End of March

Well, I've done it again--started out planning to blog regularly and blown it off. I'm just not a blogger. I don't spend much time on the internet outside of checking email.

In an effort to become a better--or at least more frequent--blogger, I'm shutting down my "Santa's Angels" blog and incorporating any news about books and writing onto this blog.

News:

• I will be at the Marble Falls Public Library Friday, June 5th, at 11:30 for their "Lunch With an Author" series.

I decided to finish my work in progress--another novel for Avalon Romance, hopefully--by the end of May. In January, it seemed reasonable that I could write 45 pages a month and "git 'r' done" but that didn't happen. It did for January. February . . . I wrote three pages. So, in March I hit it and hit it hard. While I worked, I decided to write until I got to 105 pages (half the page count for an Avalon Romance) then print it out and start revising. I still haven't got to 105 pages. I'm close, though! And I've figured out I had the heroine in the wrong career to start with and exactly what the hero does. Many thanks to Kevin, my nephew, for how a high-tech computer geek would baby proof a house.

I'm studying "Daniel--Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy" by Beth Moore. I wanted to learn more about eschatology--end time Bible prophecy. Oh, my! I've learned so much! The next study I'm going to do also concerns end time Bible prophecy. It's by Dr. David Jeremiah and is centered around a book he wrote titled, "What in the World is Going On?" It takes a look at ten prophecies and how much of them have already been fulfilled.

Hopefully, it won't be so long before I report in again. Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Happy New Year 2009

Amazing, isn't it, how time passes so quickly. A month ago, we were all embarking on the rush of the holiday season. Now, it's all packed away and we're starting a new year.

Last year I didn't make resolutions, but came to some realizations instead. For me that was better than resolutions.

I tried some new things in 2008. Exercise, which paid off in losing some weight and making me feel better. Karaoke. I really recommend karaoke for all of you (us) who have spent years singing along with the radio. A suggestion--don't take it seriously. Go, sing and have fun. It's all about fun. I didn't watch as much TV in 2008 as before. Mainly because walking takes a lot of time out of the day. I haven't missed it. I have read the newspaper more and followed some news stories on the internet.

My biggest news story of 2008 was getting "Santa's Angels" published. Whoo-hoo! It's so exciting seeing the actual book. The reviews have been great. I'm ready to get working on the next book--another sweet romance.

Have a great 2009. Try some new things. Keep learning. Enjoy.

Happy December 2008!

Hello! This month marks the publication of my first romance novel, Santa's Angels. I had a booksigning in November, and hope to have a couple more this month. However, the calendar is filling very fast, as it does this time of year.

Have a wonderful Christmas.

Fall 2008

The County Fair has come and gone, football and marching band season have been going for several weeks and the temperatures are slowly but surely getting a bit cooler every day. Fall has arrived in Central Texas.

I've kept busy with Oktoberfests, writing and making bookmarks for Santa's Angels. I received the bookcover from the publisher recently. There's nothing like seeing the cover to make it real that "It's a book!" It has an ISBN and everything.

September

About the only difference here in Central Texas between September and August is the name of the month. So far, anyway. Temperatures are still in the 90s and 100s, although more usually in the 90s. It dipped down into the 60s last night, which is a new thing. But there are still lots of people enjoying themselves on the rivers.

School has started--I've enjoyed walking through the stores with all the school supplies displayed, wondering if I need a new spiral or two. It's after Labor Day, so I guess I'd better put my white shoes away. The stores are showing fall fashions--sweaters and long sleeves, which is hard to get excited about in this heat.

I am excited about the release of Santa's Angels. I've been trying to set up a booksigning and release party in early December. I've also been working on another romance novel. I'm keeping my finger in the pie of children's writing, too. I'll be attending some workshops later this month, and have submitted a picture book.

Have a wonderful fall!

Santa's Angels

The big news is that my first novel, Santa's Angels, will be released in December 2008! Right now, the Romance Writers of America conference is going on. I wasn't able to be there this year, but Avalon Romance is distributing some bookmarks about Santa's Angels at the conference. Perhaps that's how you found this website.

I've always enjoyed reading romance novels. There's something about the happy endings. When I started writing for publication about 15 years ago, I wanted to write a romance novel. As things turned out, I was published first in children's books.

For more information about Santa's Angels check out the blog at www.santasangels.blogspot.com .

Happy June!

The time sure goes by faster than I expect it to. Summertime already.

I just finished reading "Emma" by Jane Austen--after years of hearing everyone adoring Jane Austen's books, I decided to read them myself. I've read "Pride and Prejudice" and now, "Emma." Of the two, I enjoyed "Emma" more. But I think when I read P&P, I wasn't in the right mind-set. I might have to go back and re-read it.

However, I want to re-read Madeline L'Engle's "Wrinkle In Time" series. I started thinking about "Wrinkle" last night for some reason.

I'm working on another romance novel. After about 5 drafts of the first chapter, I'm finally getting just what I want from it. I wrote the first rough draft of the book in about 3 months--last year. And have been working and re-working it since, trying to start it and write the book sequentially. As stated, I haven't gotten anything satisfactory yet.

A lot of times, people ask me how long it takes to write a book. The truth is, I don't know. Months. Years. I just keep working at it until it suits me, then I send it off. Fortunately, I'm not trying to make a living off writing. I know it can be done, but I'd have to approach writing a lot differently in order to write for a living. I see writing as something I do as part of the rest of my life. My role as wife and family member is more important and time-consuming than my role as writer. But when I write, I do write for publication, not just for my own pleasure.

I've heard writers say, "My family has to understand that my writing comes first." For me, it's just the opposite--my family comes first. It may mean I go days or weeks without writing on my work in progress. But if I am serving my family--running errands, cooking meals, listening, caring--then I'm fulfilling and fulfilled. Out of this caring and serving comes the knowledge of the happily ever afters I want to share with others.

May you find fulfillment and happily ever after this summer!