I posted this picture of one of my ATCs just for fun. Today is the day! "Tate", the first book in my new Texas McKettricks series, is out now, even as we speak. I am thrilled.There's lots of great fuss around this book, too. Check out my Q&A and the video on MSN's...

Fat, fluffy flakes, drifting down from a gray-weighted sky....gracing the ground...And melting away later in the day. :)Perfect.This is the perfect day.Perfect for writing a chapter of "Austin".Perfect for brewing up a pot of soup.Perfect for knitting another panel of...

I apologize for the lateness of this blog--these days I seem to be moving at a snail's pace in just about every area of my life. And even though I would like things to be otherwise, I am determined to be grateful. I'm really into "Austin", the new book, and have...

We've sure been having crazy weather out here--clouds and rain in the mornings, and enough sunshine to satsify anybody for the rest of the day. It has been GLORIOUS.At the moment, we're in the grouchy-sky phase, but I'm holding out hope that it will change back to...

It's a writing day!I LOVE unobstructed writing days, and they seem to be harder and harder to come by lately.Mary Ann, the Trail Boss, is still under the weather with a very bad cold. Yesterday, I asked Chris, aka the Nazi Dog Nanny, who is filling in, to throw...

I love a day with no appointments in it! I can write today, really roll, without stopping to do this or do that.It's all good!I'm slow-cooking a roast, and Sadie is off exercising this morning, so Bernicie and the cats and I have the house to ourselves for the moment....

Sometimes, a blog theme just goes ahead and presents itself, without any urging from me. That happened this morning, with my dogs and cats.Sadie-beagle and I took the elevator downstairs (re: my elevator: picture a rattle-trap cubicle, NOT one of those sleek...

I can't believe it! The first garden catalog arrived in today's mail, bursting with flowers and fruit and vegetables and growing-gadgets of all sorts. A much-needed reminder that spring will be back soon.Round zucchini squashes?Container blueberries?Strawberries that...

Folks are dealing the the results of major disasters and not commenting on such tragedy seems wrong. On the other hand, the media news will cover the situation thoroughly, along with any new developments. So all I'm going to say about the earthquake in Haiti follows...

I continue to make discoveries, mostly related to arts and crafts at this point in my illustrious career (insert smiley face here)--but definitely spilling over into my writing. Color, texture, form and shape--these things enrich my entire life. The so-called failures...

That's my new crafty fascination. Yes, aprons. What wonderful memories I have of home-sewn aprons--my mother had a drawer full of them. She would shop for cheery fabric and whip up new ones for approaching holidays or special occasions--Halloween apron? You bet. Also...