This n' That . . .

I've got a pub date for my first Love Inspired Historical. It'll be released in May 2008. No title yet, but it looks like "Dani in the Lion's Den" won't fly. The concept works but it's kind of long. The story also needs something to identify it as a western. I've got a few more favorites, but it'll be awhile before I get the final word.

The best thing about flying to California is having six solid hours to read. Overall, I read four books: LEATHER AND LACE by Diann Mills (loved it!), LETTER PERFECT by Cathy Marie Hake (fabulous!), THE LAWMAN'S BRIDE by Chery St. John (pure joy!) and THE SISTERHOOD OF THE DROPPED STITCHES by Janet Tronstad (powerful and charming at the same time). As you can see, I was slaking my thirst for stories. When I'm at the end of a ms (as I was with the LIH), I don't read very much. Once it's in the mail, I have a field day with my TBR pile.

And last . . . I'm hooked on American Idol. Go Melinda!

Off to California . . .

I'm off to southern California to visit my mom. I hear it's been close to 90 degrees! Hooray! I'm leaving behind heavy rain and a bit of snow . . . I don't have anything planned, just lots of family time, Mexican food and sunshine.

Time . . . So Precious!

I've spent 6 of the past 24 hours in the car. That's what happens when you have three cars and three drivers, and one of the vehicles breaks down. Add a snowstorm, complete with seven accidents on an eight-mile stretch of the Capitol Beltway, and you know how I spent 25% of my time.

No wonder I haven't gotten much done on the latest manuscript. It would be easy to be annoyed (I am), but I don't want to lose sight of God's timing. I enjoyed a long conversation with my oldest son while driving home from the Metro. I listened to wonderful music while stuck on the beltway. I had a chance to think about the next book without too much distraction.

My dad was a wise man. When I'd complain about not getting anything done, he'd say, "You got a lot done today. It wasn't what *you* wanted, but it was what God had planned all along." I'm hoping God's plan for tomorrow includes working on Chapter One of the next book, but I'll be ready for anything.

Sundays . . .

We go to church and a couples class, hit the grocery store, fix dinner and rest . . . It's a nice way to spend the the day.

I have a theory . . .

Living in northern Virginia, I stand in a lot of lines. The bank. The grocery store. Check-out at the library. Sometimes people chat with each other; most of the time they don't. In southern California, the opposite is true. You can be in line at the bank and hear someone's life story, including divorces and plastic surgery. Now, when I'm stuck in line and someone starts to chat, I ask them where they're from. It's almost always the South or west of the Mississippi.

Today I was in line at my local supermarket for over 30 minutes. (They're usually better than that.) I had a lovely talk with a woman who's an artist and soon to retire to a nearby beach community. Her friendliness made the time fly by . . . I don't know her name, but I was very glad for the company. And where was she from? She's lived all over and counts this area as home, but she's originally from Wisconsin. I knew it!

Surprise Ending . . .

A month ago I got the call from Love Inspired Historicals. I thought the book was done except for some tweaking to the end. Well, the tweaking turned into three new chapters and a complete rewrite of the villain. I had one of those writer moments where I saw the end in a completely new light. The new one's a million times better than the original.

It's been an extremely business month, but it's the kind of stuff I love. Long hours when the story is getting better and better . . . the excitement of sudden clarity . . . Surprises that come out of nowhere. Things snapped together with this story. Soon I'll have a pub date and a new title. I'm hoping to keep "Dani in the Lion's Den." It's a good fit for the story.

Writing-wise, it was a good month. Everything else is topsy-turvy. This is when it's a joy to have faith. Without God, we'd be going nuts around here. My husband's facing a potential job change that could lead to a move for us. Both kids are doing great, but change is traumatic. This morning I read Isaiah 51. Loved it! Thank God for calming the storm . . .