What's love got to do with it?

 

June 20, 2026

Dear Diary... ... ...

It's been a hot minute since I've felt like making a blog entry, and I'm not sure why I felt like today was the day to check in, but here I am. Once again, I feel like I'm at a major life crossroad, and setting the words down in black and white seems to help me think. Some days I feel that all I have are the words and nothing else. 

What am I willing to settle for in these new days? That's the question plaguing me in the dark of many a solitary night. I jokingly told my girlfriends that if God wanted me to have a man in my life, He'd have to put one in my path. Weeell, it happened. I think. Sort of. It wasn't a new-to-me man, oh no. It was an old and dear friend from my youth. 

I know this man. Even as a very young woman, I saw into this man. To say he's a complicated person is a bit of an understatement. Then again, I'm a complicated woman. Libra and Gemini. Both are air signs and should be "a match made in heaven." If you believe in the astrological signs. 

It's scary to think my words brought him back into my life. Coincidence? I'd certainly think so except for the very specific way it happened. I was walking across a parking lot to enter a restaurant to meet my girlfriends for dinner and he stepped between me and the door. He actually stepped right into my path. We were both amazed and stood in the middle of that lot hugging each other, and it was a death grip hug, not just a friendly greeting. Go figure that one. 

Now I'm left to ponder what I really want. My years with Ron were good years up until the last two. I don't regret giving him the care he needed. But because of his health, my life lacked "fun." Am I ready for fun? Can I hold this new guy, keep it fun, and not get in over my head? How far do I risk my heart? 

These are only new questions to me. Every woman alive has probably stared at them and wondered how to answer them. It's simply my turn. 

Maybe the great Tina Turner had it right. What's love got to do with it? But then again, maybe he's simply the best, at least for me. 

KC Kendricks

I survived Winter Storm Fern, Jan 25, 2026

 January 27, 2026

Yep. I made it through Winter Storm Fern in good shape. I know not everyone did, but here in my part of western Maryland, we had five inches of snow topped by two inches of sleet with no freezing rain to speak of. There is something about the configuration of the mountains right here that pushes clouds out and around us. Anyway...

I made a couple of videos, one about my storm preps and one after the storm. I invite you to view them, and I invite you to subscribe to my channel for more seemingly worthless content. Or maybe you'll find a hint or two, who knows? You won't know unless you go. 

How's that for a shameless plug?

KC

Stat check

 

January 12, 2026

I haven't checked the stats here at Between the Keys since mid-2023. I guess I was a little busy caring for Ron and the aftermath of his passing. But this morning, I decided to take a look, and wow! I had no idea so many people were reading! Thank you! Thank you!

The downside is, having over 10K hits doesn't translate to 10K sales, but it makes me wonder. You would think sales would be at least a quarter of that number, wouldn't you? 

Across the years, I've been aware of other authors claiming their sales have been under reported. Some of them managed to get proof - I have no clue how. It is food for thought. 

Anyway... I was quite pleased to see how many visitors have been here. It makes me think I need to up my game and blog more frequently. Then again, I need to write more frequently, too. Maybe that is really why folks are stopping by - hoping I've been busy writing. 

     _*_*_*_*_*_*_

 KC Kendricks

My home on the web- Between the Keys: 

http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

Visit my bookshelf at: 

https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html

Social media links:

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/KCKendricks

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, LGBT gay romance, Kindle romance, m/m romance, a writer's life, contemporary m/m romance, GLBT m/m, rural living, statistics, 

The Kendricks 1300

January 4, 2026

It seems this new year has already brought a milestone. Thirteen hundred posts here at Between the Keys. Never did I imagine, way back in January 2008, that I'd still be blogging on this platform. I wasn't at all sure I would like writing blogs, but here we are at thirteen hundred. 

It's been a while since I posted number twelve hundred in September 2023. So much has happened since then. My beloved Ron passed from this life, and I've settled into retirement on my little manor. Both have been life-altering. My retirement days are much as I envisioned, but losing Ron was like living in a black hole. Enough time has passed and I'm almost back to my "old" self. 

I posted the 2025 Retrospective just two days ago, so I won't repeat everything today. I invite you to go back and check out that post about a look back at the past year. 

