Cure for Quarantine Fever by Diane Burton #amreading

Happy May Day. In the dark days of winter in the Great Lakes states, we talk about cabin fever when we've been cooped up too long. Quarantine Fever sounds appropriate for these unusual times.

Are you tired of staying home? Never thought I’d say it, but I am. Mind you, I like being home. After nearly three months, I’ve about had it with not going anywhere. Here in Michigan, we’ve had shelter-in-place for eight weeks. But I broke my foot in February, and the “cure” was staying off my foot and keeping it elevated. That equals nearly three months of only going to the doctor. Once my foot healed, I got to go to the store to pick up groceries that a “shopper” had collected. Whoopee! I haven’t even seen my grandchildren in person, except at a distance. Daughter and Daughter-in-Law decided at the beginning of the shelter-in-place that it was safer for Hubs and I not to come in contact with the kiddos. Son and Son-in-Law work in essential jobs, so the risk of their bringing home the virus is very real. Rational, but I sure do miss those hugs and kisses.

According to the ads on TV, we’re all in this together. So I’m probably not telling you anything new or anything that you haven’t experienced. I understand the reason for staying home and totally agree with it. Emotionally, I’m finding it hard.

With all this “free” time, you’d think I would get a lot done. Being confined to the recliner meant cleaning, organizing closets, etc. were not on my agenda. So what have I done? I wish I could say I’ve been writing like crazy. Unfortunately, no. I’m finding it difficult to focus on my work-in-progress, the science fiction romance that is 85% done. I wrote myself into a corner and can’t figure out how to get out.

So, if I’m not cleaning and not writing, what am I doing? Binge-watching TV and binge-reading. Since my buddy Nancy Gideon wrote about bingeing television shows here on Saturday, I’ll talk about reading.

When I find an author I enjoy, I tend to binge on his/her books. I discovered Jayne Ann Krentz (w/a Jayne Castle) back in the early 80s when she wrote for Dell Candlelight. I’ve read almost everything she’s written. Thanks to our library that loans ebooks, I’ve kept up with her latest, especially the ones taking place in the 1930s. Great romantic suspense. And I find the world-building in her science fiction romances fascinating.

Linda Howard is another favorite. Her romantic suspense stories capture my interest from the first pages of each book. Since I write romantic suspense (along with mysteries and sci-fi romance), I try to examine books in those genres to see how the author does it. With Howard’s books, I get so caught up in the story I forget what I’m supposed to do.

Veronica Scott’s science fiction romances are captivating. I’ve binged on her entertaining Badari Warrior series, featuring genetically engineered soldiers, as well as her Egyptian mythology series. She really knows how to build fantastical worlds.

Lately, I rediscovered Phyllis A. Whitney, an author I first read while in my 20s. I think she and Victoria Holt are the mothers of gothic fiction. As I read book after book, I found myself fascinated by the atmosphere Whitney creates that sends shivers down my spine. Our Nancy Gideon does the same with her vampire and shifters series. I’ve never considered writing a Gothic (or fantasy) romance, so reading them is pure pleasure. Not to learn anything, just to enjoy.

Anna Hackett develops futuristic worlds on a dystopian Earth. Her characters are strong and flawed, the alien conquerors are downright creepy, and the stories are so hot you need a fan.

S.J. Pajonas’ cozy mysteries are a delight. They feature a young woman who daydreams her way through life in rural Japan and somehow solves mysteries.

I blasted through Diane Henders The Never Say Spy series, reading one after another. Exciting with a middle-aged heroine. Did the same with Josie Brown’s Housewife Assassin books. Like I said, when I find an author I like, I binge-read their books.

So, if you’re still sheltering-in-place, I hope you’ll check out some of my favorites. Have you read any of them? What books/authors would you suggest?

Stay safe. We’ll all get through these difficult times by doing our part.

So Many Shows and Nowhere to Go by Nancy Gideon

I confess, I was a binger before it was cool . . . before it was a mental health necessity! Ever since Wiseguy debuted in 1987 and NYPD Blue followed in 1993, I’ve been addicted to episodic series television, those shows that carry a plotline out for more than just one installment (sometimes seasons!). Too me, it was like a huge engrossing book played out week by week – with eye candy! The additional weeks in which to develop character and individual plotlines deepened the involvement into that “Just one more chapter . . .” obsession. Soooo, when television began releasing the entire seasons (or series) in one big buffet dinner, I couldn’t resist working my way down the line until too full to hold another bite (or hold my eyes open!).

Retiring at the end of 2019 was my warm up to Shelter in Place. Before then, I’d have to binge on weekends. So, with that entire DAY stretching out before me (after writing time, of course), I’d chew through a series like a bag of BBQ chips (often WITH a bag of BBQ chips!).Here’s some of what’s been on the menu . . .


Now, with my WIP out for Beta reads and snow STILL falling to keep me inside, I’ve become a bit of a maniac, especially with the ability to watch on my 29” Dell All-in-One in my office away from the other two floors of the house. I’m proud (or a bit embarrassed) to say in less than half a week I’ve gone through the first two seasons of The Man in the High Castle and Season 6 of Bosch! I should slow down because . . . now what? What’s next?

