Just found out that TOASTED has been named a finalist for Best Lesbian Mystery 2009, Lambda Literary Awards!

I’m thrilled to be on the list with fellow nominees:

• Command of Silence, by Paulette Callen (Spinsters Ink)
• Death of a Dying Man, by J.M. Redmann (Bold Strokes Books)
• From Hell to Breakfast, by Joan Opyr (Blue Feather Books)
• The Mirror and the Mask, by Ellen Hart (St. Martin’s/Minotaur)
• Toasted, by Josie Gordon (Bella Books)

Fellow Bella Books/Spinsters authors Rhiannon Argo, JE Knowles, Tracey Richardson, KG MacGregor, and Karin Kallmaker are also on the lists in various categories.

Treat yourself!  Buy some of these wonderful books!

I’ve been drafting two hours a day, five days a week, for about three weeks now.  That’s nearly impossible for me during the “high season” at my “real” job, but I’ve been making it happen.  And I don’t allow myself to write any more than that, even if I want to.

So far, I’m not moving along as fast as I’d like.  But I am moving along–and with work I like quite a bit.  So I think I’m further ahead than I would be if I were moving faster and risking burning out.

Do others of you find that pacing yourself, even when you want to press on, is a good way to combat burnout?  Or do you prefer to write while you’ve got the motivation and time–in fits and starts?

There isn’t much as cool as starting the new year–and the new decade– with a full moon, a blue moon, a clear Caribbean sky, temps in the 80s, sea air, family members nearby, and a ginger bush cat with an enormous sense of humor. I’m feeling pretty lucky.

I like to do a review of the year on New Year’s Day. I’m a bit late (blame vacation), but regarding writing, here’s what I’ve learned.

1. I’m a lousy blogger. It seems like something I would be terrific at. I love my computer. I love to talk. I love to write. But the truth is, when I’m done with my “real” job (mostly computer and writing) and then done with my “writing” job (mostly computer and writing) the last thing I want to do is spend another minute on the computer writing! I love answering emails, though.  That I do most any time!  I guess conversations with people are more fun for me than casting thoughts into the blogosphere.

2. Undisciplined ideas can wreck a novel draft the way an untrained German Shepherd can wreck a house. I’ve hadboth, so I know!  I think that’s why I’ve struggled so on Lonnie Squires novel # 3. Too many ideas full of energy running around tearing up the carpet. Gotta get that under control and soon.

3. You never know how your work will affect even the most unlikely people! I’m more mindful now than ever of the importance of writing “true.”

There’s more, of course, but I’m still on vacation on that Caribbean Island and don’t want to think about it all too hard!

Happy New Year to all! I’ll blog when I can. You can always contact me via email.

Just returned from a lovely relaxing trip into the “wilds” of northern Michigan (that’s the northern part of the lower peninsula) that was both vacation and research for the third Lonnie Squires mystery, DITCHED. Mancelona, Gaylord, Topinabee, Cheboygan, Mackinaw City and other wonderful places. I’m not going to say much else about it for now except that the Nun Doll Museum is something quite wonderful, as is the fudge in Mackinaw City, though in a different way. I think Lonnie would be interested in both. Still, who knows where that book will take her? At this point, I still don’t!

The second Lonnie Squires mystery, TOASTED, available September 1!

Cousin Donna Hancock’s Loaves and Fishes Culinary Ministries evangelical cooking school road show–think about it.  Lonnie Squires has to.

Trying to redeem her good name in the little town of Middelburg, Lonnie volunteers as additional security for Cousin Donna’s traveling program.  Her ultimate goal is supporting her own sanity with her beloved soccer.  But she can’t play by herself and no one will play with her if people are trash talking behind her back.  A good deed might just restore social harmony.

It’s a good plan, until someone partakes of Cousin Donna’s Tasty Toast Points with Sunny Spirit Salmon Spread and ends up decidedly deceased.  People in high places decide it’s Lonnie’s job to prove that the toast wasn’t tainted.

Cousin Donna and her entourage are hiding secrets, but is one of them the secret recipe for murder?  Is Lonnie right to be suspicious of every morsel she eats, wondering if it will be her personal last supper?

Sleuth Lonnie Squires once again discovers that doing the right thing can go very wrong.  This the second title in Josie Gordon’s Lambda Literary Award-winning mystery series combines culinary mayhem with big politics in a small town.

Whoo hoo!  It is exciting to hold a new book in your hands, though I have to confess I’m always a little mystified:  “did I really write that???”  Especially when I’m so embroiled in the next book.

You can order your copy now  from  your local independent bookstore.  Be sure to tell them this is the second in a series and that the first, WHACKED, won a Lambda Literary Award for best Lesbian mystery of 2008.

Can wait to get a taste of the new story?  Read more about it, including the first two chapters to whet your appetite.

Why in heaven’s name am I writing about a heckuva big church meeting?

Well, because one of the main reasons I chose to focus my mystery series around the life of a lesbian Episcopal priest stems from my witnessing of the LGBT community’s struggles for full inclusion in the Episcopal Church.  I’m not a particularly churchy person, though I believe I am a faithful one.  However, I have several close friends who are churchy–who, in fact, are priests.  And gay.   And while I have not cared much about what churches officially think of me in decades (because I long ago gave them up as hubs for judgmental hazing), my friends do care.  So I started paying attention.

Six years ago, I visited the convention just as Gene Robinson’s election as Bishop of New Hampshire was confirmed.  Many of you know Gene is the first openly gay person to reach that office and his selection as bishop kicked off a firestorm of anti-gay sentiment around the globe.  But on the evening in which he celebrated his first Eucharist as the newly confirmed Bishop-Elect, I stood in the crowd and wept.  My emotions stunned me.  I didn’t think I cared.  I’m still not particularly churchy, but it is an amazing thing to walk into a place that has always “hated” you and realize here, now, you are not hated.  I think that was the first time in my life I stood inside a mainline Christian church that had accepted me and others like me, without any “love the sinner, hate the sin” caveats.

