Writer Wednesday - Autumn, My Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Kelli's Quill 

with Kelli A. Wilkins 

Autumn, My Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Ahhh, Autumn! Some people love the long hot days of summer, basking in the sunshine and lounging at the beach, pool, or lake. That’s great for them, but me? I prefer Autumn. 

Maybe I love Autumn so much because I was raised in rural upstate New York. As soon as September hit, the Catskill Mountain air turned chilly. It was almost as if the Earth/Nature was breathing a sigh of relief after enduring the sweltering summer months. 

Everywhere I looked I could see nature in full bloom, autumn-style. Most of the summer flowers were gone, but now the maple trees came alive and showed off their brilliant yellow, ruby red, rust, and vibrant orange leaves. This was also the best time of year for everything apple-related: homemade applesauce, apple cider, apple cider doughnuts, apple crisp, candied apples, and caramel apples; with so many varieties of apples to choose from: McIntosh, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Gala, Cortland, Crispin… 

September transitioned us into October and all things Halloween!

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. As a child, I looked forward to decorating for Halloween, and one of the best places to shop was a store called Woolworth’s. It was a five and dime store in its heyday (and has long since gone out of business), but anyone who ever shopped there knows they had the best decorations and Ben Cooper Halloween costumes.

Back then, Halloween wasn’t as commercialized as today. You didn’t find SpongeBob vampires, Mickey Mouse ghosts, tv show or movie tie-ins, and nothing was graphic or gory. The typical decorations featured Frankenstein’s monster, the mummy, Jack O’Lanterns, black cats, owls, and ghosts. 

I still have some of those original decorations, and over the years I’ve acquired an extensive collection of “old school” Halloween decor. I found most of my treasures at garage sales and flea markets, but now there’s a growing market for “vintage” and “mid-century” Halloween. Antique malls and flea markets ask outrageously ridiculous prices for things I’ve collected for a dollar or two.

Since leaving upstate New York I still get outside as much as I can in October. I read a book under a bright blue sky and relish the color changes in my oak and maple trees. I don’t mind raking up the leaves because I get to kick up my feet and wade through the big pile of leaves before I bag them.

My husband and I visit a state park in October and walk the trails, enjoying the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot, and ending the day with apple cider and doughnuts. A few weeks before Halloween, we go to a local farm and buy pumpkins and gourds to put on the porch. At some point, the squirrels run away with the gourds, but that’s okay. Squirrels preparing for winter are another sign of the changing season.

On October first, I decorate the outside of the house with lighted plastic (“vintage”) pumpkins, inflatable black cats, ghosts, and lots of orange lights. I’m known as the “Halloween house” on the street, and that’s just fine with me. Kids have walked past the house and exclaimed, “Look at that house! We have to go trick-or-treating there!” I remember doing that at their age.

We carve our pumpkins the weekend before Halloween. Sometimes our Jack O’Lanterns turn out silly, sometimes scary, but we celebrate their uniqueness and showcase them on our outside wall. I’ll light them (using real votive candles) on Halloween eve, Halloween night, and the night after.

Many of the Halloween traditions I carry on were started by my mother. Every Halloween she would call me and sing “the Halloween song” about five little pumpkins sitting on a gate. She made up treat bags for the kids, and gushed over the younger trick-or-treaters dressed like princesses and pirates.

My mother made sure we had our fill of delicious seasonal treats: frosted sugar cookies shaped like cats, bats, and pumpkins, chocolate cupcakes with orange icing and sprinkles, and of course pumpkin bread and apple cider. I still make those today. 

When I answer the door on Halloween night and see the trick-or-treaters thrilled to be out in costume, free to be whoever they want for one night, their happiness extends to me. I comment on their pretty, funny, or spooky costumes as I hand out the candy. I know I’ve done a good job if lots of kids stopped at the house.

And when the trick-or-treaters are all gone for the night, I sit on the porch for a while, enjoying the quiet. I watch the candles flickering in the Jack O’Lanterns, take in the crisp night air, and gaze at the moon and stars.

I savor this magical night of wonder and excitement, knowing that Halloween will soon be gone for another year… but the memories last forever. Enjoy the season!

© 2023 Kelli A. Wilkins All Rights Reserved
Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, 7 non-fiction books, and 5 horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror stories. Visit her website/blog for a full title list and social media links. www.KelliWilkins.com

Writer Wednesday - Don’t Let the Summer Days Pass You By!

