Sunday, September 22, 2013

A Tribute to Summer



I sigh as I write this. Summer is officially over and I hate to see it end because I’m a summer gal at heart.  But each season has its own beauty, wonder and mystery.
In fact, my first Malone mystery, Mixed Messages, takes place in Autumn and its sequel, Unfinished Business, is set in Winter. My third book, Desperate Deeds, which I'll be sending to my publisher very soon, takes place in Spring. (The west side of Cincinnati is the setting for those books.) So, it should come as no surprise that the fourth book in the series will be set in Summer. (There will be a change in locale.)
Although I enjoy each season, I relish the feeling of freedom that summer brings. No jackets, coats or boots to wear. I love to go barefoot, wearing only shorts and a tee shirt and I love to swim. But, more than anything, I look forward to traveling to the ocean in the summertime and sinking my feet into the soft, cool sand as I gaze at the waves crashing to shore. So, as my tribute to summer, I’d like to share a few photos of some of my previous vacations.

 Tybee Island, Georgia 2003

 Biloxi, Mississippi 2005

 Pensacola Beach, Florida 2011
Virginia Beach, Virginia 2013
May the spirit of summer dwell in your heart all year long!
 

13 comments:

  1. Pat, I share your feelings about Summer. I grew up in Texas, and I still miss the heat, and especially the warm nights. Where I live now, on California's north coast, summer is a season of fog. WE're now entering out warmest weeks of the year. Bring 'em on!

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    1. John,
      I don't know what I'd do without summer. To think that some people live in a "summer-like" climate year round sounds so appealing but I would probably miss the changing seasons. In the middle of winter, it does cross my mind though. :)

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  2. I love this post. Summer is my favorite time, too, even though it gets so hot here in Arizona. Dressing in layers for winter is my least favorite thing to do. Love the pictures, too. Thanks for sharing!
    Marja McGraw

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Marja.
      Dressing in layers, shoveling snow (here, not in Arizona), scraping car windows. The list goes on and on. It reminds me of that song, "These are a few of my favorite things." Only my list is a few of my least favorite things. :)

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  3. This was excellent! I live in California so I get a little longer than most folks of "summer" like weather. I like how you've included seasons in your novels. Just got Unfinished Business and I'm really digging it.

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  4. Desperate Deeds! Great title, can't wait! (where I am, we're having a second growing season after the scorch of July and August) Lovely.

    Madeline

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    1. Thanks, Madeline! Cincinnati is having some borderline fall-like weather. The weatherman keeps promising more summer-like temps for this week but so far, no go. Oh well.

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  5. Nice photos, Patricia. I love the beach, but I very seldom get a chance to go anymore. I also love the summer. It's great weather for doing just about anything outdoors. Can't wait for your new novel to come out.

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    1. Evelyn,
      I'll be sending it to my publisher soon but it looks like the publication date will be early 2014. Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. Thanks for sharing these photos, Patricia. I live in a resort so summers are busy and crowded with tourists out here. I'm not a beachgoer, although I was in earlier years. My favorite season is fall, when the heat is gone and I can think and feel alert and in the cool, brisk air. Great idea to set your books in the different seasons.

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    1. Eileen,
      I can understand why you'd enjoy the peace and quiet of fall after all the tourists are gone. But, oh, how I'd love to live close to the ocean. You're very fortunate!

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  7. I love that each of the books in your series are set in a different season. Very neat! :) I was born in Michigan and raised in Florida, but I don't really like the hot summers here. Personally, I wait for Autumn every year. :)

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