Pat Your Backs by Coco Ihle

This is my time to say thank you to all the people who have been following the guidelines by implementing social distancing and the health suggestions to get us all through this terrible coronavirus pandemic. I’ve witnessed bravery beyond belief from those in the front lines; not only first responders and health workers in every area of care, but also in the leaders of businesses who have valued their employees enough to hold on to them even in sacrifice, and also to friends who have helped those who have not handled this crisis as well as they.

Kudos to the people who have altered their manufacturing plants to make much needed products. Many doing so without requests made for them to do so. And thank you to those who have generously donated food, medical supplies and other necessary items to those in need.

Thank you to the teachers who are tirelessly not only helping their students continue learning, but are helping the student’s parents, as well. These teachers are using their ingenuity and creativity in amazing ways.

Thank you to my local grocery store employees who have been tirelessly and cheerfully working to keep us fed, and the druggists who make sure we have our medications, and to the trash pick-up guys who even work in the dark, and the postal workers and other delivery people who make sure we have our mail and packages. I actually feel not only grateful, but spoiled.

Thank you to those of you who have thought about and made the effort to check on seniors who may be isolated and lonely, not only to see if they are all right, but also to offer to go to the grocery store, or pharmacy for them or to drive them to a doctor’s appointment, or run an errand or two. I’ve been blessed here, too.

I am thankful to our President for gathering experts in all fields necessary to help us successfully get through this war and for keeping us informed each day with a progress report.

Thank you to all the people of many religions who are sharing their faith and comfort with their congregations and friends online. One of my friends who is also an author and a minister’s wife shares a daily prayer and treats us on the piano with her wonderful renditions of famous old hymns. Thanks, Sherrie. I’m enjoying watching you, so much. And I thank Kevin Latty, a friend’s son for sharing his wonderful inspiration today.

Today (as I write this) is Good Friday and as Easter approaches, I’m reminded why I celebrate this time each year, for Jesus is Risen. He is with us today. I mentioned above how spoiled I feel, but I’m reminded that there are many who are grieving right now for loved ones lost or gravely ill. I pray for those people and I also pray in gratitude for those of us who have been spared and only inconvenienced. I pray for those who have lost jobs and I ask for guidance and help for them at this time. I pray that this spirit of togetherness and compassion will continue far into the future as we move ahead and slowly recover from this terrible pandemic. I pray that we have been inspired to be more considerate of others and united as individuals and communities.

And, on a lighter note, I thank so many friends who have held on to their sense of humor and sent funny cartoons or sayings, phone calls, even greeting cards to keep me in a cheery mood. I can say it has worked! THANK YOU! I’m so grateful!  PAT YOUR BACKS!

 

Coco Ihle is the author of SHE HAD TO KNOW, an atmospheric traditional mystery set mainly in Scotland. Please join her here each 11^th of the month.

 

Appearances

My world has been a whirlwind of opportunities since the publication of my debut thriller STACCATO last September. I’ve met some incredible writers online and have found more confidence to approach big time authors who come to the Phoenix area for personal signings. Having a book actually published has emboldened me in a way I never would have figured. I am honored and humbled to receive the gift of new friendships that have come my way.

I’ve made quite a few guest appearances on blogs, corresponded with a lot of writers, even received some fan mail. A couple weeks ago I traveled to Sedona, Arizona and presented my workshop Novels vs. Screenplays. Fellow Sisters in Crime member and award-winning author Kris Neri owns The Well Red Coyote bookstore and has been extremely supportive of me and STACCATO. 28 people braved the slashing rain to attend and I sold over a dozen books.

A couple months ago I registered to attend the Left Coast Crime (LCC) conference in Los Angeles, California. I normally go to the International Thriller Writers conference in New York City, but I kept hearing that LCC is more of a fan conference. Getting the word out about STACCATO is first and foremost on my agenda, so I decided to attend that conference instead. Excited that I’ll be able to meet fellow Second Wind Publishing author Eric Beetner, co-author of the great noir mystery One Too Many Blows to the Head.

I received word about a week ago that I will be appearing on the LCC panel “Art of the Short Story” along with a group of venerable short story authors Robert Levinson, Gar Anthony Haywood (nominated for The Panik award), Toni L.P. Kelner and Gayle Bartos-Pool. Gotta tell you, I’m stoked . . . and a little bit terrified.

So next Thursday Kris (her High Crimes on the Magical Plane, published by Red Coyote Press, has been nominated for The Lefty award) and I will drive together to California and no doubt trade stories about how absolutely awesome it is to be a published author (she’s just released her seventh mystery novel). And to talk about all the incredible people we’ve met, and the opportunities I could never imagine until now.

Deborah J Ledford is the author of the debut suspense thriller novel STACCATO, now available from Second Wind Publishing, Amazon, Kindle, and independent bookstores.