• In Which I Say Thank You

    Me at the signing table at The Book Lounge. I am the smiling gray-haired lady with glasses sitting at the table in the center of the image. I am wearing a blue V-necked T-shirt and have a stack of pink post-ts and a black pen in front of me. On the wooden table are the display items for the signing. From left to right: a stack of four copies of my book, Handsome and Hideous, a cardboard display stand with the cover of Handsome and Hideous printed on it, a small black raven plushie, a clear acrylic pencil cup holding bookmarks with a design based on the book cover, a clear acrylic stand announcing my name, Maria Fox, the title of the book, and where to find me online, a clear acrylic business card holder with stickers based on the book cover, a copy of Handsome and Hideous on a black book easel, a clear acrylic stand displaying a brief book blurb and noting some book tropes, two copies of the book arranged vertically as though on a shelf, a clipboard with a sign-up sheet for my newsletter. In front of the book easel and blurb are two stacked copies of the book and a clear acrylic business card case with business cards. To the right and behind my display is a white taper in a glass stand and an arrangement of red roses and baby’s breath. To the left of the display is a pole with a fake vine and small lights twined about it. Behind me is the café and wine bar, consisting of a black marble counter, a display case of pastries, and a cash register. Bottles of wine are stacked in a wooden rack to the left of the counter. Beyond the wine rack one sees deeper into the store. A barista in a red shirt is helping a customer in a gray T-shirt at the café counter.

    Thank you to everyone who stopped by and said hello on Saturday at The Book Lounge! It was so much fun to meet and talk to readers.

    I confess I was a little worried I’d sit there for three hours while shelf-browsers avoided making eye contact, but fortunately that did not happen. I was surprised by the number of people who asked about the book, signed up for my newsletter, or bought a book. Even if people did not stop to chat, they smiled and nodded as they passed by.

    So thank you for a very happy author signing.

    This is my view of The Book Lounge from the signing table. At the bottom edge of the image are slices of a few of my display items, books, stands, and roses, and a bit of the wooden table they are on. Then there are elegant two striped armchairs in light wood next to a small dark round table. Behind that grouping is a grouping of three green velvet sofas, arranged in a U, with the back of one sofa to the viewer, the crossbar of the U against the left wall, and the second arm of the U facing the viewer. Two women are seated on the sofa that has its back to the viewer. They appear to be reading. Beyond the sofas is the main cash register, the counter of which is perpendicular to the viewer. Against the left wall behind the cash register is a collection of tote bags for sale. A bookseller is helping a customer at the register. Beyond the bookseller, one sees the front windows and glass door of the store. Red curtains adorn the window on the left, while the window on the right holds a rainbow-colored display of books. On the left side of the image extends the wall, which is black paneling from the floor to about four feet up. The top half of the wall is papered with textured yellow wallpaper and hung with a series of framed pictures and mirrors. The right side of the image is the right wall, which is floor-to-ceiling red bookshelves filled with books. White lettering above each section names the genre of books shelved below. There are two displays of non-book items of interest to readers. Two readers are perusing the shelves. The floor of the store, visible on the right, is tiled in large black and white squares. The ceiling is white, with a square, geometrical relief pattern. Two glass chandeliers light the store.

    Here’s my view from the signing table. Such a happy space.

    Storefront of The Book Lounge. Red façade with a large sign over the door in white and gold with the name of the store. Two large front windows on either side of a glass door, all with black trim. In the window on the left are four shelves displayed fancily wrapped books, facing out. The bottom shelf holds a display of unwrapped books. The window on the right displays unwrapped books, face out. Both windows have Valentine’s Day decorations. The door has the street number, the business hours, and an “open” sign displayed. Just outside the door, in front of both windows, are large pots with flowers and shrubs. The sun is shining.

    Thanks also to The Book Lounge for being a generous sponsor of author events and a supporter of local and indie authors!

  • In Which I Remind You That I Have a Book Signing This Saturday

    Online flyer advertising author signing event. Most of the info is presented in a large maroon box. On the left in large pink letters: Signing event. Below that in smaller lettering: Meet + greet. On the upper right is a black and white headshot of the author with the caption Fantasy & Science Fiction Writer. The author has gray hair, glasses, and is smiling. Above the author photo is the store’s name, The Book Lounge. On the lower right is an image of the cover of the book Handsome and Hideous. Two tropes, written in cursive font and with arrows curving from them and pointing to the book cover, are noted: “Beauty & the Beast vibes” and “Prince x Sorceress.” On the lower right is “Maria Fox” in white lettering. Below the author’s name the event information is listed: Saturday, 08.22.2026, 12:00PM-3:00PM, Non-ticketed event. Below the main maroon box is a white space with the following text: Maria Fox: Author Signing! Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM, 631 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701.

