Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Thankful for Sweet Surprises

Little things matter.

Big things, life changes, astounding news, accidents. All bring immediate reactions, usually as big as the event. But little things, big or small, also matter. One or two little annoyances are no big deal. Unfortunately, annoying little things usually line up and pile onto each other making a huge mass that can turn my mood sour as sure as one big bad event. It's commonly called, "one of those days."

Luckily, good little surprises can have the opposite effect. And just one sweet little thing can turn my day from terrible to terrific just like that. Does that make me a moody person? Yes. I admit it. I struggle with it all the time. Sometimes I wonder if that part of my brain has emotional amnesia. Guess I just need to keep at it. I'm also glad I easily forget the little annoyances once I get past them--going out to dinner with friends or playing with my dogs helps me get out of any funk!


So after a long, stressful week, I have some big awesome news! My first Florida event was FANTASTIC! Much better than I anticipated. I even sold out of Pop Travel! That means I won't be giving up on writing just yet, haha. And I'm looking forward to finding a spring event to try.

And here are a couple of fun little surprises I found at my school...

yes, that's a pineapple -- I didn't know that's how they grew either!

sand hill cranes -- mates for life & not afraid of people

Hope your November is Cool & Sunny
and full of little sweet surprises!
Happy Fall from Florida

11 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Glad the event was such a success!

Crystal Collier said...

Yay for selling out! I'm so happy to hear it. You know, it's the sunshine. Haha!

Jenni said...

Congrats on a successful book event! I can see why it sold out. You have a very gripping premise. The pumpkin on the beach just made me smile. Meanwhile it's very cold and wet here on the other coast. :)

Rebecca M. Douglass said...

Congrats on the successful event! Selling out is fantastic. I've recently started doing events, sharing tables with other authors. That makes it more fun and much easier to earn out! And moodiness? I get it. If you can rise out of it easily, be grateful.

C.D. Gallant-King said...

That's a nice booth! Congrats on your success.

Natalie Aguirre said...

It's great that your event was a big success!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Selling out of a title is a great feeling!

Anonymous said...

Anonymously Esther O'Neill, East of the Sun , no signal, and congenitally incapable of selling anything.
Congrats on your sell-out event. Still love writing, suspect I need a completely new perrsonality.
And a phone mast, to which there is manic objection, Why ? Because people would be able to see it.
Write the book ?

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Congrats on your writing event. Not such a little thing. Keep on writing.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Tara - so happy to read your local event was so successful ... and great to see you're settling in and noticing those small new things down south - good for you - cheers Hilary

Patricia JL said...

That's great that you sold out of books and it's so cool you have a pineapple plant at your new place.

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