In this update:

A cocktail catastrophe
Pterosaurs: Squirrels in disguise
Dragonfly update
Cheap Thrills: 99¢ suspense books

Hey ,

I hope this message finds you well, wherever you are and whatever you're up to.

In my little corner of the world, I’ve had my nose to the grindstone writing my next book, but I've also made time to celebrate the Canadian Thanksgiving, indulge in some amazing TV series, delve into Jodi Picoult's latest novel, and round it all out with rejuvenating yoga classes and leisurely walks among the autumn leaves.

To kick off this month’s update, I’m itching to tell you about the hilarious blunder my husband committed at a cocktail bar last week. Don’t worry, he posted the experience on social media, so it’s not like he’s trying to hide it. In fact, here’s the photo and caption he used in his post:

When the server says, “Are you okay with the price?”
When she asks, “Would you like the bartender to mix your drinks at the table?”
When you order one for your friend, too.
When your $17.50 cocktail is actually $175.00!
When the final drink of the night is ironically called “Clueless”

Now, I wasn’t there when it happened, but when he told me about it later, I laughed my guts out. I really lost it when he recounted how the server asked him if he would like his special drink made at the table, and he casually waved her off…like he was some highfalutin billionaire who orders 175-dollar drinks regularly!

What’s your most expensive goof? Reply to this email and tell me all about it. Hopefully it isn’t as bad as this one!

🍸

MOVING ON...

You know how dogs get when they see a squirrel? The sudden distraction, the absolute need to chase?

Well, replace that squirrel with a flying dinosaur—or a TV series about David Beckham or a multi-million-dollar wine collection—and you'll have a good picture of what's been luring me away from my writing lately. Yes, despite being within arm’s reach of finishing my latest book, Dragonfly, distractions continue to vex me.

As for the prehistoric animal reference, one of my young characters in Dragonfly has a fascination with dinosaurs. In the scene I just finished, he learns about the Quetzalcoatlus, which is the largest pterosaur ever discovered with a wingspan rivaling that of an F16 jet.

I couldn't find a decent stock image of a Quetzalcoatlus, so I created my own on Midjourney.
It's far from accurate, but you get the idea.

Of course, this led me to want to learn more about the Quetzalcoatlus (I won’t bore you with that, but you can check out this video comparing its size to other winged creatures), and before I knew it, I’d spent two hours down the rabbit hole. Or squirrel hole. Whatever.

All is not lost though.

These distractions just may benefit you, my dear reader, as I’ve come across a couple of binge-worthy TV series to tell you about.

First, my husband and I just finished the four-part Netflix docuseries, BECKHAM. Even if you don’t like football (soccer to some of us), you’ll probably appreciate the story of this lad’s dazzling rise and long reign as a god of football. Naturally, any story about David Beckham would be remiss to leave out the details of his marriage to Victoria/Posh Spice as well as the challenges posed by their celebrity. A riveting series overall. Makes me wish I’d paid more attention to the sport back in the day. ⚽️

Speaking of gods (and expensive libations), the other series I recently binged with abandon was Drops of God on Apple TV. The subtitled French-Japanese drama revolves around Camille, the estranged daughter of a famous wine critic who has just died. Camille, who denounced anything to do with wine when her father left the family, must compete with her father’s star student for her inheritance. The prize? A wine collection worth 148 million dollars. It's a story of family, rivalry, and a legacy that may appeal to those who enjoyed the strategic maneuvers and emotional depth of The Queen's Gambit. 🍷 

74,766/ 82,000 words

Despite the myriad distractions, I'm nearing the finish line!

In Dragonfly, Syd must choose between rescuing her sweet baby boy and saving the world from the devastating effects of timeblinking when it ends up in the wrong hands.

Watch this spot in future emails to see the final book in The Syd Brixton TimeBlink series come to life.

Thanks for spending time with me today, . I appreciate your interest in my stories.

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