Five Things - July 3, 2023

Welcome to my blog titled “Five Things” where you can expect just that - five random musings or reflections from the previous week or so. In addition, at the end of the blog, I’ll keep a running itinerary of our travel plans. For a photo gallery of our life on the road, our pets, and miscellaneous things I find interesting, you can follow me on Instagram @tabithalord.

So here are this week’s five things…

1. Denver Fan Expo is in the books! It was a great event and so much fun to see my writer pals from RI. Book sales were solid, and two of our panels had standing room only. As exhausting as these events can be, I love the energy and enthusiasm of the fans and the sheer fun of it all!

2. 2. Our time in Colorado is almost at an end, and I’m really going to miss it here. The incredible rugged beauty of this state is breathtaking. From the Great Sand Dunes to Rocky Mountain National Park to Garden of the Gods to Pikes Peak to downtown Denver, we’ve loved everything! I’m sad to say goodbye, but we’ll definitely be back.

3. My birthday is this week. The older I get, the more I have to remind myself that each day is a gift, especially when I wake up after a long weekend on my feet and every part of my body aches! But even if it takes me a few days to recover from big events, I try to orient myself towards gratitude. “One day you will look back and see that all along you were blooming.” — Morgan Harper Nichols

4. For my birthday, Ray and I are going to see John Williams and the Colorado Symphony perform music from Star Wars at Red Rocks Amphitheater, and I am so excited! I may have mentioned how much I love Star Wars a time or two or ten. I listened to the record on repeat at bedtime every single night when the original movie first came out. The opening notes still send chills up my spine, and I am immensely grateful that I’ll be able to experience this live.

5. Amy visited last week, and we had an absolute blast. Our intent to create new content for Author’s Buzz while she was here did not materialize. Instead we shopped, drove through the mountains, went to a concert, enjoyed a baseball game, got a little new ink, and maybe danced on the bar at Coyote Ugly, although hopefully there is no proof of the last. However, she did manage to edit and post our latest YouTube video. If you’re interested in Writing Romance, check it out!

“Not all those who wander are lost.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

Our itinerary subject to change:

July 5-9: Vernal, UT

July 9-15: Salt Lake, UT

July 15-22: West Yellowstone, MT

July 22 - August 5: Jackson, WY

August 5-10: Rock Springs, WY

August 10-18: Hurricane, UT

August 18-27: Coachella, CA

August 27 - September 5: Temecula, CA

September 5 - October 1: Santa Barbara, CA

October 1 - November 15: Pacific Northwest TBD

November 15 - January 3, 2024: Orangeland Park, CA

Five Things - June 19, 2023

Welcome to my blog titled “Five Things” where you can expect just that - five random musings or reflections from the previous week or so. In addition, at the end of the blog, I’ll keep a running itinerary of our travel plans. For a photo gallery of our life on the road, our pets, and miscellaneous things I find interesting, you can follow me on Instagram @tabithalord.

So here are this week’s five things…

1. Our third son turned 21 yesterday! I’ve written about this particular kid before and how he is just the best combination of kind, sensitive, talented, and also quite driven when he puts his mind to something. Check out the POST I wrote just for him on his 18th birthday a few years ago, which I think captures him well. Also, you can follow this talented, funny kid on TikTok as he chronicles 100 days in his world, including building his drone business and cooking some amazing meals!

2. We’re still in Colorado for another few weeks and really loving it here. On the road from Granby to Denver, where we are now, we had to cross the Berthoud Pass. I’m just gonna pat myself on the back and declare total badassness (if that’s a word?). I drove the RV while towing the Jeep, because my dear husband is a much, much better passenger than me, and this was our deal so I wouldn’t end up curled under the bed crying. Wow, was it a white knuckle kind of drive, but we made it! Check out this post and video on Dangerous Roads to get a glimpse of the journey.

3. Speaking of Colorado, part of the reason we’re in Denver so long is because I’ll be signing books and moderating panels at Denver Fan Expo from June 30th - July 2nd. I’m really excited to be out and about doing bookish things. It’s a little harder to plan while we’re on the road, but we made this one happen, so if you’re in the Denver area, please come say hello!

