The phrase ‘no news is good news’ has always seemed ambiguous to me. I’m never quite sure whether it’s supposed to mean ‘if you don’t hear anything, everything’s going well’; or ‘there’s no good news at all’.
I have a guilty confession: I hate reading the news. Because… there’s no good news. I’d rather avoid it and pretend everything’s going well in the world. But out of some misguided sense of civic duty, I do skim the headlines regularly; and Hubby (who is a newshound by nature) has strict instructions to let me know if we’re going to get annihilated by a rogue meteor… again.
But by the time I finish reading the news, I feel like the Vogons after Marvin zaps them with the empathy gun: “I feel so depressed… Oh, what’s the point…?”
So this week I’m concentrating on good news:
Spring is truly here and the birdies are in fine form around our yard: Swallows swooping and cheeping, eagles soaring high, colourful red-shafted flickers probing for bugs, mourning doves cooing, robins chirping, hummingbirds buzzing and squeaking, and red-headed woodpeckers hammering out their messages on the trees. And more good news:

Our deciduous azalea, R. luteum “Golden Comet” is only 18″ tall but it’s still beautiful and fragrant.
And…
Book 13 cover art is done! The release date will be June 5, 2018, and pre-orders should be available sometime within the next week.
If you want to receive an email with links when the pre-orders are live, please click here to sign up for my New Book Notification list. As soon as I have all the information I’ll update my Books and Where To Buy pages, too, so stay tuned!
Escorting Canada’s top weapons developers to an international summit should be just another stressful day in the life of secret agent Aydan Kelly. But Aydan’s routine mission becomes a nightmare when she’s accused of an attack on the delegates and the theft of a classified weapon.
As evidence mounts against her, Aydan’s own investigation suggests she might have unconsciously committed the crime. Burned by her own Department and hunted by MI6, CIA, and FBI, Aydan must decide: When her own mind might betray her, who can she trust?
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With #13 just around the corner, I guess it’s time to start rereading the series. Love the flowers.
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Thanks, Judy! It’s so cool that you’re re-reading – it makes my day to hear that the series holds up to multiple reads! Smiling now… 😀
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I think this is reread #5 . Still find things I forgot about.
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Love the spring shots….love the book cover….see it’s all good!! Have a great week!!
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Thanks, Kirt – you, too! It’s gorgeous and hot and sunny here, and the seeds we planted in our veggie garden are practically leaping out of the soil! Ahhh… 😀
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Congrats on the book. I love the cover. Also happy to see all those blooms of yours. Not that I’m feeling jealous or anything. 🙂
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Thanks, Sue! But surely it must be almost spring there. (Although I’m sure you’ll get snow on the May long weekend as usual!) Hang in there; summer’s coming…
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We are now in the ‘fooled you’ season. A few days ago we were all sweating and then these past days awaking to 3 degrees. The weekend looks like summer in the forecast. It’s coming and there is green grass outside my window!
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Enjoying your spring flowers Diane always good news. We are staying cool and cant quit get interested in gardening just yet.. Lots going on so maybe things will settle down soon . always read your blog.
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Thanks, Lois! I’m sure your yard will be beautiful as always this summer – hope things settle down for you soon. 🙂
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Damn, I wouldn’t even dream of being the model for my book cover. Of course, my main character is a hard as nails gunslinger so yeah, there’s that. Love, love, love your cover though!
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Thanks, Jessica! And hey, I can totally see you as a badass gunslinger! All you need is a black duster and a don’t-mess-with-me squint… 😉
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Hey, I’ve got both of those already! It’s the fat, middle aged woman thing letting me down 😉
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Nah, don’t buy into that. If you’ve got the duster and the attitude, that’s all that matters! 🙂
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🤗👍
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You, my dear, have gorgeous hair.
I think it’s awesome that you (and your hubby) *are* your artwork. That is so cool!
When I read your caption on photo one “that’s not snow” I automatically looked at the mountain in the background for snow, at the same time as the words “manure pile” were processing in my brain . . . leading to a nanosecond of this thought, “holy crap, that’s a really BIG manure pile” . . .
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Bahahaha!!! That’s hilarious! Even I couldn’t generate a pile that big.
