Living in my new Colorado home I have bunny rabbits everywhere! The photo above is of a recent backyard visitor. I’ve placed a decoration of my front door–a wreath from Michael’s with a little help from a painting stir stick, a glue gun, and a magic marker–so I could name my new abode The Rabbit Hole, as in “dropping down the…” My home is where I work, and “down the Rabbit Hole” is where the creative process happens.

When I’m immersed in writing, I’m so in tune with my characters that they take on a life of their own. For instance, while watching a tennis match at the Sony Open in Miami I was also making a list of gifts the characters in Montana Bride were giving each other for Christmas! Later I discussed my choices with a friend as if each person and each gift was real.

Come and Meet Me in Person

If you’d like to meet me in person, I’ll be speaking at the Superstars Writing Seminar in Colorado Springs, May 14-16. Other authors at the seminar include Kevin J. Anderson, David Farland, Rebecca Moesta, and Eric Flint. I’ve also done an interview with Laura Moore that you might want to check out. You will love her new novel Once Tempted.

Coming Soon

So many of you have written asking when you can read MONTANA BRIDE. I’ve just found out it’s scheduled for publication January 6, 2014. Be sure to sign up for my e-newsletter and continue to visit my website or Facebook Fan Page for the latest news on new publications and reprints. The good news is that I share the cover with you now.

I still have one more Mail-Order Bride book to write: Josie’s story, BLACKTHORNE’S BRIDE is coming up next. I haven’t forgotten about the Benedicts, including Nash! I continue to examine my writing schedule to see where I can make time to write the next book in this series, which you all love so much. Again, your emails asking about all your favorite Benedicts and when you can read more reminds me that I need to get them written.

I so appreciate your support and interest in the books I write.

Read a book. Take a walk. And enjoy the beautiful spring weather.

I’m doing the Happy Dance! My editor called this week with the awesome news that WYOMING BRIDE is #13 on the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller list! And #47 on the USA Today Top 50 list. Random House, my wonderful publisher, sent flowers to celebrate this news. I have you to thank for making this happen. I so appreciate your support and interest in the books I write!

Moving back to Colorado and struggling with unpacking for the past several weeks has been a little less stressful due to your many lovely emails and Facebook comments welcoming me to the state of Colorado or missing me in Florida. I must admit that after a few days of very cold weather, I thought about the warm, sunny days I left behind in Florida. The photo at the top of this letter was taken in the kitchen of my new home with a transplanted Florida barracuda!

Answers to your Questions

My desk is finally set up and I’m finishing MONTANA BRIDE. So many of you have written asking when you can read it. At this time, I don’t know the publication date, but it will be sometime later this year. As soon as I know, I’ll post that information, so be sure and sign up for my e-newsletter and continue to visit my website or Facebook Fan Page for the latest news.

Between this move, a writing deadline, and the myriad of tasks associated with a move, I’m behind in answering my reader mail. So I’d like to answer a few of the questions you most frequently ask in this letter.

Answer: At this moment in time, I plan to write Josie’s story, BLACKTHORNE’S BRIDE, after I finish MONTANA BRIDE.

Answer: Sam’s story (King’s brat) is certainly a possibility, but not a book yet on my schedule.

Answer: Lydia’s story: I’d like to write it soon but I’m getting ahead of myself. It’s always on my mind but I can’t honestly tell you when it will get written. Please be patient and I’ll keep you informed…as soon as I know!

Answer: I haven’t forgotten about the Benedicts, including Nash! I continue to examine my writing schedule to see where I can make time to write the next book in this series, which you all love so much. Again, your emails asking about all your favorite Benedicts and when you can read more reminds me that I need to get them written!

I’ll be heading back to Florida in March for the Sony Open (tennis matches) in Key Biscayne, Florida, and hope to make it to Wimbledon in London again this year. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to play some social tennis over the winter here in Colorado–indoors, of course! All in an effort to balance work with play. Hope you’re doing the same!

Welcome to 2013! I’m starting the New Year in a new location, having moved over the holiday (yes, really!) from Florida to Colorado. I think I packed 55 boxes of books–my author’s copies (for the 53 novels I’ve written and reprints thereof), research resources, and favorite books I’ve read and reread. I was in Denver for several weeks in the fall as a base from which to do research for Montana Bride and realized how much I missed the mountains. So I decided to do something about it, which resulted in this move–and me being in Denver for a picture-postcard snowy Christmas Day with my son, who flew in from Seattle.

New Window View

The view from my window has changed from this:
to this:

The snowcapped mountains in the background are the Rockies. The mountains in front are the Flatirons. The wilderness in-between is 11 miles of hiking and biking trails. Despite the barren look of the terrain outside my window, I can be in the middle of a forest in 15 minutes. The smell of pines and the forest around me feed my soul.

