ARC giveaway, first novels and some very persistent squirrels

I’ve been in the garden a lot these past couple of days. And this year, I have hope. You see, I garden like some people diet. I start out with great intentions and then tend to find better things to do.

But I love spring, I love the idea of growing this lush garden full of organic fruits and vegetables. So much so that when we bought our house five years ago, one of the things that sold me was the generous plot of land on the side, bordered by a gray stone wall. It really would be the perfect garden, except for one factor: me.

Year 1: planted tomatoes, cucumbers, three kinds of peppers, onions and lettuce. Came down with unexplained fatigue a month later (pregnant, anyone?) and decided to grow a baby instead. Husband raked over the weed-filled mess in August. Total vegetables harvested: 0

Year 2: planted tomatoes, cucumbers, three kinds of peppers, onions and lettuce. Couldn’t bring myself to go out and weed and water in scorching July temps with a new baby. Husband raked over the weed-filled mess in August. Total vegetables harvested: 5 tomatoes, 1 slightly scary looking pepper that nobody but me would eat.

Year 3: Already pregnant with kid #2. Planted tomatoes and pumpkins, thinking surely with only two crops… Raked over in July. Total vegetables harvested: 1 surprisingly hearty pumpkin in November.

Year 4: Abandoned cute garden plot for two container pots of tomatoes on the deck. Installed a bird feeder right above them. The seed from the bird feeder sprouted weeds in my lowly containers. Weeded like a fiend, watered, the tomatoes survived! The squirrels noticed and stole every tomato, except for two tiny ones that I took off the vine green. A third tomato was stolen by a turtle. My husband called it my most successful year ever and sweetly didn’t mention that we’d spent approximately $60 in plants, pots and supplies for a yield of two cherry tomatoes. Total vegetables harvested: 2 1/2

But this is the year! Today is the day. I’m about to finish planting watermelon and pumpkins in the main garden. The tomatoes are in pots on the deck, looking quite weed free and happy at the moment. I’m not sure what to do about the squirrels yet, but I’m fully prepared to write my next novel while sitting on the deck, shooing away the little buggers. So if a demon conjures up vicious, tomato-stealing, fire-breathing squirrels in my next book, you’ll know why.

In the mean time, I have hope. Fifth time is a charm. Besides, what could possibly go wrong this year?

On a totally separate note, I the winner of yesterday’s ARC giveaway is Jayne Thomas. Yay Jayne!

Want to try to win your own ARC? Just sign up for my quarterly newsletter and you’re entered. Easy as growing tomatoes (or not). Also, I’m blogging today over at The Brandford Bunch. http://www.thebradfordbunch.com/  Stop on by and hear the story of how this author made her first sale.

Now off to the garden…