Kelli's Quill 

with Kelli A. Wilkins 

Don’t Let the Summer Days Pass You By! 

Ah, summer. The long, hot days seem like they’ll last forever. But all too often I find myself looking at the calendar and asking: What happened to summer? Where did the time go? 

It usually starts like this: “Wow! I can’t believe it’s finally Memorial Day Weekend. Hooray for the beginning of the summer season. I’m going to enjoy every minute of it this year.” 

Then: “How is July Fourth next week? Wasn’t it just Memorial Day? There’s so much I still want to do…” 

And then: “Labor Day? Back to school? Wait, what? Where did the summer go?”

Yup. Every year, summer flies by in the blink of an eye.

I’m writing this article the week before Memorial Day. Stores are geared up for summer, advertising beach towels, bathing suits, sandals, and everything red, white and blue for the holiday. People are planning vacations, day trips, and barbeques. Everyone is looking forward to the long summer that lies ahead.

However, by the time you read this, it will be July—the halfway point of summer. You may be wondering how July got here so fast, and thinking that summer is passing you by. But don’t worry, there’s still time to make the most of the sunny days ahead.

If you’re like a lot of people, you want to have a fun and fabulous summer, filled with great memories. You may even have a summer “bucket list” of things to do, like take a vacation, visit friends, hit the beach, lake, or pool… So what’s stopping you? Sometimes it’s yourself!

People can get caught up in routines and don’t make time for new experiences. Summer is the perfect time to change your patterns and actively seek out things to do with friends and family. How can you make more time for fun? Here are a few suggestions.

* Socially distance yourself from social media. I’m not saying turn off all social media for the summer (unless you want to). But if you find yourself on the hamster wheel of constantly posting, commenting, sharing… Take a break.

Don’t get me wrong, technology is great—in limits. But spending every waking hour on your phone or tablet is a huge time suck. If you’re staring at a screen all day or evening, you’re wasting valuable time.

Do an update across all your social media telling friends and followers you’re taking a summer vacation from posting. You’re on hiatus the same way TV shows are during the summer.

Let your friends know you’ll be posting infrequently, when you have something really important to share, or randomly checking in once or twice a week. This limits your time spent online and you won’t get pulled into reading everyone else’s posts and watching Maine Coon cat videos. 

Your free time can now be focused on other things. Maybe you’ll use your previous social media time to go to a concert with your husband or best friend, take a walk around the neighborhood, or garden.

* Leave your phone alone. Cell phones are just mini-computers and they can be a big drain on your time. Texting, playing games, scrolling through sites, and streaming is all perfectly fine. But if your head is always bent down over your phone, you’re missing out on what’s happening around you in the real world. (Have you ever seen someone with their eyes glued to their phone walk out in front of traffic? Yikes!) 

As much as you can, leave your phone off or put it on silent mode. Turn off alerts for new texts, social media posts, etc. Tell friends and family you’re blocking out time each day as a no phone zone. Don’t text, check messages, or play games for a few hours each day.

Remember the days before cell phones? People weren’t always instantly available, and when someone called, they left a message. Try going “old school” during the evenings or weekend mornings, then engage in an activity that’s hard to do with a phone in your hand, such as riding a horse, swimming, or playing tennis. Why not call a friend ahead of time and ask them to join you?

* Get off the couch and go somewhere. Yes, summer is a time for relaxing and taking it easy, but you can lounge on the couch and binge-watch your favorite show year-round. Don’t waste a beautiful summer day indoors. Your show (or 500th rerun of Law & Order) will still be there in the cold days of January.

Turn off the TV and take a day trip to a local park or historical site. Visit friends or family for a barbeque, or go to a zoo or an amusement park. Find a fireworks display.

Most people still have to work in the summer (unless you’re employed by a school or are retired) so how do you incorporate summer fun after work? Here are a few ideas:

• Do outdoor hobbies until it gets dark: Ride your bike or walk around your neighborhood or local park, garden, go fishing, or play sports.

• Find a free outdoor concert or play (most start around 7 or 7:30pm). Or make your own concert: sit in the backyard with food or drinks and listen to your favorite music.

• Fire up the grill and cook dinner outside, or pack a picnic dinner and take it to a park, the beach, or a lake. Or, visit a restaurant you’ve never been to before and eat dinner outside.

Right now you might be asking: “But what if the temperatures are soaring and it’s horribly humid? Who wants to visit a zoo if it’s really hot out?” I understand. Nobody wants to be outside when it’s so hot you’ll catch fire.

