The Husband and I flew to N. California for five days of wine tasting, eating and much, much walking (because of the eating) and as we were flying back, I took these photos of Mt. Rainier and, as the sun set, Seattle with Mt. Rainer in the background. I know—that mountain looks fake, doesn’t it? We tell people we bring it out to impress the tourists. 😊
The Husband and I have been visiting this small town in the California wine country, relaxing from (I know this is weird) an overly active life. Who has an overly active life at our age? Well…we do.
So while we visited this small town, we bought a house.
As one does.
We’ve been talking about it for years, and this wet, gray winter in Washington pushed us into action.
The house is small, nicknamed the Redwood Cottage (because there’s a redwood on the property) (also it’s very small) and we plan to divide our time between our home in Washington, where it is absolutely gorgeous in the summer and we can garden to our peasant hearts’ content, and California, where it’s, you know, California.
I’m originally from California, 110 miles from this small town, so I feel like a salmon swimming upstream to, er, spawn. (Fingers crossed on much spawning.)
Point of the story: the first six months of 2025 is one damned thing after another, book-wise.
- February 25 — EVERY SINGLE SECRET in paperback.
- March 11 — GIRL ANONYMOUS in hardcover, audiobook and eBook.
- April 22 — WHAT DREAMS MAY COME in eBook (also my mother’s birthday. Happy birthday, Mom!)
- May 6 — WELCOME TO GOTHIC at last is published in eBook! 😀 This delightful time-travel novella was originally an audio exclusive, so I’m thrilled that those of you who don’t listen to books will be able to enjoy it. As soon as the cover and links are posted, I’ll officially notify you.
- May 27 — Trade paperback of A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA (Best author of the 21st century, Kristin Hannah, “This is going to do really well in trade paperback.” From your mouth to God’s ears, Kristin!)
- June 24 — THUS WITH A KISS I DIE in hardcover, audiobook and eBook.
Think interviews! Podcasts! In person autographings! I’m a Literary Lion! Remember that?!? The schedule is full of a lot of professional stuff…and I’m the Queen of NoOrganization.
Oof.
With the purchase of the cottage, The Husband and I have added— “We need a bed! We need a mattress! We need cookware! We need flatware!” (Please notice, our main concerns are sleeping and eating.)
Me, eating. Have you ever seen me look so happy???
“We need bookshelves!” (Well, yeah!) Sheets. Towels. Toilet paper… Our Costco list is miles long. The Husband has his ongoing moments of genius, and pointed out we could use step-ladders, which we need anyway, as bar stools.
Then we got to the practical stuff.
The Husband, “I want to build a shed to store the outdoor furniture when we’re not there.”
Me, “I want a stone circle in the front yard.”
Him, “Which side of the yard?”
THIS IS WHY WE’VE BEEN MARRIED SINCE THE EARTH’S CRUST COOLED! I come up with the dumbest idea in the history of the planet (barring the stone circle in our yard in Washington) (also the finest idea), and he immediately starts figuring out where and how. He’s amazing.
I mean, mind you, we have to get this past the HOA, but it’s California and it won’t require water, so fingers crossed we’re a go.
Him, “Let’s build it on either side of the front walk…”
Still reading? I have to stop and say, To be continued. Because yes, I’m writing a Christmas novella for Daughter of Montague series and book #3 for the Daughter of Montague series, and you, and the Redwood Cottage, have got to wait.
Next week it’s GIRL ANONYMOUS pub week (not that kind of pub — publication, and it came out on March 11), but rest assured I’m recording every last move-in glitch, joy and absurd moment with plans to pass it all on. It’ll be like endless vacation pictures, only funny.
I honestly keep thinking…I could write a move-in novella for Rosie Montague. How hysterical would that be?!?
Watch a quick move-in video:
on YouTube
on TikTok
On the Christina Dodd website
Yes, you’re right. I have to stop enjoying writing so much. But dang! When GIRL ANONYMOUS gets an American Library Booklist starred review (“…Plenty of crackling sexual chemistry and a few love scenes guaranteed to scorch readers’ fingers as they turn the pages,” ) an Amazon editor’s choice award and, most important, quotes like this from my readers, “The Godfather meets West Side Story? Um, yes please!!” … you’re just encouraging me to write more. 😊
The Bed: Ye Olde Saga part 2, and this is where we really get into it. Read on!
Warmly,
Christina Dodd
New York Times bestselling author and 2025 King County Library Literary Lion
“Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” ― Isaac Asimov
