Have you noticed that no matter what you set out to talk about these days, it all circles back to the covid pandemic (if it didn’t start there in the first place)? I suppose on a publisher’s blog you might expect me to discuss my upcoming books or my writing process or some other such relevant topic. But no. Instead, I’m going to give in to the inevitable and go straight to the covid. Here is my list of top activities that are keeping me sane these days: 

• Walks/hikes/bike rides: I need some time outside every day to keep me sane
• Board games: My husband and I have always enjoyed playing Scrabble and cribbage. Last Christmas, though, my daughter and her partner gave us a game called Wingspan, and that has become a real obsession for us. Recently, after discovering The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix (we have 3 more episodes to watch!) we have started playing chess.
• Books: Of course!
• Puzzles: I’ve been watching friends on social media show off the beautiful puzzles they are making, so last week I finally pulled out a puzzle we got from my other daughter last Christmas. The only catch is that this puzzle has 2,000 pieces. Two thousand! I told Mike my estimated date of completion is June 2022.
• Zoom and Facebook: This is how we now keep in touch with out-of-town family and friends. We miss the travel and in-person visits, but at least we can see our loved ones’ faces and hear their voices!

These are some of the things that help get me out of bed every morning (besides coffee!). I’d love to hear how you are keeping sane these days.

USA Today Bestselling author C. J. Carmichael has written over 45 novels in her favorite genres of romance and mystery. She has been nominated twice for the Romance Writers of America RITA Award, as well as RT Bookclub’s Career Achievement in Romantic Suspense award, and the Bookseller’s Best honor.

She gave up the thrills of income tax forms and double entry book-keeping in 1998 when she sold her first book to Harlequin Superromance. Since then she has published over 35 novels with Harlequin and is currently working on a series of western romances with Tule Publishing. In addition C. J. Carmichael has published several cozy mystery series as an Indie author.

When not writing C. J. enjoys family time with her grown daughters and her husband. Family dinners are great. Even better are the times they spend hiking in the Rocky Mountains around their home in Calgary, and relaxing at their cottage on Flathead Lake, Montana.

Visit C.J.’s website at http://CJCarmichael.com