So it’s been a while—apologies! Fall and early winter have been crammed with work, holidays and other personal stuff. Coming up for air now, and all’s well.
First, BW is so much improved, which is huge relief all around. Logan, so willing and able, did so much to help when we needed it. And still shows up whenever we call. I don’t know how we’d have managed without him.
BW continues PT, and is making big strides, literally. That area of life is getting much closer to normal.
Our holidays were fabulous. I carved out a couple of days for our annual holiday girl trip. So much fun, and a whirl of shopping with our friends at Saks. They always make our day there so special for all. A short and lovely break from the madness of holiday prep, plus that precious gift of girl time.
A zillion cookies were baked, with loads of help from Kayla, JR, Colt, Logan and Logan’s gorgeous girlfriend, Loren. Much deliciousness enjoyed, with Kat doing heroic work on the clean up!
Then, boom, it’s Christmas, so all those presents bagged or wrapped (while I watched Hallmark Christmas movies) are torn open in a glorious kind of chaos. I love the noise, the happy faces, and the crowded mess of it.
One of my fave gifts is a sweatshirt that says:
Be Kind . . . Of a bitch.
My grandkids know their nana!
We had the whole gang having fun, then sitting down to the three casseroles of lasagna I made, slices of garlic bread from the Italian bread I baked. And no room after for the planned ice cream bar.
I loved every minute.
During all this, I’m working on next year’s standalone and signing ten million books as orders for The Seven Rings flooded in, along with orders for the In Death cookbook. The TTP staff worked like maniacs through all this. And hey, me, too!
A quiet New Year’s—I made chicken en cocotte—with Jason, Kat and Griffin. Griffin lasted until about ten minutes before the ball drop, then announced Bedtime! But he enjoyed the screening of the first part of Wicked.
We saw this on Broadway years ago, with the original cast. It left such an impression on me. The movie didn’t disappoint.
The very next day I started my full house purge. An exhausting but satisfying annual task. It’s restricted to weekends because I write all week, but I got ‘er done.
My house is organized, clean and shiny. As I purge a room, I clean the room which includes feeding all the wood. We have about 24 wood doors in this house, not to mention shelves, trim, windows, beadboard, wainscoting, furniture. After all, I married a carpenter.
Still working on the first draft of the standalone, and that work will go with me when we take a much deserved week break to Nemocolin with Jason and family and our friends Bill and Nicole. Another annual tradition I very much prize. I’ll work some, hang out some, get a longed-for massage, have time to read—haven’t had much of that—and recharge from the crowded, busy, chaotic, stressful few months.
Hope your holidays were as full of fun, family and friends as mine were, and that the new year brings health and happiness.
Nora
I missed something. What happened to BK?
Nora mentioned BW had spinal surgery in this post: https://fallintothestory.com/11381-2/
Laura
Wow, I am so happy to hear about BW and I must’ve missed the fall into the story from the end of the year so did not realize about the surgery. PT is so important —great that the family could pitch in. Loved the trilogy & my signed copy of the cookbook—- haven’t done anything out of it yet but thank you again for a wonderful reading year & look forward to the next in depth just a couple of weeks away in the standalone to come. God bless you and your family.
Glad BW is doing better and that you had a great, though very busy, holiday season. I sure envy and admire your purging and cleaning Nora. Good for you. I’m working very slowly on mine. 😄🤷♀️
Take care, blessings, good wishes and good health in this new year to you and your family.
Looking forward to your next new release. Thank you in advance.
Sounds like you had a very full and very joyFULL holiday season. I love hearing about everything. I am looking forward to all of you new releases this coming year! Thank you for sharing and allowing each of us a glimpse of your life.
Laura, could we please go back to black text?? Very hard to read for these old eyes.
I always use bolded green for Nora. Will discuss with her. -Laura
Thank you for switching the font color from green. I did notice right away when I came to see if there was a new post.
I agree completely. It came out unbolded on my screen and I could not read it. Not the usual case! Still enjoyed. 🙂
Sounds like a busy, full, lovely few months for you. So happy to hear BW keeps improving and absolutely LOVE the sweatshirt 😂, because I identify strongly with the sentiment. Thank you for the update🩷
What does Nora mean by “feed the wood”? Sounds like a fun and busy holiday season!
Apply oil to the wood to relieve dryness. -Laura
What oil does the carpenter’s wife recommend, or does she have her own recipe?
I think it’s orange oil, but if Nora sees this, she’ll answer herself (she’s on her break right now).