On a sweltering day (or when it’s raining), it’s perfectly fine to hide in the house, catching up on chores, scrolling social media, or watching a few episodes of a show. But see if you can use your imagination to make the day different. Watch a movie you’ve heard about but have never seen, or try a few episodes of a show a friend recommended.

You can turn off the TV and try your hand at a new indoor hobby, like painting or doing puzzles. Visit the library and check out books to read in the air conditioning, take an in-person class or workshop, experiment with a new dinner recipe, or learn how to make ice cream. 

No matter what you do, the less time spent in front of a screen (whether it’s a computer, tablet, or phone) the more time you’ll have to enjoy yourself this summer. Do what you can to change your routines. Be active. Try new things. Treasure each day, evening, and weekend. Summer will be gone before we know it, so enjoy the season!

© 2023 Kelli A. Wilkins All Rights Reserved
Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, 7 non-fiction books, and 5 horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror stories. Visit her website/blog for a full title list and social media links. www.KelliWilkins.com

Writer Wednesday - Older Cats Need Love Too!

Kelli's Quill 

By Kelli A. Wilkins

Exploring the Writing/Gardening Connection

June is Adopt-A-Cat month, and as always, I’m advocating adopting cats from shelters and giving them forever homes. (If you’re a dog lover, and not a “cat-person” please read on, because what follows also applies to dogs.) 

Years ago when I adopted my furry children, my husband and I went to a local no-kill shelter. I never expected how it would impact my life and the lives of the cats. 

We didn’t know what kind of cat we were looking for, but I knew I wanted to adopt an older cat because older cats (and some people consider 3+ years “old”) are often overlooked and have a hard time getting adopted. (Why? Because most people want cute and cuddly kittens.) 

I looked at all the cats. They were doing what cats do: eating, sleeping, or playing, and all of them looked content. I wondered: How could I choose two? How would I know which ones to take? What about the ones I didn’t pick? Would they get adopted? 

I didn’t have to wonder long. Ziggy (an orange tiger) fell in love with my husband, and Oliver (a tabby) found me. After looking into Oliver’s green eyes I knew I was meant to take him home. 

I asked the volunteer about the cats’ backgrounds and was surprised to learn Ziggy had been surrendered by his lifetime owner because the woman was moving and couldn’t bring him with her. Oliver had been adopted as a kitten, and was returned. Both were “older” (6 and 3) and considered hard to place because of their ages. 

My heart broke for these fellows, and I couldn’t imagine leaving them behind. Once upon a time they’d had loving homes, but through circumstances that were no fault of their own, they were taken away and placed in a shelter with strangers and lots of other cats. Ziggy and Oliver were with me for 8 1/2 years and lived long and happy lives.

A year later, I started volunteering at the same shelter. It was a good way to be around cats again and I wasn’t planning adopting anyone… until Oakley arrived. 

This 13-year-old gray tiger was also surrendered due to a move. His owner had raised him from a kitten and was forced to give him up. Oakley was extremely friendly and greeted me every time I came to work. All he wanted was attention and someone to scratch him behind the ears. 

Weeks went by and Oakley kept tugging on my heartstrings. (I think he knew exactly what he was doing.) My volunteer shift mate, Lynn, kept telling me how affectionate he was. I kept telling her I hoped someone would adopt him soon. And of course someone did—me. I knew couldn’t take one cat, so I also adopted Clinton. He acted like a kitten, even though he was 6. He wasn’t very social since he had spent his whole life in a shelter. A few volunteers thought I was crazy for adopting these two, but everything turned out fine. Oakley adjusted to life in my house in about 3 minutes, Clinton took about 3 days. 

Cats who have been uprooted (like Oakley and Ziggy) don’t know why they’re being taken away from their home. I think they might wonder: Did they do something wrong? Why doesn’t their human want them anymore? What will happen to them? It can be a very traumatic experience.

And some cats (like Clinton) live their whole lives (if they’re lucky) in a no-kill shelter or rescue. While that’s better than the alternative, I think it’s sad they don’t get a chance to have a happy home life. Cats just want a safe, soft place to sleep and humans to love them. (Would you want to live out the rest of your life in a wire cage?) 

Working at the shelter and adopting older cats has taught me many things, about myself and cats. 