This post is a simple one - let's mark the milestone! As I write this post, tomorrow will be Sunday, January 4, 2026, and the last day of the New Year's holiday. This post will go up in the wee hours. I'll enjoy Sunday, because Monday is the big back-to-work day, even for writers. I'll be posting promos for January After Dark on Monday, something I postponed due to the Christmas/New Year's holidays. Along with that, I will resume work on the next story (or two). 

Will there be a Kendricks 1400? I hope so, but if I've learned anything recently, it's that the universe does not respect plans made too far in advance. Knowing that gives me the proper tools to work with going forward. I wonder where I'll actually end up? 

     _*_*_*_*_*_*_

 KC Kendricks

My home on the web- Between the Keys: 

http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

Visit my bookshelf at: 

https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html

Social media links:

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/KCKendricks

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

KC Kendricks, Rayne Forrest, Between the Keys, milestone, future writings, m/m romance, LGBT gay romance, loss of spouse, planning ahead, rural living, retrospectives, Kindle romances, blogging

You can call me Wimpy

January 3, 2026

I think it's official. I have become a wimp. 

Our winter started early. By December 21, 2025. it was January cold. We've already had one major wind event, too. It's not our normal. Maybe that's why I'm calling myself wimpy. 

My home office has been in the sunroom, which my late husband built, for over a decade. It started out as a simple porch that needed some new decking. Then he suggested we put a roof over it, which we did. When that was done, the man said we should screen it in so we could sit out there in the evenings. So we did that, and you guessed it. He wanted to add windows. So now I have a "sunroom." I'm not complaining because he did a great job on it. We enjoyed it for years until we screened in the back patio and I moved my office into the sunroom at that point. 

Sooooo... It's cold. With windows on three sides, heating the sunroom can be problematic. During the aforementioned wind event, I couldn't work out there. I couldn't get the temperature up in the room. I capitulated. For the first time ever, I moved my desk and computer to the living room. 

And you know what? The location isn't bad. I'm going to stay in the living room until mid-March. It'll give me time to do a thorough cleaning in the sunroom. It has also answered a very important question - new desktop or new laptop in 2026? The answer is new laptop. It's a lot more portable than my desk! 

This little adjustment made feel wimpy. This is the first year I've been bothered by the cold. I freely admit to disliking really hot weather, but temps in the 20Fs and 30Fs have never been a problem for me. I guess it's a first step to feeling my age. 

I don't think I like it much. 

 _*_*_*_*_*_*_

KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys: http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Visit my bookshelf at: https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/KCKendricks

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

KC Kendricks, Rayne Forrest, Between the Keys, contemporary gay romance, m/m romance, rural living, an author's life, writing, wind, winter, wimps, sunrooms, building, aging

The 2025 Retrospective

 January 2, 2026

I'm not sure what to say about the year 2025. I survived it, but I'm not sure I did it with any sort of grace and style. I tried some new things, I got two books published (The First of February and January After Dark), and I did a lot of physical labor around the manor. This was the year of tree removal, burning brush, and splitting firewood. At least I'm staying warm. 

Writing these retrospectives is never easy for me. They remind of those things I wanted to do but didn't have the time, or energy, to accomplish. Nevertheless, here we go.

January 2025

January 2025 found western Maryland in the throes of an old-fashioned winter. It was cold and snowy. Deuce and I were stuck inside so we made the most of it. The dog caught up on his sleep, and I worked on organization and writing. I wanted to finish The First of February before the first of February, but it didn't happen. 

Memories of where I was in January 2024 intruded. It was in January 2024 that I knew Ron didn't have a lot of time left.

February 2025

Finally! The First of February went live. It was quite a relief to accomplish that. It was also quite a relief that my cousin was home to come to my rescue when the battery in my car went dead. I decided that a story I wrote and originally published with the late Christianne France was worth putting out on Kindle Unlimited. It was one of a series of five stories, but the one I wrote in its entirety to meet our deadline due to her health. A Night on the Town went live on Kindle Unlimited. I also moved my first two KC Kendricks books, Surrendered Victory and Passion's Victory, to Kindle Unlimited (for all the good that did me). 

