Hello friends, I'm writing a quick note on Monday morning from Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany where we're having a wonderful time on our book tour with Francke, our German publisher.   I'm with friends Lynn Austin and Elizabeth Musser and we're spending our days laughing hysterically while trying not to be too "American." Essentially an impossible feat for us. The first night on … [Read more...]

The Belmont Mansion here in Nashville, Tennessee recently acquired over 200 new pieces that belonged to Adelicia Acklen, the mistress of Belmont Mansion, the setting of A Lasting Impression and A Beauty So Rare. These items have been in the Acklen family since being removed from the Belmont Mansion in the 1880s. But as you can imagine, the curator and staff of the mansion are welcoming them … [Read more...]

Several years ago, I drove to Santa Barbara unaware that a truck had dumped a load of nails onto the 101 freeway. By the time I spotted the scattered cargo it was too late. I ended up with four—yes four!—flat tires. As my son and I waited on the side of the road for the Auto Club he asked, "Mom, are you going to use this in a book? Ah, inspiration. It can hit anytime, anywhere and sometimes … [Read more...]