Looking for something to read these days? Check out The Fourth Victim at N.N. Light’s Spring Break Bookapalooza giveaway at https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/post/the-fourth-victim-sbb for a giveaway. #MFRWAuthor #RomanticSuspense #NNLight

Here’s an excerpt from  The Fourth Victim :

The four shadowy forms in black crouched low, inching closer to the Shiraz prison wall. Darkness blurred the outline of the prison and its towers. Dense clouds blocked any shard of moonlight from slipping through the ebony night, providing cover for the four. The fall rain had stopped.

The corner search lights swung slowly in a circle, cutting through the darkness. The first form held up a hand. The rest flattened onto the dry terrain. The lights swung back across the area. The total rotation took three minutes.

Two uniformed guards marched past. They followed the perimeter toward the far corner of the tower.

Several seconds after the guard’s past, the shadows raced toward the main road. Two dived to the ground by the side of the road. The other two raced across the road and disappeared into the bushes against the outer prison wall. They slumped down onto the Iranian soil.

After a quick survey of the area, Fareeda, the taller, sturdier figure, stood up. She checked her shoes and adjusted her harness before shooting a light-weight hook, specifically designed by The Foundation, to the top of the wall.

A thud echoed through the silence when it landed. Both women held their breath. There was no response from inside. They exhaled slowly.

Fareeda grabbed the rope attached to the hook and began her climb up the stone surface.

At the call of a heron from the other side of the road, Fareeda paused and flattened herself against the structure. Below her Assif dropped face first to the ground.

Two more guards advanced. They continued past on another trip around the perimeter and disappeared around the corner.

Seconds later Fareeda resumed her upward climb. She stopped briefly when the lights swept past. Three more minutes and it would be back again. She scrambled the last few feet to a small ledge where she swung a second large, grappling hook over the barbed wire. The hook locked onto the edge of the wall. The prisoner could slide down, once Assif rescued her from her cell.

Fareeda grabbed the ropes, swung out from the wall and rappelled down quickly. At the bottom, the shorter, smaller framed person grabbed the rope.

“Your turn, Assif. Be careful,” Fareeda whispered into her headphone. “There are more guards on they said, and the search lights are shorter than reported. Our information isn’t accurate. If she’s not in the cell, rappel down quickly. We can come back later if we have to. We don’t want to get caught in this country.”

Fareeda watched Assif grab both ropes and began her upward scale of the wall. She paused at a small window fifty feet above and peered through the bars.

Another heron cry broke the night.

Four guards marched into the escape area. Searchlights flashed on, focusing on the area.

“Assif, abandon the project! Get down here now!” Fareeda whispered into her headset.

A man’s voice shouted in Arabic. They ran toward Fareeda.

Assif rappelled down in two or three long jumps. She started to run as soon as her feet hit the ground. Over her shoulder Fareeda saw two guards grab Assif. They hit her over the head. Her last view was Assif being pulled toward the prison gate.

Shots rang out.

Buy Links for The Fourth Victim

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JQ97L8M?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420

Kobo https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-fourth-victim-9

Itunes https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-fourth-victim/id1440048796?ls=1&mt=11

Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Beverley_Bateman_The_Fourth_Victim?id=_Od3DwAAQBAJ

Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fourth-victim-saras-story-beverley-bateman/1129787236;jsessionid=DCE3DC6D307F1874CC82403A3F744C44.prodny_store01-atgap02?ean=2940155751731  

Cynthia Terelst is a project officer by day and a writer by night. She is a contemporary romance writer who likes to share a little bit of history, some Australian scenery and a whole lotta love. Cynthia does not shy away from difficult topics, as she feels that they should not be ignored.

She lives in Queensland, Australia, where the sun shines at least 283 days a year.

Beverley: Which genre or genres do you write or prefer to write? And why?

Cynthia: I write young adult and contemporary romance. Young adult appeals to me because there are so many trials and tribulations that young adults go through, and I would like to be a voice of hope. I have always enjoyed reading romance. When I was a teenager, I read Sweet Dreams books, staying up late into the night to finish them. So, writing contemporary romance makes sense to me.  

Beverley: Who influenced you the most in deciding to become a writer?

Cynthia: I don’t think anyone influenced me.  My high school teacher gave me a lot of encouragement. An older friend, who was a published author, read my book and said I wrote well. It made me feel good to hear those words.

