What’s Making Me Happy: October and November 2018

November 28, 2018November 27, 2018 / saraletourneau / 17 Comments

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas….”

Seriously, though. Can you believe Christmas is a month away?? Thanksgiving was last Thursday here in the States, and now it feels like full steam ahead to the end of the year. Thank goodness I’m almost done with my Christmas shopping already… Because if the past two months are any indication, this December is going to be my busiest one in a long time.

I’m not joking. October and November were kind of crazy on my end. In a good way, though. (Wait – is there such a thing as a good kind of crazy-busy?) But I’ve made time to have some fun and take care of myself. So here are some of the things that have made me happy over the past two months, starting with…

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What’s Making Me Happy: October 2017

November 2, 2017November 1, 2017 / saraletourneau / 29 Comments

Wait! It’s November now! Isn’t this post late?

Well, sort of. (Better late than never, right?) But with my new DIY MFA article posting earlier this week and S.J. Higbee’s blog tour stopping here last week, today is the most convenient day to look back on the joys of October.

And, boy, do I need this post right now. October was very stressful, between sudden changes at my day job and unexpected (and expensive) car repairs. And when I’m already stressed / anxious about one thing, it’s so easy for me to get stressed / anxious about other things. If you’ve felt the same way lately, let’s take a moment to inhale deeply, exhale slowly, and give thanks for our accomplishments and joys over the past month. And as always, feel free to share what’s made you happy lately in your comments.

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Time Flies!: October 2015

November 1, 2015November 1, 2015 / saraletourneau / 15 Comments

Welcome to the latest edition of Time Flies! It’s my version of a monthly update, where I recap the past month’s accomplishments and articles, share news and random things from my offline life, and hint at what may be coming in the month ahead.

As much as I enjoyed parts of October, I’m relieved it’s over. Between a hectic work schedule, my first head cold of the season, and being busy at home, the past month sent me spinning. All the craziness also cut into my blogging time. So if it seems like things have been less active than usual here recently, that’s why.

It’s OK, though. Sometimes life happens, and blogging (both writing and visiting other blogs) has to go on the backburner temporarily. But now things are slowing down and deadlines have been met, so I can *hopefully* start catching up. My biggest priorities right now are a) finishing the fourth Character Evolution File so it can go live during the first or second week of November, and b) taking care of myself by relaxing, reading, and remembering to “smell the roses.” Or, in this case, the orchids.

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Two Upcoming Literary Events in the Boston Area

September 3, 2015September 3, 2015 / saraletourneau / 20 Comments

I may be done with literary conferences for the year, but not with literary events in general. Two are on my radar for this fall, and I thought I’d spread the word in case anyone lives near or is planning to be in the Boston area soon. Plus, both events are free! So there’s no need to worry about the cost of admission. 🙂 Continue reading →

Freelance Article Round-Up: September 2014

September 30, 2014November 11, 2015 / saraletourneau / Leave a comment

Welcome to this month’s Freelance Article Round-Up! If you read last month’s, you might have noticed something different about today’s. See the logo above? 😀 What do you think?

Freelance Article Round-Up is a monthly series (or bimonthly, depending on my freelancing schedule) to keep you abreast of the articles I’ve written outside of this blog. I’ll also offer a glimpse into the coming month’s assignments and other exciting happenings.

Here’s what I’ve been up to since the July / August Round-Up. Continue reading →

The Boston Marathon 2013

April 20, 2013 / saraletourneau / 5 Comments

Many of you may have read or heard about the bombings at the Boston Marathon this past Monday. As a writer who lives in the area (about 30 miles outside of Boston, Massachusetts) and visits the city several times each year, I’ve been struggling to collect my thoughts – mostly because they’ve been a swirling eddy of emotions. This was a signal from my soul that I needed to write to express what I was feeling. And I did. I drafted the original version of this blog entry on Wednesday and Thursday, and originally intended to post it on Friday afternoon.

That all changed Friday morning, however, with the manhunt in Greater Boston and the related events that transpired. Some parts of yesterday hit much too close to home for me. So I re-wrote the blog entry to what it is today.

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Field Trip: 1st Annual Boston Book Festival!

October 25, 2009 / saraletourneau / 1 Comment

So I braved the wind and the rain on Saturday to go to the first annual Boston Book Festival. It was an all-day event held at and around Copley Square, with exhibits, lectures, readings, free food, and interactive events for people who write or enjoy poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Oh, and there were plenty for kids to do, too.

So below is a report of my “field trip,” complete with photos. Pardon my photography – I’m not the best, but I try!

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