I'm not a Texas native, but ever since I came out to Abilene in 1989 for college, I've made Texas my home. I fell in love with this bold land full of glorious sunsets, rugged cowboys, and people who cling to the hospitality of the south. My children are all Texas born and bred, as are my books. The Lone Star State has a proud heritage, being the only US state to have once been an independent … [Read more...]
The Wild West Lives On!
In July, I had the privilege of attending the Romance Writers of America national conference in San Antonio, TX. I came home with a suitcase full of new books, a brain full of great information, and a camera full of pictures. This was the first time my hubby tagged along for the ride at one of these conferences, so he and I had a lot of fun exploring in the evenings. The River Walk was gorgeous, … [Read more...]
Inspiration To Keep On Keeping On
Writing is work. Sure, we authors like to pretend it's just a bunch of daydreaming and story crafting, but in truth, some days I feel like I have more in common with a dentist pulling teeth than an artist floating high on the creativity clouds. Stories can bog down. Characters can become uncooperative. Real life can steal time and energy away when deadlines loom. So how do we keep on keeping … [Read more...]
My ICRS Experience
Last week, I had the honor of traveling to Atlanta, GA to attend the International Christian Retail Show, a huge trade show focused on Christian retailing. Everything from books to music to jewelry, to those cute beverage bottles with verses about living water stamped into the design. I had never attended this event before, but since Stealing the Preacher was a finalist for the Christy Award, I … [Read more...]
What’s In A Name?
For those of you who have children, do you remember the excitement (and perhaps the anxiety) that filled you as you began selecting names? It's a weighty responsibility, knowing your child will be saddled with whatever you choose for the length of his/her life. No pressure. Ha! Names are so important. We want our girls' names to be beautiful and our boys' names to be strong. Yet … [Read more...]