Tea Party

Oldest granddaughter will turn six on the 23^rd of this month. Yes, a Christmas gift we treasure all year long. She had a princess tea party today where fourteen little girls had a glorious time, and each took home their very own china tea cup and saucer. (This picture was taken a few weeks ago by a photographer.) After her friends left, extended family arrived and we had a second birthday party. This weekend will also include her first gymnastic meet tomorrow. Life just gets busier and busier the older the granddaughters get, and more wonderful. 

Last weekend we put the tree up, with help from the granddaughters so the bottom is more heavily decorated than the top, and it looks absolutely perfect. I also spent a day preparing the Mustang for storage, and afterwards, I needed to give my winter car some TLC. She needed a good cleaning after sitting for so many months. I love driving the Mustang, but have to admit, the Grand Am has seats that are much more comfortable. She is also a bit easier on gas, and I’m extremely thankful for how my husband keeps her on the road for me. 

I received another cover this week! His Wild West Wife will be released in February from HQN UNDONE. I’m turning the corner toward THE END on my latest manuscript. The heroine is a mail order bride with six kids in tow, and hero is, well, he’s the wrong cowboy. 

The holidays are approaching fast, and I hope you are each finding the time to savor the season. Make memories, and create a new tradition for the next generation. They’ll appreciate it.

It's Here!

Release day for The Sheriff’s Last Gamble!

I believe this book is my favorite UNDONE so far. Stacy and Jake are great characters and their story practically wrote itself.  She’s a thoroughbred gambler through and through, and he’s the sheriff attempting to keep her from getting herself shot. 

Dakota Territory, 1886

Sheriff Jake McCrery gave up gambling years ago; keeping the peace in Founder's Creek Township is all the challenge he needs. Until Stacy Blackwell arrives in town and soon becomes a frequent visitor to the Sheriff's office. 

Her crime? Diverting the Sheriff's attention with her beauty, charm and the mischievous light in her eyes that ignites a fire in Jake that can't be extinguished. He wants her as he'd never wanted anything in his life—enough to make one final gamble to win her heart.

Thanks to all of you who pre-ordered the book! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Happy May Day! And don’t forget to visit The Wild Rose Press’s birthday celebration today! (See the post below.)

Two Things

Busy day, so this is a quick update:

 1. Here’s the cover for Nights with the Outlaw.  

2. Made the appointment to take my car out of storage Saturday AM!

Have a wonderful weekend!

It wasn't a dream...

I’ve been down with a rotten, kick-my-butt-big-time cold. The kind not even DayQuil/NyQuil helps to conquer. After two days of crawling out of bed for purely essential reasons, I do believe I’m on the mend. Yeah. To prove I’m not just whining about being sick, this is what happened yesterday…

I had to send an email for work, so I dragged myself out of bed and used my Blackberry to send the email since turning on the computer would have been too much work. I then glanced at my personal emails. There was an email from my Harlequin Editor. I read it, but being so fuzzy headed, I went back to bed. Hours later, I woke wondering if I’d dreamt the email. I got up and turned on the computer, after 100+ emails downloaded, I scanned them, and... It hadn’t been a dream! There was an offer for a three book contract for their Undone Line. I read it, twice at least, and then, went back to bed. Today, however, I’m alive enough to appreciate it.

I have people ask all the time, what is an Undone? They are historical short stories that are highly sensual. At fifteen thousand words or less, they are available only in e-book, and depict a highly charged, emotional snapshot of two characters at a turning point in their lives. Being so short, there isn’t much room for back stories and the characters have to hit the page fully developed and running (so to speak). For me, this makes an Undone more difficult to write than a full length story, but the editing is much easier because of the length, which is a nice payoff.

Harlequin is very open to new writers in this genre, so if you’ve ever wanted to sub a story to them, this is the line to try. Their guidelines are on their website.

I’m off now, to complete a few chores before my energy wanes. Have a great week all!

My week...

January slipped into February this week, and kept us busy as it did so.

