Happy Halloween!

 Our oldest granddaughter will be a little bandito for Halloween. This is a family tradition. My husband’s father wore this suit when he was three, my husband (and all of his siblings) wore it when they were three or so and all three of our sons wore it. Now it’s the next generation’s turn. 

Goodness a lot has happened since my last post, which is why I haven’t been on line much. 

Besides being knocked-down by a long lasting cold, we had a wonderful celebration for my birthday on the 18^th, a party at my niece’s house for her birthday, sleepovers with the granddaughters, a shopping trip where Papa bought me a lovely new winter coat (and himself a new tree stand), grandparents day at school, worked at my brother’s haunted house, and last weekend our children shocked us by throwing a surprise party for both Papa and I.  (His birthday was in September, and since we both hit the half-century mark, I guess the kids felt we needed a big bang.) We were totally surprised and had a wonderful time visiting with all the family and friends there.

The e-book version of Unclaimed Bride will be released on November 1^st, and thank you to all who have already purchased this book. Your support is greatly appreciated and I sincerely hope you enjoy the story! 

I’m currently working on Marie and Stafford’s story. Set in the Dakota Territory, she arrives prepared to marry a cowboy who has ‘inherited’ the six children she’s in charge of, however Stafford isn’t that cowboy.  Yes, I’m having fun with this one!

I hope you all have a spooktacular Halloween, and to all of you dealing with Sandy, you are in my thoughts and prayers. 

I must also send out a plea to please vote. 

That’s all for now. Be good, stay safe, and love life.

Busy Day

Here’s our little Halloween treat!


We had a wonderful Halloween, trick or treating with the granddaughters and visiting the haunted house. I left out treats on the table on the patio for any treaters that showed up while we were gone, and knowing the neighbor dog would be expecting her treats, I also set out a bowl for her. Low and behold, when we returned home, the candy dish was still full, but the dog dish, t-bones and all, was gone. Ava (the neighbor dog) took the entire dish back home with her. She is a hoot, and we love having her visit us daily.

Today has been busy, besides the day job, I am part of my library’s local artist event. The opening reception was from 3-8PM today. The event will run all week. Lots of fun and neat art on display!

AND…Her Midnight Cowboy was released by HQN today! Here is a short excerpt from the book:

They were through the doorway, and he kept moving, forcing her down the hall. “Yes, you.” His nose bumped hers. “You will not parade yourself about half dressed. Not in front of me or anyone else.”

She grabbed the end post of the large staircase, stopping both of them. “Not even my father tells m—”

“Nor will you ride the hills by yourself, or run to town on a whim.” He laid a hand on the stair railing, curling his fingers around the polished wood for support. No longer whispering, he said, “I have ten thousand head of cattle to see to, I don’t need any trouble from you.”

Huffing, she asked, “Trouble from me?”

“Yes.” He nodded at the second floor. “Now hightail your little butt upstairs and get dressed.”

Her eyes widened. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

“Oh, yes, I can.” He took a step back and pointed upstairs. “Go, now.”
Angel’s chin dropped. “I don’t—”

The sting of his palm connecting with her backside stopped her outburst. It had been action without thought. Being responsible for her virtue was more than he bargained for. “Go before I drag you up those stairs and dress you myself.”
“You wouldn’t dare!”

“Try me.” he challenged.

The stare down lasted a few minutes before she gave in and stomped up the stairs. Stopping on about the fifth one, she turned around and glared at him. “You’ll rue this day, Mr. McGuire.”

His eyes locked on the way her breasts rose and fell. “I already do, Angel girl. I already do.”


Finally, today, I was one of several historical authors participating in the Historical Extravaganza November Book Brew with the Coffee Crew at Coffee Times Romance Coffee Thoughts Blog, here and here.

There are lots of great prizes over there, so if you have a chance, stop by and leave a comment or two!

That’s about it for me on this first day of November 2010.

This week's fun

I had a lovely surprise when I arrived home today. My author copies of the Japanese version of Mail Order Husband! The book is about 4 inches by 6 inches and opens on the left instead of the right. They are adorable little books and the agency’s lovely note said the book is being released on November 9th. Working with the UNI Agency of Tokyo has been a wonderful experience that I’ll always treasure.

I spent the weekend at a resort in central Minnesota with my writers group. It was lots of fun, even though there were 12 women in a cabin with 2 ½ baths. If any of you readers are aspiring authors, please join a writers group. The friendships, camaraderie, and experiences you gain will surpass all expectations. One of the writers created the banner at the top of my blog page at the retreat. I love it.

I’m looking forward to Halloween this weekend. My granddaughters will be a princess (with a pointed hat, not a crown), Minnie Mouse, and a pumpkin. My brother puts on a huge haunted house we’ll go visit as well. I bought individually wrapped, glow-in-the-dark vampire teeth for him to pass out to all those brave enough to enter.

I have writing to do, so will sign off now, and wish you a very happy and exciting Halloween! Live in the moment and make the most of it!

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!

Happy Halloween!

We don’t get many trick or treaters, so therefore plan on driving up to our son’s house to be with our granddaughter. She will be a ‘princess’ for Halloween. Here is a picture of our other grandchild, Bear. The cape and bat ears don’t show up in the picture, but he has them on as well.

The author event at the Library was wonderful. Mr. Koblas is a wealth of information in the outlaw genre, and his lecture about Jesse James was remarkable. Two short interesting things he shared about gang members: Cole and Jim Younger were both arrested after the failed raid on the Northfield, MN bank, and were incarcerated at the Stillwater, MN prison. When a fire broke out in the prison, a warden gave Cole a gun, told him to get his men, and rescue the women prisoners from the raging fire. The Younger ‘Boys’ saved the women and then turned in their guns and continued to serve their time. The warden played a large role in the Cole and Jim receiving parole. However, during this time when a man was on parole, he had no rights, and Jim Younger had fallen in love. After requesting permission to marry the young women, and denied the right (being on parole was the same as being dead, and a dead man couldn’t marry), Jim shot himself. (Living together in those days was not an option.)

The Northern Lights Writers retreat weekend was fabulous. The planning committee did a terrific job and provided three wonderful days dedicated to the ins, outs, and all about romance writing. And of course we had enough food and chocolate to feed a small country!