I’ve mentioned in other posts some of the rewards program bennies offered by airlines and such. One treat you get where airline status means absolutely nothing, is stellar sunrises and sunsets from the air.

This photo above is one I took from the plane a couple of weeks ago when landing in Portland, ME. The east coast had been thoroughly drenched by rain for days on end. You can still see the rain in the distance in the photo. In this shot the clouds were starting to break up, and some sun was poking through. This was a fantastic view as we made our final descent. I didn’t want to look like a tourist taking pics from the airplane window, but I decided to screw it and take the pics anyway because the scenery was breathtaking.

Others were taking pictures too. I imagined we looked like a tour bus of kids at Disney with our faces smashed against the glass as we looked out. As we were almost on the ground I spotted the fattest rainbow ever. We touched down the rainbow was somehow even bigger. A murmur arose within the plane and camera phones started going crazy. One lady in the front of the plane got super excited, announcing that the rainbow was for her. Maybe it was for her. Maybe it was for all of us.

I don’t get too giddy over rainbows, but this one was dang impressive. I was more enamored with the people on the plane and the unified response to the big, honking rainbow than I was with the rainbow itself. I deliberately did not take a picture of the rainbow since a camera phone photo could never capture the essence of delight by many on the plane. Either way, it was a memorable landing that day. Can’t buy that with airline status, first class seating, or no baggage fees. Can’t buy that, period.

Photo by me. Portland, ME, October 2014

Winter approaches rapidly for Maine residents. In fact, some could argue that it has already arrived given the massive dump of snow we received over the weekend.

Here are a few things to keep in mind this winter with some lesser known factoids about the fantastic folks that live in this gorgeous state.

Mainers are more daunted by the endless political ads this time of year than the thought of ice and snow.

Of the 0.1% of the Maine population that actually LIKES political ads (which are usually the politicians), the other 99.9% prays those folks are eaten first by the zombies.

Those percentages are completely made up, but I’m sure if a study was done, they would be proven as fact. Go Zombies!

For Maine dog owners, those little (and some not so little) land mines may be buried by the snow now, but never fear, they will still be waiting for you in the spring. Your best bet is to use the snowblower to chop them up and toss them into the woods, or your neighbor’s yard. Your choice.

Next time you’re putting on your winter coat and can’t find one of the arm holes, stop and have a laugh. I did this the yesterday, spinning and fishing for the elusive arm sleeve hole. Finally I stopped and laughed at myself for looking like a moron in the parking lot. By laughing, I at least made myself a happy moron. 🙂

Enjoy this year’s winter. It’s only going to last, oh, I don’t know, at least 6 months. Get out and play. If nothing else, start a snowball fight with a tree. You’re guaranteed to win…maybe. Trees can be sneaky in a snowball fight. Better bring a shovel.

Photo by me, Dec 2013, Leeds, Maine

Last night was Halloween. I had a completely different post ready to go for this week, then everything changed when I got a picture of a young fan dressed as Rio Kaiser for Halloween. There really isn’t too much else to say. I was (and still am) completely thrilled that young Emma picked Rio and made such a great costume. She could have picked any number of characters, and she picked Rio. How stinkin’ cool is that?!?!

Photo by Chris Clements 2014, Die Hard Pats and Saints fan.

No blog for a couple of weeks due to work on the website and getting Do and Die up and running on Amazon and other ebook and print locations. Burnt Mountain Do and Die page is updated with links to online print and ebook sites. I’m still waiting for a box of print books to arrive so I can sign copies, but you can go ahead and pre-order if you like from the website or just shoot me an email or note through fb.

Early feedback from readers is folks are enjoying the book. If you have time to leave a review on Amazon, sweet! I’d greatly appreciate it. If you only have time to drop me a note, that works too. I’m just giddy that folks are reading and enjoying the story.

I am actively writing volume 4 and 5. I expect 4, Burnt Mountain Rhyllia, will be available in 2016 with 5, as yet untitled, coming out at most within a year of 4’s release. Stay tuned. More info to come on this series of five novels. I also plan to do more polls for reader input since folks enjoyed naming the villains in Do and Die. I have already received new character suggestions from my youngest readers, Mia and Emma of Illinois. I already know how I will incorporate two of their three new characters, so thanks for your input!

Some days you are off to the races. Other days, you wait and let the racers go by you. I first saw this picture above last month and immediately fell in love with it. My sister in law took this photo in 2005 in Baltimore, I believe at the aquarium. She and my brother had it printed on a metal plaque for me for my birthday this year and gave it to me early. I now have this photo as part of my images that are on my computer’s wallpaper. I get a kick out of it every time I see it, and I think of how my day is going in relationship to this image.

Is my brain feeling a bit mushed and writing is slow? Or am I off to the races? If I am feeling brain drained, what do I need to get going again? Sometimes the answer is as simple as rest. Working full time, plus air travel twice a week, plus writing, editing, reading, researching, marketing, blogging, etc, it’s easy to make a brain and body feel tired.

This last week I didn’t do much writing, but I was still busy. I have ordered the first two books to increase my inventory at home. With the third book coming out soon, I have had a spike in orders for the first two books. Christmas is coming up and folks are thinking farther ahead than I am! Today I ordered the print proof for Do and Die. That copy won’t arrive for at least 2 weeks, but once that proof is approved, the book is released. Expect book 3 to be out before the end of October. I know my date has shifted back, and I missed my target of late September. But the slippage wasn’t because I was dragging my heels.

Enjoy those races whether you’re the one cruising by or the one watching from the sidelines and having a rest!

Photo by Kristine Campbell, 2005