March through August 2025

I began work on a new manuscript, and I planted a lot of seeds in hopes of a 2025 garden. March 30th rolled around, the first anniversary of Ron's death. I stalled, and stayed stalled for months. After a lot of deliberating, I put all the Rayne Forrest titles on Kindle Unlimited (for all the good that did).

September - October 2025

One of life's twists and turns came to me in October. One of my oldest and dearest friends suddenly stepped back into my life. We've had dinner together a few times, and it's been good for me to talk with someone who knew me way back in the 1970s. 

I took the leap and put all my titles on Audible. I do not like the AI voice, but the service was provided free to me, so I went with it. I worked on January After Dark, tended to the end of the gardening season, and got more serious about making videos. I had survived a second summer without Ron and somehow life got easier. Once into October, my cousin and I got serious about laying in firewood. 

November 2025

Work continued on January After Dark and on a new story that is untitled as of this writing. I learned more about editing videos and, if I must say so myself, some of them are pretty good for a rank amateur. 

Coming home from a trivia game night, I was run down by a deer. Yes, she hit me. I have a small ding in a fender to prove she hit me, and a cracked nosepiece that I'm not going to have repaired until warmer weather returns. It could have been much, much worse, but the airbag did not deploy. 

Thanksgiving was celebrated was celebrated at my cousin's house. I started to burn firewood, something I normally don't do until mid-December. 

December 2025

January After Dark went live! I can still call myself a writer. I read an email from Amazon that said I could go back and put DRM on any books I'd not already put on, so I did that. I gleefully did that.

The weather left a lot to be desired, and I stayed busy feeding the woodstove. I also made a few videos, but December is a quiet time of the Year. There wasn't a lot to record here at the manor. This was my second Christmas without Ron. 

And that brings me to this new year, the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Six. I still miss Ron, every day, but it is better than it was. 

In a lot of ways, I've come full circle. I'm writing for ME. Screw the rules. Screw what a potential publisher wants. I've been at this a long time and I'm back to writing the story I want to read. I think that will make 2026 an interesting year.

KC/Rayne

The 2024 Retrospective

The 2023 Retrospective

The 2022 Retrospective

The 2021 Retrospective

The 2020 Retrospective

The 2019 Retrospective

The 2018 Retrospective

The 2017 Retrospective

The 2016 Retrospective

The 2015 Retrospective

The 2014 Retrospective

The 2013 Retrospective

The 2012 Retrospective

     _*_*_*_*_*_*_

 KC Kendricks

My home on the web- Between the Keys: 

http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

Visit my bookshelf at: 

https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html

Social media links:

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/KCKendricks

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

KC Kendricks, Rayne Forrest, contemporary romance, m/m romance, Kindle romance, country living, romance novels, single life, a writer's life, life after loss, new year

I can still call myself a writer

 December 9, 2025

I typed THE END in one of the three manuscripts I have on the go. I cannot tell you how good that felt! I was relieved I finished one after months of struggling with a few inner demons. And no, I don't think I'm going to whine about them. If you've been following along, I think you know losing Ron changed everything for me. 

It felt good! There's still some work to do. I need to write the blurb, add the front and end material, set up a book page here on the blog, and get the book uploaded everywhere. At least the cover is made, and I'll share that in a day or two. I'm happy that getting it finished has invigorated me, and maybe inspired me, to buckle down and finish another of the stories I've had on the go. 

I've struggled with the question of whether or not I should hang up my keyboard, but at the moment, I know it's not yet time. I've been worried about what I'm going to do this winter when I can't get outside and writing is the answer. I knew that but wondered if I could actually do it. I'm cautiously optimistic that I can. 

You wouldn't think that after twenty three years I'd still question the muse. She was asleep for a long time and I can't guarantee she won't fall back into a coma. 

Now it's time to move on and get busy with those aforementioned finishing touches. It doesn't pay to bask in a small success for too long. Building on it is a lot better.

_*_*_*_*_*_*_

KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys: 
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Visit my bookshelf at: 
https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/KCKendricks

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, contemporary gay romance, m/m romance, rural living, fiction writer, GLBT romance, Kindle romance, Twitter, Blogger, Facebook, books

And yet another Thanksgiving

November 27, 2025

Ten years ago I wrote what is still a rare poem for me. I've since published a short volume of poems that is available only on Kindle Unlimited, and it's been years since I've added anything to it. Writing poems is not my strong suite, but every once in a while, something comes to mind. 

