PEGGY FIELDING'S NEWSLETTER
Vol. 7 Number 5 May 2007

WHAT WENT ON IN REHAB

I had signed up to be a judge for the National Rita Awards for Romance Writers of America (RWA), and still had three books to finish and grade when the stroke fairy touched me.

I'M STRANGE IN MANY WAYS

Most people love to read in bed. I hate to read in bed. So. I took my RWA books to the dining room at breakfast time on Sunday (6:00 am) and just stayed. I read and read and read. On Monday they started me in the basement (which my roomie and I called "the salt mines.") I carried my books everywhere I went. By Tuesday afternoon I had read all, judged, filled out forms and sent in my findings well ahead of schedule. I just couldn't renege on my promise to act as judge, stroke or no stroke.

THEN CAME CATHERINE

As for my sick roommate, Catherine, she calmed a lot after our first night together. I made up my mind. I would do all the adjusting to make our stay together as pleasant as possible. I began immediately to use my very practiced interview skills.

WHAT I LEARNED

The dear woman was my complete opposite in almost every way. She told me she loved working at her Presbyterian Church, loved cooking, loved gardening, loved TV and spent time every day with some of her family members... all things I couldn't even imagine myself doing. She was Mrs. Decent, well-behaved, conservative Mid-American lady... yeah, the Domestic Goddess... my absolute opposite.

I TONED DOWN SO WE COULD HAVE A PLEASANT TIME TOGETHER

I curbed my tongue. Those who know me understand what that entailed.

We chatted about her interests, church, gardening, cooking, etc. She introduced me to TV.

One night Jackie, Paula and Romney Nesbitt came and we chatted very quietly in a corner so our smart alec speech wouldn't offend Catherine or her family. I told my story of the beautiful Doctor Poopoo, the smell, the sounds, the Doc's silent turnaround. I thought it was pretty funny and so did they. Jackie had heard the story but they all laughed. Romney loved it.

Then Romney told the funniest story I've heard in ages. I can't tell it here. Get her to tell you her mayonnaise story next time you see her.

WE BECAME PALS

With a bridle on my tongue and the will to make a friend, I controlled my natural exuberance and we learned to love each other. When she napped I wrote on my Tulsey Town novella, using my bed as my desk. When she watched TV, I watched with her. What a revelation that was! Actually kinda fun. Nowadays I sometimes tune in to The View or other daytime stuff just to keep abreast of that world.

WE'RE BOTH HOME NOW

Catherine and I still call or write notes to each other. During our days together when we weren't working like hell in the "salt mines" downstairs, we found we really agreed on two big subjects. Every time Iraq came into the TV picture, one or the other of us shouted, "Get those American boys and girls home now!" Sometime I added, "What the hell are we doing over there, anyway?" Catherine never castigated me for my coarse language.

THE ANNA CRAZE

While we were in rehab Anna Nicole Smith began to be shown on TV everyday, almost every hour. I couldn't fathom why she had suddenly become a person of note to everyone in the USA. I'd only vaguely heard of the woman before. Catherine explained that Smith had had a TV show that failed. (Catherine hated the show, she said)

ONE MORE THING

We also both agreed in our opinions about President Bush.

AN EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THING

We learned to love each other and I also learned to love her family. Her big sweet son asked for my autograph on a dollar bill. Every writer loves a fan, you know, and I was already well disposed toward men in the fire department. Her son is also really big and good looking. He was candy for my eyes every night even though he was there to see his mom. I got to stare at him and sometimes speak to him. Yay!

NOW I'M HAPPY AND HEALTHY JUST AS DR. MEYER PREDICTED

I feel good every day. I walk on a walker at home, on a cane in public. Our new book FOXY STATEHOOD HENS AND MURDER MOST FOWL is now out and available from your bookstore anywhere.

AND A BIT MORE!

I also have another book out now, also available from your bookstore. Just tell your bookseller both books can be ordered from Ingrams. This one is a historical romance/mystery novel set in Oklahoma Territory. I called it SCOULDRELS' BARGAIN. It too is appropriate for this year which is Oklahoma's centennial year

AND A LETTER FROM A FAN SINCE I'M ALL THROUGH WITH STROKING OUT

Hillari Hunter wrote:

"I bought the first edition of your book Confessing for Money, then purchased the second edition sometime later. I'm proud to let you know that I sold a confession story to True Experience magazine!

I like how you wrote the book and laid out the confession writing market. The illustrations are amusing. Thank you for your help!"

And thank you Hillari. You go girl. If you did it once you can do it again.

SEE YOU ALL IN JUNE, MY PETS.

Love Peggy