Done!

I finished and submitted the last book in the McKettrick Men trilogy--Keegan's story, "McKettrick's Heart". I was so touched by these stories--all of them had some element from my own life--my deep love for animals, for instance. Finishing was both a triumph and a heart-rending good-bye. When I complete a story, I always feel like a mother sending her children off to college.

Off to Vancouver tomorrow, to visit the movie set! We'll be taking lots of pictures, and you can expect them to appear on the website soon.

Sadie is in the dog-house. She got into the treat cupboard in the pantry last night and ate half a bag of Beggin' Strips. No wonder she wasn't up for breakfast this morning!

Downstairs, folks are getting things ready for a family barbeque. It's a wonderful blessing to hear those dear, familiar voices, talking about ordinary things.

As you know, if you've been reading the blog, my uncle, Jack Wiley, passed away day before yesterday. And what do I treasure most? Memories of his mischievous, crooked smile, and that impish look that came into his eyes when he was telling tall tales. And I remember the sound of his voice, talking to other dear people, now go on, about ordinary things.

Treasure the ordinary things. They are precious.

Jack Wiley

Jack Wiley, honorary uncle and cherished friend of the Lael family, passed away today.

By now, he's home on the ranch, as he loved and remembered it.

Gramma is calling him in to supper.

Grampa will want more wood carried in for the fire first.

Godspeed, dear uncle.

Auntie's Tonight!

I'll be at Auntie's Book Store, in beautiful downtown Spokane, tonight at 7:30. I surely hope to see some of you there.

For those of you who've been asking how to get signed copies of my books, Auntie's is your answer. We'll be putting all necessary info on the website very soon. Auntie's will have a signed supply of each new book, available as soon as it comes out.

In the meantime, I'm on the homestretch with "McKettrick's Heart", and getting ready to visit the movie set where my friend, Josanne Lovick, producer extraordinaire, is filming an adaptation of my very own "The Last Chance Cafe"! We're even bringing in our dear mutual friend, Pastor Jean, to bless the production.

The movie is wonderful, but the friends are the greater blessing. I've known Jean for almost thirty years--and what a history we have.

Be blessed. And have a wonderful weekend.

More McKettricks Today

I'm on the homestretch with "McKettrick's Heart"--and what a heart Keegan McKettrick has!

I'll be writing Chapter 12 today, and although I know in general what will happen, Keegan and Molly have a way of surprising me, just as Jesse and Cheyenne did. And Rance and Echo.

Yesterday, I visited a local lake--there are something like 70 lakes around Spokane--and I fell in love. I'm in the market for a lake house, and I'll keep you posted.

Up to My Eyeballs in McKettricks!

I'm sorry I missed blogging yesterday. Those McKettricks are REALLY keeping me busy! Things are heating up big-time in modern-day Indian Rock, where this trilogy is set.

In the midst of all this, a dear uncle is wrapping up the last days of a truly good life. We will miss him, one of our pair of Jacks, but we also know he will love the New Place. I think he'll be back on the ranch, as he remembers it, with Gramma cooking one of her savory suppers at the old wood-burning cook stove, and Grampa ready to spin one of his wonderful limericks.

As if these things weren't enough, my Lifetime TV movie, "The Last Chance Cafe", is about to begin filming in Vancouver. I hope to make a flying visit to the set on my way to Atlanta, for this year's Romance Writers of America conference. And the minute I get home, I'll be writing "A Wanted Man", Rowdy's book, which is the sequel to "The Man from Stone Creek" and very likely the beginning of a whole new series--about a family of outlaws!

No rest for the wicked. And none for ME, either, apparently!