Thankful, good ole TV Guide put out their Best 35 TV Shows You Can Binge Watch from Beginning to End! Some of these I’ve already checked off, i.e. Battlestar Galactica during the week after my first knee replacement (though I think some of what I remember might be from the good drugs!) and Luther with Idris Elba in two weeks. I can’t eat just one! The list includes my recommended favs Broadchurch with David Tennant and the marvelous Olivia Coleman who is also in The Crown, Justified and Deadwood with the always drool-worthy Tim Olyphant, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul and Sherlock. Browse the list. I’m sure you’ll find something to make those empty hours disappear.

I’d add Stranger Things, Dexter, A Handmaid’s Tale and Supernatural (my son wanted me to add Psych and X-Files, if you can find them).

Now that my public service announcement is completed, I’m off to the basement to watch Rome on DVD. Where are the chips?

How ‘bout you? What guilty pleasures have you been enjoying?

♚♚♚♚♚

Nancy Gideon on the Web

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group

Follow @NancyGideon

Coping In These Unusual Times by Diane Burton

Is anyone as mixed up as I am about days of the week? Hubs put out the trash a day early, and I'm almost a day late on this post. (I did remember to post for Insecure Writers Support Group today.)

I pray everyone is staying safe. Being at home for a month is a challenge, as I'm sure you know, especially if you have children. Working at home is nothing new for a writer. We joke about coming out of our cave after a lengthy writing session. Now, to protect ourselves and others, we hunker down in our cave. Thank goodness for social media that helps us connect with others. 

Darn Facebook.

As you can tell, I'm conflicted about Facebook. It keeps us in touch with family and friends. We get memes that make us laugh and lighten the tension. Then someone passes along false info. I'm careful to make sure I only share from reputable sites. I take the saying "consider the source" very carefully.

But FaceBook, like most social media, is a time suck. I tell myself I'll only check my profile page for a few minutes. An hour later . . . Well, I have to respond, don't I? Even if only an emoji. Then, I get upset when people turn it into politics. Please, not now. When this pandemic is over and we're all healthy again, that's when we can say what should have been done. Hindsight is 20/20. Still, we'll need to decide how we should proceed as a nation when something like this happens again.

What can we do? My colleagues here on Paranormal Romantics have given you so many great ideas:  Abigail Owens suggested what to do while we self-quarantine, Nancy Gideon told us how she's dealing with the anxiety we're all feeling, L.A. Kelley shared links to scientific discovery, Megan Slayer gave us something new to read,  Lea Kirk helped us laugh, and Elizabeth Alsobrook showed us how to make face masks. 

I can't do better. I'm having a hard time sticking with my writing. My mind is all over the place. As I said in my Insecure Writer's post, I haven't felt like this since 9/11. It's a national tragedy. We're inundated all day with news shows whose experts tell us what's happening around the country and what we can do.

Anxiety ramps up with each announcement from the reporters, from the White House, from the experts. I try not to watch too many news programs. Call me an ostrich as I hide my head in the sand or binge-watch movies or TV shows to escape. 

My heart goes out to those who've lost loved ones, who fear that they or their family will contract COVID-19, who've lost their jobs and worry how they will pay their bills. Amid all this anxiety, I thank the superheroes: the doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, and first responders. Let's not forget the grocery and drug store workers, those who work in restaurants where you can pick up a meal, and the truckers who bring much needed supplies. You all are the heroes of this war.

Stay safe. Stay at home unless you have an essential job. Please follow the guidelines to keep yourself and others safe. Who would've thought that handwashing and social distancing could defeat the unseen enemy?


We're in this for a long time. But, we're in this together. We can win the war.

SEPARATION ANXIETY! By Nancy Gideon

Shelter in Place. Words this Michigander was happy to hear. Not only will that order save lives (Thank you, Gov. Whitmer!), it gives writers the excuse to hunker down with their WIP. In the second round of edits before the 15th and final book of my “By Moonlight” series goes to Beta readers, the idea of being one with my (well sanitized) keyboard was just the kick I needed to gitter done. Sounded great . . . at first, until an unexpected interruption.

I’m going back to 7th grade!

This grammy has her 12-year old grandguy for the 2nd of possibly four weeks while D-I-L remotes from home, finishing exams and term papers at the same time for a second degree in library science . . . which can’t possibly be as hard as 7th grad math (exponents, expressions, equations, Oh My!). Good news – I finally found out what a predicate is (knowledge gained and flushed when I was in 7th grade!).We’ve got the sessions at the dining room table broken down into five sections interspersed with Japanese cartoons and walks, when weather allows.

All in all, we’re weathering the crisis without difficulty (except for two adults who pace the house, jones-ing for an extra trip to Meijers and a sit-down restaurant). Chez Gideon will have to do for now and our larder is stocked to last until 2025!

For me, not going anywhere isn’t a burden. (I did just drag the recycler up from the curb! Fresh air AND exercise-win/win!) Give me my 29” All-in-One (great for bingeing, too!), my Keurig, and cats and I’m good!

(Me, reaching for hand sanitizer and cuing up Chapter 24!)

Hope all of you are staying safe and ramping up that word count!

♚♚♚♚♚

Nancy Gideon on the Web

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group

Follow @NancyGideon