Almost Like Fall...

It is!  Almost like fall around here.  The False Solomon Seal, at left, has bloomed, shed its petals and brought out the fall berries--which as you can see, are half-eaten already by local wildlife.

It's gorgeous here this time of year.  Brisk clear nights and days warming into the '80s.  The Northwest version of paradise.

My flame maple in back is looking pretty red.  It's a big sapling, still, so it's not that showy.  But it's definitely showing me its version of Autumn.

It's been one super-busy summer around here, rushing to meet deadlines, attending the big Romance Writers of America conference in Anaheim.  Great fun.  Photos on my website, here.

I was up for the RITA award twice.  Didn't win.  But sure had a lovely gala night at the awards dessert party.  My younger son came to visit for a few days.  So good to see him.  We showed him the sites of Portland.

And now we're into our big master bath remodel.  (Pictures later) and I'm off soon to plot group to plan more books.

And speaking of books...

Two in a row comin' right up.  In November, The Prince She Had to Marry.  Here's the cover:

I love the look the two of them are sharing.  And her cute little baby bump.  She's about three months pregnant in this scene.

Back cover copy reads:

FOR HONOR.  AND FOR LOVE?

Cold, distant Alexander Bravo-Calabretti was the last man

Liliana of Alagonia had ever imagined marrying! After all,

even a princess longs for happily-ever-after. But when a

one-night fling with her nemesis led to a royal baby-on-the-

way, only a wedding would satisfy their disapproving

families. So with a fast, secret ceremony, they were joined

for life.

Alex had agreed to make an effort for the sake of the

baby, even though letting the lovely Lili close was a threat

to the barriers he’d long struggled to maintain. But the

future of the throne—and his royal honor—was at stake.

And when he and Lili posed as happy newlyweds for the

paparazzi, he found himself wishing that their marriage

could be for real after all….

Then in December, The Rancher's Christmas Princess.  I don't have the cover for that yet.  But here's the back cover copy:

A CHRISTMAS PRESENT. 

FROM THE PAST.

Arabella Bravo-Calabretti came to Elk Creek, Montana, with a secret to deliver and a job to do. Being a Bravo Royale, she was going to do it right. Before she handed her best friend's darling son, Ben, over to his unwitting father, they would all spend Christmas together. Only then could she be absolutely sure that rancher Preston McCade was ready to be a dad.

Or...was that really the reason Belle was hanging around?  She and Preston were practically from different planets, yet the attraction was undeniable.  Before long, someone was utterly in love with a rancher--and Christmas in Montana was presenting one suprise after another.

I do love the copy on both of these.  You can click on the titles to order from Amazon.

Happy Reading everyone...and now, to clean up this office a little....

Conference Excitement!

Getting ready for conference.  Much excitement.  Packing, planning.  It's actually quite a bit of fun.  And I did want to post the link to the July 25 Literacy Autographing in Anaheim here:  http://www.rwa.org/cs/literacy_autographing  Just click through to read all about it, including checking out the map for the signing.

Always before, authors were seated alphabetically.  This time the arrangement is...well, frankly, a bit incomprehensible.  But hey.  Why not? We'll see how this works out.  I'm at table 107, near the cashier and the raffle table, so if you happen to attend the event, please stop by and say hi!

And before conference, younger son is coming for a few days.  I do love the summer.  So many good things going on!

Also, well, trying to make progress on my latest Bravo Royales story.  I'm getting there.  One page at a time.   Hope your summer is stacking up to be fabulous!

Conference Preparations....

I find I am...a tad distracted lately.  I need to be finishing the latest proposal, writing the next book, performing any number of boring office chores.

But this year, I'm going to the big Romance Writers of America's conference in Anaheim.  See the picture above?  That would be Christy Ridgway, yours truly and Leigh Riker at the 2007 RWA conference.  Such fun!

This year, as most years, the conference takes place at the end of July and it's several days of nonstop networking, endless eating out and sharing the latest publishing news and supporting and being supported by friends and colleagues.  There are big parties, a gala awards ceremony.

It's very stressful.  And very fun.

And so what am I thinking about when I should be working?  New shoes.  My hair.  What great clothes I need to buy and how much I can pack.  I confess.  I love getting ready for conference.  So much so that it distracts me from the work I should be doing.  So far, I've bought two pair of new shoes, a couple of new outfits.  Cute earrings.  A new bag.  I've spent more time than usual at the hairdresser, perking up my color, getting my cut just the way I want it, so I can breeze into the salon the day before I head for Anaheim and get perfectly primped for trip.

I'm getting excited all over again, just thinking about all this.

But today, I'm really, really going to try and focus on the actual work.  Because, you know, a writer writes.  And I need to be doing that.

Then again, don't you just love this cute little shoe...?

Gone to the Beach...

Or rather, I was gone. This weekend.  It was lovely, just me and my husband.  We walked and we enjoyed the small fishing town of Garibaldi, Oregon.  This picture was taken on the beach at Oceanside.  What a great time we had.

And now...back to work. A proposal to write for book four of the BRAVO ROYALES and then on to write the mauscript for book three.

We had a week of gorgeous days here in Portland, but today we're back to rainy with clouds.  It's okay.  It's sunny in my heart!  ;)

To the left?  Driftwood on that same Oceanside Beach.

Wanted to take the train tour of Tillamook Bay.  But the tours don't start till next week.  So I settled for standing on the steps....

Day Tripping...

You know, as in that old Beatles song. "She was a daaaayyy tripper. Sunday driver, yes..."

But then actually, we went on Saturday. Last Saturday. To Arcadia and Luther, Oklahoma. First, in Arcadia, we visite Pops. As in soda pop. From all over the world. Soaring glass walls with glass shelves lined with varicolored varieties of...pop.

Next, on to the Round Barn, which was, not surprisingly, round. And a barn. Here's one from outside.


And here's me inside on the ground floor. The M on my tank top? For Mensa. We went with the DH's Mensa group.
And upstairs, where they hold barn dances and even the occasional wedding.

Then on to Luther and the Tres Suenos winery. We sat out under the trees drinking wine, eating cheese and crackers. It was lovely. Sadly none of my pictures do the scenery at Tres Suenos justice.

It's nice to have a little break, get away. If just for the day...