The Weekly Catch Up

5 Fun Things.

We headed to the beach in eastern Long Island this weekend for Memorial Day. The weather was iffy at times but it didn’t matter — it still felt like the beginning of a dazzling summer. As you all probably guessed, this is my favorite time of the year. Here are five things that made it feel special.

OMG we’re such hams!

I stopped into my favorite store the North Fork Apothecary and saw my friend and boutique owner Stephanie Sack. She sells my novels in her shop — and she stocks the most beautiful dresses. I’m headed to a wedding in Montauk next weekend so I needed something to wear. My daughter took shots of the pretty racks as well as Stephanie and I posing for kicks (literally).

There’s something so fun about shopping in your friend’s store. Plus, I got a dress! I’m going to wear it to my book launch too so get used to seeing me in it. Ha!

I’m in love with these flowers! I also planted dahlias in the garden.

We planted flower boxes outside our sunporch windows. They came out so beautiful with a mix of pink, purple and yellow flowers. Of course I forgot to take a photo but I included two pics of the wagon carrying some of our selections.

My paperback is in bookstores and I found a copy!

I spotted my paperback in the wild for the first time! It never gets old for an author, and when I walked inside Burton’s Bookshop in Greenport, it was front and center. The owner, Scott, has been so kind to my books over the years, and he laughed when I squealed at the sight. Silly photos ensued!

All of my mom friends out there get why this photo hit me square in the heart.

We went to one of our favorite restaurants in Shelter Island, the Chequit. One of my favorite moments was when my husband snapped a photo of me and my little one taking a selfie. The selfie was a thumbs down. His photo made me heart sing.

I listened to Janet Skeslien Charles’s new audiobook called The Parisian Chapter. Janet’s novel The Paris Library (and her latest Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade) is among one of my favorites of all time, and it was a joy to walk the dog and garden with the story in my ear. Sooo good!

What I’ve Been Watching: “Sirens,” which just started on Netflix. I had two different friends text me and say I’m going to love it—and I do! I’m a BIG Julianne Moore fan!

What I’ve Been Reading: Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy. This was a recommendation from my bookseller at Burton’s Books and I love it. I’m halfway through and can’t put it down. Think: remote island off the coast of Australia and Antarctica, a father and his kids who run wild with penguins and seals, a seed bank to save humans from extinction and a near-dead woman washes up on shore. Um, so good.

An Article Worth Sharing: “The Five Best Food Scenes in Literature,” which appeared in LitHub. Such a fun read and I agreed with some of the picks, although I think there are so many others. What is your fave food scene in a book?

Podcast I’m enjoying: Don’t laugh!! “English Country Gardens; On Becoming a Gardener” on the Travel with Rick Steves podcast. I feel like I’m 65 but I love my garden and listening to this podcast was very relaxing!

Don’t forget, dear readers. My publisher has launched a preorder campaign for signed copies—yes, signed (!) copies—of Our Last Vineyard Summer with my local indie bookshop Bronx River Books. If you want a copy, and I really want to share a personalized version of this book with you, please order it here. Be sure to write who you want me to address the book to in the comments section at checkout!

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