Season Tickets

I’m a great Denver Broncos fan, so it’s fun to be back where I can attend games in person (okay, so I managed to see 7 home games this year, even though I lived in Florida, by doing a little flying back and forth). And there’s always a lot going on at the University of Colorado in Boulder. The writing community around Denver is vibrant and invigorating. I will miss seeing my daughter, son-in-law, and grandkids for dinner every Monday night, but we will still get together for holidays. I’m very much looking forward to catching up with friends I made when I lived here a few years ago, and to making new friends in the New Year.

New Bitter Creek Book

I also have a new book in the New Year. Wyoming Bride, the sequel to Texas Bride, hits stores January 1. This book is Hannah’s story. She’s one of the twins. (Hetty’s story, Montana Bride, is my work in progress). It’s been fun to figure out different ways for the four sisters to become mail-order brides in this series. After three months in a mail-order marriage, Hannah Wentworth McMurtry is a widow–pregnant, alone, and near death in the Wyoming wilderness. Then my hero shows up needing a wife–because he’s in love with the woman his brother is planning to marry. This one was a challenge to write, because neither one really wants to be married to the other.

I’ll be heading back to Florida in March for the Sony Open (tennis matches) in Key Biscayne, Florida, and hope to make it to Wimbledon in London again this year. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to play some social tennis over the winter here in Colorado–indoors, of course! All in an effort to balance work (as soon as I finish Montana Bride I’ll go to work on Josie’s story, Blackthorne’s Bride) with play.

I hope the New Year brings you lots of love and laughter.

If you are like me, this is the time of year when life gets really busy with school events and charity events, holiday parties and family get-togethers. I’ve had my share of each over the past couple of weeks. My grandson and granddaughter both had parts in their school’s production of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Meg (age 7) was the Five of Spades, and Logan (age 9) had a speaking role as one of the Jury. I was so proud of them both! I wonder if Logan’s joy at being on the stage has anything to do with having a grandma who was a drama critic, director of theatre, and actress with two degrees in theater before she became a writer? Hmmm.

Denver, Here I come!

I’m lucky to live in Florida, where the weather stays warm most of the year, and recently went with friends to hear the Florida Orchestra play Pops in the Park. We took chairs and wine glasses and were able to sing along with all the Broadway tunes, and then delight in the fireworks afterward. I’m heading back to live in Colorado in December (I love the mountains, the hiking, the Broncos football!), so I especially enjoyed what might be my last late October outdoor concert.

I joined the PARC Platinum Ball committee by accident last spring (okay, so I went the wrong night to a meeting and it turned out it was the Platinum Ball committee, not the Cassandras, and I ended up staying and joining the committee), but I’ve spent the summer working with the PARC committee toward the Platinum Ball, which was held this past weekend to benefit mentally handicapped adults and children.

One of the things I donated for the Platinum Ball silent auction was the right to have my next novel, MONTANA BRIDE, dedicated to a person selected by the winner of the auction. I’m proud to say I was able to help earn some money to benefit PARC. I invited friends of mine to come for a glass of Champagne at my home before we went to the Vinoy Hotel for the ball. It was so much fun dressing up!

New Bitter Creek Re-Issue

I can’t end this letter without letting you know that one of my novels,THE PRICE, is out this month with a brand-new cover. This is a Bitter Creek novel, but some of you might have missed it because it was originally published as a hardcover novel. I love this book because it has a wonderful romance–and a surprise ending. Fair warning: it also has a little more graphic sex and more strong language. I’m not sure why I thought that was necessary, just because the book was published as a hardcover, but I love how the book turned out, and I hope you will, too.

December News

I’m going to be busy this month finishing up MONTANA BRIDE before I start packing for my move back to Colorado. Oh, by the way, WYOMING BRIDE will be in stores in late December and you can pre-order now. So save some Christmas money to buy yourself a book or two.

Take care and enjoy the wonderful fall season!

My daughter also attended, and we were able to enjoy exploring the city, especially walking the Chelsea High Line and eating at Grimaldi’s, a famous pizzeria under the Brooklyn Bridge. Here’s a photo and, no, I didn’t eat it all!

Wyoming Bride

I’ve put WYOMING BRIDE, the second book in my brand-new Mail-Order Bride series, cover here on my website. I think it’s beautiful so please let me know if you agree. I also just finished copy-edits for WYOMING BRIDE. (Whew!) Writing a book reminds me of cooking a holiday meal where the preparation time–inviting family and friends, looking at recipes, shopping for food and then cooking–can take days, and then the meal is consumed in what seems like minutes. You might find this photo interesting, as it’s the stack of drafts I did while writing WYOMING BRIDE.

