Auburn Public Library Historical Day

I will be speaking about Sawyer's Rose at the Auburn Public Library on June 25th at 2:00pm So those of you in the area need to come out and say hello! I must admit I am a bit nervous as I have never been good at public speaking, but it boils down to wanting to get my story out there! So many of us introverted writers do it anyway. Kind of scary that my name is first, but I will have a few fun things there and of course books for purchase along with fun swag giveaway. Come join the fun!

From the Chuck Wagon...

The cowboy decided on a little something different this month This is an easy and quick supper for the hungry little cowgirls that live here too! How about western ground beef tortilla taco boats with cheddar cheese and a relish of cilantro, avocado, cucumbers, tomatoes and lime juice--salt, pepper and taco sauce to taste. Not sure they had this back in the 1880's but we'll go with it for now!

Fifty things about me...for my 50th.

So on this momentous occasion of turning fifty, I thought I would list fifty things about me some of you might or might no know. In looking at fifty, I only remember saying at about twelve years old that I wanted to be published by the time I was fifty and I made it...just barely. But here goes:
1) I am a Christian.
2) I hate to eat fish, but I like other seafood like crab legs, shrimp and oysters.
3) I played ten years of girls softball, the old high slow pitch. I was a catcher and third baseman.
4) I have water skied, snow skied, roller skated like a champ & busted my rear on ice skates.
5) I have spinnakered on a sail in Can Cun and snorkled off St. Maartin.
6) I am a percussionist. I play drums, xylophone, bells, tympani, tri-toms and a good bit more.
7) I am a certified keelboat sailor and passed the boating and written test with a 97.
8) I spent 5 summer vacations whale-watching off the coast of Gloucester Massachusetts.
9) I have seen the group Alabama at over 400 plus concerts.
10) I gave birth to a 9.25 pound baby girl that more than one physician told me I would never have.
11) I managed the paperwork and travel to bring home a daughter from China.
12) I graduated Nursing school and have a Masters in Adult Learning.
13) I hate to fly.
\14) Clowns scare the hell out of me. Ever read Stephen King's IT? Shhh, don't tell anyone.
15) I have seen a number of  plays over the years: Fiddler on the Roof, Stomp, Grease, Diego.
16) I only write in pencil. I hardly ever write with a pen and I print, no cursive.
17) I do not like coconut anything. And no anchovies please.1
8) I went to the opening ceremonies of the Olympic in Atlanta in 1996.
19) I held a baby tiger once in Can Cun and another time in Myrtle beach.
20) I had my picture made with the African Queen, the boat used in the movie.
21) I pulled all my baby teeth by the time I was ten...no fair. 22)  ICruised to Nova Scotia once.
23) I get motion sick easy, Bonine for all long trips unless I am driving.
24) I Volunteered at ZooAtlanta for over a year.
25) I Saw a Picasso exhibit once and relics from the Titantic.
26) I've Been to Biltmore several times.
27) I hate musicals. Do not break out in song in the middle of my drama.
28) I was born while my father was in Viet Nam. He came home when I was five months old.
29) I have lived in Georgia, Texas and Tennessee.
30) I rode a motor cycle from age 6 until my teen years. My Dad didn't have sons.
31) I Once I played ball for a church team and when we didn't have enough players my mom played. She and I alone were responsible for 30 points.
32) I lived in Nashville only down the street from Dolly Parton before she got to be a big name.
33) When I was first born, my mom worked in my grandmothers daycare and I lived there in a crib.
34) I caught my first bass at age 3. Still love to fish.
35) When I was young I got up before the TV even came on and would sit and watch the static. age 3.
36) I learned to swim at five.
37) I am a total introvert and no I can't just get over it. ISTJ too!
38) I once worked in my grandparent's western store.
39) I worked at my father's Tire company.
40) I worked with the handicapped citizens of Clayton County before I was a nurse.
41) I played flag football in high school.
42) I have milked a cow.
43) I finaled in the Maggies and the Golden Heart. (OR Sawyer's Rose did.)
44) I fear spiders. Not snakes or lizards. Spiders. They know what you are thinking.
45) I was voted helping hands nurse of the year in 2003.
46) I have slept on the balcony of a hotel all night.
47) I have an Olympic Pin collection.
48) I snore...sometimes.
49) I love the beach and the mountains, but what I love best is being on vacation.
50) And...I am fifty.


