The World's Largest Penny and Update!

So it's again been a loooooong time and is it just me or is this summer going faster than ever? Well I went away for the weekend and noticed the World's Largest Penny was along the way and I just had to stop for it. Look at it! It's huge! It's made of concrete so not out of actual pennies, but it's nevertheless very neat.

There were pennies piled at the bottom too. The story is great. Dr. Kate, badass doctor of the northwoods, pushed to build a local hospital and apparently kids helped by getting penny donations. Hence the massive monument to the penny. I really love these sorts of interesting attractions and the stories behind them. I'm trying to get some inspiration out of it all!

On that note, a bit of a writing update. I've been working on a sequel to Flame and Snow and trying to figure out what to write next! I'm really tempted to go back to small town Wisconsin cozy mysteries and this penny only makes that worse. Otherwise I have a few shorter works that will be out towards the end of the year. I'll try to update more often!

Until then, Cheers!

A Short Vacation

Ah, vacation. Home to this gorgeous sunrise on the beach. How is it that a sunrise is infinitely more magical when away from it all? Just look at it.

That's the view from the beach at New Smyrna Beach, FL, which the internet tells me is the shark bite capitol of the world. I opted not to swim. I did go down to the beach to watch the sunrise every day, but alas the trip was short. I've been decently recharged with inspiration moving forward, though! There were certainly some items of note.

Such as Dummit's Tomb, right in the middle of a street. I can say with complete honesty that a grave in the middle of a street was a first for me.

Other fascinating ruins included this playground/cemetery combo.

And the sugar mill ruins. I can't be the only one who likes to track down interesting or old places, right? Little cold Wisconsin me was very excited to get to run around without a coat or even a hoodie enjoying these things in the lovely weather.

It was a nice few days, but now it's back to writing. I'm not sure yet how this gorgeous place will factor into future stories, but it would be a bit surprising if it didn't, wouldn't it?

Anyway, I ought to leave you with a little something sweet.

Cheers!