Well, the holiday I usually view as the official beginning of the summer season is fast approaching, and with it I find myself eager to get out and take part in some of the typical Memorial Day family traditions. Picnics in the backyard, swimming in the family pool, a Bridgerton-esque game of croquet…(Okay, so maybe there isn’t as much blood-shed in our version of croquet as there is in Julia Quinn’s, but we certainly take no prisoners!) Maybe it’s the weeks of being cooped up slaving over my current work in progress, but I find that I am more ready for summer this year than I can remember being since I was a kid in school.

Unfortunately, it looks like the weather around here may not cooperate. The forecast is for stormy skies, so I may have to settle for going to a weekend matinee of X-Men 3. Although I suppose that’s a pretty good trade-off. Hugh Jackman anyone? Although the hero in my latest book, Gabriel, is blond instead of dark-haired like Hugh, one takes one’s inspiration where one can.

So what are your plans for the long holiday weekend? Are you staying home? Traveling? Do tell so I can live vicariously.