New Puppy during the Pandemic

Like so much of the country, Pennsylvania has a stay-at-home order. Right before the state went on lockdown, we got a new puppy. Tallulah Mae. I'll confess, she's been keeping us busy. As a writer, staying at home is my normal.  This week, I've been writing another short story, Quarantine, this week in between house-training a puppy, homeschooling the minions and working on the barn.

Quarantine

I've also been trying to post upbeat messages of hope and glee on my social media accounts! In the midst of this crisis good things still happen. Kids laugh, puppies chase balls, and people love. People fall in love. That's the story I wanted to tell in this short story. I didn't want to minimize the tragedy of what's going on, but rather I wanted to remind myself and anyone who reads it that in the midst of awfulness, good things happen. I hope this short story does that.

As always, there are elements of real life in my fiction. Of course this one has a puppy in it. Tallulah Mae to be exact. And it's a story of heroes. A nurse and a grocer. I think this crisis has reminded us all that heroes are everywhere.

I still love writing short stories. Those were my first writing sales and they're still such a joy to write. I hope you check out Quarantine and I'm including the list of the other shorts I have up and available.  And don't forget the first two books in my Hometown Hearts series are out, and the third is up for preorder!

I hope you all are staying safe and staying at home. I hope despite everything that's going on, you're still finding moments of glee in your days.

If, like me, you're home with kids, I've got some tips on what we're doing here with 4-8 year olds. Tip 1 & Tip 2.

Holly

Susan Sands: Meet the New Family Member

I've gotten my middle son off to college. In his rare texts to me, he's communicated a sentence or two that he's "fine," and things are going well and that there isn't much to report otherwise. So, instead of sleeping in his room and sniffing his sheets, and wailing about where the time has gone--I went out and got a new puppy. Because I have absolutely nothing else to do...

Watson

His name is Watson, and he's a 16 week old Golden Doodle who was returned to the breeder for being "stubborn." The good news is he's already house-trained and hasn't had any accidents inside. Unfortunately, his goal seems to be chewing his way through everything I own, including the wooden legs on the furniture and baseboards. Yes, I do have bones, balls, and enough toys to sink a battleship.  He likes those too, but wood is delicious, don't you know?

Anyway, our Boudreaux needed a friend since sweet Liza Jane passed last year. Boudreaux is busy humping the puppy and convincing him who is top dog. Constantly. I'm hoping this stage will pass quickly. :-/

In my last book, Love, Alabama, I wrote in a Golden Retriever/Lab mix named Big Al, whose purpose in life was to liberate the squeaker from every toy he met as quickly as possible with as much stuffing spread as far and wide as possible. I believe I cursed myself as I was writing.

Today's Carnage Thus Far

But, as you can see, he's a beauty, and as long as I don't have to clean up the really nasty stuff, I'm ahead of the game. Plus, it keeps me from sniffing sheets, which is pathetic. My independent two-legged boy is happy and healthy, and independent, and I couldn't be more thrilled. But I do miss him.

As summer ends, I'm refocused on finishing my third Alabama novel. I can't wait to see it in print! I doubt that thrill will ever end.

Have a wonderful week!


Susan