Gwyn Cready’s Perfect Weekend
GIVEAWAY: Win the first in the series
August 11, 2016
The thing about weekends is they’re rarely perfect. The other thing
about weekends, though, is if you chase perfection too hard, you'll destroy any
chance you have of achieving it. It’s sort of like a soufflé in that regard. A
perfect weekend requires both underplanning and overdelivering. When I think about that elusive, never-to-be achieved perfect weekend, I think a
lot about unstructured time. By unstructured, I don't mean time in which I'm
doing nothing. I am genetically incapable of doing nothing. The idea of
stretching out for an hour by the pool with my eyes closed give me hives. Nor do
I nap—at least not willingly--though I will occasionally nod off for five
minutes in a movie. (I blame the dark.) Unstructured time means time in which I
can do whatever I want for as long as I want. So, for me, the perfect weekend
would be something like this: Friday Afternoon swim with husband. We have a heated pool at our condominium. Heaven.
Better than cocktails and that’s saying A LOT. Head to a late afternoon movie. (Yes, we’re that old.) Head somewhere for dinner—Thai, Indian, Ethiopian, sushi, Mexican, BBQ,
noodles—we like it all. Home for a TiVoed episode of John Oliver or Sam Bee. Read myself to sleep (Maybe three pages before the book falls out of my hand.
I’m currently reading Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I feel sorry
for J.K. Rowling that my book came out the same week as hers.) Saturday Coffee on the terrace, preferably on a cool day, preferably with my dog at my
feet. Read the newspapers. Head to our favorite diner for poached eggs and bacon. Unstructured morning and afternoon, but usually I'm writing, writing, writing,
writing, writing, writing, writing. Sometimes I make jewelry. Sometimes I read.
Sometimes I’ll actually go to a bricks and mortar store to shop for clothes.
Rarely I’ll knit or crochet. Even more rarely I’ll clean. Cleaning is the
Sasquatch of activities. Late afternoon swim with husband. Make dinner. I usually do the cooking, but my husband makes a killer pad see ew. Watch more TiVoed shows. I only really like scripted TV shows (What can I say?
I'm a writer.) And I really only like good scripted TV shows—Better
Call Saul, Sherlock, Silicon Valley, Veep, and, of course, Outlander. FaceTime with darling daughter at college. (Son would rather stick a steak knife
in his eye than FaceTime.) Call son. Son doesn’t answer. Text son to say I’m
thinking of him. Son doesn’t respond. Resolve to believe son was touched by the
message and have that be enough. 
Sunday Sleep in. Sadly, this doesn’t mean much when you’re old. My current goal: Sleep
late enough that I don’t wake up before the newspaper’s been delivered. Coffee on the terrace, dog at feet. Head to our second favorite breakfast place—a Greek diner. Have small Greek
salad and a grilled pita for breakfast. Steal a bite of gyros from husband. Unstructured time for rest of morning and afternoon, but usually I’m writing,
writing, writing, writing, writing, writing, writing. Late afternoon swim with husband. Make dinner and curl up to watch whatever Masterpiece Theatre or HBO have going on.
Son replies to text. Go to bed happy. GIVEAWAYWhat is your perfect weekend? Two readers will get a copy of the first in the
series: JUST IN TIME FOR A
HIGHLANDER, the first in her Sirens of the Scottish series.
Sirens of the
Scottish Borderlands
Third in the Sirens of the Scottish Borderlands series from Gwyn
Cready, the “master of time travel romance” (Booklist) She can work her magic on any man In a quest to bring peace to her beloved Scottish borderlands, fortune-teller
and spy Undine Douglas agrees to marry a savage English colonel. Desperate to
delay the wedding long enough to undermine the army’s plans, Undine casts a
spell to summon help and unexpectedly finds herself under the imperious gaze of
the handsome and talented Michael Kent, twenty-first century British theater
director. But in this production, he commands the action Though he abandoned acting years ago, Michael will play whatever part it takes
to guard Undine’s safety—he’s used to managing London’s egocentric actors and
high-handed patrons, after all. But not even Shakespeare could have foreseen the
sparks that fly when the colonel’s plans force Undine and Michael into the roles
of their lifetimes.
Romance Time Travel
[Sourcebooks Casablanca, On Sale: August 2, 2016,
Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781492601999 / eISBN: 9781492602002]
Gwyn Cready is a writer of contemporary, Scottish, and time
travel romance. She’s been called “the master of time travel romance” and is the
winner of the RITA Award, the most prestigious award given in romance writing.
She has been profiled in Real Simple and USA Today, among others. Before
becoming a novelist, she spent 25 years in brand management. She has two grown
children and lives with her husband on a hill overlooking the magical kingdom of
Pittsburgh.
Comments
25 comments posted.