I leaned how much a volunteer can make a difference at a shelter. I wasn’t just there to feed, water, and clean-up after the cats. I made friends with the cats, talked to them, played with them. I treated them as individuals with unique personalities and showed them the love they may never have known. I did what I could to make their lives better. They knew someone cared. 

Working at the shelter strengthened my belief in making a difference at the local level. Yes, we’ve all seen those heartbreaking commercials for national humane groups begging for monthly donations of $19, but how much of the $19 actually goes to the animals? These are businesses, after all, and once administrative costs are accounted for, how do you know your money goes to the abused animals in the commercials? 

This summer, please consider adopting a cat (or a dog—let’s not forget our canine friends!) and saving a life. One easy way to start is by visiting https://www.petfinder.com/cats-and-kittens/ and browsing the cats up for adoption in your local area. 

If you can’t adopt, you can always donate. Shelters are in desperate need of funding these days. Monetary donations pay for vet visits, medications, food and litter, and cleaning supplies. They also have wish lists on Amazon or their own site. Visit your local shelter’s Facebook page or website to learn how you can help. 

And if you do adopt, please consider getting an older cat (or two). Older cats already know the rules of a house. They know how to use the litter box and are more sedate than rambunctious kittens. Odds are you won’t find them climbing your curtains and digging up your plants! 

Of course, older cats/seniors won’t be in our lives for as long as we would like, but they’ve got a lot of love to give and they appreciate having a cozy place to call home for their twilight years. They’ll be grateful for the second chance.

© 2023 Kelli A. Wilkins All Rights Reserved 

 Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, 7 non-fiction books, and 5 horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror stories. Visit her website/blog for a full title list and social media links. www.KelliWilkins.com

Writer Wednesday - Exploring the Writing/Gardening Connection

Kelli's Quill 

By Kelli A. Wilkins 

Exploring the Writing/Gardening Connection 

Hi everyone, Spring is finally here, and if you’re an avid gardener like me, you can’t wait to start planting. The minute the weather warms up, I’m outside as often as I can be. I love spending time in my yard, whether I’m puttering in my garden, reading a book under a tree, or writing a novel. 

Yes, I’m an author, and one of the ways I decompress after working on my writing is to tend to my flower garden. I find it relaxes me and lets me contemplate ideas, work through storylines, and sets my creative mind free. (In fact, I’ve written most of my books while sitting outside.) 

One day after working in the yard last year, I stood back and took a look at my handiwork. I had just finished pruning my lilacs and weeding a huge flowerbed. I was exhausted, but everything seemed to be glowing and vibrating with a renewed energy. The yard looked better and felt better. 

I always feel bad about cutting back the lilacs, but then I thought, “The pruning needs to be done; otherwise everything gets overgrown and suffocated.” Then it dawned on me that I’ve been doing the same thing with my writing—pruning and weeding what’s long overgrown.

For the last few years I’ve been in a cycle of re-releasing several of my romance novels. (The original publishers are out of business.) I rediscovered the stories and characters after being away from them for years. Each book was revised, re-edited, and in some cases, parts were completely rewritten. 

I deleted scenes that no longer worked, added new scenes, and gave each story a pruning—of dialogue tags, excess words, too many exclamation points, and yanked other “writing weeds” that needed pulling from these “story gardens.” As a result, the books are stronger and better than ever. 

If you’re editing a short story or a novel, ask yourself, “What is necessary to this scene? What can I cut?” You might be surprised to find that tightening a scene or a chapter makes it stronger and helps the story flourish in the long run. 

But I’m not stopping my “pruning” process with my books. I’ve also weeded out other things in my writing world that needed to go—old market guidelines, bits and pieces of story ideas, short romance stories that never went anywhere… the list goes on. I’ve sorted through about a hundred folders and recycled bins full of paper. And I’ve extended this “pruning” to my electronic world by deleting unnecessary files and updating my blog, social media pages, and website. 

It’s refreshing to have less “stuff” to maintain. Now I have a clearer path to what I want to work on next, and I’m not bogged down with clutter or overwhelmed by “writing weeds.”

Each spring, I ask myself a few questions about my flowerbeds: What do I want to plant? Where? What died off over the winter that needs to be replaced? I’m asking these types of questions about my writing life too, wondering: What do I want to write next? What are the top five stories I feel I “must” write? Have I really given up writing romances forever? 

I don’t have all the answers yet, but I’ll sit in the garden and think about them! Enjoy the spring weather. 

