Did I mention that I killed my computer?

A few weeks ago, while my computer was doing whatever it does when it's updating, the screen went black. I kept glancing at it, hoping it was going to start over, but it never did. Then I did what the tech guy at the Mac store said was the Computer Kiss of Death. I unplugged everything. My hard drive apparently took this a direct insult and never recovered. Though I sent it to the data recovery people (who have a 98% success rate, mind you!), they weren't able to retrieve a thing. A writer's worst nightmare. All my work gone.

BUT . . . I am finally out of bed and writing again, slowly. I believe there is a reason for everything, and perhaps the story I was working on wasn't right. It certainly is coming out differently this time. And you want to know something weird? I was writing about a boy who shorts out computers and technology whenever he comes near it. Creepy.

Back up your computer!

Spring in southern Idaho has been wonderfully cool and even rainy. I can't remember the last time my kids wore sweaters during the last week of school. Thanks to the rain, my garden is bursting at the seams.

On a recent book signing, I wanted to bring some wild, edible plants to sample, and fireweed was the first on my list. My son found a large crop of the new red stalks just outside our cabin in the mountains. If you haven't munched on fireweed yet, give it a try! It's one of my favorite edible plants, and rich in vitamins. (Though always better young, before the stalks turn hard.) At the signing, even the teenagers who swore they hated vegetables said it wasn't so bad! More like water than anything else. And on a hike through the local foothills of Boise, I followed my dog Luna beneath a locust tree. I couldn't believe what I found--a carpet of delicious miner's lettuce! I'd been looking all over for it, but in the sandy, dry soils of Idaho, it's often hard to fine. Yet there was enough there for many weeks worth of salads. A delicious wild lettuce. Yum! I also clipped some yarrow from my garden, a great natural insect repellant. Just rub the leaves on your skin!

If you go on your own forays, let me know what you find!

Claire

Spring!!!
The weather has finally warmed here in Idaho. My aspens have leafed out, the grass is turning green, and I'm hopeful that I will no longer have to steal out to the garden in the evenings to cover my tender seedlings. If you're out walking, look for dandelion leaves to add to your salads and the first shoots of fireweed to eat raw. In my garden this year, I've added a "sunflower forest." I ordered special seeds that are supposed to grow into 8-foot tall sunflowers by mid-summer, creating a mini-forest that should delight both kids and adults. We set it up near a pathway beside our house and will bring in a bench so neighbors can stop and enjoy the flowers. I was careful to cover the seeds during the early frosts and now they're all sprouting. I'll be sure to post a picture when the "forest" comes in!

Just got back from the blustery Oregon coast. I love that state, the environmentally-aware people, the deep green colors and the lush landscape. My husband and I have talked of moving there after the kids are off to college, and starting over with a small farm and chickens. Who knows? It's important, for me at least, to always have some grand plan for the future, to imagine a Big Change coming. Along these lines, a fun test can be found at www.findyourspot.com. The website asks a few questions, then gives you a list of 10 places you might like to call home. It's interesting to see where you and the world match up!

On another note, it appears that GIRLWOOD is already available on Amazon.com and other websites. Don't know if it's in stores yet, but it's exciting to see it out there. Take care!

Claire

I just wanted to thank all the girls and their moms who participated in the mother/daughter book club pictured above. It was a pleasure to talk to them over the phone and answer their questions about GIRLWOOD.

We're getting closer to the publication date for GIRLWOOD which, of course, means I'm getting more nervous. On top of that, the book that I've been working on for a year, and which is for my son, has had to be put on hold for a while, until I can, as my editor says, nail down my "boy voice." Do I have a "boy voice?" I'm not sure. I only know that when you have two children, and you write a book for one of them, you have to write a book for the other. And SPIRIT CALLER is another book of my heart, so there's no question that I'll get back to it and make it right. In the meantime, I'll focus on my newest story, GREENSPELL, which has girls AND boys in it, along with a nature spell that, I must admit, is pretty darn fun to write.

Thank you to everyone who has emailed and shown their support for GIRLWOOD!

Cheers!
Claire