penelope j bristol writes

It’s one week until Christmas, less than that, actually. Two things happened yesterday. One was 100 people received a copy of my new release via a Goodreads giveaway. Last night I noticed 3 people were already reading. Writing a book is like being naked in front of a table filled with all your favorite foods. You really want to enjoy it, but you’re naked, so it’s awkward.

The other thing was our annual family Christmas play. Each year I scope out the options for entertainment and select something that forces my family to dress up. This year was Rudolph and it was a junior musical which meant the actors were mainly kids. My own kids, all very close to if not already twenty, sat politely through it all. Our oldest, home from college less than 24 hours, watched the end of the Cowboys game. As I contemplated my feelings about this, I noticed a gentleman seated across from me bouncing his seat so ardently, it squeaked like a love making headboard. In his lap was a baby in footed pajamas paying no more attention to the play than my own son.

I turned my attention back to the play. In less than 7 days my second novel will be released on Amazon and the family seated around me will pile on the couch or club chairs in our living room to open gifts.  Will everyone be happy? Unlikely, but we’ll all be present and willing. Thats the gift, I guess. The willingness, especially! I hope you don’t lose your mind trying to make Christmas this week and God, I hope you like my book!

All my best~ Penelope

 

 

 

Well, its been a hot minute but there’s a reason for that. Being a baby author was a lot harder than I imagined. I’m 13 days away from my next book launch and this toddler author has learned some stuff. I’m possibly 7.4% better at everything since launching The Truth Turned Upside Down. Telling you all about it would be too boring for you, so just trust me when I say….Red Rock Redemption: The Beginning is a solid novel. Enter the Goodreads giveaway to get a copy before the release on 12/25. Theres a widget to the right hand side of my blog that will take you right to the giveaway!

   Oh yeah, I’m off Facebook and on Instagram now…. check it

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All my best~

Penelope

So, my favorite number is 7. All three of my kids have 7 letters in their names, but let me tell you why I am in love with the number 4! There are only 4 more weeks in the current school year and that means 4 more Mondays until SUMMER break! That’s one happy thought ladies and gentlemen. I’ve been working on my backyard soaking in the sun whenever I can. I think this summer is going to be amazing for all of us, and after COVID lockdowns we deserve a glorious chance to enjoy these upcoming warm months. I wanted to share my latest newsletter with you. It includes a chance to win a digital copy of FIREFLY LANE by Kristin Hannah. Don’t miss out!

All my best ~Penelope

https://us3.campaign-archive.com/?u=17f14396ee45402ea7dc54717&id=1cf40b6282

 

https://kingsumo.com/g/deayou/miracle-creek-audiobook-giveaway

This weekend was beautiful! I put gloved fingers into dirt that’s been covered with little weeds and pine straw right outside my living room window for months now. My longing to drive to Home Depot and buy fat, green plants was squashed by fear. Will this nice weather last? It’s too good to be true-I think. So, I just relished in the warm sunlight and tucked the new plants away in my mind for another, future weekend.

My oldest son will be graduating from high school in a little more than two months. The joy and sadness that this event will bring is becoming more tangible with each passing day. I watch him walk through the garage door and into our kitchen daily, knowing these trivial moments are fleeting. One day, very soon, his empty chip wrappers won’t crowd our computer table. I can hardly let myself go much further than that. Please forgive me for droning on, but the time change grabbed me today. One less hour with him. One less hour to do anything, really. Should this make me feel motivated to be even more intentional with my time? I think yes, it should! Or do I simply retrieve that hour back in the fall….

Life, it’s always changing. I think that’s what makes it beautiful. On the day my son graduates, my tears will be beautiful. His smile will be beautiful. Make this week beautiful my dear readers, it’s one hour shorter-but just as likely to hold both smiles and tears.

All my best~Penelope

As the month of March looms ahead of us, I am happy to report spring or Indian spring has arrived in Alabama. I spent the weekend listening to podcasts from a Get Published author’s summit and have lots of new ideas buzzing about in my noggin. I also want to screen in my back porch, rip out the carpet in my master bedroom closet (new puppy potty problems) and spend more time on my Peloton. So, I will just clone myself I guess… or see how it all shakes out. Honestly, I’m happy to have so many things to think about and plan for. The alternative might not be as fun. I’ve posted new content now for a third week in a row and that makes me happy. I am always thinking of you, my readers, my followers and wondering what your lives are like. On a side note, I finished The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley. It was amazing, I totally recommend. The ending was unexpected and I’ve googled about it to get other’s perspectives. If you happen to read, please leave me a comment letting me know what you thought. Enjoy the first day of Lucky March, everyone!

All my best ~Penelope

I’m fooling myself if I type anything other than, I’m obsessed with Mars. If you’re not aware, Perseverance, the latest Mars rover landed successfully on the red planet earlier today. This comes at a crucial time, I’m writing the final chapters of Red Rock Redemption. Truthfully, everything is falling apart. The characters are a mess. We have love triangles, the upcoming landing and out of nowhere, someone has developed an unexplained power. The landing was supposed to be a calm backdrop to all the tension and chaos that’s been building in the last twenty pages. However, after watching NASA’s live stream of the landing today, it seems the seven minutes it takes to move from the top of Mar’s atmosphere to the soil is a fiery, unpredictable nightmare. Welp, I need to figure this out. I’m pretty sure after what I witnessed today, they’re going to need a heat shield and a parachute. No one is supposed to die this early. Should I reconsider?

I’m cooking a character in my mind. That’s what the process is like for me. He’s male, nameless so far, but suddenly- crucial to the plot line in Red Rock Redemption. He knows things my main characters don’t. No one will like him. He knows things that will result in people dying but justifies it in his mind. He makes a lot of money, but so do the people working above him. My dilemma has become his association with a beloved character. I feel my beloved General Stone is hiding information, too. It only makes sense now that I see the final chapters of the first book in this series unfolding. What exactly does Stone know and how does he live with it? His understanding of Red Rock’ s mission has always been clear. Humans need another planet to hold the volume of our species and Mars, well- it just makes sense. The people getting cancer treatments have been away from earth for over a year. The data points to radiation poisoning. In walks unknown man. General Stone…open your eyes, sir.

My puppy is pulling on my pajama leg so this may be a short rambling. Each day on my way to work, I let myself be pulled into an audiobook. Its like my glazed donut or triple shot latte- a fabulous treat. Recently, have been listening to The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley. I dread the sight of my turn into the school parking lot because this book pulses through my veins as I listen to it. The premise is remarkable. An old man, lonely and somewhat defeated, decided to write a short brutally honest synopsis of his life in a notebook and leaves it to be found. His last words in the notebook prompt the finder to share their “real” life with the world via the notebook and keep the cycle going. I am three characters deep into this novel and absolutely love it-already inspired to tell the truth about my life to myself each day! Here is one truth I can share with you. I am a reader before a writer. If I am short on time you will find me listening to audiobooks over writing another chapter in my books. Perhaps this is not wise but if fills me with hope and inspiration. I highly recommend this book, it brings me joy this week.

All my best~Penelope