Summer of Re-Issues

If you’ve been enjoying a little summer reading, I hope you’ll take time out to enjoy re-issues of a few of my previous novels you might have missed.. In June, Barnes and Noble featured my 1993 novel OUTLAW’S BRIDE (now in a 16th printing), in their stores. In THE BAREFOOT BRIDE (first published in 1992), both bride and groom neglect to tell the other party about their children–who aren’t the least bit happy to become part of a blended family. The groom’s daughter, Patch, a spoiled brat who’s only twelve in THE BAREFOOT BRIDE finally wins Ethan Hawke’s love as a grown-up lady in OUTLAW’S BRIDE.

Now THE TEXAN, first published in 2001 and the second book in the Bitter Creek Series, is available with a new cover. Owen Blackthorne is a lone wolf, a man who doesn’t need anyone. Then Bayleigh Creed appears on his doorstep, demanding his help in locating her missing brother. Together they head into the desolate West Texas wilderness, a Blackthorne and a Creed, mortal enemies obliged to join forces to survive in the West Texas wilderness.

Other News

Did you know that some of my novels are available as audiobooks? They’re the perfect companion whether you’re on the go or you enjoy a good story. I’ve added excerpts from THE PRICE and A STRANGER’S GAME audiobooks to my website.

For those many of you who’ve asked, I’ve added a Hawk’s Way Family Tree to my website. You can view it here. Or print it out. I’m still working on the other family trees and hope to have them for you soon.

Montana, here I come!

In a few weeks, I head west for the remainder of the summer. I’m looking forward to hiking in the Colorado mountains, but primarily I’ll be doing research for MONTANA BRIDE, the third book in my Mail-Order Brides series. The trip involves exploring small towns in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley and learning about the life of lumbermen in the 1870s. I’ll be blogging about my travels, so check in to see how the research goes. By the way, the first chapter of MONTANA BRIDE will appear in the back of WYOMING BRIDE, which is in stores December 26, 2012.

Happy Reading!

I’m doing The Happy Dance! TEXAS BRIDE is on both the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller lists! Thank you for all your kind responses to TEXAS BRIDE. Here are just a few:

Marie wrote: Just finished this book, GREAT book, can’t wait for the other 3 to come out. PLEASE don’t make me wait toooooooooo long.

Esther emailed: I really, really enjoyed this book! I knew these people from other books you have written. It was great seeing them again, and I can’t wait for the other brides. Keep them coming. I couldn’t put it down.

Your comments really make all the hard work feel worthwhile!

Benedict Brothers E-Book!

I’ve had such fun putting together the release of an e-book short story–”Watch Out for My Girl” featuring the eldest of the American Benedict Brothers, Nash Benedict. Nash is introduced in OUTCAST, which features his younger brother, Ben. Here’s how Nash is introduced in OUTCAST:

“I guess the rumors were wrong. You look fine to me.”

Ben’s head popped up from where he was pressing kisses to Anna’s throat beneath her ear. “How the hell did you get here?” he rasped, gaping at the intruder.

Anna jerked free of his embrace, staring with alarm at the intimidating man standing in the doorway dressed in jungle cammies and black jump boots.

She’d thought Ben Benedict was physically perfect. This man was a larger-than-life version of Ben. He was taller, even more broad-shouldered, with sharp cheekbones and hollowed cheeks, piercing blue eyes and very unmilitary black hair that hung over both brow and collar.”

“I wasn’t expecting you,” Ben said.

“The man in the doorway lifted an eyebrow, curved his lips into a smile, and shot Anna a wink. “Sorry to interrupt.”

Anna flushed to the roots of her blond hair. “I’ll leave the two of you to talk.”

“You’re not going to introduce me to your girl?” the man said, stopping Anna in her tracks.

“She’s not my girl,” Ben said with a snarl. “She’s my shrink.”

The big man chuckled. “Well, well.”

Anna approached the grinning man and asked, “Who are you?”

He jerked a thumb in Ben’s direction. “I’m his big brother. Nash Benedict, at your service, ma’am.”

Read more  about “Watch Out For My Girl.”  I hope you enjoy!

COLTER’S WIFE

COLTER’S WIFE, the second book I ever wrote–and one of my favorites–is being re-issued April 24th in both mass market and e-book format.

It’s a western historical romance, characters from which, including half-Sioux Kinyan Holloway, her rancher husband John, and their twin sons, Josh and Jeremy, are featured in the second book of the Mail-Order Bride series, WYOMING BRIDE, coming later this year.

