Mental Pause - the book trailer

Pick up a copy on Amazon at  http://amzn.to/Wy1BP5 

or Barnes & Noble at http://bit.ly/13NEgbg

There's always a bright side!

I Have Arrived!

Well, it's been a year this month since my 'Aunt Flow came to town. You know... since I had to call in a 'code red'. I mean since I was visited by 'the curse'... I mean the 'crimson tide', um, the 'M' word... errm, my 'monthly visitor'. There are so many euphemisms for menstruating no wonder people get squirmy when you talk about it. Did you ever call in sick to a male boss with 'menstrual cramps'? Works like a charm. No questions asked!

Cartoon comes from Dee Adams at www.minniepauz.com

Anyway, back to the point of the story... I guess, at the tender age of 49, I'm officially in Menopause! No more peri-menopause, no more 'I'm experiencing 'the change'... the eagle has landed (if the definitions I have read are accurate).

I don't know whether to laugh or cry (so I guess the emotional jags will continue). I know it's not over yet but the nights sweats seem to have abated and the mood swings have evened out (I tell myself that anyway).  I hear that they can rear up again any time so I'll brace myself. The memory thing (what do they call it?) still seems to be a challenge but I'm finally going to throw out that little blue box in the bathroom cupboard that I've been saving 'just in case'.

I keep telling myself I'm too young for this but then again my mind hasn't caught up to my chronological age yet. I still see myself in my mid-thirties :) I did start peri-menopause early (43) and when I went to the doctor to have my hormones tested she said everything was normal so it hadn't started yet. I asked if she could explain my raging mood swings (I was having horrible night sweats too but for a long time I just chalked it up to living in the Middle East where the temperatures can hit 50 celsius). She suggested I was experiencing the typical stress of expat living and suggested I 'talk to someone' or consider an anti-depressant. I decided to 'talk' to my girlfriends over a glass of wine! I highly recommend that as a treatment when things get to be too much. I also wrote Mental Pause, which was very cathartic for me but not everyone has the time nor the inclination to do that.

I'm continuing by writing this blog so I hope you'll join me for a rant now and again and we'll all commiserate and realize that it's not so bad after all (until the next wave hits)!

The Hot Flashes - A Movie!

Woo hoo! The cat's out of the bag and us 'flashers' are going to the movies ;) I've been told Mental Pause would make a great movie... now I just need someone to turn it into a screen play!

I'm definitely going to see this one:

Who do you think should play Abbie, Rachel and Joan? I had Julia Roberts, Jennifer Anniston and Angelina Jolie in mind!

The Positive Side of Mental Pause

 Have you ever felt all of these at once?

The great thing about feeling these new sensations is that I can get into so many different character's heads when I'm writing and describe thoughts and feelings I could only imagine before :)

If you're a writer, it's a windfall! If not, well... I'm not sure there's a bright side then. What do you think?

Boomer Lit Friday!

Welcome to the Boomer Lit Blog Hop. This is my first time joining up and I'm happy to be participating.  It's already Friday morning where I am so I'm getting a 'jump' on it.

Here's a 'quick peek' into my novel, Mental Pause (from chapter 11):

“Abbie, you’re wanted on suspicion of murder back home,” Conrad caught her just as her knees gave out, and eased her onto the step and sat down next to her. “Your friend was found dead in a motel bathroom yesterday morning and you were the one who was last seen with her.”

            “Oh my God!” Abbie leaned over the side of the step and retched. “Oh God... How did it happen? I swear I didn’t do anything,” she sobbed.

Conrad rubbed her back. “I believe you baby but they’re going to have to bring you in. Don’t say anything until I get you a lawyer. Abs, you’re in huge trouble. You’ve crossed state lines. This is going to get ugly. Promise me you didn’t have anything to do with this.”

 ... there are more excerpts in previous posts and if you're hooked you can pick up a copy on Amazon! Don't forget to visit the other authors participating in Boomer Lit Friday :)

The Mood Swings

"I'm out of estrogen and I have a handgun... any questions?" This is on the front of a t-shirt my big sister gave me when I started 'flashing'. It appears in the first chapter of Mental Pause and I read that particular excerpt at a recent author reading in my hometown of Halifax, NS. It got a great laugh:

I guess we all feel that way occasionally (at least those who are in the throes of menopause, peri-menopause, or what's euphemistically called the 'change of life'). My sister-in-law said to me the other day that she wished there was an official slap day! Then we could get it all out and return to our normal, sweet selves the next day. Hmmmm.

How are you handling the swings? I wrote a book! No matter how crazy I was feeling, Abbie was always having a much harder time. I highly recommend writing... it doesn't have to be a book and you don't have to share it with anyone if you don't want to. It's just a great release that doesn't hurt anyone (especially you) and you'll feel so much better. I'm working on my next novel because the first one felt so good! And, I will keep sharing a rant or two here on Mental Pause!

Here's the actual t-shirt:

 

I have been told that reading the book is even a release, so feel free to order a copy and share your feedback and comments here or, if I may be so bold as to ask, do a review on Amazon!  And, don't be afraid to talk about it... especially with the male members of your family. They'll never really understand but if you try to explain how it feels at least they can be empathetic. I guess part of the fear is that if we talk about it, we have to acknowledge that we're of a certain age. Well, as my wise mother (fondly known as MT) always says, "You're not too old for the years you've been born!" By the way, she's 89, soon to be 90, so I can't really complain to her about getting older, can I? However, I'm very fortunate that she's a great listener... and my best friend :)

Happy Flashing!