Spring Cleaning - Shaking Off the Dust Covers!

Spring has arrived.  In my neck of the woods, that means it was thundering and pouring buckets a few days ago while we shivered in multiple sweaters, and today, we're sweltering in the heat.  All this back and forth, from one extreme to the other, doesn't seem to be harming our surroundings any — they're just bursting forth with life!

Spring cleaning frenzy has taken over my household, but as I pause between reorganizing drawers, cleaning out closets, and dusting out nooks and crannies, I've been watching the almond trees out my window.

A few months ago, these barren twigs looked bleak. We weren't sure they'd recover from last summer's wildfire that stopped right by them (and only two lots from our house).  The winter didn't make them look any better, except maybe by washing out the black charred bits to an ashy grey.

Yet, on the brink of spring, the trees were suddenly, improbably sporting tiny buds. And then bursting forth in full glory!

The intrepid little lemon tree next to them wasn't to be outdone either.

Two weeks later, here's where we are:  What looks like it's going to be a bumper crop of almonds later this year!

In case you're wondering, we won't be eating any of them — these are wild almonds, which may not be edible.  They're growing on empty land, as is that incongruous lemon tree.    I always wonder if one of us, walking home with groceries one day, inadvertently dropped a lemon there! It seems rather unexpected there.

Knowing the trees survived and are thriving again give me a lot of joy as I bustle around. Airing out the house we had sealed up tight against the winter winds, hanging up laundry in the warm sunshine again, I feel like we're all coming out of hibernation, too, and starting to bloom once more as well.

By the way my house isn't the only thing getting a face-lift this month.  If I'm rearranging the furniture and giving the kitchen a whole new look, why not do the same for some of my books?

I've got two new covers coming soon and they are just gorgeous. 

I'm really excited about them, so keep an eye out for them. I'll be revealing them soon!

Milou Koenings is a USA Today best-selling author. She writes romance because, like chocolate, stories with a happy ending bring more joy into the world and so make it a better place.  
  

Her Green Pines sweet romances, Reclaiming Home and Sweet Blizzard are available on Amazon and Amazon.uk. 

You can find her on her website,www.miloukoenings.com, on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.
 

Sign up for our newsletter and keep up with Sweet Romance Reads! 

And please join us at the Sweet Romance Reads Cafe to chat with our authors. We love to hear from you!

It's all about story by Joanne Hill

Last week I gave a presentation at a Library Association conference to fellow librarians and no surprises, it was on romance novels.  Boy, can I talk about that subject. Not just on romance, though, but on the evolving world of publishing as we go more and more digital. Naturally, there were lots of pretty retro pictures in the powerpoint!

 

One of the things I touched on was how even a couple of years ago I'd never have imagined I could possibly read a novel on my phone. (Seriously, a phone??!) I have a Kindle and of course there's the laptop but I really don't mind the tinsy screen as much as I thought I might.

Recently a friend who ran a book store for several decades said that she never, ever believed she would read ebooks. She sold books, worked in the industry for many years, and like all of us she just loved the smell and the feel of holding a brand new book in her hand.  There is something magical about that. But now she's a convert to digital. As she says, she never loses a book anymore. Ten years ago the idea we might not even have print books was enough to make me hyperventilate but now it's like, if that happens then yes, it would be sad, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. Not like I once thought it would be. 

 

That's because in the end it's all about the story.  About the plot and the characters and of course with our genre, the HEA. The method to read the story might change over time, but it doesn't really matter because when you want to wallow in a good story,  its the contentment of reading that compelling story that counts - whether its in print,  digital, an audio book - or some other format no one's even invented yet! What about you? What formats do you read in?

 Joanne's newest book is "The Return of Gabe McLeod", a sweet romance set in small town New Zealand and now on Amazon.