Sometimes I know a book is going to be dedicated to a certain person before I sit down and write it. Other times, I come to that realization while I am writing the book. I know as I crafted the pages of Confessions of a Little Black Gown, that Tally’s book belonged to Jessica Burtt. And let me tell you why.

We met Jessica about seven years ago, when Matthew was a baby. He’d run through just about every babysitter I could find. He was one tough baby. He even sent the neighborhood’s alleged “baby whisperer” into a two hour … Read more »

And this time I mean that. No really. When I asked for everyone to post a list of books, I thought I’d get a decent list, but you all came through and gave me a fantastic list to pass along to a whole bunch of librarians. If you haven’t posted your favorites yet, I’m still taking recommendations and you have until Saturday midnight to get entered into the contest to win an Amazon.com gift certificate. So post away, I am loving these lists.

Next week is coming fast–there is so much going on.  Confessions of a Little Black Gown arrives … Read more »

Ever wondered when you find an autographed book in the grocery store or the Target how it got there? Did the author do–as it is known in the business–a drive-by? Or did they, as I just did this week, find themselves in a warehouse surrounded by pallets of books (yes, I said pallets, not boxes) and were asked to sign all of them, so that not only your Target or Meijer’s or Krogers has an autographed copy, but so do every other store in that chain, state, or region.

That is how I found myself this week in a warehouse … Read more »

So you all just cracked me up this week. Here I thought I’d posted a good blog on “what makes a great romance,” and then the discussion turns to focus on my poor decrepit RITA. So I feel I should offer both a defense and some thoughts for anyone who might gain one in the future.

RITAs are delicate creatures. Swanlike in their grace, they also have their quirks. Take the pen. Most winners will tell you, that through no fault of their own, the pen has snapped off. Mine lasted for about seven years, then one day snap, … Read more »

It seems to me that March always comes in like a lion, and then like a lion, chews on me for 30 some days, then leaves me in some forgotten part of the pride land, dazed and bleeding. Can you tell we’ve been watching The Lion King around our house?

But carnivorous animals aside and months that start with “M”, it always seems like March just knocks me over. I always end up with a book due around this time of year, so March is the month of finishing a book. Don’t believe me:  Last year I was working on … Read more »

I would just like to thank everyone who entered my last contest and congratulate the last two winners:

• Jackie W. of LaMesa, California
• Heather R. of Knoxville, Tennessee

Each of you will be receiving in the mail very shortly an autographed hardcopy of Love Letters from a Duke. Congratulations!!

If you are saying to yourself, “Hey, I want to win something”, you can stop muttering! I’m starting a new contest today and you’ll love the prize. You see I have one advanced reader’s copy left of Confessions of a Little Black Gown. (Remember these laying around on my … Read more »

I meant to let you know before I went away for the weekend. But what a weekend it was. It had nothing to do with writing or romance. I’ll bet you can guess what I was up to, especially if you read my blog often. Yes, I spent the weekend knitting at the Madrona Fiber Arts Retreat. My fingers can’t type this morning to save my life. But I will tell you one funny story. In Cat Bordhi’s class, she was going around the room signing her books, (yes, I waited patiently and excitedly to get my book signed) we … Read more »

It’s. That. Time. Again. Excuse my enthusiasm, but it is time for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Forget all the other dog shows that populate the television, this is the Academy Awards for Dogs. This is the big show.

I get all excited and sit glued to the tv for hours watching the best of the best dogs as they parade by. Then the next morning I call my agent and we compare notes. “What did you think of the Bernese?” “Wasn’t that <insert toy group dog of choice here> hilarious?”

This is my tenth year of this, my … Read more »

. . . Because I would not want you to miss a single one of the announcements I’m going to make. I’m getting so excited for Confessions of a Little Black Gown and Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress to come out, that I just have to tell you all the news about the upcoming things you are going to find here on the blog and on the rest of the website in the coming weeks. Plus, I’ve lined up a a great guest blogger for next week, who is not only really cool, but she also brings great swag, … Read more »

Here it is, the first peek inside Confessions of a Little Black Gown. I thought with the holidays being over and all of us having to get back to work, I’d extend the season just one more day and give everyone a little treat. Hope you enjoy it!

I’ll set the stage by saying this is a fun scene from Chapter 4. Our hero, Lord Larken is posing as the Duke of Hollindrake’s cousin, Mr. Ryder, in hopes of finding Captain Dashwell who has mysteriously escaped prison. Gee, I wonder who helped Dash escape??? Our heroine, Tally Langley suspects  … Read more »