It's "Tell Us A Good Thing" Day!

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Oh my gosh, the NEWS. So we are not talking about any of that here.

Let me tell you some good things. And then we want to hear yours!

These are the animal tracks in the snow on our patio. Look at all the creatures! Birds (one of them going in circles, pretty funny), rabbits, squirrels, Jonathan filling the bird feeder. And I think a cat, although…whose cat? Mystery cat.

Also in our back yard, this is a cardinal in the rhododendron in the snow. What a perfect photo!


My adorable grandson has a big role in his high school musical, IN THE HEIGHTS and we are going to go to NY to see him. Aww. 


I made beef stew and it was delicious! I did not forget the beurre manie and that really makes a difference. I did not take a photo. 

So, Reds and Readers, with the power of positivity, tell me three good things in your life. NOT book things. Just other things in your life.

HALLIE EPHRON: I had to think awhile for this one since. I’m going to share 1, which is that I am thrilled to have been invited to teach mystery writing in Paris this spring. More details to come. Good thing 2: My grandson gave me a hug without me begging for it. Good thing 3: I haven’t yet slipped on the ice.


DEBORAH CROMBIE: Good thing 1) Watching my granddaughter and her team play soccer. (Indoors for the winter season.) Watching these ten -year-old girls brings me so much joy. They have such promise, and you can see their developing personalities in the way they play. And I love that although they play hard, they are not downhearted when they lose.

Good thing 2) I stepped out the back door for something last night and there was a blazing sunset. I had to watch in awe until it had faded to dark.

Good thing 3) Still meditating with a cup of tea in front of the new faux Christmas tree every morning. Must take it down this week but enjoying it so much for now.


JENN McKINLAY: Good things! I have an amazingly good thing to share but I can’t yet. Darn it! But I managed to get my Christmas tree and holiday decorations down. And I have plenty of work to keep me busy this year which I am grateful for given the crazy times we’re living in.


RHYS BOWEN: Jenn–teaser! No fair. Good thing number one for me is having John home after battling pneumonia, and a very scary time.

Good thing 2 is that Clare and I have finished our next Molly book and it’s ready to go off to Minotaur this week. And it’s good.

Good thing 3 is the sun is finally out again after a period of non stop rain, and the view from my windows always enchants me, especially as a lot of people still have their Christmas lights on.


LUCY BURDETTE: good thing number one, my dear old friend Yvonne has been visiting for the week and I’ve enjoyed seeing Key West through her eyes. (She thinks we are always always having fun, so don’t tell her how much time I spend working or watching television lol.)

Good thing number two: it’s the seventh anniversary of T-bone’s Gotcha day. I nearly didn’t select him because there were so many cats in the SPCA that it was completely overwhelming. He was the right cat for me and for us and besides, he’s gorgeous and very good at social media.

Good thing number three: (see number one above.) We saw the most gorgeous manatees on our morning walk the other day. I consider a manatee sighting to be a wonderful omen! 

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Lucy, congratulations on T-Bone’s Adoptiversary! My pets loom large in my “good things” column as well, so for number one, I’ll put how lovely it is to sit in the comfy settle next to the kitchen woodstove, reading a good book with the Shih tzus around me.

Number two - getting daily pictures and videos of my grandson “Paulie!” His moms are rightfully shy about having his face online, so you’ll just have to take my word he’s the cutest little chubby-cheeks ever (exept when he has his mobster face on.)

Number three - I’ve already started pulling together my tax info and getting everything down on a spreadsheet for my accountant. I know, most of us don’t think of getting taxes done as a good thing, but I for YEARS I was always late and had to get an extension - which I then sometimes didn’t meet! So it’s a thrill to know everything will be in Kevin’s Dropbox as soon as I get the last 1099-R form.

HANK: Taxes, argh. SO glad you are making it a postive. This is all so great! Perfect. Now your turn, Reds and Readers! Tell us a non-book good thing!