Re: Gwyn Cready’s Perfect Weekend
My perfect weekend is not to cook anything. My husband making breakfast, big deal I only eat toast in the morning and dinner. Then I can relax in my lovely brown chair and read to my hearts content! Heaven! Sunday morning is always Church but then relax some more and read! (Bonnie Capuano 10:39am August 11, 2016)
A perfect weekend would involve a view of the ocean, a seafood dinner, and a great book to read. (Cheryl Castings 2:07pm August 11, 2016)
A perfect weekend is to get away to one of the beach towns along our coast for dining, shopping, and relaxing. Santa Barbara is a favorite place for me. (Jackie Wisherd 2:13pm August 11, 2016)
I want some unstructured time to just relax. I want to go to the Farmer's Market to shop, visit, eat, schmooze. I want to maybe listen to a concert in a small venue in the evening with my husband and a few friends. I want to worship on Sunday with a nice dinner later and spend time with my family. (Marcia Berbeza 1:11am August 12, 2016)
Nice post full of informative content. Please keep updating such posts which are helpful for everyone. Drysdale Dentist (Marvin Green 6:00am August 12, 2016)
If I am into a great book I really want to be left along. That's my favorite weekend...Just let me read and become part of the story! (Bonnie Capuano 7:47am August 12, 2016)
My perfect weekend would be a drive to the beach, a seafood dinner and seeing friends. (Rina Horenian 3:34pm August 12, 2016)
Weekends seem to just blend into any other day with our different work schedules, my husband and I just like to have any day together and church on Sunday is a bonus. Sally. (Sally Lincoln 4:47pm August 12, 2016)
A hammock, glass of iced something and a great book to read! (JoAnn White 6:16pm August 12, 2016)
The perfect weekend for me includes sleeping in, lots of reading, and quality time with my husband. (Janie McGaugh 12:33pm August 13, 2016)
My perfect weekend is spent reading a good book! Thanks for the chance to win! (Natasha Donohoo 1:33am August 13, 2016)
Perfect weekend is someone else cooking, a great Oregon Stout on tap and a good book under my gazebo out back! Thanks for the giveaway :-) (Lenna Hendershott 2:18pm August 13, 2016)
I'm going to steal your weekend, because I love a lot of the same things. While you are writing, I am going to nap. Cuz I loves to nap. (Christy Comstock 2:06am August 14, 2016)
The perfect weekend would be - nothing that I have to catch up from the week before- or start for the coming week. Spending time making a dent in all the books that are waiting for me. (LaRonda Atchison 11:35am August 14, 2016)
A weekend in the mountains :) camping! (Dianne McVetty 2:08pm August 14, 2016)
My perfect weekend would be a B&B in the mountains, hiking when the weather is good, and curled up with a good book when it's not! Thanks for the giveaway! (Joanne Schultz 2:38pm August 14, 2016)
sleep late with hubby on Saturday morning and a nice brunch. Not worrying about housework or cooking would be nice. Having time to read would be great.Church on sunday mornings then maybe a nap before lunch. I'm usually on the computer or cooking till evening.Hopefully having time to read before bed. (Nancy Luebke 3:42pm August 14, 2016)
I am very fortunate to have a spouse that cooks for me and all he asks is what I would like to have to eat and then he makes it. Yes, I am a very lucky woman! (Diane McMahon 5:01pm August 14, 2016)
My perfect weekend is going into NYC to see a Broadway show and have dinner at a steakhouse. Love Broadway! (Nancy Marcho 5:59pm August 14, 2016)
It has been so long since we have not had total chaos ruling our lives, I have no idea what unstructured time is, other than anything can and will happen. A perfect weekend would be one where the phone didn't ring with someone needing something or sick and in the hospital (our life lately in both cases). We would have a quick breakfast and head into the mountains to go hiking. Nothing strenuous, just easy and enjoyable. We go to church on Saturday evenings, so we would stop for dinner at a favorite restaurant before going to church. In the evening, we could watch one of the many DVD's I keep getting and never have time to watch. For a change my husband won't fall asleep before 9. We are also of an age. On Sunday, my husband gets up early and fixes breakfast (the way most Sunday's start). We have a relaxed breakfast and watch the Sunday morning news and commentary programs. We would go for a walk in the afternoon. At some point in the afternoon, we would call our children to see how their week went and what the plans are for the upcoming week. Sunday afternoon we would grill something for dinner and relax out on the porch. If there is nothing exciting on TV, we would spend the evening reading. Time to ourselves is something we have not been able to manage lately. We are hoping for some the end of Sept. Maybe we can run away. (Patricia Barraclough 9:09pm August 14, 2016)
Just to relax and ' do nothing ' all weekend . maybe have some family and close friends stop by for awhile , no cooking or cleaning for the weekend . (Joan Thrasher 10:44am August 15, 2016)
A perfect weekend would be one where I had to chores or errands to run. I'd sleep in and someone else would cook. I'd go to dinner and a concert with good friends. (Kerry Shaw 2:48pm August 15, 2016)
My semi perfect weekend is - Saturday - get up early, pick up Linda and Patti, go to McDonalds get Ice Coffee and head to Yard/Garage sales...that about takes up Saturday. Sunday is "the day of rest" - not really. I list items I've found at yard/garage sales on ebay. Such a great weekend. (Faye Boss 8:48am August 16, 2016)
My perfect week-end includes time with my family. (Anna Speed 12:22pm August 16, 2016)
During my perfect weekend, I would be pampered at a spa while somebody else cleaned the house & mowed the yard. (Angela Daffern 3:06pm September 1, 2016)
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