This year I'm revisiting that early Thanksgiving poem.  My days are very different now. I'm on my own. But looking back, I was on my own even when my parents and grandparents lived. The fracturing of family began long ago but now the cousins and I are rebuilding our version of family. It doesn't look the same as when the two older generations were alive, but that's okay. Today, my family is more accepting, having learned those same lessons I was taught. We're kinder now.  

I wrote this poem after a solitary walk in the woods. I walked to steel myself for the day ahead, for the demands that would be made of me. It truly was "conform or be cast out" in those days. It did suck the air away from me. 

Today, the last verse has taken on a new meaning. The road does lead home to all that is mine, and with the passing of time, the path is truly mine. Having lived with unattainable demands, I now sit back and listen to the two younger generations and simply enjoy them for who they are. Our roots are entwined, but I put no pressure on them to bend in my direction. 

They are young trees. Let them grow where they will. Let their memories of Thanksgiving be full of air. 

_*_*_

Standing Guard

Long ago I tread a path
A misty woodland way
I had no company along the trek
So the trees could have their say

They spoke to me in silence
With movement seen not heard
And I replied in quiet kind
Walking without a word

The day ahead held demands
Devoid of mist and air
I could not whine or complain
Or do what trees don't dare

Beneath the ground unseen by all
Their roots do intertwine
Reminding me the path ahead
Leads home to all that's mine

 _*_*_*_*_*_*_

KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys: 
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Visit my bookshelf at: 
https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/KCKendricks

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

KC Kendricks, Rayne Forrest, Thanksgiving, family, LGBT gay romance, Kindle romance, m/m romance, changing times, generations, a writer's life, new style family, poems, Just the Rain

I gave myself permission

 

November 13, 2025

I gave myself permission to go MIA on the blogs. I was having a difficult time keeping up with everything and I finally just yelled STOP. Stop. 

So I stopped for a little while. Do you know how difficult that was to do? I'm the generation who listened to Helen Reddy proclaim, "I am woman, hear me roar!" The thing is, I wasn't roaring. I was spinning my wheels. So I stopped. 

It was time to do something different so I made some videos. Yea, me! Go check them out to see me gardening, riding around on the tractor, using a chainsaw, and other real-life country pursuits. I didn't do anything special, I just did my day. I'll probably do more videos so that some day in the distant future I can show the old codgers in the nursing home that I really did all these things. 

Giving myself permission to stop did come with a price. I have three manuscripts that remain unfinished. I reminded myself that in the beginning, I did not set out to be a published author. I set out to write a book, which I did. That was my goal - write a book. Somewhere along the line my priorities shifted and I tried to please my mother and my husband. But did I please myself? Yes, I did, at least for a while. Now I'm reflecting back on the years to see them in a clearer light. 

I think I need to give myself permission to once again be a writer. I think my years as a caregiver to my stepfather, to my mother, to my husband took a huge toll on my emotional health. Then I needed to go through the beginning stages of grief, and grieving doesn't end. It changes, but it's always there. 

So many seasons have passed in my life, and there are many more to come. I hope I'm ready because they will come whether they are welcome or not. 

_*_*_*_*_*_*_

KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys: 
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Visit my bookshelf at: 
https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KCKendricks

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, life seasons, m/m romance, writing, LGBT gay romance, Kindle romance, grief, grieving process, life permissions

KC Kendricks and Rayne Forrest now on Audible

 

September 10, 2025

Well, here's an update I wasn't sure I'd ever make. I've added all my books to Audible. Yea!

Why wasn't I sure about doing it? I don't really like the automated voice, but the plain truth is I can't afford to hire a reader. So there ya go. 

I'm actually glad I've finally taken the plunge if for no other reason than to add the audio book to my private library. 

I listened to the beginning of a few of the books and I confess, I was pleasantly surprised at how well the AI did. I haven't tried the 'read and listen' feature yet, but I will. 

Remember, if you already own the book, you can get the Audible book for half price. That's not a bad deal. 

One of these days, I'm going to be an old. old woman in a home, and I'm going to turn up the volume when I get to certain parts of my own books. I bet I'll get in a lot of trouble for that! 