And there is much more but you might have to wait another 50 to find out.

Sawyer's Rose is here!!!!

Release Date for Sawyer's Rose!!!

Sawyer's Rose will be released on March 18th, 2016!!! I will be so excited to finally hold an actual book in my hand! I may be just like Ralphie on A Christmas Story when he gets his "Red Rider BB gun with a compass in the stock" and sleeps with it all night. In fact, I may not put it down for a week!
It's been a heck of a ride getting to this point. I was thinking back to when I first got the idea for this story. I had recently joined Georgia Romance Writers and even though I had completed three stories, I quickly learned I had not written them very well and so I set them aside determined to write a story in that magic little romance box that publishers wanted. And so I thought, I can write a mail-order-bride story. I had just finished reading a bit of history on such brides and I was learning a lot at writing meetings and with critique partners---but I still had a lot to learn.


What I learned first was that I couldn't write the story that would fit right into that box. I had to write the story inside my head and from my heart. That is not saying the story didn't need work. I think I rewrote Sawyer nine times before getting a contract and several more times with editing for publication, but I just knew I had something--and I did. Sawyer's Rose was a finalist in the 2014 Maggie Awards and a 2015 Golden Heart Finalist which is still mind-blowing to me and I do not take any of the ride with Sawyer for granted. After all, when I look at the road behind me, there was a lot of dust kicked up along the way and so my hope is that all the blood, sweat,  and tears means it will be the story a lot of you are waiting on!

(One commenter will win a silver horse bracelet, drawing to be held this Friday night!)


Aug. 2011-Started the book I've meant to write all my life.

May 2012-Completed a three book series in rough draft format, not knowing a thing about how I should be writing.

July 2012-Joined RWA (Romance Writers of America) and GRW (Georgia Romance Writers). The best advice a multi-published friend had for me.

Sept. 2012-Attended GRW: I didn't know I would have to introduce myself...what the heck do I write again? If I hadn't been sitting by Diana, who pushed me forward, I would have passed on this part without anyone knowing. The best thing was that Maggie grabbed me by the arm as I left the front and invited me to Southside Scribes. Seriously, there are people who want to write as bad as I do and they live nearby? Yes!

Sept. 2012- Attended Southside Scribes and discovered my critique partners who have been an invaluable wealth of knowledge. Thanks Maggie, Trish and Cheryl.

Oct. 2012-Attended Moonlight & Magnolias (M&M) GRW conference: I took the only two pitch sessions open...let's just say I was a naive in thinking one editor was as good as the next. It was Tracey who gave me a quick lesson on pitching, but I should have known there was something to the look on my guides face when she lead me to the editor no one else wanted. Six minutes later, I was all too aware that all editors were not the same and this one just about bit my head off, but she still asked for a partial.  I pitched again the next day, thinking I would rather vomit instead, but this editor was much nicer and asked for a partial also. I never sent those partials to either editor as my book was full of all the things new writers must learn...head-hopping, show vs. tell, filtering, not to mention just the regular requirements for what I call, "writing in the romance box". I prefer to think outside that box, thank you very much.

Nov. 2012-Started a new book with intentions of writing inside that darn box after all, but not could use a lot of what I was learning hanging around the Professionals.

Dec. 2012-First draft of SAWYER'S ROSE complete with help from critique partners and beta readers. Thanks to you all!

Jan. 2013-GRW: With less than twelve hours left, I decided to enter then Gin Ellis Critique Workshop....seriously, in less than a day I got the first three chapters of SAWYER'S ROSE ready, complete with writing the dreaded synopsis. Whew!