I stopped writing for thirty years as I enjoyed the adventure of life. Then a friend at work told me about the novel she was writing, and I felt the urge to start up again. She taught me an awful lot about writing, editing and the industry in general.

Beverley: What gets your creative juices flowing?

Cynthia: Everything. I look around and find creativity everywhere – in nature, through people, listening to stories. Sometimes while I’m writing I do so in silence. Other times I like to listen to music or have the TV on in the background. Sometimes I get stuck on a word or thought, other times the words just flow from me.

Beverley: Do you have a favorite cartoon character? Why?

Cynthia: I don’t watch cartoons much anymore. If I were to think back to my childhood, oh so long ago, I think I would say The Flinstones because they were a lot of fun.

Beverley: Who would you love most to meet ‘in person’ and why?

Cynthia: I’m not starstruck by anyone in particular.  I think I would like to meet other authors to talk about our experiences and to feel like part of a community.  Writing can sometimes be a lonely pastime/career. I connect with authors on Facebook, but apart from my friend at work I don’t know anyone else who writes.

Beverley: If you had an unexpected free day what would you do with it?

Cynthia: Read to my heart’s content! I am going on a cruise soon and I will be sure to take a couple of books along.

Beverley: What are you working on now?

Cynthia: I’m working on my next novel in my Love Down Under series, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie. It is a second chance romance based in Sydney, Australia.  Shepherd has been floundering ever since Tara left him without a word five years ago. In the hope of winning her back he creates a million-dollar scavenger hunt. His plan is solid, until he learns that Tara has plans for the winnings which don’t actually exist.

Blurb for The Cat’s Out of the Bag

One van. Two hearts. Thousands of kilometres.

Jesse’s a self-made billionaire who yearns to get away from his empty life and the money-hungry parasites who inhabit it. The plan? Go to Australia, tell no one about his money and find himself. Instead of finding just himself, he finds Evie, who is everything anyone should aspire to be. Now, what he aspires to be, is hers. But to be hers, he needs to tell her everything.

Evie has left her past behind. She has rebuilt herself, and her life, into one of happiness. After she meets Jesse, while volunteering at a cat shelter, memories of her past filter back in. She is stronger now and wants to trust him. But after all she has been through, is trust even possible?

The quest to find a cat a forever home leads them to travel across the country together. Can the close quarters drive them to open up to each other? Or will it drive them apart?

Excerpt from  The Cat’s Out of the Bag

Jesse

The wave petered out, and I paddled back to the line-up. Sitting, watching, waiting. The constant breeze in my ears and the sound of waves breaking relaxed me. Lulled by the gentle rise and fall of the swells, I thought about Evie.

She was one of the most complicated people I’d ever met. Whatever she had been through had made her strong and independent. But underneath, she was all doubt. I could see her trying to be brave, but that could change in an instant as her insecurities took over. I felt like it was a fight between Nick and me, and I didn’t even know the guy. I didn’t know how to beat a ghost. But I would. I would figure it out, and I would gain Evie’s trust, bit by bit.

Her. Me. That’s what I would strive for.

Buy Link for Cats Out of the Bag

Social Media Links

Website http://cynthiaterelst.com/

Newsletter https://www.subscribepage.com/p9p9y0

Blog http://cynthiaterelst.com/blog/

Twitter @CynthiaTerelst

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cynthiaterelstauthor/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cynthiaterelstauthor/

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cynthia-terelst

Amazon Author Page – https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/author/ref=dbs_P_W_auth?_encoding=UTF8&author=Cynthia%20Terelst&searchAlias=digital-text&asin=B07ZCTX8SB

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/cynthiaterelst

How has the corona virus and stay-at-home or shelter-at-home affected your writing and maybe your life?

I’ve done the two weeks of self-isolation and then rolled over into stay-at-home. I’ve been doing stay-at-home for just over two weeks now, except for that brief visit to the hospital. Sometimes the day feels almost surreal. I get up and it’s like I meditate, do a few exercises, email, write – repeat.   Same as the day before.

I’m home all day. I should be pushing out the words and getting a book written. Instead I stare at the computer, do a little research, finally put some words on the page, stare at the page some more.  I feel brain dead. No inspiration. Okay, I’m going to write 500 words a day. Hopefully some of them make sense. But first I need to get something to eat. And maybe find a recipe I can make for dinner.

