More exciting news!

My editor JoAnne Simmons with the Heartsong Presents line at Barbour, wants to publish my contemporary, 3-book, West Virginia set. I’m ecstatic! Looks like this is turning out to be a great summer for sales! Thanks to my wonderful agent, Tamela Hancock Murray, for her hard work and diligence!

I'll post updates with publication dates. In the meantime, pick up some of my friends' books and enjoy!

Treasure in the Hills by Paige Winship Dooly
To Trust an Outlaw by Rhonda Gibson
Tennessee Weddings by Joyce Livingston
Forsaken Canyon by Margaret Daley
Bayou Brides by Janet Spaeth, Lynette Sowell, Janet Lee Barton, and Kathleen Miller Y'Barbo
Rose Kelly by Janet Spaeth
Off the Record by Beth White
Maryland Brides by Tamela Hancock Murray
Florida Weddings by Lynn Coleman, Kathleen Kovach, and Kristy Dykes

Kristy Dykes—wife, mother, and friend

As I have every morning for the past several months, I woke up and headed for my computer to see how my friend Kristy Dykes was doing. I wasn’t surprised, but I was deeply saddened when I learned she passed away yesterday. She was one of the most joyful, truly committed Christians I’ve ever met, and she will be missed by everyone who was fortunate enough to ever be in her presence.

She is survived by her wonderful husband/hero Milton and their beautiful daughters Julie and Jennifer. I remember hearing her talk about her family with pride and love. Through Milton’s posts, I got to know her family even better as they went through this journey with Kristy.

Today is a sad day for people who love Kristy, but it’s a joyful day for her to now be with the Lord.

Lazy days of summer!

I’m generally extremely disciplined, and I don’t need much prodding to get to work. However, this summer, I find myself spending way more time than I should reading other people’s blogs. Here are a few I enjoy: Summerside Press authors, Barbour editors, author Janet Spaeth, the Seekers, HSN product information writer Carrie Henderson, and my daughter and son-in-law Alison and Jason.

Summerside Press!

I’m very excited to announce that I sold a book set in Treasure Island, Florida, to Summerside Press! I’m thankful for my wonderful agent, Tamela Hancock Murray, who believes in my writing and works hard to get it into the right hands. I’ll post more details soon!

Exciting news!

My daughter Alison recently told me she and her husband Jason are going to have a baby soon! Yep! That’s right! I’m going to be a grandmother! I don’t have to tell anyone who knows me how excited I am!

As I thought about it last night, I realized that this changes everything for a lot of people. Not only will Alison and Jason be parents, Wally and I will be grandparents. Lauren will be an aunt. My dad, step-mother, and my mother-in-law will be great-grandparents for the first time! Even some of the extended family will gain new status (great-aunt, great-uncle, etc.) Everyone’s life will change and all because of a brand new baby!