Mar. 2013-Gin Ellis Critique. I was so scared about the event I thought about not going, but Jennifer was great at explaining the issue in a positive light. I left determined to write even better.

Apr.-June 2013-Worked solely on the first three chapters of SAWYER'S ROSE for submission to the Maggie's. I didn't expect to place, but I got two good critiques.

July 2013-RWA-Nationals in ATL. Pitched three times and found I did much better by not rehearsing a word. I got three requests for partials.

Aug. 2013-First rejection. Bummer.

Sept. 2013-Got my PRO pin from RWA after submitting proof of my first rejection. What other group in the world helps you celebrate a rejection as a positive thing? I 'm loving this!

Oct. 2013-M&M 2013. Almost skipped the pitch coaching session, but found it invaluable with Hilde's coaching advice. Got requests for a full and a partial and again rehearsed nothing. I must be best under pressure when it comes to pitching.

Nov. 2013-Friends set me up and had me called to the front for my PRO pin. For those of you who don't know me, I would rather pull out my fingernails than go up in front for something like that.

Dec. 2013-When I look back, I sigh...it was a busy year full of a lot of firsts, a lot of writing, rewriting and learning. The best parts of it all, the wonderful writers I've met who celebrate the good and bad together. My critique partners who are a wealth of knowledge and support are always there with positive feedback and encouragement. I've reconnected with old friends who have become my beta readers, of which I could not do without. I am amazed that I've conquered my fears long enough to pitch, go up in front of the crowd and send my manuscript off to editors. Most of all, I love how it feels when I am so lost in my writing that it feels like I am right there with my characters. There is also no better compliment than when a reader tells me they loved my story or one of the characters.

Jan. 2014-Planning out this year feels a bit lighter than last year as I think I know more about what I am doing with each item. I will be entering the GIn Ellis Critique with GRW. I want to send out SAWYER'S ROSE anywhere and everywhere once I go through it again. Right now, it is in the best condition of any of my stories. I have joined GRW's most rejections and finish the book pools and I plan to enter the Maggie's in Historical and Contemporary this year. Oh yeah and I just got my second rejection on SAWYER'S ROSE...bummer,  but Sawyer is a good man and like I said he is going places. I also have a request for my newest contemporary story ALL BUT THE FALL when it's ready and this agent is willing to wait until I have it written at it's best. So things are moving along and I do feel good about all I have accomplished so far in this crazy business of writing for publication. Stay tuned...

August 5th, 2014-Got the phone call from Mary at GRW that Sawyer's Rose finaled in the Maggies. This is so what I needed to hear. Spending so much time writing and not really having anything at all happen can take a toll. I had been feeling pretty rock bottom for a few months, but this is a big lift for my ego and frankly I needed it. 

Oct. 11, 2014-Sawyer's Rose gets an honorable mention kind of like 4th place at the Maggie awards. It felt so good all weekend at M&M to be recognized for being one of the finalist although I was really nervous but excited. I was shaking so bad when I got back to my seat that it took me a few minutes before I could even look at the certificate I got! Now I can really start my writing scrapbook and have something wonderful to put in it! Sawyer's Rose has grown on me and it was nice to see it in big print and on the big screen being recognized, so I owe Sawyer a big thanks along with Rose, because they seemed to write their own story while I watched. Such a fun weekend with all my writing friends. It also helps that I sat in the pitch room seeing all the editors and agents I could get to for pitching Sawyer and now I have 7 requests--do I stress now or later about how to handle that many. But I did get them all submitted in one night of intense work.

Jan. 12, 2014-Sawyer's Rose submitted for the RWA Golden heart.

Jan. 13, 2014-The Wild Rose Press contacted me and offered me a contract on Sawyer's Rose. I was at lunch at work when I got the email and I hardly remember the rest of that day. Yes of course!!