Three years ago I witnessed the election of Katharine Jefferts Schori as Presiding Bishop, the first female “primate” of the Anglican Communion.  It kicked off a firestorm of anger around the globe.   I was also present as the governing bodies debated–often in horrific hate-filled terms–the full inclusion of baptized LGBT folks in the sacraments of the church.  That was the first time I’d ever been in a room with that level of hate (I guess I can count myself lucky that until then I’d only seen it on TV.)  In my opinion, there was little of the Good News of the Gospel evident in what transpired for LGBT folks as the delegates adopted a moratorium on giving full inclusion to the LGBT community.  We wept again, only this time in sadness at the victory of hate and fear and sin.  Change had seemed so possible; hope made the continued discrimination even more horrible to bear.

It was after this experience that I decided to write about a priest wrestling with these issues in her own life, trying so very very hard to be a person of faith holding to a religion which she just knows grows from something other than the narrowness that defines it for so many.  I actually dreamt about Lonnie Squires and the folks of Middelburg.  They came swirling whole out of the mists of my own life-long querulous relationship with the church. I’d like to be contented with religion some day.  I’d like for it to be contented with me.  But maybe that’s not how dynamic spirituality works.  I don’t know.  That’s why I explore it through Lonnie’s investigations of mysteries.

So, I look forward to this next triennial convention with no expectations for a good or a bad outcome for the LGBT faithful.  I only know that heroes will step forward again, working to change the world.  That hate and love will clash, both in the name of Christ.  That hearts will be wrung out and broken no matter what happens.  Everyone cannot be kept happy.  So what “good” will those in power choose?  What will the nature of the “loss” be?  Will some be kept out so that others will continue to come?  Or will all be invited, perhaps moving others to choose to leave?

To me, these are easy questions and the path that should be chosen is clear.  I’d be a lousy politician in a situation like this convention.  But that’s why I’m a novelist and others, thank God, are doing the hard work of transforming hearts and minds right there in the Anaheim Convention Center.  I’m not going this year, by the way.  I don’t think I could take it if things go badly.  I can’t stand watching my friends’ hearts broken again in the name of Christ.  Those who are there are so very much braver than I!

In my next post, I’ll list some websites of interest in case you want to keep up on all of this with me.

Finally getting settled back in at home.  Though “settled” is relative, I guess, since there are still half-filled suitcases in the house and laundry to be done and mail to be sorted . . . and on and on.

I’ve been greeted with such wonderful emails from so many friends and readers since the award and I’m so incredibly grateful for everyone’s support.  These celebrations–starting with the one Bella had the night of the awards and still going on with contacts from friends I haven’t talked to in a very LOOOOOOONG time–have been as fabulous as the award itself!

Here’s a shot from the screen when it was announced!

It was a great evening even before this announcement.  Bella author Karin Kallmaker won two awards–it was a great night for Bella.

Bonus:  the award for best mystery was presented by none other than Kate Clinton, so I got to meet her (or at least hug her and say thanks).

Double bonus, the incomparable Mark Doty, who has been a great inspiration to me for years because of the beauty of his writing, also won a Lambda for poetry, and it was a huge honor for me to follow him to the podium.

Triple bonus:  I have to admit, I found the clutch to be most serviceable for the evening.  Thanks to YOSista for loaning it to me.

The luggage is all packed and sitting in the hallway, causing earth-shattering consternation to the household pets.  One of the cats even stole my wallet this morning, but I found it before he dispersed the credit cards all over the back porch.  They love their sitter, but the luggage still freaks them out.

Flying freaks me out, but I’m promising myself not to expend the energy tomorrow when I leave the house at 3 a.m. (!) to get to the airport on time.  I’ll need all my focus just to get in the right lines and not wind up in Maui.  Which wouldn’t be bad, but it isn’t where the award shindig is happening.

Last night I put on my ceremony clothes and made sure I would be comfortable and functional.  Why in God’s name are women’s dress clothes never both?  The clutch I borrowed will barely serve–it’ll hold a lip gloss (my fancy make-up for the evening) and maybe a phone, but not a phone and camera.  And of course, the clothes have no pockets.  I won’t get started on my fashion rant here.  It’s only one evening.  I’ll survive.  In fact, I’ll enjoy it–I’m really looking forward to the whole to-do.  What an experience it will all be!  Cocktails at 6, awards at 7, after party at 9:30.   More social life than I usually have in a month.

And I’m spending an extra two days in New York City, which I’m really looking forward to.  I hope to walk a lot, shop, eat cheap city food, and visit some Episcopal sights (always researching for Lonnie’s future adventures!).

I’ll update from there if I can, otherwise, check back in a few days!

Writers need their sleep.  And so do we all, especially if we’re learning new things. 

I feel vindicated.  I’ve always been a 9-hour-minimum sleeper, at least, if I want to be alert and functional.  In college, I told people sleep was my Number One priority.  Then studying.  Then social life.  I was a real charmer then, as now!  Still, I stay healthy and mostly on top of things, even if I always felt guilty about being lazy.

But I just go my hands on a new book, Brain Rules:  12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by John Medina.  And it has a handy and fun website you can check out to get a taste for the book.

Anyhow, he explains that we need sleep time for our brains to process what we learned during the day.  “Sleep well, think well,” he says.  He says naps are a good thing!  Love him!  Can’t wait to read the book.