Okay, back to work. I get 300 words down on the page. My character feels wooden. Not sure how the plot is working. Maybe I’ll email a couple of people and see how they’re doing. I should check on dinner. After dinner I pound out another 100 words. I should watch the news and see how the corona virus is doing both in my area and world-wide. It looks like maybe it’s leveling off, but we’re going to be here for awhile. I figure at least another month. If I can get my act and mind together maybe I can finish a rough draft of my book in that time. Back to the keyboard and another 100 words. Done.

Okay, I got 500 words down. I’m not going to reread them tonight. Too depressing.   Maybe I’ll read a book for awhile. 

Tomorrow – repeat.

That’s a day in my stay-at-home. I grocery shop once a week or less, wear my mask and use disinfectant when I unpack my groceries. I find not having the freedom to go where, when I want and to talk to friends difficult. Phone calls aren’t the same as sitting with a friend. And it affects my writing. I’m not excited about writing. But I’ll keep writing and maybe I can finish a rough draft and when we’re allowed to go out a little more, I can revise, my mind will work better and I can turn it into a decent story.  

I’d love to hear how your days go and how it’s affecting your writing.  

How easy or difficult do you find including humor in your writing and/or have you ever incorporated a tr u e- life humorous event in your own life or the life of someone you know in a book you were writing ? Great topic. The answer is I find it very difficult to use humor in my writing. I write romantic suspense. I’m more into the plotting and darker aspects than humor. So, I looked up the definition of humor. It’s a comic quality causing amusement. I don’t write humor that makes you laugh out loud or chuckle, but maybe a tiny bit of amusement. I looked for a few examples.

In my present WIP, Death Southern Style, which I’m editing, here’s a couple of my “amusing” comments.

I wanted to talk about school and pick your brains.”

“Not sure there’s much there to pick but go ahead.” Laura grinned

“Would you like another cup of coffee?”

“No, I’m fine, thanks. If I drink any more, it’s going to start spouting         out of my ears.

In Hunted I used the Empress Hotel in Victoria, B.C. as a setting. I have my hero kidnap the heroine and smuggle her across the Canadian/US border. Here’s a short blurb which uses my type of humor.   

She had no idea who the good guys or the bad guys were, but if she escaped, at least Matt would be safe. That was all that mattered.

“That won’t happen.”

“What?” She turned to meet his twinkling blue eyes.

“You ain’t goin’ anywhere, but with me.” A big smile spread across his face.

She couldn’t believe he’d read her mind.

“Because of how your mind works darlin’, I need to tie you up here in the truck while Matt and I head inside. Do you still take your coffee black?”

He remembered.

“Yeah, but you’re not seriously going to tie me up?”

“Watch me.”

“But, Matt…”

“I’ve explained to Matt that you don’t want to come to the ranch with us, so I may have to do some serious stuff to make sure we keep you with us.” He grinned down at her. “And he’s just fine with it.”

He pulled a piece of rope out from under the seat.

“What if I promised not to try to get away?”

“I don’t think I’d believe you. You’re so concerned about your son; you might just lie to me. Sorry, Magpie. You might be in the middle of nowhere and have no idea if one of these truckers could be the killer, but your first concern is for your son. I believe you’d do anything to save him and not worry about what happens to yourself.”

She bit her lower lip. He was right, but how could she convince him not to tie her up?

“No way, I’m afraid. Can I get you something to eat—breakfast sandwich, fries?”

“No thanks. I’m fine,” she snapped her stomach rumbling loudly.

Cody chuckled and picked up her good wrist with one hand and proceeded to wrap the rope around it. Careful not to bang her arm, he wrapped the other hand and tied both loosely to the bottom of the seat.

“Come on, Cody, you can’t just tie me up and leave me here.”

“It won’t be for long and it’s nice and cool in the truck. You’ll be just fine.” He winked at her. “Tell you what, since we won’t be gone very long, I won’t tie your feet together.”

“Gee, thanks.”

As he opened the door for Matt, he turned back. “I don’t want you to start screaming about being kidnapped or worse.”

He pulled out a white handkerchief.

“Cody, no, I promise I won’t scream, honest. It won’t help me escape and it will only call attention to us.”

He paused. “Good point. Okay, I’ll trust you on this, but you better behave. You don’t want to break promises in front of your son.”

She stuck out her tongue at him.

So, if you’re looking for humor in writing, maybe try some of these other authors.

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea

Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/

Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-1Tb

Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/

Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/

Margaret Fieland http://margareetfieland.wordpress.com

A.J. Maguire http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/

Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com

Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/

Rhobin Courtright http://www.r hobincourtright.com

Check them all out.