And thank you for the compliments! I wish my natural haircolour was that red, but it isn’t – it’s a copper/blonde/auburn/brown mix that changes colour depending on what kind of light I’m in. It can look that red, but it rarely does. And I have natural stripes – red-blonde on top and brown/auburn underneath. I tried to even them out in the photo but you can still see the colour variation. I like to think I was a ginger tabby in another life. 😉
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I expect you’re probably right about that last line 😀
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ME!! ME!! Aydan can trust me…! Oh. Ahem. Er, uh, I’m looking rather forward to reading Book 13…just sayin’…
And your yard looks nice, too… 🙂
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Oh, and you need to keep that anonymous redheaded babe, er, model. She’s a great asset to your work. And I mean that in the nicest possible way, of course. 🙂
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LOL! Thanks! I was a bit concerned that the photograph emphasized her… *ahem* asset a bit too much; but there was no way to crop it out and still keep the gun in the picture. I’m still not crazy about the butt shot, but what can you do? I keep telling myself it’s “art”…
(And it’s great to hear that you’re eager to read Book 13! Reggie gets a bit more character development in this one.) 🙂
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Yay, Reggie! And too bad you’re not crazy about the anonymous model’s, uh, pose. I am. I’ve always been a pose guy…😜
Thithta, I’m eager to read Book TWENTY! Jutht thayin’…
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Hooray! I’m actually thinking of running a poll to see how other readers feel about continuing the series. I could end it on Book 14 if people are getting tired of it, but it’s so much fun to write I kinda hope they want to carry on. 🙂
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Okay, since Book 20 is only seven away, I’d better revise my comment to Book 30. With an option on another twenty thereafter. Feel better now? 😁
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LOL! Yep! 😀
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There. I’m glad that’s settled. 👍
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Oh how was your male model on the cover?????
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Who even
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That’s Hubby sneaking into the picture (or out of the picture in this case)!
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Oooooooooo can’t wait to read it. I’m not gunna get much sleep till its read once I start. Good job I’ll be back to a commute again by then.
I never watch the news I don’t pick up a paper, I occasionally listen to the news on a radio, and occasionally read headlines on the Internet.
I wish I knew where my head is, and what’s going on inside it. But I think I’m better off not trying to understand it and just drift along
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Our brains are so over-booked and always-on these days, sometimes you just need a chance to drift. And having a commute is sometimes a good thing – when I used to work in an office I always appreciated the chance to spend half an hour unwinding before I got home. If it’s a new job for you, I hope it goes well! 🙂
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Not a new job, just moving back home after my winter break living at my parents house. I’m hoping once they are home mum will take over my house search and find somewhere close to them for me hehe
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Aha! It’s always good to enlist somebody who’s motivated to get the job done. 😉
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I was always a news junkie until these last couple of years where it’s all just too depressing. 2020 can’t come soon enough, and hopefully it will bring nicer skies. I don’t blame you for wanting to focus on the news around you. It’s beautiful and exciting. Congrats on the book!
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Um… ignorant troglodyte here. What’s supposed to happen in 2020? (And thanks for the congratulations!)
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The next US presidential election. I was trying to be diplomatically coy in my comment. 😁
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Oh, look at you go! 😉 I’m sure I would have gotten that if I hadn’t been an oblivious Canadian who tries to avoid reading the news.
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Well, I shouldn’t have expected you to know that. That’s my bad. I rarely discuss politics online. It never leads anywhere good. 😄
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It may not take til 2020 to get sunnier…just sayin’ 😉
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Fingers crossed. 😊
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There’s always HOPE (I hope)
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Seems like your announcement is FULL of good news — weather and book. I know what you mean regarding reading or listening to “news”. Seems like some days I could just read one newspaper or listen to one news program on the radio/tv and know just as much as doing it every day during a 7 day period. I just get tired of hearing the same “ole thing”. Have even left TV off until something entertaining comes on. (More time to read — thanks to Amazon – or mow grass. Have plenty of both to do.) Have to admit that some days it means watching programs that are 20 – 30 years old. And how about all of those “old” programs that are being restarted.
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I always wonder about TV and movie remakes, too. Do they really have NO new ideas?!? But I suppose for the TV stations it’s all about profits, and if it was a moneymaker before, maybe it’ll be a moneymaker again.
Just for shits and giggles I checked out a news site that lists the top headlines from every year since 1900, and the headlines were the same from decade to decade: War and unrest, political corruption, natural disasters, violent crime, celebrity shenanigans. The details changed but just like the TV shows, there’s no “news” at all; it’s just the same old, same old.
Sigh. I’m going to go and look at some flowers now… 🙂
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Great news on the book and before you know it the apple twig will be a branch.
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LOL! I hope so. I can’t believe it decided to bloom in its infancy, but I’m all for happy surprises. 🙂
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Is that a hand coming at her from the right? Love the cover!!!
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Thanks, Beth! I didn’t put a hand in there, but it’s great if you’re seeing one. Subliminal messages, woooooo… 😉
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