On Monday, Wedding Night with the Ranger was released! Also, our library hosted Author Jill Elizabeth Nelson. I took my mother to hear Jill speak and we had a wonderful evening together.

Tuesday evening I took Isabelle to gymnastics. When we arrived back at her house the furniture store had delivered and set up her ‘big girl bed’. I was officially invited to sleep in the bottom bunk anytime I want. Princess sheets and all.

Wednesday morning started with a call from our middle son. He’d been in a six car pile up on his way to work. THANKFULLY no one was hurt! As you can tell from the picture, his car was totaled (it’s the red car). There was certainly a guardian angel riding beside him that morning.

While I was on my way to pick him up, I received an email on my blackberry from a literacy agent in Japan with an offer for the Japanese rights to Mail Order Husband.

Thursday, after several emails, I confirmed the offer from Japan, and now am awaiting the final contract and tax papers. The book will be translated and released in Japanese trade paperback later this year.

Friday, I took my mother to the doctor and eye doctor, then to order new glasses and complete several other errands she needed to do.

Of course I worked the day job all week, too.

So here it is Saturday morning, and besides a trip to the grocery store later today for super bowl fixings, I’ll be working on the Fifth Quinter Bride book. Bug’s story is moving right along. Poor guy, Ma refuses to allow him to get married—with her shotgun of course.

I hope your February arrived wonderfully, and that it will continue to bring good news and wonderful adventures.

Wonderful Tidbits

We are in the January Freeze here in Minnesota. I refuse to go out the door without my long underwear—which reminds me of the fact I ate too many Christmas goodies.

On to other subjects, my wonderful tidbits: Wedding Night with the Ranger will be released on Monday! Yippee! I am so excited about this e-book and sincerely hope readers enjoy Colt and Annalee. Here is the blurb:

Texas Ranger-turned-rancher Colt Severson received plenty of advice on how to handle his wife on their wedding night—but not on what to do if she pointed a shotgun at him!

For Annalee Sapp, becoming Colt's bride was both a nightmare and a dream come true. The handsome rancher was the perfect husband, if only he hadn't been tricked into marrying her! He'd be stunned to learn of all the scandalous thoughts she had about him..... But once their wedding night arrives, it's only a matter of time before their passion explodes...and the truth about their impulsive marriage is revealed!

Kendra’s Choice received a Top Review award from Night Owl Reviews.





And two more wonderful tidbits of news…(I can’t remember if I shared these with my wonderful blogging friends or not.)
1. I will become a Grandma again in August! Our oldest son and his wife are expecting!
2. Our youngest son and his girlfriend have set the date. On June 26th my ‘baby’ will be getting married.

Only a month into it, and 2010 is already an AWESOME year!

Priates and Ghosts

The ghosts and goblins (and princesses and pirates) will be knocking on the door soon. The news announced today the most popular Halloween costume this year will be Michael Jackson. My granddaughter is going to be a pirate, because that’s what Emily Elizabeth is in Clifford the Big Red Dog’s Halloween book. She asked Uncle Cody if his dog, Bear, could be a ghost since that’s what Clifford is in the book. But her Mommy and Daddy aren’t willing to take a 100 lb Lab trick or treating. I think I better buy a bag of doggy treats just incase she convinces them how fun it could be. (As you can see from the picture, she and Bear are best friends.)

Sorry for my delay in posts. I was ‘hit’ by the flu bug. I actually had to use sick days at work. The first time in almost five years. Then last weekend we went up north to our property. Hubby had to get everything ready for deer season and I wanted to take down the solar lights I have set out all over. I think I need to get one of those motion cameras so I can see what the woodland critters think of those little lights. The place was full of paw prints.

I did get one full day of writing in, besides helping cut a load of firewood. I’m about halfway done with the fourth Quinter brother book. Boot Hill Bride-The Quinter Brides book 3 will be released in July 2010, and my Harlequin UNDONE, Wedding Night with the Ranger, will be released in February 2010. The e-book release of Badland Bride-The Quinter Brides book 2 is November 7th. (The print is available now.) My next release will be An American Rose Christmas Anthology on December 11th.

