Where's your inspiration?

 I couldn't help myself. 

I looked for images of a 40-ish female mechanic for my promo memes but couldn't find one online.

There was one, however, in my photo stash.

Yup, that's me in the photo above. I wasn't a mechanic, but I was 40 at the time, working in a heavy equipment repair shop. I was the parts expediter and broom pusher. Actually, I had to challenge the male mechanics for the last task. By the end of the day, I was eager to spring from that creaky chair, away from my telephone tether (phones were corded in those days).

The Mustang in my story is familiar, too. My friend owned a '64 1/2 convertible just like the one in the meme. Even in the 80s, its sleek baby-blue surface was irresistible, like a Hot Wheels that had grown up. It was perfect for my story.

The male love interest was inspired by a 'real' foxy silver-haired British car enthusiast. If you've ever watched Amazon Prime's Grand Tour or BBC's Top Gear, you know him as the man with The North Wind hairstylist. After the tickle of inspiration provided by James May, my William took literary form.

I created a vast Eden for my couple, called it Forever, Montana, then let the muse in. The story begins with his life almost ending with the fiery crash of his beloved 1964 1/2 Mustang.

Was William rescued by an Alien or an Angel?

Who is the Purebred and who is the Mutt?

And what's with the skunk on the cover?

Check out THE PUREBRED AND THE MUTT as a single on December 29. Available now as part of CUTE BUT CRAZY: QUIRKY CAREERS, the fourth book in the Chill Out! Books / Authors' Billboard Romantic Comedy series.

If you can read this, be grateful for a multitude of blessings. First and foremost is you have the gift of sight. Even if you wear glasses, contacts, or had corrective surgery, you can distinguish dark and light on a very detailed level.

Second, give thanks for electronics. You could break that down to the device (smartphone or computer), information sharing system (wi-fi, cable, or telephone wire), and good ol’ electricity to power that digital screen that flashes the words in front of your eyes. Yup, more than one gift in that one.

Third, thank your teacher. Whether you attended public or private school or learned from a parent, sibling, or friend, be grateful they spent time encouraging you. You were – and are – worth it.

Right now, I want to share my experience with the first one: the gift of sight. When my grandmother saw me as a newborn, she said, “What big, beautiful eyes. She’s going to be nearsighted.” She was right. Lasik  – my first two surgeries – corrected it, though. I was very happy for years not having to buy glasses or contacts.

Surgeries three and four were for cataracts. Those surgeries were not nearly as successful. I guess the ophthalmologist didn’t calculate (guess) the right strength of the implanted lenses, I was back to glasses.

Vision degradation was ongoing and for no reason other than old age. I had a macular pucker that was tugging and distorting my retina, the ‘projector screen’ at the back of my eye. I needed a new prescription twice a year. Images seen with my right eye were ten to fifteen percent bigger than my left. That translated as double vision to my brain. Prismatic lenses helped but didn't cure the problem.

I had been seeing a retina specialist for five years, having check-ups on its progress or healing. Nope, it wasn’t fixing itself. The doctor decided it was time for surgery.

My fifth eye surgery was last week: vitrectomy and membranectomy. I’ll look like a pirate for at least a few more days. Here’s hoping my ‘double-vision’ will go away and I can write more soon!

Note: That's how much my hair has grown in one year from my traditional 'Pixie cut.' I'm responsible/to blame for the goofy bangs.

While you're waiting for my next book, start a series or two or three, depending on how busy you are. Short of time? Check out a second chance romance single. Both ONE ARCTIC SUMMER (based in Barrow, Alaska) and A PLATE OF CHRISTMAS COOKIES (a quicker read, based in southeastern Arizona) are feel-good romances.

Read on and remember to count your blessings every day.   Dani