Readers who haven’t yet met these characters can read about them now, and again in the fall.

Don’t Forget

To celebrate the release of TEXAS BRIDE, this month’s contest will feature a Kindle Fire as the prize.

To enter to win, visit my contest page and fill out the form, which includes 3 questions about TEXAS BRIDE. Good luck!


Happy Easter!

Dear Reader,

I’m excited to announce the March 27 release of  TEXAS BRIDE ,  the first book in  my new Mail-Order Bride series!   I love the orphaned Wentworths (four sisters and two brothers), and I hope you will, too.  The four sisters each end up as Mail-Order Brides–two in Texas, one in Wyoming, and one in Montana–as a way to survive.  It’s been fun for me to weave historical characters from my previous novels, including the Bitter Creek series, into this brand-new series.

Kindle Fire Drawing

To celebrate the release of TEXAS BRIDE, this month’s contest will feature a Kindle Fire as the prize.  To enter to win, visit my contest page and fill out the form, which includes 3 questions about TEXAS BRIDE.  Good luck!

What’s Next?

I’ve just finished WYOMING BRIDE, book two in the Mail-Order Bride series.  My publisher has graciously included an excerpt for WYOMING BRIDE in the back of TEXAS BRIDE which I hope you will enjoy.  You’ll find characters in this book who first appeared in my western historical COLTER’S WIFE, which is being re-released in May.

E-Book Short Story

Fans of my American Benedict Brothers series, begun in OUTCAST, will enjoy reading about Nash Benedict in a just-released e-book short story.  In “WATCH OUT FOR MY GIRL,” Nash Benedict finds himself unable to keep his promise to look after his brother’s girl while he serves in Afghanistan, when an accidental crush becomes an inappropriate affair of the heart.  And that leads the characters headlong into a meeting with murder.

On the “Fun” Side

I’m looking forward to a short break in late March to attend the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.   It will be a treat to watch some of my favorite tennis players, including Petra Kvitova (WTA) and Novak Djokovic (ATP).   I play tennis for exercise and enjoy “whacking the ball” to release the stress of writing.  What? You didn’t know writing romance novels was stressful?  Okay, so the writing is fun.  The deadlines aren’t!   But I know you’re anxiously waiting for the next book, which keeps me with “the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair.”

Travel

I’ll be speaking at Craftfest/Thrillerfest in July.  I love New York City, plus it’s a nice chance to network, speak with readers, and see dear writer friends.   I’m also planning a trip to Switzerland this summer to do more research for the Benedict Brothers series.

Hope you’re all having a wonderful spring!

Happy reading, ,

Dear Reader,

One month into a new year and–despite all my resolutions for change in 2012–I’m still caught up in my usual routine: writing, tennis and travel.

Writing

I’m excited about the upcoming debut of my new Mail-Order Bride series. TEXAS BRIDE is the first book and will be available for purchase on March 27, 2012. Besides featuring Cricket Creed (from my Sisters of the Lone Star series), TEXAS BRIDE also introduces Alexander Blackthorne, the first Blackthorne in Texas, and therefore is also a prequel to my Bitter Creek series. (And, yes, I’m working on getting a Bitter Creek Family Tree on my website for those of you who have been asking for one!)

As I write this, I’m putting the finishing touches on WYOMING BRIDE, book two in the Mail-Order Bride series. I love the Wentworth family (four sisters and two brothers) I’ve introduced in this series!

You can read an excerpt for TEXAS BRIDE on my website. You’ll find an excerpt for WYOMING BRIDE in the back of TEXAS BRIDE which I hope you’ll also enjoy. I’ve already started researching the Bitterroot Valley in Montana, the site for the third book in the series, MONTANA BRIDE.

Tennis

When I’m writing, I almost live in my office. So I’m so looking forward to typing The End to my current book and taking a short break in late March to attend the Sony Ericsson Openin Miami. It will be a treat to watch favorite tennis players: Petra Kvitova (WTA) and Novak Djokovic (ATP). These days, a tennis match provides most of the exercise I get. I love “whacking” at the ball. It helps to get rid of the frustration I sometimes feel when I’m struggling to get words on paper.

Travel

I’ll be speaking at Sleuthfest in Orlando at the end of March and at Craftfest/Thrillerfest in July. It’s a nice chance to network, speak with readers and see dear friends.

I’ve decided to stay in Florida rather than move back to Denver. It was a difficult decision, because I love Denver, especially hiking the mountains around Boulder and, naturally, Broncos football (Go Tebow!). Staying in Florida means being close to family and enjoying the wonderful weather and the convenience of European travel–Switzerland in June–to do more research for the Benedict Brothers series.