_*_*_*_*_*_*_

KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys: 
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Visit my bookshelf at: 
https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KCKendricks

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

KC Kendricks, Rayne Forrest, Audible, Between the Keys, contemporary gay romance, sci-fi romance, LGBT, m/m romance, Kindle romance, shapeshifters, Amazon romance

Time capsules

August 19, 2025

A year ago I knew I needed to step away from the computer for awhile. My husband had died in March of 2024, and I can assure you that the death of a spouse puts a person in a strange state. I, who am a logical person, was certainly there. And yet, what I did to fill in the writing gap was not a logical step. I started to make videos. 

What was I thinking? The truth is I have no clue. 

Where did I want to go with it? The truth is I had no clue. Still don't. 

It did get my mind working again. Now I find I really enjoy sharing a bit of my real life, especially with women in my age group. I'm astonished at two of the women in my dinner clique. One is widowed, like me, and one is caring for a seriously ill spouse, like the former me. They depend on their children to do for them. I don't think it would take much for them to emotionally exhaust their offspring. Those women could do more for themselves, but they don't want to. I'm trying to show, through my videos, that taking care of yourself is not that difficult. 

Anyway...

Time marches on. It gets easier to navigate life alone. I've learned to relax and not worry about those things I don't get done TODAY. I prioritize the most important item on my list and make sure that's accomplished first. After that, the day is a breeze. The things undone will eventually be done. 

More and more, writing is once again a part of my day. I'm thinking about this or that story. I'm writing prose. If you're on Facebook, it may look as though I'm posting annoying promo after annoying promo, but when I come to a spot in a story where I need to evaluate the next bit, I pause and do something else. On a scorching hot summer day, that's zipping off a few promos. 

Looking back at the last year and a half is like looking into a time capsule. I'll never live through another time like that. But through it all I never doubted I'd come out the other side and be okay. I doubted if I'd write again, or if I wanted to stay in the house I shared with Ron, but I never once didn't believe that at my core I was fine. 

It's a very cool August day, with a light mist falling. A perfect day to write and to be about the business of writing. I think I'll get to it. 

      _*_*_*_*_*_*_

 KC Kendricks

My home on the web- Between the Keys: http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

Visit my bookshelf at: https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html

Social media links:

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KCKendricks

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, time capsule, contemporary LGBT gay romance, m/m romance, Kindle male romance, a writer's life, authors, living alone, death of spouse

I didn't expect this!

 August 1, 2025

I planted five Roma tomato plants this year. I did not expect such a wonderful result, and the harvest has just begun. It looks like I'm going to can a batch of stewed tomatoes because the peppers are doing great, too. 

I wonder if the pot ash I added to the soil has helped? Hmm. 

I didn't expect to have this task, but I'm not complaining. I'm hoping for nine pints. That's one canner load, and it's enough for me. Being on my own has changed how much I keep in the pantry. 

Beyond the garden and the yard work, I am snatching an hour here and there to write. I'm trying to get back to writing the story I want to write and to hell heck with what someone else may think about it. I started writing that way and it served me well. Then I learned more about the business end of publishing and that knowledge intruded on the muse. The stories need to be for me before they can be for anyone else. I'm like the stories. I'm a work in progress.

Last night, I was cheerfully typing away when I heard thunder. That's not odd for this time of the year. The skies darkened and the wind blew - and the power was off for almost four hours. Luckily, I have a generator which I quickly switched on. I did turn the computer off, though. It has its own backup battery, but I'd rather be safe. And today I ordered a Jackery power bank. It turned out that I didn't need the generator for the sump pump. It would have been okay to power just a fan and a lamp, hence the power bank. It comes with a solar panel, too. That should be fun.

The current WIP is at "that" point. My guys are about to take the next step in their relationship, and they're both hesitant. They want, but they don't want to screw things up. Trust me - they will get there. Maybe not this evening because I've been at the computer most of the day and I'm tired. Today was one of those days when I wrote a bit and then took short breaks to relax, clear my head, and post annoying promos on Facebook until I felt ready to write a bit more. It works for me. 

Tomorrow is my late husband's family reunion. I have been ordered to attend, and I'm glad his sisters include me. I doubt I'll get any writing done tomorrow, but considering the event, it's okay. And who knows? I may see some family drama I can slip into the story. It's happened before. 

