The Dog Days of Summer. This doesn’t seem to be a strong enough term for what many of us are going through this summer of 2023. And apparently it’s not as bad as last summer was. At least according to the weather forecasters. In commiserating with my one of my daughters, we realized we’d gotten out of the heat for a week to three weeks (in our case) last summer. So we got a break from the heat. Such a difference that makes to my mental and emotional state.Now, I’m grateful for our wonderful new AC, but when you can’t really go outside….it’s kind of like the thing that happens to folks up north in the winter when it is dark and too cold to be outside for long periods of time.And now we’ve heard about the fire’s in Lahaina, Maui, the beautiful setting where our older daughter was married, plus a nearby hurricane. Link to news-maybe more than you want to know: Fire on Hawaii’s Maui island forces people to jump into water to flee flames – CBS News What is going on with the crazy extreme weather all over the planet?! Have you ever been to Hawaii?

A really beautiful place.

Well, God willing, the heat across all of the southern US, fires in Canada, and the dreadful floods in Vermont will pass, but it’s the pits right now.I sent out my August Newsletter last week, technically on July 31 because that’s when the Book Sweeps contest began. It has been extended through next Wednesday, August 16! Great!. For a chance to win all these books, here’s the link: https://www.booksweeps.com/giveaway/july23-win-a-bundle-of-romantic-suspense/ The purpose was to collect Book Bub followers. And I have done that. So now my goal is to at least weekly go on there and post reviews. I mean what’s the point of getting followers if you aren’t going to give them something. Thanks to all of you who followed me on Book Bub. Hope some of you will come over here or follow my newsletter. Here’s the link to the August newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/1a0be5e98677/august-newsletter-marsha-r-west-author Used to be school started in September, but I can’t remember back to when that was. We’ve started in August for the longest time. I heard someone say the other day, “Why don’t they wait until it’s cooler in September to start school.” My mind flashed to all the times, when I was a principal and I saw kids off in the afternoon during September while wiping the sweat off my neck because it was so hot. But school has started for all my grands (9th grade, 7th and 6th). Blows my mind, I’m telling you that they’ve gotten so old! The 9th grader towers above his mom, me, and his aunt. (My daughter corrected me and says, he’s only a little bit taller than she is. )The beginning of school is always an exciting time full of possibilities. Does it have that effect on you? A group from church served breakfast to the staff of the elementary school just up the street from us on their first day badk. It made me feel really lucky to have done that work and really happy to be retired! Getting up early to be there at 7:30 was a challenge! LOL This school year will also change my responsibilities with the grands, and as they’ve gotten older they have a lot more activities. My youngest granddaughter will follow in her mom and aunt’s footsteps as a cheerleader. (We probably won’t go see the games until there’s a break in the weather.) But boy do we know how to be good cheerleading parents/grandparents.

I don’t generally put family pics up, but these are pretty old. LOL Gold uniform is younger daughter Laura as a high school freshmen. Blue uniform is is older daughter Kathryn, a high school senior. We did cheerleading from Kathryn’s 6th grade year through her freshmen year of college. Most of that time, both girls were cheerleading. We went to lots and lots of games!

Is that something you have experience with either as a cheerleader yourself or a parent/grandparent? How do you feel about school starting? Do you follow people on Book Bub and look for their reviews? Hope your weather isn’t dismal. As always I’d love to hear from you. Blurbs for each of my books with links can be found on my website https://authormarsharwest.wordpress.com/ Where you can also sign up for my blog and my  NEWSLETTER   MRW Press LLC (list-manage.com)Contact me at marsha@marsharwest.com , and follow me on…(20+) Marsha Riegert West | Facebook      https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmnhttps://www.twitter.com/Marsharwest  @Marsharwesthttps://www.pinterest.com/marsharwest/  https://www.instagram.com/marsharwestAmazon.com: Marsha R. West: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

Marsha R. West (Author of Vermont Escape) | Goodreads Marsha R. West Books – BookBub