I’ve been AWOL from my Substack for most of the summer. For various reasons. None as exciting as being arrested for touching the algae reflecting pool, which is such a fun America’s 250 memory for us all. Anyway, I will get back into it with some solid posts soon!
What has been keeping me busy is the novel I’m writing. It’s a comedic fiction story featuring women over 50. No dragons, sorry. I just finished the first draft and am working on the first revision now. Today I think it’s really good. Tomorrow, I’ll probably think the opposite. But I’ve been working with my friend and book coach extraordinaire Heather Garbo, Book Coach who has been incredibly helpful. She’s the wonderful person that edited my middle-grade book Ginger Mancino, Kid Comedian, and I highly recommend checking her out if you need help on your book project. (Her Substack is also a wealth of info.)
Since I live in Texas, I’ve also been doing some protesting this summer. It’s the only way I get any exercise lately so luckily it’s also 150 degrees every day. Here I am with my great friend Meredith, who has a wonderful must-read book out right now called Be Yourself and Other Bad Advice that’s perfect for the young women in your life.
I’m also writing a few articles that I’m excited about for the fall. Including a story that will involve me wearing a corset, dear lord. My Texas Monthly piece about my adventures in adult summer camp is finally out and you can read it here.
Now let’s talk about flirting. The other day my friend Tara, who is single, told me that her friend Jane has been encouraging her to flirt more. She said, “We were at a high school football game, and Jane went up to the snack stand and said to the guys working there, ‘What’s a girl gotta do to get a hamburger around here?’ and then they all smiled and chatted with her.”
“So did you try it?” I asked.
“I don’t have any part of my body that could ever even get close to doing that. I’m more likely to say something like, ‘Is that Trump’s mystery meat from Argentina I see there on the grill, boys?’”
I get it. I also don’t have the flirting gene, so it’s a good thing I’ve been married for 34 years. Our version of flirting is making fun of each other for tripping on cat toys. But I encouraged Tara to test out a few lines so she’s prepared the next time she’s in a super sensual place like a high school snack stand.
Unfortunately, between the two of us, the best we could come up with was, “Have you had any recent E. coli outbreaks in town?” Could be a good way to meet an infectious disease specialist, I guess.
Thanks for reading and more soon!
—Wendi
So excited about your book! I hope there’s one character over 60 who loves pugs and David Soul.
I'm very excited about your new book! I loved "Tunics" and gift it to all my middle age friends. (50 year olds, right?).