Latest Release

A week ago--while I was luxuriating in Maine, in fact--I re-published a backlist novella as an Ebook. It's available exclusively on Kindle for 99 cents, and contains a bonus sample chapter for The Proposal, currently on sale for $2.99.

"The Apple Blossom Bower" was originally published in an by-invitation anthology with some big-time authors of the genre. We all wrote for the same publishing house (Penguin/Signet).

I had a short deadline, which came at the same time we were moving house from Colorado to New England. As often happens, I chose to set the tale in a location I knew rather well and loved a lot--the South Coast of Devon. I was a student in Exeter for a time, later had friends who lived in Dartmouth. I've chased ponies on Dartmoor from time to time, and like to delve in to local smuggling lore.

The region is especially lovely in apple-blossom time. It also produces a lot of the cider I so happily imbibe.

So, I mashed all that together, and made a story.

The Way Life Should Be?

That's one of the slogan of the Pine Tree State, also known as Maine.

For the second weekend in a row, we had the chance to spend time with friends with whom we have England connections and writing connections. They live in London and have a summer house in coastal Maine, less than 2.5 hrs from the Lodge.

After some catching up at the house, we headed off to the dock at Five Islands, where the teenage boys like jumping off the pier into frigid waters and the predatory seagulls look like they might yank the lobster roll right out of your hand and the boats arriving at the wharf are there to unload more lobsters.

Then it was on to Popham Beach...not the State Park one but the other one.

We had a lovely walk along the long, long beach. The Chap inadvertently stepped on somebody's beach art.

The beachcombers create interesting structures with driftwood.

I remember this house from last time. It appears to be vacant. I suppose the right person hasn't come along. The right person would need a boat, because it's on an island.

We headed back to the spot we'd claimed on arrival and sat down to watch passing boats and seals and cormorants and a distant eagle and beach dogs. And the chaps of all ages headed for the beach shop and bought ice cream cones and frappes. I requested Moose Tracks but my Chap's Peppermint Stick was delicious (he let me have a taste.) We had to eat our cones quick, before the contents melted.

The sunset sky was spectacular. Unfortunately I don't have photos, but I doubt they'd have done it justice anyway.

Saturday at the Farm

The Chap and I have a friend who is a priest and canon, a writer and potter. On Saturday we went to lunch at his farm.

His dog, much larger than my girls!

Before and after lunch, we and the other guests had a chance to throw pots in our hosts studio. This was my first time doing it, and my hopes weren't terribly high.

But with good guidance and instruction, I had caused to be pleased with my efforts.

Done!

It joined the other drying pots, awaiting the glaze (a celadon colour) and firing.

My Other Project (Non-writing Category)

Since January 2011 I have participated--as Vice Chair of the Bishop Search and Nomination Committee--in the diocesan effort to find a successor to our present bishop, who retires in January 2013.

After a momentous period of discussion, listening, learning, prayer, reflection, and discernment, on May 19th our diocese elected a wonderful priest. A month ago, at the General Convention in Indianpolis, the whole church--House of Bishops and House of Deputies--consented to our election.

At about noontime today, the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, and a host of other bishops from New England and around the country and even the Roman Catholic church--consecrated him a bishop.

As you can see from the photo, I'm feeling very pleased and thankful about the result. Looking forward to the next chapter...

Published--Again!

My New Year's resolution to format and publish my backlist titles as eBooks has been achieved. There are more books to come, but yesterday The Proposal went live at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and is pending at Kobo.

I'm no longer the giddy twenty-something that I was when my very very first book was published, and nothing will ever match that thrill. But thanks to modern technology, and my own technical abilities, and a burgeoning eBook market (particularly for romantic-type novels like this one) I can reach an entirely new audience. This book has been published in paperback, hardcover, various foreign languages. And now--electronically.

I really should blog about how this novel came about--it was a game-changer for me, and developing it and writing it got me through a sad time and a very, very harsh winter. In my head I was living in a picturesque castle rose garden with a couple of conflicted, attractive protagonists, an obsessive poet, a dog (yes, of course there's a dog!), and various others was wonderful therapy and a good beginning to a new phase of my career as published author.

I'm happy that the actual Gloucestershire castle on which I based Bevington is pictured on the cover. I will be blogging about my rather intense relationship and familiarity with the real location--I promise.

For now, some links to the various vendors, if you'd like to check it out or might be inclined to purchase it.

The Proposal at Amazon US (Kindle)

The Proposal at Amazon UK (Kindle)

The Proposal at Barnes & Noble (Nook)

The Proposal at Smashwords (various platforms)

More later. For the next couple of days I will be involved with--and celebrating--the consecration of our new bishop.