New Arrival!

On Tuesday afternoon, weighing in at 6 lbs 14 oz, our granddaughter Hayley Elizabeth arrived. She is just as beautiful as her older sister, Isabelle. Yes, we are tickled pink!

A Quick reminder….There are only a few weeks left for a chance to win the free e-book reader at The Wild Rose Press.

Emails from Readers

I’ve received some wonderful emails from readers about Shotgun Bride-The Quinter Brides Book 1, and for me, these are the ultimate. I love getting reviews from review sites, and of course family and friends often let me know when they’ve read one of my stories, but hearing from a complete stranger is the ultimate. It’s the true reward of writing and I so appreciate people taking the time write me. Here’s one of the many I’ve received lately:

"Fictionwise was having a big sale a couple of weeks ago and I decided to try a few new authors (new to me anyway) along with the books I was looking to purchase. One of the books I bought was Shotgun Bride. I just finished it and I was sobbing through parts of it. I don't remember the last time I was so moved by something I read. It was wonderful and I really enjoyed the story. I loved the dog, I loved the brothers, I liked how her brother redeemed himself at the end. I loved how her trying so hard to be the knowledgeable wife provided her with the resources to save him at the end. It was beautiful and I loved it and will be recommending it to my many reader friends - and also hunting down more of your books to read. "

That is enough for me to ignore the kitchen floor which needs to be scrubbed, not fret over the closet door that barely shuts, and pull up the next WIP! I’ve lost count on the number of people asking about a release date for Badland Bride-The Quinter Brides Book 2. I’m hoping readers like Skeeter’s story as much as they liked Kid’s, and am committed to getting the galley back to my editor this weekend! I’m working on Boot Hill Bride, the third story. It is about the brother Howard, or Hog, and takes place in Dodge City, where his mother’s shotgun forces him to wed Randilynn, a politician’s daughter.

So, to all you readers out there…Thank you! Hearing from you is more exciting than winning a gold medal!

Author Night at the Library

I enjoy events put on by local libraries, and last night I took my mother to one featuring William Kent Krueger. She loves his Cork O'Connor character. Krueger writes a mystery series set in the north woods of Minnesota. His protagonist, Cork O'Connor, is the former sheriff of Tamarack County and a man of mixed heritage--part Irish and part Ojibwe. The eighth book in the Cork O'Connor series, Red Knife, was released in September 2008.

It was fun and interesting, listening to Mr. Krueger's writing journey. He's a very animated speaker and had the audience chuckling most of the evening. He said he's contracted to write two more Cork books, but is also writing stand alone stories. After sixteen years of 'living' with Cork, he's ready for a change. That struck a cord, made me think how difficult it must be to write several stories about one person. Every book is like a child, we give it birth, nourish it as it grows, but after sixteen years, I'd think the same character would become like that child who never leaves home. Seriously, Mr. Krueger's books are great, and I'd recommend reading one if you haven't done so.

Other news... I received two reviews this week, one for A Wife for Big John by Night Owl Romance Book Reviews, and the other for Shotgun Bride-The Quinter Brides Book 1 by Joyfully Reviewed. This weekend (beside a Valentine’s Day date with my DH, which is always fun) I hope to finish the final round of edits on Badland Bride-The Quinter Brides Book 2. After this round the book should be ready to go to galley.

I hope you all have a very romantic Valentine’s Day!

Now Available in Print

Shotgun Bride-The Quinter Brides Book 1

is now available in print from Amazon.

Like most girls, Jessie Johnson will never forget the first time she met her mother-in-law. After all who can forget a shotgun pointed at them? Bartered for a dead horse at gun point, she either agrees to marry one of the Quinter boys or her brother will hang for horse theft. Jessie knows nothing about being a wife- other than the wedding will likely put her new husband in grave danger. After being knocked unconscious by his brothers, Kid Quinter finds himself surrounded by his uncouth family, the sheriff, a preacher, and an adorable young woman. Tied to a chair, he's given no choice but to marry Jessie Johnson. And that’s just the beginning of his troubles- it appears his pretty little wife has quite a past, including a notorious gunslinger looking for retribution.

Reviews on this book:
The Romance Studio
Love Western Romances
Coffee Time Romance
The Long and Short of It Reviews
WRDF Reviews


And don’t forget about the E-book reader giveaway at The Wild Rose Press!