     Lorelei Confer lives on a peninsula in the mid-west coast of Florida with her high school sweetheart, now husband, and AJ, her long haired Chihuahua.

      In the fourth grade, she wrote her first story—something about getting a shot at the doctors—that was produced by the teacher for parents and students in an assembly. When she was older, she spilled her guts in a journal every night and wrote long newsy love letters to Viet Nam.

     She is a multi-published author of romantic suspense with two series: The Deadly series and the Saddle Creek series. She also has written numerous novellas and short stories. She loves to hear from her readers so if you want to stay “in the know” visit her website, sign up for her newsletters and contact her.

Lorelei Confer adds a new voice to anthology, Romances on the Range, where a horse breeder meets a sexy baker who discovers a cowboy’s sweet spot.

Beverley: Which genre or genres do you write or prefer to write? And why?

Lorelei: I write romantic suspense. I started writing in the fourth grade and then diaries and journals about real life, glum as it was in rural PA. Then I grew up and wrote about feelings and emotions and what if something terrible happened. A few years ago, I tried writing plain contemporary romance but got stuck about five short chapters in; I added suspense and the Saddle Creek series was started.

Beverley: Who influenced you the most in deciding to become a writer? 

Lorelei: My fourth grade teacher, my seventh grade teacher, my eleventh gr….mostly teachers. It’s what I excelled in. And also it was a way to get my angst about adulting, men, war, etc. out and on paper.

Beverley: What gets your creative juices flowing?

Lorelei: Thinking about my current wip. Currently, I’m working on the 5th book in the Saddle Creek series; the Sheriff’s story. I started writing it in pieces while writing the other four stories in the series but when I sat down to write, I’m a pantster, (writing by the seat of my pants) the story took and an entirely different direction.

Beverley: Do you have a favorite cartoon character? Why?

Lorelei: I’ve always loved the west and “shoot ‘em up cowboys.” My brother and I, as children, would play Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. And then I remember Mighty Mouse (really dating myself here) he always swooped in and saved the day.

Beverley: Who would you love most to meet ‘in person’ and why?

Lorelei: I love Sam Elliott; such a handsome and versatile actor but I think I’d like to Talk to Tom Sellick. I’ve admired his long-term marriage and family-comes- first attitude.

Beverley: If you had an unexpected free day what would you do with it?

Lorelei: Read and anp, much like Easter day. Lol

Beverley: What are you working on now? 

Lorelei: I have five releases this year: two in the Deadly series: Deadly Homecoming and Deadly Gamble, two in the Saddle Creek series: Moonlight Kisses and MugShots and A Christmas Romance and then I have a short story, a spin off from the Saddle Creek series, A Cowboy’s Sweet Spot, is a part of the Romances on the Range.

The two Deadly releases are available now at Amazon for $.99 and Fr$$ for KU. A Cowboy’s Sweet Spot is a part of the Romances on the Range, also $.99 at Amazon, and debuts April 14th with a huge Facebook release party 1pm-1pm. You’ll meet authors like Desiree Holt, Nicole Morgan, Krista Ames, Amber Daulton, and many more. They’re be games, contests, prizes and lots of fun.

Here’s the link to the party: https://www.facebook.com/events/642236899940404/

Moonlight Kisses and MugShots is the Sheriff’s story in the Saddle Creek series and plans to debut mid-August.

And then there’s the second Christmas story in the Saddle Creek Christmas Romance, where all the characters from the series share a special Christmas together and each couple learns the true meaning of Christmas.

I’m also working on another Deadly book, Deadly Intuition, but I’m still in the research process for that one.

I definitely have my work cut out for me, not just the writing and the editing but also the promo. It seems to take more and more time with each new release.

Blurb for A Cowboy’s Sweet Spot

Janelle Franklin arrives in Saddle Creek, WY for a relaxing visit with her childhood friend and new mother. She also wants to fine-tune a secret passion, baking. But when she meets ranch manager, Carter Weaver, passion takes on a whole new meaning.

Carter excels at horse breeding but has a dark past that haunts him. When he meets Janelle, a woman he‘s comfortable with, sparks fly. But his past thwarts their future together and after a heated debate, Janelle leaves without a word taking his heart with her.

When she calls him out of the blue, he rushes to meet her. But will she accept him with his past? Or will they both have to sacrifice a loveless future?

