Corinne Bowen

This is yet another reason why I love my neighborhood. How could I resist taking a picture of this lovely Hampden front yard? These are the kinds of scenes that spark my imagination for future characters and settings. I snapped this picture while walking to the post office last week. I’ve stayed true to my daily strolls and sun salutations and it makes a world of difference!

I’m back in Charm City, but I’ve been on the road for the past five days. First stop was dinner at Candle 79 with the CSL crew. Next stop was Jersey City for a weekend filled with friends and Indian food. Next month I’ll be part of an Indian wedding and to get us in the spirit of this joyous occasion, we watched Bride and Prejudice. Twice. You’ve probably already guessed that this is the Bollywood adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel. My dear Jersey City friend had these guys (below) on her shelf and they made me smile.

On Sunday, I headed to CSL headquarters in Woodstock, NY and I was back on the road by Tuesday night! I’m happy to be home and looking forward to a relaxing weekend of reading, writing, and seeing friends and family. I finished Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (AMAZING) and started Nicole Peeler’s novel, Tempest Rising. It’s a fun and adventerous read and I’m excited to dig in more this weekend, rather than reading a few pages a night. Speaking of which, it’s time to do a few more manuscript edits and jump in bed!

Steve and I trekked through the snowy streets of Hampden on Saturday. It was quite the mini-adventure. Neighbors are much more friendly while shoveling the side walks. I loved knowing that everyone on the street was a local, although I felt bad for the shop owners who probably rely heavily on sales the weekend before Christmas.

We visited some lonely merchants to finish up our Christmas shopping, chowed down on veggie burgers at Common Ground, and made it to The Rotunda in time to catch a matinee! Avatar was amazing by the way and must be seen in theaters. I kind of want to go again…After a quick stop at Superfresh for more grub, we walked home and I took the picture above on the way.

Many hours was spent under the covers with my laptop. Editing, editing, and more editing. The comments from my beta readers keep coming in and they are so helpful! If you’re out there readers, THANK YOU. I know I’ve already told you a million times, but you rock.

I took a stab at a query letter for the first time too! It was fun to dip my toe in the water and take a stab at the synopsis. After working on it for a night, I saved it, closed it, and now I will let it rest.

On another note, I’m excited to start reading Hunger Games soon. I’ve heard amazing reviews and I want to find a series of books that I cannot put down. It’s been a while since I’ve found that magical connection. Last Christmas I discovered Charlaine Harris, will it be Suzanne Collins this year? I hope.

Happy Holidays!