 _*_*_*_*_*_*_

KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys: 
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Visit my bookshelf at: 
https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KCKendricks

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, contemporary gay romance, LGBTQ romance, m/m romance, Kindle romance books, tomatoes, family, power outages, computers

Summertime is busy time

 

July 22, 2025

Yes, the writer has actually typed words onto the page! 

Beyond getting a bit of writing done, life has been busy. That's not a complaint at all. Busy is a good thing, in my opinion. I'm happy, relieved, delighted, and joyous that I have more to do than a) watch television all day, b) sit at the computer all day, and c) mindlessly shop with friends all day. Yes, this girl has a wide streak of cynicism in her. But it's true that I come from a long line of "doers" and not "loafers." 

Summertime is a busy time when you live way out in the country. I've been gardening, mowing, tree trimming, canning, and making a few videos. Why did I add videos into my already busy schedule? I want women in my age group to see that it is possible to manage on your own. I'm not bragging about it. I'm simply showing it's possible. https://youtube.com/@kckendricks. 

And writing. Yes, writing! I'd like to say I've pounded out thousands and thousands of words a day, but those days may be in the past. Life is different now, and so am I. I get written what I get written and I'm okay with that. I'm also okay that I will get a book or two out in this calendar year. 

I'm learning to be more content when I can't get it all done in one day. That's content- not complacent. There is a difference. I'm learning that even mowing the lawn can be a satisfying experience. If anyone had told me I'd have this level of contentment living alone, without Ron, I wouldn't have believed it. 

So allow me to enjoy this busy summer. I've been through changes and I'm a new me. Happily, though, the writer has survived. She's still here, and her muse still speaks. 

 _*_*_*_*_*_*_

KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys: 
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Visit my bookshelf at: 
https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KCKendricks

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, writing, m/m romance, LGBTQ gay romance, summertime, rural living, gardening, authors, new books, life changes, 

It's exhausting!

July 10, 2025

Has the author been writing? No.

Has the author been doing any promo at all? No.

Has the author been doing anything at all? Oh, yeah.

I'm tired. Like, really tired. The garden is doing great, I got the new greenhouse set up, the grass needs mowing every six days, and the Cousin has been topping maple trees. So what's that got to do with writing? 

Well, you can't write when you're preserving food from the garden. You can't write while riding a lawn mower. You can't write when you're an assistant lumber jack. It's exhausting! 

I'm really not complaining. It's been a very productive couple of weeks - except for writing. And the writing will come soon. I see light at the end of the tunnel. I have two covers made for the two works-in-progress, and that always helps to get me rolling along. 

The mess from topping the trees is almost cleared. The wax beans are canned. The mowing? Well, the weather dictates that and it's been happening every six days and that's not typical for my location.

And today, none of that happened. I went along with a girlfriend to hold her hand while she got a new phone. This girl was still using a flip phone. It was time for her to upgrade! 

Yes, it's been a busy few weeks and I'm glad of it.

     _*_*_*_*_*_*_

 KC Kendricks

My home on the web- Between the Keys: 

http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

Visit my bookshelf at: 

https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html

Social media links:

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KCKendricks

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, contemporary gay romance, m/m romance, gardening, writing, LGBTQ Kindle romance, country lifestyle, a writer's life, John Deere equipment, weather

On sale at Smashwords!

July 3, 2025

I joined in at the Smashwords July sale. With a few exceptions, all my books are 25% off, and those exceptions are 50% off.  

Go to Smashwords.com and search for "KC Kendricks". Be sure to use the quotation marks or you'll end up with a gazillion hits on KC. Were there that many KCs back in 2008? Nooooo. Think about that. There were no other Raynes when Rayne Forrest started in 2003, either. I searched it up on Amazon because if Amazon didn't pop with an author name, it wasn't in existence. I guess I'm flattered. 

But I digress...

Go to Smashwords and get a few deals for your Kindle! 

 _*_*_*_*_*_*_

KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys: 
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Visit my bookshelf at: 
https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KCKendricks

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, m/m romance, LGBTQ gay, contemporary romance, Smashwords sale, Rayne Forrest, Kindle romance, social media, marketing, book sale, book discounts

An odd interruption to writing and guilt

 June 19, 2025

There's no shortage of things I need to do. And then there are those days when something bugs me and I just go do it. Take for example the pictured stump. 