Mar. 28, 2014-At work again when my cell phone rang. I knew that this was the Thursday the Golden Heart and Rita's would be calling, only I had never thought I would be the one answering. And so yes, Sawyer's Rose is a Golden Heart Finalist. I stood in my office in tears (happy tears) alone that first moment wondering just how the heck this had happened.

May 2013-Began first edits on Sawyer's Rose and completed in June. Did second round edits and then two galley's and Sawyer's Rose was ready.

July 2015-RWA Rita's and Golden Heart awards in New York City!

January 2015 Sawyer's Rose release date will be March 18, 2016.

And the Journey continues, but this time I am riding off with Wyatt McCade! I hope he can give his brother a run for the money!

Sawyer's Rose...

I finally got the final galley of Sawyer's Rose turned in and it looks like I should know a release date sometime in the next few weeks. It will be released in the spring of 2016. It has been a long road to this point. but it's very surreal to think one day in the near future I am going to actually hold this story as a book in my very own hands. When I was about twelve years old, I wrote in a journal that one day by the time I was fifty I wanted to be published--and that birthday is just right around the corner for me. I wonder how that will go, when the first book gets to me and I open the box it came in and can really hold it in my hands. I suspect I will just sit to the floor and begin reading once more. I will then show it off and of course like a kid on Christmas with a new toy, sleep with it cuddled in my arms for the first few nights. Don't laugh, I am being totally serious and I sure hope you guys out there will enjoy reading it as well!!!! Stay tuned!!!

On the trail with writing...

Second edits of Sawyer's Rose were turned in several weeks ago, even with a broken hand. So it appears that we are approaching the homestretch of getting this story out there. I haven't asked about release dates, mainly because things will happen when they happen. There is enough stress getting to this point, with working full time, two kids, a husband, three dogs, two guinea pigs, the wash, the dinners, the dishes, the homework and the list goes on. How was it I found the time to write in the first place? I spent last weekend at GRW's Moonlight and Magnolias event and the one thing I noticed was that I had made some kind of transformation along this journey since the previous times I have attended this event. I am usually a little tense at these type events as I am preparing to pitch my story or if I have been named a finalist I am definitely nervous. This time there was none of that to worry about. Because I had a contract on the story, Sawyer could not enter the unpublished Maggie's and since I didn't have a book in my hand, the story could not be put into the published Maggie's...so I was free of sorts. I took a look at the schedule of topics and tried to choose the ones most pertinent to an author with a first book coming out and it was fun. But the transformation came in the fact, instead of walking around not knowing too many people, I knew a lot of people. It didn't feel like such a foreign event. And the amazing thing? Here and there, other writers were asking me questions about my writing and how I am doing things. Some asked about Sawyer's Rose and others asked the details about editing and how it goes. I suddenly couldn't be the quiet girl at the table in the back of the room. I had to speak up and to my amazement people were listening. Maybe I have evolved a bit, not that I am going out on a limb. Speaking in front of people and to people I do not know is very hard. I am a total introvert, more exhausted by a room full of people than most, though I think I did well. But looking forward, Sawyer's Rose will be released soon and this time of year I tend to get more story written as the kids are in school, it will be getting cold outside and I've gotta get that second story written. I've been working on Wyatt's story for about a year now, but it needs some changes and editing and I've been working hard on that. This story has seemed harder as I have interrupted it each time Sawyer needed edits and every time I get back to it, I have had a hard time getting my head back into the story. I've got to wrap my head around being able to write one story while I get another out to the public, without losing a bit of the story or myself. But Wyatt has a story to tell, the same as Sawyer and it has been coming along. How some writers spit out more than four books a year...more power to them, as I will be doing good to get one a  year and maybe one day two. Whew...this had been a busy year of a lot of firsts with my writing. One writer mentioned to me to celebrate the little things along the way and I have tried to do that, but when Sawyer's Rose hits the public, I am planning to have a big party, open house type thing. At least for the first book and that will make it even more memorable. I've also been thinking of the things or contests I can do on Facebook to make it fun as well. So stay tuned, I am going to max the fun things related to a long time dream finally coming true. Stay tuned.