Buy Links for A Cowboy’s Sweet Spot

Amazon Buy Link:   https://amzn.to/2V5rQyt

Social Media for Lorelei

Website:   https://loreleiconfer.com

Twitter  https://twitter.com/loreleiconfer

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/LoreleiConferAuthor/

Pinterest:   https://www.pinterest.com/loreleiconfer/

Goodreads:  https://bit.ly/2U1jLw9

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Lorelei-Confer/e/B004HX4G6K/

Newsletter:  https://bit.ly/2UZyQe1

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/lorelei.confer/

Amazon Author Page:  https://authorcentral.amazon.com/gp/books

Get to know Lorelei Confer better by signing up for her email newsletter at the following link:   https://bit.ly/2UZyQe1

Running a little late with the post. I had day surgery yesterday. That was an interesting experience.

It was not elective surgery, so it was still performed even with the corona virus. (Covid19). The hospital is actually shut down. However, on a positive note, the city has a population of almost 100,00 people and only six corona virus cases so far. There are no cases in the hospital.

During this time there is only one entrance open into the hospital. The other entrance has been blocked off and locked. When you enter the hospital there is a guard who direct you into one of are two lanes. In one line you’re only allowed in if you’re there for tests or surgery. No visitors. There is hand sanitizer everywhere. You are given a verbal Covid19 questionnaire, temperature is taken and then you are allowed to go to registration.

The inner lane is for staff. Every staff who enters the hospital, or if they leave and return for any reason, must have an appropriate ID, have their temperature taken, use hand sanitizer and answer verbal questions on the Covid19 virus. The middle of the hospital is barricaded off, so you enter down one side and depart down the other side.

Everything is dark and closed on the main floor. At registration you place your photo id and care card on a tray so the person can see it but not touch it. You are then given your forms and told where to go, but no one accompanies you.

There is only emergency surgery and the day surgery room which holds about thirty or more beds, only had five patients when I was there. Most of the departments are open, Xray, c-scan, mammography, MRI, labs and operating room (OR).

When discharged they take you down to the exit door. No one can come in and up to the floor to pick you up.

As with the rest of the world, everything has changed since the corona virus has it us.

Two writers in one. Daryl Devoré writes hot romances with sexy heroes and strong heroines. Victoria Adams is Daryl’s alter ego when she’s inspired to write sweet romances with little to no heat.

Daryl ( @daryldevore ) lives in an old farmhouse in Ontario, Canada, with her husband, two black cats – Licorice and Ginny-Furr Purrkins – and some house ghosts. Her daughter is grown and has flown the nest. Daryl loves to take long walks on her quiet country road or snowshoe across the back acres, and in the summer, kayak along the St. Lawrence River. She has touched a moon rock, a mammoth, and a meteorite. She’s been deep in the ocean in a submarine, flown high over Niagara Falls in a helicopter, and used the ladies’ room in a royal palace. Life’s an adventure and Daryl’s having fun living it.

Where do My Book Ideas Come From?

This is a question that authors get asked a lot and my usual reply is – my head.

Suddenly an idea pops up. I was riding in the car one day, grabbed my laptop and wrote three chapters of a book that I had no idea I was going to write. That book turned into a trilogy.

I just finished a medieval story with a dragon. Someone somewhere mentioned dragon and suddenly there was one flying around in my head.

For Two Truths and a Lie , there was a suggestion of writing a story centered around a character who breaks the law – an art thief – cat burglar – sort of thing. And I, truly, have no idea how I took that idea and wrapped it into the tale of Robin Hood. I didn’t plan on doing a take off on the legend. I’m a pantser not a plotter. So, I didn’t know my brain had linked my story to The Adventures of Robin Hood until I wrote the last line of the first chapter.

It was great fun writing this story and I did dive into the legend including the line – take from the rich and give to the poor. But I added a slight twist. This is a contemporary version of Robin Hood. With all the wonderful elements of a red diamond, a looted painting, a British manor house, a Lamborghini and to keep everyone on their toes – 2 plane crashes and a car accident.

Blurb for Two Hearts One Love Trilogy

From the author of the Two Hearts One Love Trilogy, multi-published, hot romance author Daryl Devoré’s latest book revolves around deceit, betrayal, passion and the theft of a multi-million-dollar, rare, red diamond.

