Greetings from the book factory! I’m telling you, the first book in next year’s Texas McKettricks trilogy is flowing like crazy–I can barely keep up. It’s literally as though the story is being downloaded into my brain, and all I have to do is be there to watch it unfold and write it down. The experience is remarkable–with all my years of writing, I’ve never seen quite this phenomenon before. Some books are easy, some books are difficult, and “Tate” doesn’t fall into either category. I’m working hard–probably too hard–but it’s so magical. I am filled with exhausted joy! (The Texas McKettricks will be released by HQN in February, March and April of 2010.)
My deck garden is thriving, and I managed to plant my dinner-plate dahlias and some shasta daisies over the weekend. I also put a few more touches on that whimsical table I was telling you about. It is gloriously imperfect and lookin’ good.
Recently, my wise mother said I am becoming myself, with all this planting and watering, painting and planning. I like that. My first reaction to this sudden fascination with flowers, herbs and vegetables was, I’m getting old. Well, if this is getting old, I like it. (Don’t forget, I’ll be flying a fighter jet sometime in August–my daughter’s gift to me, for my 60th birthday in June. Old? I don’t think so!)
Last winter, during my meltdown, I wouldn’t have thought it was possible to be this happy. Every day is a joy to me now, a celebration, an adventure.
I am beyond grateful.
What is happening to me? I’m developing so many new interests–and deepening old ones. I’m determined to brush up on my Spanish so I can converse with the locals in their own language next March, in Barcelona. Barcelona! Yee-haw.
I’m learning to make soap and those fizzy bath “bombs” I love.
I’ve ordered a second tomato tree to grow squash and cucumbers–there’s a salad growing on my deck, except for the lettuce! Jitterbug and Cha-Cha are getting high on the catnip I planted–funny to watch them cavort like kittens again.
On Thursday, I’ll be off to New York for BEA, and although I plan to blog, there might be a gap, so hang in there. I will keep you posted on all my adventures. I’m so excited to see Wonder Editor, Joan, KO and Marleah, Donna and Craig and Loriana, and all the rest of my Harlequin pals. Truly, there isn’t a better bunch in the business! I hope to cross paths with Debbie Macomber, too, and catch up on all that’s been going on in our busy lives.
Yes, I’m becoming my true and authentic self–or, more properly, more my true and authentic self–a direct result, methinks, of getting older and thus more mature. (And, please God, wiser.) I’ll always be a cowgirl–that’s in my blood. But I’m discovering so many things I didn’t know about myself–I am a gardener, a fighter pilot (!), a future speaker of Spanish. (Rosetta Stone.)
Heaven only knows who ELSE I am.
To be continued!
