First of all, please let me apologize! I had such high hopes for staying on top of writing my blog, but life has again gotten in the way. I had no intentions of taking another full-time job so soon after leaving my last place of employment, but I was truly blessed to be offered a position in early August. However, since I took the job, I've had to receive additional training. (Which I am really having fun with--yes, I like learning and school!!!) This has taken much time from my personal life, therefore leaving little/no time to write. :o( On the plus side, I should be done with classes this time next year and be more diligent about writing then. My current job is providing all types of fodder for my next book--yea! Honestly, I love what I'm doing and feel like God has answered many of my prayers from the last few months.

I have my critique group looking at the next novel in the Impossible series...I'm hoping for an early 2013 publication date. I hope that everyone will enjoy it. If you like twists, this one might be for you!

Hoping you all have a fabulous fall, enjoy some tasty apples and cider, and enjoy those wiener roasts, hayrack rides, and all the fun fall activities! Looking forward to the next moment I have to sit down and write. Until then, be well!

SMASHWORDS!!!

After several days of work, I've finally uploaded Impossible Find onto Smashwords.com. This is an awesome site that allows people to purchase books in many different digital formats. Basically, this means my book can now be read on ereaders other than a Kindle. Exciting stuff! Here's the link for my book: Impossible Find. If you liked the book, please feel free to forward the link to your friends. :o) I would appreciate any and all comments, reviews, and recommendations.

On another note, I would like to wish you all a very happy 4th of July week! Those who serve or have served in our armed forces are the greatest of heroes. It is because of their sacrifices that we can celebrate our freedoms. Please don't forget to thank any veterans you know in the upcoming days--our freedoms are not free! Spend some time with your families, stay cool (it's 100 degrees here at the moment!), and enjoy Independence Day. :o)

Hooray!

I know I promised to post more on my blog, but again, time has been my enemy. However, I have terrific news! I just finished typing the final words on my next book. It continues the love story of Emily Waller and Will Palmer. This was a difficult book to write, and in the end, I'm surprised the twists and turns the plot took throughout the process. I'm still working on a title, and the book won't be available for a while yet. I've only finished the first draft, and heaven knows I have lots of revising to do! However, having finished a complete draft is a good feeling. :o) I'll keep you posted for when book #2 will be available.

Enjoy the warm weather and Happy Father's Day to all you dads! You are all special to your families--I know several dads who have helped make me the person I am. Thanks to you--Dad, Grandpa, and Joe--I love you all dearly!

Busy Times!

I noticed that it's been a while since I've made the effort to post on my blog. Sorry! Life has gotten in the way, which I'm sure we all experience from time to time. Here on the prairie, life seems to blow by just as quickly as my neighbor's trash from their overturned garbage cans! (Yes, we have their garbage plastered up against our fence--fun stuff!) At times over the past few months, I've felt like those ragged Styrofoam take-out containers from next door--worn by the never-ending demands around me, cracked from one too many things prying at me, and suffering from a not-too-clean environment thanks to the first two items. But instead of focusing on the destructive power of the wind, today it was a productive power. I used my clothes line for the first time this season to dry our beds, and most of the sheets actually stayed on the line until they were dry. I only had one mishap, and thankfully, it landed in clean grass! I need to remember that even though things are busy in my life, I can be productive. I need to harness the energy from my busyness and use it to my advantage. That way, maybe I can benefit from the craziness instead of being consumed by it. A lofty goal.

I am hoping to get back to writing the sequel to Impossible Find very soon...at least in the next four to five weeks. The semester is winding down, and after all the grading is finished, I'm looking forward to some good quality writing time! With any luck, all the revisions will be done by the end of summer. Dare I set a release date? Maybe next blog! :o) Blessings to all, and a huge thank you to all who have checked out my book! It is so exciting for me!

Sunshine!

We all need a little sunshine in our lives now and then. This is especially the case living in the Midwest in January! Not only is the sun shining beautifully here today, but I had the sweetest person brighten my day. She had to come find me this morning (I wasn't in my office) and tell me that my book had kept her up reading until 1 a.m. She also confessed she had to be at the gym by 6 a.m.

This made my day! I know what it's like to stay awake WAY too late just to finish reading a book. (One Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side did that to me.) I only hoped that my book could make someone else lose sleep because of the enjoyment of reading the story.

However, lest we forget, a little sunshine can go a long way. A little makes us feel better, gives us a nice tan, more confidence, and some much needed vitamins. Too much, though, and we'll be burned and miserable. I'm going to remember what this sweet lady said, but I'm not going to claim to be the next Shakespeare. I have lots of learning to do before I can claim that type of talent. But today, a little sunshine gave me more confidence than I've had in a while.

Black Moments

Happy New Year everyone!

I'm going to start out by saying that my goal this year is to focus on adding interesting/relevant writing information to my blog for 2012. We'll see how that goes--planning and grading can get in the way of serious blogging efforts!

Today's topic deals with black moments. Huh? Yep. I know. I just heard about them a few days ago--I'm probably the only novelist who's never heard of them. These are points in the plot where the hero/heroine is at his/her lowest. Everything seems lost. Depressing, right? Hence, black moments. However, the plot usually revives, the hero and heroine can be together, and the story reaches the happily ever after--or at least I hope it does!

Hoping and praying you all have few black moments in the coming year and that you can achieve the happily ever after you're looking for! Here's to a great year!