As if multiple planes crashes, a car accident, and a concussion isn’t enough, carefree Byn and straight-laced billionaire, Mark clash over Byn’s need for independence and Mark’s struggle with guilt pushing him in the opposite direction of love. When an art forger, an art thief and a ninety-five-year-old woman get involved   the chance for true love for Byn and Mark fades.

All is lost until a children’s game is their only hope.

Excerpt from Two Hearts One Love Trilogy

And gloves. We all had to wear white gloves. Who does that?

I’m guessing the host of the party didn’t want us mere peasants touching anything, leaving our filthy germs which he might pick up and then die of some horrible flesh-eating disease. Hey, a person can dream.

But on the bright side, the gloves played right into my hand―so to speak. I didn’t have to figure out how to conceal a pair of latex gloves. I’d wear these white monstrosities, steal the red diamond and not leave a fingerprint in the whole house.

The bus slowed, passed through the open gates then drove around to the back of a large manor house. I’ll admit the house wasn’t as big as the one in Downton Abbey, but it was still impressive. A reddish-brown brick house with several floors, lots of windows and partially covered in ivy which screamed rich person lives here . The land around it extended for acres in every direction. I’d already done my research on the place. I knew every inch of the outside and inside. I had escape routes planned. Although, I had no intention of needing them. I was confident I was leaving the same way as I’d arrived—on this bus.

I knew where I could hide in the house if needed. And I had a back-up plan to my back-up plan. Several people had been paid hefty fees to watch my back. This gem was as good as stolen.

With my head lowered, I followed the others out of the bus. The music clearly inspired the eleven of them to a high level of chattiness. No one spoke to me or, I guess, even noticed me and that was exactly what I wanted.

Think about all the press reports of crimes. The reporter asks the neighbours to talk about the alleged shooter and they always reply, “He was so quiet. Kept to himself.” The fellow officer workers say of the embezzler, “She was as quiet as a mouse. Did her work and went home.” That’s me. The quiet, invisible one. The one going home with a large, valuable gemstone while the rest go home with a meagre paycheck.

Buy Links for Two Hearts One Love Trilogy

Amazon

D2D – links to Kobo, Apple, Barnes&Noble etc

Print Book link available soon.

Pinterest – Two Truths and a Lie

You can find Daryl at:

Blog – Romance – Sweet to Heat

Twitter

MEWE

Instagram

Facebook

Website

Amazon Author Page

GoodReads Author Page

LinkedIn

Pinterest

Book Bub

I had planned on writing about the process of writing and Book-in-A-Week. However, I’m in self isolation because of the corona virus so it’s on my mind a lot.

I wintered in the south of the United States. When the corona virus started to spread across North America, we were told by our government to get home. So, we did. We closed everything up and rove home. We left the warm, sunny south and crossed the Canadian border to freezing temperatures, ice and snow. We drove straight home because the law said that was what we had to do and self-isolate for fourteen days. There also fines for breaking the law and sneaking out to shop or run errands. They start at $1000 and go up. Originally you could go for walks, but a week ago they said self-isolation meant you couldn’t leave your property.

Once the fourteen days are up, we move to ‘stay-at-home’ or ‘shelter-at-home’. This means you can now go shopping for groceries, medications, and emergencies. You can go for walks but must physical distance from anyone by at least 6 feet or 2 metres. The grocery stores have plexi glass up in front of cashiers, the floors in the check-out lines are marked six feet apart. They are asking people to shop alone, stay six feet from other shoppers, do it quickly and only shop once a week. Many stores prefer tap and pay so the cashier doesn’t have to touch your card. They are now suggesting everyone wear a surgical mask when they go shopping or leave the house.

It sounds like stay-at-home is going to be in place for eight to twelve weeks. At least the weather will warm up, spring will get here, and I can go outside for walks or work in the yard. After two weeks of isolation the idea of staying home for months is a little overwhelming. But I also realize this pandemic is serious and many people die. If I follow the guidelines and physically stay six feet from people, don’t gather in groups and wash my hands frequently for at least twenty seconds I could help prevent the spread.

I don’t want to get the virus. Young people are getting it. Sports figures are getting it, healthy, fit people are getting it. I’m not immune. And I don’t want to spread it to anyone. I can’t get my nails done, maybe for months. Sigh… Is that important? No, not with a pandemic. We’re going to have to accept changes in our lifestyle and keep looking at the big picture. The big picture is a viral pandemic and people could die based on how we act.

If you have a comment or story to tell, I’d love to hear it.

Stay safe, stay healthy follow all the rules or guidelines and save lives.