I’m one chapter away from finishing the book I’m collaborating on with another writer, but I have a time travel story as well as another Texas Ranger book that keep pulling my attention away from the sisters book.

I hope you all have a wonderful Halloween with lots of trick or treaters!

THE CALL

Last week I told you about Kendra’s Choice, and how Harlequin had inquired about the story. Well, yesterday, I got THE CALL from them. They offered a contract for the story I wrote for their UNDONE Line! I am so excited for this opportunity. I’ve been reading Harlequin Romance Novels since I was thirteen and dreamed of the day I’d get THE CALL from them.

I rarely turn my computer on before I leave for work in the morning. There just isn’t time, since, for one, I like to sleep as late a possible, (usually because I stay up too late writing every night) but also because I stop to visit my mother on my way to work every morning. Yesterday morning, I was drawn to turn my computer on and there was an email from an assistant editor at Harlequin asking what would be a good time for them to call me. (They are six hours ahead in London.) I emailed back and said I’d be home for an hour and then available by cell all day. After I hit send, I ran into the bedroom and told my husband to get up and sit by the phone while I showered. When I got out of the shower there was an email that said they’d call at 9 AM. I had a 9 AM meeting for work, so I drove to the meeting place and said I had to take a call before I joined the meeting. I sat in my car and at 9 on the dot Harlequin called. They had me on speaker with an editorial assistant and the Sr. Editor of their historical line.

The picture is of flowers my wonderful friend, Robin, sent me yesterday afternoon! The bouquet is beautiful, with many more flowers than pictured, but my two year old granddaughter took the picture. After one shot she decided taking pictures of the dog was more fun. LOL

Kendra's Choice

My next release will be Kendra’s Choice on Oct. 7th. It’s a short, hot story and will be available only in e-book.

Here’s the blurb:

Kendra Parker needs a man—it’s research for Widow Swanson’s article, “What Every Woman Needs to Know about Her Marriage Bed.” But the sparse population of Eastern Colorado in 1883 doesn’t offer many choices, until Major Marlow arrives.

Sterling Marlow rode into the Parker farm in time to celebrate the wedding of one of Kincaid Parker’s daughters. But it was the Pastor’s older daughter, Kendra, who caught his attention. Her seductive body wanted him, and who was he to deny the needs of a young woman?

And here’s an excerpt:

A coy smiled twisted her mouth as the tip of her tongue slipped out to moisten pink lips. Sweat popped out on his neck, he tensed against the shiver rippling over his shoulders.

Kendra Parker lowered her hand from her hair, held it out to him.

It took every once of control not to grab her hand, pull her against his chest, and kiss the hell out of her. He’d never met a more beautiful woman, nor had one made love to him with their eyes before. Damn! He was wound tighter than a diamond back. Exhaling, low and slow, he reached for her hand.

“Miss Parker,” he greeted, wincing at how his tone was a good three notes higher than normal.

“Major.” Her voice was as lovely as the rest of her—soft, sweet, and more provocative than any saloon girl could ever hope to mimic.

She didn’t try to pull her hand away, just let her supple, smooth palm rest against his. Their matching heat mingled, danced. Those blue eyes, still locked onto his, smoldered with enough heat to spark a fire all the way down in Texas. His toes curled inside his boots.


This story has a tale of it’s own behind it. I wrote Kendra’s Choice after hearing about Harlequin’s UNDONE line on a romance loop. I subbed it, but when I hadn’t heard from them after several months, I assumed they weren’t interested and subbed it to The Wild Rose Press last spring. A short time ago, I did hear from Harlequin and they were interested in the story. I told them I’d already sold it and it will be released next month. They did ask me to write and sub another story. I of course wrote another one for them ASAP, and my fingers are crossed that I will hear from them soon.

Other writing news…got a wonderful review from WRDF for Doctor McBride. Reviewer Cyn says, “Fun, intense and satisfying, Doctor McBride is the remedy for any reader.”