Laura
I generally use Orange GLo. Pretty sure that’s the product name. I like how the wood drinks it up, and the scent of it.
Thank you! I bet that’s what Summerset uses, too!
Sounds like a lovely time was had by all! Wishing you all the best in the new year. Thank you for all of the wonderful characters you have shared with me these past 30+years.. Reading your books is my favorite escape. ❤️
Nora, it sounds like you had a wonderful and blessed Christmas. Thank you for sharing your private life with us. I am glad BW is recovering well from his spinal surgery. My husband had spinal surgery in 2020. He has a lot of hardware in his spine but he recovered well and has had no pain or trouble since. May you and your family have a most happy and healthy new year.
Laura, I’m using this opportunity to ask about the magnets. It used to be once we signed up we were on the list for 5 years. Does that still work or do we need to request one every year? Thanks so much. I appreciate your help.
Hi Jo, at this time the magnet list is manageable. I only remove people when their magnet is returned.
Laura
What’s this about a magnet? Should I have gotten one ?
Only if you subscribed. I mail out magnets with each year’s release schedule to a list of subscribers. It’s pretty simple, send a SASE and I’ll send a magnet. You can find all the details here: https://noraroberts.com/get-free-stuff/
Laura
Thank you. We moved last year and I’m afraid the post office didn’t forward the magnet. I’ll send in a new request.
Love those family traditions – and the new sweatshirt is bang on 😆
I’m exhausted and impressed just hearing about it. Didn’t realize Saks provided a beautiful shopping lunch. I’m still working on walking bacon. There’s very little I find more sensual than the feel of biscuit dough, so I guess I’m showing my age? Glad BW is back on his feet.
Happy New Year to you and your family. My husband and I just watched the second part of Wicked. I loved it. I’ve seen the show so many times and in fact seeing it again in Pittsburgh. I’m taking my 3 grandchildren and they are going to meet Glinda and Elphaba. My husband works for Wicked and after 15 years he’s going to retire.
I am glad BW is getting better . I am happy you had a great holiday .
Thank you for keeping us posted on Next Year’s stand alone .
Happy to hear BW is doing well. You have a lovely, close-knit family and it shows in the picture. You sound as organized and busy as usual; I truly admire that about you.
It must have been fun making the wreaths, and having a girls get together.
Your buttermilk biscuits look quite yummy.
Looking forward to all your new books this year.
Sláinte!
I love receiving your emails and quick updates but could you please change the colour of the fine you used for this newsletter. It was very hard to read.
I will check what’s changed on this because I used the same color I’ve used for years. -Laura
Nora. Thank you for sharing insight into your holiday and fun family time! My fave gift this year was a set of books signed by you!! My sister and I spent a weekend at Inn Boonsboro. What a magical weekend. Pretty sure the ghost cat slept at the foot of my bed in M&P
Much love
Lori
Always fun to read about you and family. Glad BW is doing well. Christmas With family is always a wonderful time with memories. l. Glad yours is. Mine is also a special day. Waiting for February book to arrive. Love the Seven Rings book. Great ending. Have a blessed new year to you and all of your family.
Happy New Year! Your biscuits look YUM and so I have 2 questions relating to that: 1. Did you get the layers by making and keeping folds without kneading back in? 2. Will you share your recipe? I’d finally found a great fluffy high- rise biscuit recipe that calls for 5 tsps baking powder, but it doesn’t make layers like yours. Barbara R
Roll the dough out, cut in four, stack the four on top of each other, roll out, repeat one more time, then cut out about sixteen biscuits. It’s the stacking that makes the layers. It’s just a recipe I found on the internet.
Thanks! We’re about to get hit with a cold snap which means it’s gumbo weather and the perfect opportunity to try these biscuits. Big THANKS! Barbara
What a wonderful holiday time for you all! Glad BW is on the mend, and all is well!
Please please please write a sequel to Hidden Nature! I loved it and I loved the main characters. Will you carry on with a Sloan Cooper series please????
That’s not Nora’s process. Her stand alone novels like Hidden Nature are one and done. -Laura
Glad BW is doing well. It’s looks like you had a wonderful Christmas blithering your family. I hope the new year bring good health and family time always! Thanks for sharing your family with us!
Dear Nora,
I am a 72 year old woman who has had Parkinson’s disease for 37 years. I just finished the third book of your , “Lost Brides Trilogy.” I own every book set you have written and have them 3 or 4 times. Thank you for your imagination. Before my diagnosis I could type 100 words a minute with 0 mistakes. You must type faster.