I have a substantial chunk of Lydia’s story, UNFORGETTABLE, written, and hope to squeeze in a little more work on the British Benedict Brothers series as I finish up my Mail-Order Bride series. I also hope to make a quick trip to the Bitterroot Valley sometime in August to see the locale of MONTANA BRIDE for myself.

I do appreciate your e-mails, although I’ve gotten woefully behind in answering my mail while on deadline. Just know I’m thinking about you–and keeping the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair!

It’s December and like many of you I’m feeling the joy and excitement of the holiday. Besides all the holiday shopping and cards and decorating and parties and football (Go Tebow!) and family get-togethers, I’m also finishing up book two in the Mail-Order Bride series, WYOMING BRIDE. I love the Wentworth family (four sisters and two brothers) I’ve introduced in this series and I hope you will, too. These books are all be connected to characters in my previous novels. For instance, Cricket Creed’s eldest son, Jake, is the hero of the first book in the series, TEXAS BRIDE, which will be out in April 2012 (The publisher moved it to a “better” –but later–spot).

I’m having a great time experiencing the holidays through the eyes of my two grandchildren. I host a family dinner every Monday night for my daughter, son-in-law and their kids, and I take advantage of the opportunity to set a table with placemats and candles and flowers and to cook something (like lamb shanks) that takes for more time than my daughter would be able to spend cooking after a hard day at work. The grandkids help with cooking and decorating the table, which is fun for them and for me. This year I’m excited that my son will be arriving from Seattle so the whole family will be together to celebrate the New Year. He’s a Miami Dolphins fan, so we’re trekking to Miami to see the game on January 1. Look for me waving in the stands!

You can click on Coming Soon for a sneak peek at the cover of TEXAS BRIDE. The book will include an excerpt from the next book in the series, WYOMING BRIDE. Besides featuring Cricket Creed (from my Sisters of the Lone Star series), TEXAS BRIDE also introduces Alexander Blackthorne, the first Blackthorne in Texas, and therefore is also a prequel to my Bitter Creek series.

December mail also brought cover flats for a re-issue of COLTER’S WIFE. coming in May 2012. For a special treat, THE TEXAN will be in Sam’s Club in August. I’ll also be posting a short story connected to OUTCAST, from my Benedict Brothers series, as an e-book in 2012. I’ll let you know when it’s available.

Hope you have a wonderful holiday season and a fabulous 2012!

Best,

I recently met with a friend in Seattle and realized I’d been in 9 different time zones in the space of a few weeks. No wonder I kept yawning over my lunch!

Despite the inconvenient disruption of my sleeping habits, I enjoyed my travels over the three months of summer immensely. If you’ve been reading my summer blog posts from London you experienced some of these highlights with me.

Almost Touching

Every so often, the British Heritage Trust at Stonehenge allows groups to walk in amongst (but not touch!) the stones at sunrise. I was privileged to be one of a group of 32 who had that experience. It was exhilarating to be allowed to get close enough to see where someone etched his presence in the stone in 1814, or to see where water has worn away holes in the stone, or to see the “blue stones” within the circle concealed by the larger stones without, or the moss growing on the stones right up close or to stand directly beneath one of the stone lentils. Most visitors are required to remain on a sidewalk perhaps three or four car lengths from the stones. We were the only folks there (aside from a single security guard), and the circle is large enough for me to have been there with no one else in sight. It was a feeling of sheer joy–cold and windy bliss, to be sure–to be there as the sun rose in a bright blue sky.

To further explain the nine time zones, once I returned home from London I immediately left again for Banff and Lake Louise, Canada, for my annual mother-daughter trip. Then quick hopscotched trips between Florida (to unpack), Colorado (to see Broncos football) and Seattle, Washington (to see my son), before finally coming home to stay.

While in England, I did an on-line review (Quite an adventure!) of the copy-edit for TEXAS BRIDE, the first book in my new Mail-Order Bride series, due in stores March 2012. Click Coming Soon for a sneak peek at the cover! TEXAS BRIDE features Cricket Creed (from my Sisters of the Lone Star series) and Alexander Blackthorne, the first Blackthorne in Texas, and is a prequel to my Bitter Creek series.

Now that I’m settled back in my office, I’m busy finishing up book two in the Mail-Order Bride series, WYOMING BRIDE. I love the family of characters in this series and I hope you will, too! These books will all be connected to characters in my previous novels.

Hope you had a great summer! I’d love to hear which moments were memorable for you and what you’re looking forward to now that fall is here.

Cheers (common British greeting meaning “So long!” or “See you later!”),