasperated huff. “More book stuff.”

Here are some of the random photos I took.

What do…

…a diner

…an elevator…

…with Ginko leaves on the ceiling…

…a rooftop terrace…

…and this little white box have to do with my new YA novel??

You’ll just have to stay tuned to find out the juicy details.

Almost a week ago, I lost my mother-in-law to ALS, a disease many people know as Lou Gehrig’s disease.  It’s a terribly cruel disease that strikes about 5,600 people in the United States each year.  The disease is variable by person.  Some patients live many years with it.  My mother-in-law was diagnosed on her birthday, August 8, 2011.  She died three months and twenty days later, on November 28, 2011. 

What struck me most--within those last months, she never complained about her disease. She must have wondered “why” to herself, but not once did she ever vocalize that to us. She maintained a positive attitude and fought ‘til the bitter end.

She was the best mom-in-law a girl could ask for. Always treating me like a daughter. She had the biggest heart of any person I have ever met. She was always doing for others and never asking for anything in return. Except when she’d come over on weekend mornings and ask if we had coffee or come over at night and ask if we had any beer.  My heart aches knowing she won’t be flying through the door to ask for either of those things. Or eating pancakes with us on Saturday mornings. Or attending my kids’ sporting events and school functions. Or sharing holidays and cooking her amazing mashed potatoes.  Or zipping through the neighborhood to visit customers or friends. Or going to check out a new listing (she was a realtor) with her.  Or trying to convince us to buy a new house. Or see her grandkids grow up.  Or…or…or… There are myriads of or’s. 

Last week I came across this cool Advent calendar on Busted Halo.   Each day of Advent has an inspirational quote and then micro challenges you to do something to show the spirit of that quote. 

Today’s quote:  “That kind of act leaves a mark … [that] cannot be seen. It lives in your very skin.” “What is it?” “Love.” — Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Today's challenge:  Call your parents and thank them for all they sacrificed for you. 

In that spirit, here’s my thank you to a world-class mom-in-law, Trish. 

Thank you for blessing the earth with a wonderful son who became my hero. Thank you for welcoming me into your family with a warm heart and open arms.  Thank you for being a role model by giving to others without reservation.  Thank you for the special memories you gave us – especially for your grandchildren those last few months.  Thank you for being there, always.  Thank you for your never ending love and support.  Thank you for being our number one fan in everything we did.  Thank you for showing us how to live and die with dignity and grace.  I love you and will miss you more than words can convey.