© 2023 Kelli A. Wilkins All Rights Reserved 

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, 7 non-fiction books, and 5 horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror stories. Visit her website/blog for a full title list and social media links. www.KelliWilkins.com

Writer Wednesday - Set New Goals for the New Year

Kelli's Quill 

By Kelli A. Wilkins 

Set New Goals for the New Year 

Greetings! 

It’s January, and almost everyone is talking about making changes and setting goals for the new year. And why not? We have brand-new calendars hanging on our walls filled with unexplored months yet to come. Every day brings hope, possibilities, and opportunities to make this year really great.

But do you find yourself gazing at your new calendar and wondering, “How is it 2023? Where did last year go? I had all those plans…”

If so, don’t stress out. Not everyone accomplishes every goal they set for themselves. It’s perfectly fine to take some time to look back at what you achieved last year—then start thinking about this year. So where do you begin?

First, take an hour or two to make a list of what you want to do in the next few weeks and months. Identifying your goals and setting reasonable action steps now will help you get on target for 2023. However, don’t try to take on too many things at once. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself. List your top 3 to 5 goals for the year. After you complete them, you can make a new list.

When you write down your goals, begin your sentences with a specific, positive statement, such as: “I will (goal) by (date).” Then decide how you’re going to do it. Keep in mind that a goal has a specific endpoint and a defined set of results. If you’ve reached your goal, you’ll know it.

For instance, if your goal is to paint the living room by February 1, you have a final end date (February 1) and you’ll be able to see your results (the room will be a new color). Now you can make a list of what you need to do to accomplish this, such as choose a paint color, buy paint rollers and other supplies, clear the room, and start painting. Having a plan/roadmap will help you chart your progress and stay on track.

It’s best to work on any goal in small steps, and don’t force yourself to do too much at once. Spend an hour (or two, tops) on one project a day, or even once a week, depending on your schedule. Don’t go overboard and expect instantaneous results, everything takes time.

When I want to get organized/clear out stuff (usually in the spring and fall) I go through the house room by room, wall by wall. I usually focus on one wall per day. For example, my guest room has a computer desk and dresser on one wall. I start by taking everything off the desk and begin sorting: I keep what I only need on the desk and make piles to file or recycle. Then I polish the desk and move on to the dresser. I clear off the top, go through the drawers, and keep what I truly need/want/love, and get rid of the rest. (And I always play music, it’s a great motivator!)

Many people find themselves repeating the same New Year’s resolutions each year. The most common resolutions (aka goals) usually involve losing weight, exercising more, and eating healthier. Then something happens to get you off track and you give up. If you find yourself in this cycle, you might want to rethink your strategy.

Sometimes it’s better to redefine long-term, open-ended goals as lifestyle changes or new habits. (After all, there’s no end-date for “eating healthier.”) For example, if you’ve declared, “This year I will exercise more!” That’s great, but what does “exercise more” mean to you? Running a marathon? Going to the gym every day? Those are good goals, but will you realistically meet them?

Decide what you really want, see what fits into your schedule, and make it part of your daily routine. Keep it simple, and do the best you can for that day. Tell yourself, “I will do 15 minutes of yoga in the morning” or “I will walk around the block after work tonight.” These are specific, daily goals that you can reach without too much pressure.

Of course, if you have to miss a day, all is not lost. Pick up where you left off, and keep going. After about two or three weeks of cultivating a new habit, it will become second-nature. You’ll see results and be motivated to continue.

If you find that you need a little push or extra motivation, call on a friend, coworker, or supportive relative to help you. Take a walk with a coworker on your lunch hour, or try out a yoga class with a friend. Having someone who understands you and wants to work on the same lifestyle changes/goals will keep you accountable.

You can also track your progress by writing down what you did to reach your goal. This could be maintaining a food diary, making a list of healthy eating choices, or noting the type/amount of exercise you did that day. After a few weeks, you can look back and see how small changes every day add up to make a difference.

January is also the perfect time to let go of things that no longer serve you, whether it be clutter, social media sites, bad habits, or worn-out relationships. Simplify as much as you can, and you will make room for new opportunities and new events in your life.

Everyone gets 24 hours each day, so choose how you use your time wisely.

Cheers to 2023! Let’s make the most of it!

© 2023 Kelli A. Wilkins All Rights Reserved
Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, 7 non-fiction books, and 5 horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror stories. Visit her website/blog for a full title list and social media links. www.KelliWilkins.com