Here in Deb-land, March came in more like a wet cat than a lion. I’m not complaining. Our ground water supply needed the boost. Our creek is very happily singing its Spring song.

And to the east, the Sierras got a whole lot of snow, which is a very good thing for California’s snowpack and summer water supply.

Spring is in full green splendor with joyful annuals and weeds galore. It’s an ephemoral season, but I love it.

Every weather map seems to show a rather cranky Mother Nature. Records broken on both extreme highs and lows. Wherever you are, I hope you’re able to ride out the storm with a good book.😉

Speaking of books, I’m trying something new to interest readers. I’m hoping to give TikTok a try as soon as I finish a training course I signed up for before I broke my elbow. Sigh.

I’ve been told videos are a great way to connect with new readers.

I’m calling this experiment: Deb’s Book Talk. And I plan to list these on my website, too. Here’s my first attempt:

Tell me what you think. If you’ve never read this book (Her Gold Country Cowboy, in this case), would this oral snippet make you want to pick it up? (Early feedback from a dear friend said it made her want to re-read the book, so I took that as a positive.😉)

Speaking of TikTok, how many of you have taken the plunge? My…handle? Address? Profile?...whatever is: @debswritergrl (which is supposed to stand for: Deb S. writer girl.) It you’re on that platform I would love to connect.

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

My granddaughter’s teacher (Grade 3/4) invited me to be a guest speaker in her classroom to help celebrate Women’s History Month. She asked me to share my personal journey as a published author.

I jumped at the chance. Then un-jumped (in my mind, at least) a dozen times as I tried to figure out a way to make my story sound somewhat interesting to 9–10-year-olds. Gulp.

I mean…come on. I sit at my computer and converse with imaginary people. There’s not a lot of action to translate into visuals for a generation with access to YouTube.

But looking back from my first work of fiction—written illegibly in crayon on the underside of my mother’s coffee table—to my first magazine article and, eventually, 40+ books, I was able to come up with a few highlights and a couple of “teachable” concepts.

Wish me luck…

And I plan to leave them with this quote from a young woman who will be remembered and celebrated by history: “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” ―Malala Yousafzai (1997- ), Pakistani female education activist, Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Happy reading,

Deb

Next up:

March 21: Texas Heroes
April 4: Total Eclipse of the Sun

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