ROW80 – Page 29 – Linda Nelson

Spring has sprung here in New Hampshire and it is about time. I got so tired of the snow and the cold. A bad case of cabin fever has been troubling me since February. But that is over now, thank God.

Yesterday I planted and planted and planted all seeds mind you. Mike tilled the garden plots for me (yes that is right, plural plots) and I planted in them.

We have hopes of a good crop for this year. I planted Butternut Squash, Zucchini, Yellow Crookneck, Cucumbers, Patty Pan Squash, Purple Top Turnips, Yellow Beans, Snow Peas, Green Beans, Carrots, Parsnips, and a bit of Radishes.

But we’re not done yet. Mike has plans for a plot or two of Corn and we still have yet to buy our tomato and pepper plants. Oh and don’t forget the Cabbage too.

Our chickens complained. They wanted out of their pen to free range in the yard. Before he was done tilling the first plot they were allowed out for one last time until after harvest time. They are our tick patrol and they do a really great job too with keeping the tick population in check.

There was not one mole hill to be seen in our yard once the snow melted. That must mean that the grubs are getting pretty scarce too.

We have to be careful about letting them out to free range during the rest of the growing season. They can take out a head of cabbage in less than two minutes. – Not funny –

ROW80 Check-In:

So I was very busy yesterday but I did manage to push past where I was struggling in my story. I think I have come up with some sort of temporary solution to the storyline. I just need to play with the plot a little bit more before I will know for sure. Writing romance for teens is challenging or so it seems to be for me, but I will persevere and figure it out in the end. It just might take me a bit more time to properly write this story.

“Plots are just like planting a garden from seed. It takes time for them to germinate and bring forth the fruits of harvest.”

For the past couple of weeks I have not made much progress on Along Came Neil. I have been too busy cooking the plot or just plain stuck as to what my character should do next.

This always happens when I get to the middle of the story. I guess this is because I like strong tension between characters but I don’t want the story to be to repetitious. My characters have to create new ways to get back at each other. They have to be creative.

It is kind of like pulling an elephant out of your hat.

So whenever I get to this point I know that to help motivate me to keep going on I must start making my book cover.

Well I have now done so.

Here it is:

I like it because it shows two girls who are possibly fighting over who is going to be the one.

Will it be Ashley or Karla he takes to the dance? If he takes Karla to the dance, what will Maggie do about it? She promised her friend Ashley she would take care of Karla once and for all. What could she possible have up her sleeve and will she succeed?