Summer finally arrived in Colorado after weeks of unseasonal cool, wet weather. As chance would have it, we’d planned a camping trip for this past weekend months in advance. Lucky us. I also took advantage of a sale at my favorite local liquor shop to venture back into the world of scotch. And on the 21st, I am a guest at a book club that read Exceptionals. Yes, it has been a weird week of camping, books, and booze.
First, I love Colorado. I love its wild outdoors, four true seasons, and capacity for reminding me that the world does not reside on the internet, but is just outside my door. Davenport Campground resides in the historic Squirrel Creek Recreation Area which served as the prototype for National Forest Campgrounds and indeed outdoor recreation nationwide. We joined some family friends at a site along the creek, tucked beneath Douglas Fir and aspens. The rain was intermittent. But when the clouds broke and the blue or starry sky showed itself, the place became heavenly. If you’ve never had the chance to fall asleep in a tent beside a happy stream, you owe yourself this respite.
Colorado Springs is a haven for lovers of a fine adult beverage. Breweries and distilleries dot the city. Independent liquor stores carry allocated delights that most can’t get their hands on. My particular favorite is run by a humorous German fellow named Gregor. Knowing I was someone loyal to bourbon, he teased me back into the world of scotch. Scotch was my first whisky love but I hadn’t touched her in years. Thanks to Gregor I tried a bottle of 15 year Benromach single malt. It is a smokey Speyside that at first turned me off but has grown on me since. Now, I will intersperse my bourbon buys with on sale scotch.
June 21st marks my first “fan” event as a writer. I will be a guest author at a local book club that read my novel Exceptionals. My mind is chewing on what possible questions they might ask. At the same time, I worry that they won’t ask me anything, just say, “That was nice.”
In other book news, right now A Night to Remember is part of a summer crime reads promo. Later this summer you’ll see Dawn Trouble and The Wedding Guest get the promo treatment, too. Additionally, I’ll be fishing for newsletter subscribers, using a free copy of The Priest, the Beast, and the Bride as bait.And next week, Exceptionals goes on sale for an Independence Day gift to the nation! Also to stimulate more reviews.
Please, leave reviews.
When you read a book, drop a review. GoodReads. Amazon. BookBub. Please review what you read. It helps a lot.