I was, for once, happily working on one of the WIPs. I've got that sucker past 10,000 words and I now know the characters well enough to know where I want them to go. Will they cooperate? That's always a question. 

But I digress...

I typed the last line of Chapter 5 and looked out the office window at this stump. If that stump were removed, I could take the old Husqvarna mower through there, no problem. The next think I knew, I was on the John Deere 1023 digging out the stump. 

It needed done, but I'm not sure I needed to run right out and start it. For one thing, I was halfway through the removal when I heard thunder and saw lightning. The last place I wanted to be with a thunderstorm coming was atop a big hunk of metal beneath a lot of tall trees. I headed for the barn. 

We got over two inches of rain so it was a couple of days before I went out and finished the job. Heck, I even have some video footage I'm going to post once I get it edited. 

The thing is, I'm okay that I took the time to get the stump out. I've got to stop guilting myself when I need to do home and garden chores. I'm on my own now. No one else is going to do it. 

I've got to stop thinking in terms of not publishing six books a year as failing. It's not. Giving up would be the failure. Putting pressure on myself to write, write, write when so many other things are in my life is a failure to myself. 

I think I'm more of a work-in-progress than the manuscripts! 

 _*_*_*_*_*_*_

KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys: 
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Visit my bookshelf at: 
https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KCKendricks

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, writers on writing, contemporary gay romance, m/m romance, LGBTQ gay, rural living, guilt, John Deere 1023 tractor, time management

Rainy Day Musings

 

June 16, 2025

I received an email from my long-time writing friend Brenda Williamson. We met years and years ago through a mutual publisher and have stayed in contact. Brenda is one of the very few faithful that way. 

Like me, she is slowly working on a few stories. Like me, life has tempered her joy in writing. Like me, she has one aging parent she needs to care for. Like me, she is a widow. 

And like me, writing used to be an all-consuming passion. I wish it would become one again for me, but living on my own, it might destroy me. 

We're having a rainy day. The top of the mountain is shrouded in fog. It's given me the opportunity to catch up on some indoor activities - a load of laundry, making a batch of yogurt, and yes, working on one of the WIPs. And I've had a Stevie Nicks playlist softly playing in the background. (I wonder what I did with my copy of The Other Side of the Mirror????)

Writing is fine on a rainy day. I can't garden, mow, work in the wood yard, or do any number of other outside chores than need done. And there it is. The thing that keeps me from writing - responsibilities. 

I can't shirk my responsibilities. I couldn't do it when I needed to care for my late husband and now, over a year later, I'm still not caught up. I'm getting there, but I'm not there yet. 

Perhaps part of my despair at not being able to write has a lot to do with being physically tired. I'm fixing "problems" that have existed for many years, issues that couldn't be addressed due to Ron's health and the need to care for him. 

Maybe I'm overthinking my life. It's possible. 

     _*_*_*_*_*_*_

 KC Kendricks

My home on the web- Between the Keys: 

http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

Visit my bookshelf at: 

https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html

Social media links:

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KCKendricks

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

June 17 - PS. My copy of The Other Side of the Mirror was on vinyl. No wonder I couldn't find it in the CD rack! 

KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, contemporary gay romance, m/m romance, LGBTQ romance, Kindle romance, rainy days, writers on writing, life decisions, Stevie Nicks

The annoying question that will not go away

 June 12, 2025

Well, that was... what? Putting the Rayne Forrest titles on Kindle Unlimited has been a bust. No traction. It's very disappointing to the author side of me. 

A third of my life has been dedicated to writing, and the question I've been grappling with is no closer to a resolution. If I continue to write, how does it fit into my life NOW? 

When I was a newbie, more established authors said to write the story you want to read because you may be the only person to read it. This is true. 

When I was a newbie, more established authors said don't quit your day job because most writers can't live on their royalties. This is true. I made some pocket change but no where near enough to live on. 

When I was a newbie, more established authors said don't look at readers to validate your work. This is true. 

When I was a newbie, I couldn't imagine a time when I'd consider no longer writing. Here I am. 

