Hello, friends. I'm so thrilled to have my dear friend Stephanie Grace Whitson as a guest blogger today. Steph is the first author I ever met in person. I wrote her a fan letter after reading her wonderful Prairie Winds series. Then, when I discovered she lived in Nebraska where I was headed to visit a friend, Steph and I arranged to have coffee together. My first novel had just been published so … [Read more...]

When I meet people and they find out I'm an author, they sometimes respond with, "I/my husband/my child/my sister/my friend wants to write a book!" There are a lot of aspiring authors out there, which is wonderful. Only a small percentage of the people who want to write a book will complete a book. But for those . . . . What to do with it once the book is finished? How to get it published and make … [Read more...]

It seems a little strange to talk about Christmas books when it is August in Texas with triple digit heat. However, it's the perfect time to stock your winter book pantry to ensure you are well-supplied for the holiday season. Especially, when the bargains are bounding! I have a new Christmas novella collection releasing September 2. Tracie Peterson and Misty Beller partnered with me on this … [Read more...]

Ivy, one of my mastiffs, is nine years old--she'll be ten the day after Christmas. She is and always has been the perfect dog: loving, gentle, protective, obedient, and playful. She even earned a Canine Good Citizen Award. Ten year old birthdays are rare for mastiffs--I once read that there was a special club for dogs who made it that far. Why? Something about their large hearts and large … [Read more...]

Often when I tell people I’m an author, they’ll mention either wanting to write a book or beingclose to someone who wants to write one. Telling stories—our stories—seems to be a universaldesire. When I began my journey to publication, I didn’t know much about writing novels or thepublishing industry. But with time, research, and a lot of help from other writers, my knowledgegrew. I have a new … [Read more...]