I bet you’re dying to know (mortician humor pun intended) what I listen to when I write. For this book, I listened mostly to this (you’re welcome).
Are you wondering what stage my book is at?
Are you wondering what stage my book is at?
It’s currently in the skillful hands of my amazing editor, Ashley Higbee of Rose Canyon Editing.
It will make its way back to me later this month, and then I will finish edits, typeset, and send it off for a proof.
Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio
SPICE!
The word “spice” is found 32 times in The Lonely Mortician. So speaking of spice, this pumpkin dip is to die for (mortician humor pun intended)!
Recent Read
What I recently read: The Psychology of Money, by Morgan Housel.
This was the neighborhood book club read for September, and I wasn’t in the mood for non-fiction, but I ended up loving this.
TWO HUGE TAKEAWAYS I RECEIVED:
- Happiness is having the freedom/leverage to do what you want with whoever you want (or alone if you’re like me and sometimes need a break from everyone!) and doing it whenever you want for the length of time that you want.
- Things get better. So much of our society focuses on the negative and the worst-case scenarios, but historically, even with all the hard things that take place, things get better. Life can be better. Relationships can be better. Finances can be better. Dips and turns and missteps happen, but they are just a blip if we keep on.
I just bought a hardback of next month’s read at Poppy Books in Spanish Fork. Stay tuned.
Cover Reveal
Guys! You are all so awesome. We just hit 150! As promised here is the cover reveal for
The Lonely Mortician,
set to debut on Black Friday, November 24th, 2023!
Who’s ready?
I am so ready. 
Only 70 more people to go! We’re over halfway there!
Let’s Play a Word Game
IF YOU WANT TO PLAY, COMMENT WITH THE FOLLOWING:
Weird female name:
Adjective:
Verb:
Profession:
Place of Business:
Scent:
Profession:
Here is how our Facebook reader’s responses changed The Lonely Mortician’s first paragraph.
April C:
Astahsa took enormous breaths as she jumped blush onto her former CFO’s dead cheeks. After three years too many of working at MGM, she still gagged at the pungent scent of pumpkin. Becoming a shop owner was never part of her plans.
Kalya L:
Abcde took billowy breaths as she rioted blush onto her former taxidermist’s dead cheeks. After three years too many of working in the car wash, she still gagged at the pungent scent of sulfur. Becoming a telephone operator was never part of her plans.
Virginia A:
Laphanazia took Tiny breaths as she Walked blush onto her former Lion tamer’s dead cheeks. After three years too many of working in the Bakery, she still gagged at the pungent scent of Apple Cinnamon Vanilla. Becoming a Cashier was never part of her plans.
Tina M:
Hilldegard took pickled breaths as she sang blush onto her former zookeeper’s dead cheeks. After three years too many of working at The Shane Company, she still gagged at the pungent scent of cedar. Becoming a chimney sweep was never part of her plans.
I research a lot of weird stuff when I write a book
Facebook Launch
Who wants to see the cover for The Lonely Mortician, set to release in about two months?!
Once the Facebook group reaches 150 members, I’ll give you a peek.
How to Improve your Marriage: Exercise #3
With all the talk lately on gratitude and the positive benefits of expressing thanks in our lives, I’m skipping my planned exercise and inserting this one. Whether you’re joining me for the first time or coming back, welcome to How to Improve your Marriage: Exercise #3.
I knew someone once who loved to complain about their spouse. Every day, this person would look for negative things to tell. Each day the items got worse as if the negative had to one-up the previous day’s complaint. This carried on for months until their marriage ended in a divorce.
Maybe the spouse was really terrible, or maybe looking for the negative can turn anyone into a demon. My husband isn’t perfect, and I’m sure he’s super flawed like the rest of us, but I don’t see it. We decided before we got married that we wouldn’t complain about each other to anyone else. And we don’t. Maybe I tease occasionally about the cupboard doors he leaves open after making a sandwich, and he probably does the same with my inability to remember analogies, but we don’t ever have gripe sessions with others.
If we have a problem, we’ve always approached each other and spilled what’s bugging us. Does it hurt? Sometimes, but it’s like a band-aid, fast and done. And then we move on, happier than we were before.
The Excercise
Discuss this article with your spouse and decide to stop the negative spirals of complaining to others about your partner (if you’re already a pro keep reading for an additional exercise for this week). Recognize that change takes time. Don’t expect your spouse to change this practice overnight. Give them space and grace to overcome, and give it to yourself too. You don’t have to be perfect today or tomorrow, just shooting for it.
Once you’ve eliminated the negative, focus on the positive (or rather sprinkle it starting now). Like last week’s exercise, pointing out the best qualities in your spouse on a regular basis can help you see those traits and forget/ignore the others. When you feel like the luckiest person in the world because you’re with another human being blessed with divine gifts and the potential to smooth out rough edges, it’s amazing what that can do for your relationship.
I hope you’ve enjoyed How to Improve your Marriage: Exercise #3. Change takes time and is full of small and simple things. But everyone is capable of change if they want it.