My late husband fought cancer for twenty-four years, and he fought the good fight. I miss him every day, but we talked. Really talked. What about? About life after he was gone. He gave me a rare gift with his words. 

To say I've "rebuilt" my life is not precisely accurate. I've continued on in the life we built, but I'm adding individual touches in places I'd not anticipated. This is a good thing for me. I love the life we built and shared, and I love what I've added to it. 

These days, writing feels like making a choice between an intellectual practice and living my life. Which one do I feel is more important? 

Is this the question that won't go away, or the question with the answer I don't want to accept? 

 _*_*_*_*_*_*_

KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys: 
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Visit my bookshelf at: 
https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KCKendricks

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, Rayne Forrest, LBGTQ gay romance, m/m romance, questions, romance author, Kindle romance, a writer's life, country living, social media, life decisions, loss of spouse

Updates from the Manor

June 10, 2025

I've been busy. Country living isn't all sipping bourbon on the porch. It's constant movement before it's time to sit on the porch (or patio in my case). The other day, I made a little video to show what's been going on lately and posted it. 

Making videos started years ago as a way to entertain my late husband. As he lost mobility, I videoed walks with the dogs and areas of the Manor he couldn't access with his power chair. He enjoyed it. And I videoed some of his antics on the tractor.  He requested a video of the professional tree trimmers taking down the leaning maple, so we shot that from the safety of the sunroom porch. 

These days making a video is more about a record for myself. Some future me is going to look back and remember that the woman of today did exist. Heck, I need these videos now to prove to my running buddies that THIS WOMAN can really operate a tractor and a chainsaw. 

So I made a little video. Go watch it. Subscribe to my channel and help me out. I'll never sneak into the YT algorithm if you don't. 

KC

KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, YouTube video, LGBTQ gay romance, gardening, making videos, country lifestyle, rural living, Holly Tree Manor, romance author, life updates, new things, m/m romance, loss of spouse, rebuilding life

Retirement reflections

 May 19, 2025

Three years ago today, I walked out of the day job office for the last time. Or maybe I should say for the last time as a full-time employee. I've been back to visit the lovely young woman they hired when I announced I was retiring. She is a true gem. 

The woman who was my immediate supervisor when I retired is preparing to announce her own retirement. She's waiting until the moment feels "right" to her, and I support her thinking. I have told her a few times that she'll just simply know when she's ready. She was the best "boss" I had in my twenty-two years there and on a certain level, I hated to leave and not see her every day. We've stayed in touch, meeting for lunch at least once a month. 

My official retirement date was May 31, 2022, but I coasted those last few days on vacation time. I stayed on as an "administrative consultant" so the new girl could call me with questions and not feel like she was bothering me. She couldn't "bother" a person if she tried. She's that sweet. It's who she is. 

So have the last three years gone as planned? No. Have they gone as hoped? No. My beloved Ron died last year. I was supposed to have years and years of retirement fun with him. Instead, it's just me and a bunch of cousins and girlfriends having "fun." They're great company, but it's not the same. 

I had planned to do a lot of writing in retirement, but Ron suddenly needed more care. I was grateful to be home to be with him even though I lacked the energy to write. I've been struggling with it ever since. 

My days are full of taking care of my home, inside and out. There is a garden to tend, grass to mow, firewood to stockpile, autos and equipment to get serviced. Self-care is more of a priority now, as anyone who lives alone will understand on a gut level. The rosy retirement movie that played in my mind no longer exists. And you know what? That's fine! I'm making a new movie, one that shows a more independent and healthy me. 

I still need to gather in the threads of writing discipline and get busy. I have three WIPs to finish, and it's already the last part of May. If I want to publish them in this calendar year, I need to buckle down. I may never get back to being able to publish six or seven books a year, but maybe I can do four. 

No, retirement so far has not been what I expected, but I'm fine. Life is often full of the unexpected. We need to adjust, even if it takes a while, and keep going. That's my plan now - just keep going. 

 _*_*_*_*_*_*_

KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys: 
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Visit my bookshelf at: 
https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KCKendricks

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, m/m romance, LGBTQ gay romance, contemporary gay romance, retirement, death of spouse, a writer's life, rural living, publishing, history, friends, cousins, equipment