September 1, 2008

My dear Readers and Friends:

Well with an early Labor Day summer is officially over. Technically, however, summer goes on for 3 more weeks. The Autumnal equinox is scheduled this year for 11:44 A.M. on September 22nd. I always like it when equinoxes and solstices begin in the morning. It's a true beginning then. Hope you all had a wonderful summer, and are ready for the cooler weather.

Autumn is my favorite season of the year. This year I may want it to go on for 6 months because the new Farmer's Almanac says it's going to be a very cold and snowy winter. Tom is cheering. He loves snow. But just wait till he discovers that that nice long drive he has now doesn't shovel itself! LOL!

I'm happy to tell you that THE SHADOW QUEEN, Book 5 in The World of Hetar series, went into New York right on time. My editor will be reading it shortly, and then I'll do any re-writes we both deem necessary. Tara has a good eye, and I know she'll come up with something that will help me make this an even better book so I'm looking forward to her comments and suggestions. I won't tell you anything about the book right now because it's much too soon to be dropping hints. Perhaps around 12th Night I'll give you an idea of what will be happening as Lara continues her adventures.

I hope you have enjoyed my August book, DANGEROUS PLEASURES. I thought Annie Miller's story a very modern cautionary tale. However I want you to know that there will be no new "Pleasures" book in summer 2009. As those of you who come regularly to my site know 2008 has been an extraordinarily busy year for me. I have delivered two books, and I downsized from a house I had lived in for almost 30 years. If I am to be finished unpacking etc. before year's end I needed a little time as I have been working 24/7 to meet all my obligations. So these Autumn months in which I usually write the "Pleasures" book will instead be devoted to completing my neverending move. I'm sorry to disappoint the fans of this odd little series but this time even I had to admit I'm not superwoman.

In October THE CAPTIVE HEART will be available for your reading delight. Let me remind you all once again that this series does not deal with one family, and one time period. The only thing connecting these tales is the Border region of Scotland, and the Border families. This third book in "The Border Chronicles" series is set in the first years of the reign James III, who came to the throne as a little boy. In England Henry VI has been overthrown, and flees north into Scotland with his queen, and young son. Among the queen's party are her long-time physician and his daughter. Dr. Givet is ill, and in an effort to spare him further trauma the queen arranges a marriage for his daughter, Alix, with the son of a Northumbrian baron hoping to have seccured her godchild's happy future, and a home for Dr.Givet in his last years. When Alix's bridegroom commits suicide several months after their wedding, and her father dies, Alix is forced to flee over the border into Scotland. It is there she must throw herself on the mercy of a tall, dark and handsome - of course! - brooding laird with some secrets of his own. The story has a Jane Eyre quality to it which is the only hint I will give you. LOL! I hope you will enjoy THE CAPTIVE HEART.

On the home front I am saddened to report the passing of our beloved long-haired greige and white cat, Pookie, on July 8th. He had made the transition from the old house to the new beautifully. He loved the new fenced in back yard. But sudenly he began to fail. He could no longer digest cat food and was eating only freshed cooked chicken, and rare roast beef from my local deli. He became incontinent and was throwing up. And in the matter of a year he had gone from 10 and a half pounds down to two and a half pounds. We said he had become a whisker, a bone and a hank of fur. He died at home in my arms, and everyone including the vet was crying. He would have been fifteen in December. As for our other two felines, Finnegan and Sylvester, they are healthy and happy. Finn has insisted on taking the position of Alpha cat although he is a bit of a bully, and is scolded roundly for it. Sylvester, like the late Pookie, has beautiful manners, and is a sweet guy.

George and I have gotten through the summer well. Tom and Megan moved into our old house on July 2nd, and quite frankly I have never seen such a disaster. It's better now as Tom has done nothing but unpack for weeks now, do laundry and put stuff away. Megan took the four children off to visit her parents in August. She drove from the East End of Long Island to Wilmington, NC in a day with all the grandchildren to see her mom first. Then a week later she drove another twelve hours up to Ohio to visit her dad and her grandma and all her cousins. Finally on the last week in August she drove home from Ohio, and that was the shortest leg of the trip! The kids are ready for school which starts September 3rd. Chandler who turned 13 in August - EEEK! A teenager! - will be in 8th grade. Cora is going into 5th grade. Sophia is starting kindergarten. Evan at 2 and a half will be home for the interim.

Well, that's my news for now. Oh, one final note. If you are owed a book, or bookplate from me I will be getting everything out in the next few days if you haven't already received it. Finishing the book became my main focus over the last 3 months, and everything else got pushed aside. Remember, my dears, to pray for peace in our world, and for the victims of war. Especially our friends in the Republic of Georgia. Until next month God bless and good reading from your most faithful author,