    St. Pete friends, just a reminder I’ll be signing books at The Book Lounge on Saturday, August 22, from noon to 3! Please stop by and say hello, grab a coffee or a glass of wine, and enjoy one of St. Pete’s awesome independent bookstores!

    Interior of bookstore. An entire wall is taken up with bookshelves, each eight shelves high, painted a deep red. The bookshelves are filled with books. Over each section is painted in white cursive letters the genre stocked below: Romantic Comedy, Historical Fiction, Dark Romance, and so on. A middle section of the bookshelves with a table in front of it offer board games, gifts, and other book-adjacent merchandise. There is a customer browsing the shelves. The ceiling is white in a bold sculptural geometrical pattern. The floor is large black and white squares. A large glass chandelier hangs near the left edge of the image. Paper hearts of red and pink dangle on ribbons attached to the ceiling. In the lower part of the picture comfortable green couches and chairs, a pair of upholstered cream ottomans, and a dark coffee table can be seen. At the very bottom of the image one can see a partial image of someone seated, reading a book with a glass of white wine on the table before them. The whole store is filled with sunlight coming from the out-of-shot window on the left.

    Inside The Book Lounge, facing a wall of books

    Interior of bookstore, facing the back of the store. The floor is tiled in large black and white squares. On the left edge of the image is a black wall, further to the right is a doorway with a sign above it that reads, More Books This Way. Over that sign is a standard Exit sign. Through the doorway one can glimpse more bookshelves filled with books and a rack of pink shirts, presumably store merch. At the very back wall is a picture of a woman or woman-shaped fantasy creature. To the right of the doorway extends the coffee and wine bar. The back wall and cabinets are pink. Yellow racks holding flowers and wine bottles are up high on the pink wall. On the black-topped counter are coffee makers and coffee mugs. A woman with dark hair wearing a black shirt and blue jeans is turned away from the viewer, making a coffee at one of the machines. To the right of her are more coffee-making items and a stainless-steel sink. In front of the counter, the woman, and the sink is a display case of pastries and a cash register. Menus are displayed on top of the case. The wall all the way to the left is yellow and has several framed print and image items. The effect is cheerful, welcoming, and friendly.

    Get yourself a coffee or some wine…and wander through the door that promises More Books This Way

    Storefront of The Book Lounge. Red façade with a large sign over the door in white and gold with the name of the store. Two large front windows on either side of a glass door, all with black trim. In the window on the left are four shelves displayed fancily wrapped books, facing out. The bottom shelf holds a display of unwrapped books. The window on the right displays unwrapped books, face out. Both windows have Valentine’s Day decorations. The door has the street number, the business hours, and an “open” sign displayed. Just outside the door, in front of both windows, are large pots with flowers and shrubs. The sun is shining.

    I hope to see you there!

  • In Which I Vote

    Close-up of an “I Voted” sticker. The sticker is a glossy white oval with an American flag depicted on it on the left. On the right of the sticker in blue is written, I Voted. I took the picture seated in the car on a sunny day while wearing the sticker, so the blue of my shirt is bright in the sun. The sticker is in a rectangle of shadow, so appears against a darker blue. The gloss of the sticker catches the sunlight and makes small hazy rainbows.

    Our primary and local elections are not getting the national coverage accorded to some states, but we in Florida are voting!

  • In Which a Local Author Invites You to an Event

    Online flyer advertising author signing event. Most of the info is presented in a large maroon box. On the left in large pink letters: Signing event. Below that in smaller lettering: Meet + greet. On the upper right is a black and white headshot of the author with the caption Fantasy & Science Fiction Writer. The author has gray hair, glasses, and is smiling. Above the author photo is the store’s name, The Book Lounge. On the lower right is an image of the cover of the book Handsome and Hideous. Two tropes, written in cursive font and with arrows curving from them and pointing to the book cover, are noted: “Beauty & the Beast vibes” and “Prince x Sorceress.” On the lower right is “Maria Fox” in white lettering. Below the author’s name the event information is listed: Saturday, 08.22.2026, 12:00PM-3:00PM, Non-ticketed event. Below the main maroon box is a white space with the following text: Maria Fox: Author Signing! Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM, 631 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701.

    I’m thrilled to be signing books at The Book Lounge on Central Avenue in St. Pete on Saturday, August 22, from noon to 3! Please stop by and say hello, grab a coffee or a glass of wine, and enjoy the fantastic book selection and the comfy seating.