4. Amy and I have been busy chatting it up on YouTube about our favorite writing topics. I’m currently smack in the middle of my latest manuscript, which sometimes feels like a slog. This feeling is so common among writers that we’ve affectionately called it the muddy middle, the murky middle, the messy middle - well, you get the idea! Check out our latest AUTHOR’S BUZZ VIDEO where we share our top tips for navigating the middle of the story.

5. Amy’s actually going to be here this week visiting! We are so excited to get in our girl time, do some hiking, and just be together in real life. “A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world.” - Lois Wyse

“Not all those who wander are lost.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

Our itinerary subject to change:

June 18 - July 5: Central City, CO

July 5-9: Vernal, UT

July 9-15: Salt Lake, UT

July 15-22: West Yellowstone, MT

July 22 - August 5: Jackson, WY

August 5-10: Rock Springs, WY

August 10-18: Hurricane, UT

August 18-27: Coachella, CA

August 27 - September 5: Temecula, CA

September 5 - October 1: Santa Barbara, CA

October 1 - November 15: Pacific Northwest TBD

November 15 - January 3, 2024: Orangeland Park, CA

Five Things - June 5, 2023

Welcome to my blog titled “Five Things” where you can expect just that - five random musings or reflections from the previous week or so. In addition, at the end of the blog, I’ll keep a running itinerary of our travel plans. For a photo gallery of our life on the road, our pets, and miscellaneous things I find interesting, you can follow me on Instagram @tabithalord.

So here are this week’s five things…

1. A fun thing happened the other day… My husband was filling out paperwork and had to list his emergency contact. The person at the desk saw my name and asked, “Is your wife the author Tabitha Lord?” Now, my work has certainly won some awards and had critical acclaim. Sales aren’t terrible, but I don’t have wide name recognition as a writer, so the fact that this gentleman, all the way out here in Colorado, knew who I was made me really, really happy. He said he loved my book and couldn’t wait to read the rest of the series. Sometimes, I feel like I am sending my books out into the void. I know this can be the nature of the beast, and the publishing industry is not for the faint of heart, but it’s worth it when someone falls in love with my stories.

2. Ray and I finally took the Jeep off-roading and it was amazing! We drove through mud, streams, up steep inclines, and down rocky trails. Great Sand Dunes National Park was another truly worthy destination. Besides thinking we were on Tatooine for a while, the vistas were spectacular and our back-trail experience a highlight of our travels.

3. It’s June already, and that means Denver Fan Expo is just around the corner! If you’re in the Denver area June 30- July 2, come say hello! I’ll be at the event signing books all weekend and moderating a couple of panels - ‘Not a Doctor, but I Play One in my Book’ and ‘A Hero, an Anti-hero, and a Villain Walk into a Bar.’

4. Writers, have you ever wondered if the idea you’ve been kicking around has enough substance to be your next novel? Amy and I had a fun discussion about this topic on our Author’s Buzz YouTube channel. Check it out here: Is My Idea Enough for a Book?

5. As we visit some amazing places, from the majestic mountains, to the stark desert, to the dense forests, I remember how restorative it is to spend time in nature. When I was a little girl, I loved nothing more than to be outside all day, climbing trees, picking berries and flowers, or lying on a bed of leaves staring at the sky. I couldn’t articulate it then, but for me, being in nature is a spiritual experience, where I feel connected to the world and at peace. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to experience some of the most beautiful, natural places in the world. “And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” – John Muir

“Not all those who wander are lost.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

Our itinerary subject to change:

June 2-10: Colorado Springs, CO

June 10-18: Granby, CO

June 18 - July 5: Central City, CO

July 5-9: Vernal, UT

July 9-15: Salt Lake, UT

July 15-22: West Yellowstone, MT

July 22 - August 5: Jackson, WY

August 5-10: Rock Springs, WY

August 10-18: Hurricane, UT

August 18-27: Coachella, CA

August 27 - September 5: Temecula, CA

September 5 - October 1: Santa Barbara, CA

October 1 - November 15: Pacific Northwest TBD

November 15 - January 3, 2024: Orangeland Park, CA