Staying Fit While Staying Home

By Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

Here we are at week three (or is it four for us?)  of sheltering-in-place. It hasn’t been that bad for us. Especially for me. Even though I’m an extrovert of the highest order, I’m still a homebody. I love being at home. For one, I’m not like some of you, I don’t get up with the chickens, walk two miles, shower, put on a full face, and fix my hair. I know. My poor husband.

While I do shower daily, I definitely do not fix my hair or put on makeup. At my age, it hardly matters anyway. The freedom that comes with not having to do those things is priceless to me. Now, you must understand this about me. I hate being dressed. If Hubby and I are going out, if only to the grocery store (an odd occurrence these days, huh?), I get up,  put on a full face, and I wash and dry and fix my hair. I even wear earrings and a necklace. And my good shoes. I think it's a Southern thing. Women simply don't go out without being all dolled up. It's ingrained in us from birth.

As soon as we walk in the door, it’s straight to our bedroom where I remove the nice clothes I wore to the store, and I don the most comfortable things I have—grubbies. Sweats in the winter, and usually yoga pants in the summer. I don’t do shorts. Period. And I’ve never done the first day of yoga. But, those pants are so comfy.

One, Two, Three, Kick

Today, we began an exercise routine. I think this old gal overdid it a bit. Now, don’t do what I did. I was keeping up with the forty-something-thing taking us through the routine. It wasn’t that difficult. Besides, it was aimed at seniors like Hubby and me.

Tonight, I’m feeling every one of those leg lifts, and bends, and squats, and grapevines, and whatever. Recently, I’ve had trouble with pain in my left leg. My doctor says its iliotibial something. I’ve overused the tendon and muscles that attach your backside to your hip to your knee area. It hurts. I’m so sore that day one may have to be days done for a while. So, y’all don’t do that! Be sensible. If you do such a routine, don’t go thinking you’re still the age of the gal leading you. I passed that a long time ago. 

New Hobby and a Book

Hubby and I have managed to stay sane through all this. He has his new hobby, genealogy and I’m in my office working on the launch of Grave Consequences. I’m also doing edits on book two, titled Grave Decisions. The cover of Grave Consequences was released yesterday. If you saw it, what did you think?

If any of you reading this would like to join my launch team, contact me by my email available on the site here. I’ll send you an application form. It’s simple. Just your name, email, birthdate (no year, I wouldn’t ask that of anyone older than 20), and your mailing address, for goodies in case your name is drawn in  a give-away.

This is going to be short this week. I’m worn out from that exercise routine. And I need to go rub some good stuff on it. My poor leg flat-out hurts. Hope I didn’t do major damage. Stay tuned for how that works out, pun intended.  

Have you been doing exercises at home? I hope you’ve been a lot smarter than I about that. If you have a good routine for seniors (these days, they say that’s anyone 60 and up, good grief), share a link with us. I think the one we chose was a bit brisk. Y’all stay safe.

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Be Cautious and Pray

By Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

As the publication date for Grave Consequences nears, I find myself busy with all manner of marketing things. With getting items made and things ticked off my “to do” list, I’m humming right along.

Many of you have contacted me about being on my launch team. I can’t tell you how much that means to me. A book doesn’t just appear out of thin air. It takes a lot of people coming alongside us to get word out about it.

Be Aware

But even as I’m busy doing those things, I’m acutely aware that we are in the midst of a huge health issue for many parts of the world. My own state, North Carolina, now has at least two if not more, cases of COVID-19.

Grave Consequences Has an Expected Date of Birth

By Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

I’m so excited to finally have a tentative date for publication of my first novel. The thing is, it isn’t carved in stone so I can’t share it with you yet. If you’d like to be one of the first to hear the date and if you’d like to be on my launch team, sign up for my newsletter and you’ll be among the first to know.

Don’t know what a launch team is? Some authors call it their street team or their dream team. These are people who agree to help you get out word about an upcoming book or event, such as a book signing. For the most part, I’ll be doing all the work, you agree to share memes I’ll be making with everyone you reach, spread word any way you can. Plus, I would greatly appreciate it if you’d pray for me and for this book. If you can do nothing but pray, believe me, that is huge. This book isn’t going anywhere without God there to guide it.

My Life in a Nutshell

By Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

Even though it is an entire year before my forthcoming book, Grave Consequences, A Charlotte Graves Southern Mystery, will be available, I realize that most of you don’t know me well, if at all. I thought I’d tell you a bit about me.

I began and lived most of my life in South Alabama. It’s no wonder that I grew up to write Southern fiction. As a genealogist, albeit an amateur, the South and all her glories are in my blood—indeed, my DNA. There is no way to remove myself from my roots and my heritage.