As I write these words, it is still late spring according to the meteorological calendar. We’re approximately two-thirds of the way through June. Local temperatures for the next week are expected to range from the low 60s (with a couple of high 50s thrown in) to the mid- to upper 70s. School years are ending. Construction equipment clogs nearly every road. Air conditioning in most public places appears to be set to “frigid.” A peaceful dinner on the porch is generally accompanied by the roar of a lawn mower or the whine of a weed whacker.

Which is why it came as a slight surprise on Wednesday when I received an email from the organizer of one of my favorite holiday market events.

Over the past few years, I’ve developed a routine when it comes to book events. I generally refrain from scheduling in the first few months after the holidays for several reasons. First, I’m exhausted after the crunch of the holiday season. Second, I’m usually recovering from whatever illness I contracted during the holiday season as a result of the crowds. Third, this down time is my prime season to do some actual writing. Fourth, one result of writing seasonally-themed books is that there’s very little demand in the first few months of the new year.

Mind you, I do a few warm weather events. Last weekend was my first of the summer. Unfortunately, the event wasn’t well-marked, and relatively few people found their way into the private room where a dozen or so authors were set up. I have another event tomorrow, and I have reasonable hopes for a good turnout and maybe even some decent sales. (If you’re in or around East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, tomorrow afternoon, come by Brew Practitioners to sip and shop. It’s going to be a lovely day!)