Welcome, I’m Mary Louisa Locke, the author of the USA Today best-selling Victorian San Francisco Mystery series and the Caelestis Science Fiction series. In this daily newsletter, I reflect on my life as an indie author trying to age gracefully, including my struggles to maintain a balanced life, what I listen to, read, and watch for entertainment, and occasional bits of information I’ve gleaned from doing the research for my novels.
Daily Diary, Tuesday, December 26, 2023, Day 12011: I certainly hope that those of you who celebrate the holidays had a good December 25th. I did end up writing, not out of any sense of obligation, but the truth is that I found I preferred to move forward on the story I was telling than to read a story by someone else. When I am this far along in a novel, I am so invested in the characters and plot, it is hard for me to stay away, even for a day. I was pleased to get 614 words written.
I did read a few short stories at lunch yesterday, one I enjoyed. The other, a romance, simply confirmed my impression that no one can hold a candle to either Jane Austen (whose Pride and Prejudice I listened to recently) or Georgette Heyer (whose Civil Contract I am currently listening to.)
This morning, I am skipping my walk because I am off to get an echocardiogram, and I wanted to get this post done, and maybe even some writing, before I went. This is the last of the tests that started in August when I went to my primary care doctor to complain about lack of stamina and fatigue. So far nothing dramatic has been found, generally things look good, just some anomalies? in heart and lungs, so this echocardiogram today and retake of CT scan in 5 months. I continue to suspect that my symptoms are probaby a combination of age and the long term effects of my Sheehan’s Sydrome (or the medication I take for it.) But I am glad my doctor took my complaints seriously in order to rule out any hidden problems.
My walk last evening was again quite delightful. A bit nippy, but still sunny enough so the chill wasn’t unpleasant. I caught these two little boys who clearly had new bikes (with training wheels) who were racing down the street with a mother and grandmother running behind them! So joyous! And, finally, as the sun set and I headed home, this glowing tree in the window for my last holiday photo!
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