Right now, I've snuck off into my son's bedroom with a bowl full of strawberries and whipped cream. I got caught. Strawberries were the only thing that used to be mine as a child. (My brother, a pack rat used to take everything.) He was allergic to Strawberries. I call this God's grace on my childhood.

But none of my four children are allergic and so tonight, after I made them dinner, I cut myself up a beautiful bowl of strawberries and snuck off like a criminal. And you know what? It feels good.

I snuck off because "The Scent of Rain" my book that isn't out until AUGUST is here in Advanced Reader Copy Form. It's a beautiful cover with a BRIGHT PINK SPINE. LOVE IT!

I think this book has my voice in it, and I LOVED all the research I had to do on the perfume business and the subject of smell. It's our strongest memory inducer. Which is why the strawberries reminded me of my childhood.

I do love the scent of rain and so many other scents -- including bleach. Go figure. It's like summer at the Rec pool! Got a favorite scent? Let us know what and why and enter to win a free copy of the ARC.

God bless.

Labels: bleach, Scent of Rain, sense of smell, Strawberries

I'm knee-deep in my new novel, which has yet to find itself a name. It's about a "nose" or a perfumer who can specifically identify over 6,000 scents. Until her fiance dumps her at the altar and she loses her sense of smell.

Have you ever noticed when you're taking things too far, stress tends to wear you down EXACTLY where you need your strength the most? I must admit, I got the idea from Shania Twain who lost her voice for no physical reason. Just from the stress of being betrayed by her husband and best friend.

Notice I say "JUST" stress. I think we underestimate how damaging stress is on our bodies. If you don't deal with something one way, God finds another to get your attention.

Back to Daphne, or whatever her new name might be. A "nose" makes good money. There are less than 500 certified noses in the United States, so coming by research hasn't been easy. But the one thing I found is that fragrance isn't created in a lab. Fragrance is created the same way a novel is created. Out in the world looking for inspiration. Everything inspires. Everything is notepad worthy. IT was funny to see the men noses compared to the women noses.

So did you know that your sense of smell is your strongest memory producer? The smell of something lingers in your brain longer than any other sense. Do you have a favorite smell that brings you to a different time?

Labels: nose, perfume, sense of smell, Shania Twain