(Top Image: Buffalo skull on the wall of my office with painting of the Texas Hill Country, I thought the skull must be a cement reproduction, it was so heavy–until a tooth fell out! Jj)
Dear Reader,
Ute war shirt on my office wall
One month into a new year and–despite all my resolutions for change in 2012–I’m still caught up in my usual routine: writing, tennis and travel.
Writing
I’m excited about the upcoming debut of my new Mail-Order Bride series. TEXAS BRIDE is the first book and will be available for purchase on March 27, 2012. Besides featuring Cricket Creed (from my Sisters of the Lone Star series), TEXAS BRIDE also introduces Alexander Blackthorne, the first Blackthorne in Texas, and therefore is also a prequel to my Bitter Creek series. (And, yes, I’m working on getting a Bitter Creek Family Tree on my website for those of you who have been asking for one!)
As I write this, I’m putting the finishing touches on WYOMING BRIDE, book two in the Mail-Order Bride series. I love the Wentworth family (four sisters and two brothers) I’ve introduced in this series!
You can read an excerpt for TEXAS BRIDE on my website. You’ll find an excerpt for WYOMING BRIDE in the back of TEXAS BRIDE which I hope you’ll also enjoy. I’ve already started researching the Bitterroot Valley in Montana, the site for the third book in the series, MONTANA BRIDE.
Tennis
My Desk
When I’m writing, I almost live in my office. So I’m so looking forward to typing The End to my current book and taking a short break in late March to attend the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. It will be a treat to watch favorite tennis players: Petra Kvitova (WTA) and Novak Djokovic (ATP). These days, a tennis match provides most of the exercise I get. I love “whacking” at the ball. It helps to get rid of the frustration I sometimes feel when I’m struggling to get words on paper.
Travel
I’ll be speaking at Sleuthfest in Orlando at the end of March and at Craftfest/Thrillerfest in July. It’s a nice chance to network, speak with readers and see dear friends.
I’ve decided to stay in Florida rather than move back to Denver. It was a difficult decision, because I love Denver, especially hiking the mountains around Boulder and, naturally, Broncos football (Go Tebow!). Staying in Florida means being close to family and enjoying the wonderful weather and the convenience of European travel–Switzerland in June–to do more research for the Benedict Brothers series.
I have a substantial chunk of Lydia’s story, UNFORGETTABLE, written, and hope to squeeze in a little more work on the British Benedict Brothers series as I finish up my Mail-Order Bride series. I also hope to make a quick trip to the Bitterroot Valley sometime in August to see the locale of MONTANA BRIDE for myself.
I do appreciate your e-mails, although I’ve gotten woefully behind in answering my mail while on deadline. Just know I’m thinking about you–and keeping the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair!
