Grateful

It's been so long since I blogged that I totally missed mentioning the release of two new books. So - IF BREAD COULD RISE TO THE OCCASION and MERRY MARKET MURDER are both now available in the best bookstores everywhere. Thank you for buying (or borrowing) and reading my books. If you get them free from pirate sites, I'm not all that grateful - not because I don't make any money from pirate sites, but because I think the whole pirate site stuff is awful and ridiculous - and it's not only about me. There are other people in this chain - my agent, publisher, editor(s), cover artists, publicists. I know my books are only a small percentage of their incomes, but still. Seriously, if you want to read my books but truly can't afford (or just don't want) to buy them, check out your library, and if my books aren't in your library, ask the librarians to order them. I've never had someone tell me that a library wouldn't order them if patrons asked for them. I just got a text today from someone who'd missed the two releases I just mentioned above, but they saw the books were being promoted on pirate sites and they wanted to make me aware. There's just no way to fight those sites - they don't fight fair. Of course they don't fight fair, they are thieves.

Anyway, I'm really amazed at how bad I am at blogging because I have a ton of stuff I like to talk about. I just get so busy that I don't have time to write things down. For instance, the reason I am even here today is because yesterday a federal judge in Utah struck down Utah's ban on same-sex marriage, so at the moment that I'm writing this, gay and lesbian couples may marry in the state of Utah. I'm sure the state will file appeals, but until then - hurry and get your marriage licenses, my gay and lesbian friends. Congratulations and I'm thrilled for this ruling. I love living in Utah, but I am fully aware of its worldwide reputation of being weird (it's not as weird as all that though. I wish I could explain, but I think you just have to live here a while before you see what I mean). This ruling is a nice shock to the system - plus, it's another step toward true equality and I'm all for that. I'm writing this blog today because I felt the need to somehow be a part of the good news - even if it's just by repeating what's already been said.

And also - what a year! Goodness, it's been rough and great and bizarre and . . . well, bizarre is a good word. My son is healing extremely well from an accident he had in September. We are so lucky. I mean, thank you, thank you, thank you - to everyone and every higher power there is. I'm not having nightmares as much as I was right after it first happened, and he's truly almost all the way back to his old self. This is good stuff.

We lost my husband's uncle in June, and that's been pretty sad. He was a good guy. I dedicated MERRY MARKET MURDER to him. I'd decided to do that the last time I saw him. He was in the hospital and it was clear that he wasn't going to live much longer. He always loved the "Becca stories." Anyway, I thought about telling him, but I didn't want him to think I was making the dedication because he was dying. That was dumb of me. Another relative became very ill and I had to leave town to help him and I never got to see Uncle Tim alive again. I should have told him. I wish I would have.

The other relative is doing pretty well, even though I thought we might lose him too. Very grateful there too.

In book writing news, I signed contracts for two more series that will begin in 2015. The Scottish Bookshop and The Rescued Word mystery series. There's more information on my website about both series if you want some details. I'm having a blast writing everything and I appreciate all my readers so very much. I think the title of this blog post will be "Grateful."

Wishing you a happy holiday season and a wonderful 2014.

Paige