    Interior of bookstore. An entire wall is taken up with bookshelves, each eight shelves high, painted a deep red. The bookshelves are filled with books. Over each section is painted in white cursive letters the genre stocked below: Romantic Comedy, Historical Fiction, Dark Romance, and so on. A middle section of the bookshelves with a table in front of it offer board games, gifts, and other book-adjacent merchandise. There is a customer browsing the shelves. The ceiling is white in a bold sculptural geometrical pattern. The floor is large black and white squares. A large glass chandelier hangs near the left edge of the image. Paper hearts of red and pink dangle on ribbons attached to the ceiling. In the lower part of the picture comfortable green couches and chairs, a pair of upholstered cream ottomans, and a dark coffee table can be seen. At the very bottom of the image one can see a partial image of someone seated, reading a book with a glass of white wine on the table before them. The whole store is filled with sunlight coming from the out-of-shot window on the left.

    As you can see, The Book Lounge is a delightful space. We are fortunate in to have it among several wonderful independent bookstores in the Tampa Bay area.

    Storefront of The Book Lounge. Red façade with a large sign over the door in white and gold with the name of the store. Two large front windows on either side of a glass door, all with black trim. In the window on the left are four shelves displayed fancily wrapped books, facing out. The bottom shelf holds a display of unwrapped books. The window on the right displays unwrapped books, face out. Both windows have Valentine’s Day decorations. The door has the street number, the business hours, and an “open” sign displayed. Just outside the door, in front of both windows, are large pots with flowers and shrubs. The sun is shining.

    Hope to see you there!

  • In Which I Revel in Moonlight, Ponder Road Signs, and Paddle into the Sunset

    In the foreground, two conifers, one on the left with a leafy vine clinging to its lower half. The branches of the trees, almost in silhouette, create a frame for the full moon rising over a hill and its reflection in the water below. The sky is still fairly light, as is the water. The moon and its reflection are golden.

    We took so many pictures of the brilliant full moon as it rose above the hill and cast its light across the water. My photography skills did not capture the scene’s beauty but it’s one of my favorite memories of our time in the San Juan Islands (Washington State) last month.

    Image of two street signs against a backdrop cloudy skies and green trees. The far trees are conifers, the nearer tree leafy. On a plain white wooden post two signs are affixed, pointing in the same direction, to the left. The top one, a green street sign, reads: Olga Cemetery Road. The bottom, in amber yellow, reads: Dead End.

    This pair of signs caused us to pause. Deliberate juxtaposition? Serendipitous?

    Kayaking at sunset. The sun is still pretty high, so the sky overhead is blue with thin clouds that are just starting to turn gold on the right middle edge of the image. Beneath the blue sky jutting from the left is a rocky cliff crowned with conifers. In the center of the image is a yellow kayak, with the two of us, both resting our paddles. On the left the water is dark, almost a dark glassy green. To the right of our prow the water catches the sunlight and its rippling texture can be seen. A bright red paddle of another kayaker pokes up from the bottom edge of the image.

    This is during the first half of our sunset kayaking excursion, so we’re kayaking into the setting sun, which made our eyes burn a bit! Still, it was amazing being out on the water, seeing pigeon guillemots, kingfishers, swallows, seals, sea otters, jellyfish…the weather was gorgeous, too.

  • In Which I Have Crocheted a Blanket

    : Blue and cream crochet blanket arranged in an artful spill over a putty-colored fabric couch. The blanket is made up of hexagonal abstractly floral motifs in cream, beige, and several shades of blue. Each motif is outlined in beige. A simple pattern in blue edges the whole blanket.

    I realized I haven’t posted about crochet for a while! I finished a big project this summer, Janie Crow’s Delft Blanket in the original blue and cream colorway. Very happy with how it turned out!

    Close-up photo of a blue and cream crocheted blanket arranged on a putty-colored fabric couch. The blanket is made up of hexagonal abstractly floral motifs in cream, beige, and several shades of blue. Each motif is outlined in beige. A simple pattern in blue edges the whole blanket. The close-up shows a few motifs at the edge of the blanket.

    Her projects hit the sweet spot of fun and challenging for me. I always learn something new and I enjoy watching the motifs take shape round by round. Even though there was one motif pattern, the three different color arrangements provided interest.

    Photo showing entire blue and cream crocheted blanket from above as it is pinned and drying on interlocked blocking mats (one does not see the mats except for at the edges of the photo). The blanket is made up of hexagonal abstractly floral motifs in cream, beige, and several shades of blue. Each motif is outlined in beige. A simple pattern in blue edges the whole blanket. There are five horizontal rows of motifs, each row containing either seven whole motifs or six whole and two half motifs.

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