The Ancestral Pen

  Dear Reader, If you've been following me for the last few weeks, you know I'm working on book 4 of the Pack Saddle Ranch series. Here's a concept image for the cover. It's not final, but I like to do this about halfway through the first draft, once I've gotten far enough into the book to really imagine the scene. This also starts the book cover process, which I do so that by the time I'm done with the book — developmental editing, polishing, and the final draft — I'll have a cover ready to go. It also gives me a mental break from the words and lets my mind just "see" the images that go into my book. I play with different images and scenes you may never see, but again, it's a way for me to visualize the story. Nora Flynn is running from the death of her father, which some of her brothers blame her for. She's from the Musselshell flats of Montana and runs west, only to collide with Jesse Calloway — whom many of you may know from The Outlaw...

  Dear Reader, This made me melt. This was a review left on Goodreads for A Mother's Last Gift . Don't get me wrong. Even the constructive reviews are useful. I do read them, and I take them to heart. I've even gone back and edited books because of reviews that told me what was wrong, but this one is a feel good review that I just wanted to share. Please know that good or bad, reviews help authors. If you have left reviews for my books, thank you. It is always appreciated. If you have read any of my books and not left a review, I would like to ask you to please consider leaving an honest review. If you notice anything amiss in one of my books, please feel free to contact me and let me know. I was recently speaking with a DAR sister who mentioned she'd found something incorrect in one of my books. She was reluctant to share what it was, and was surprised when I encouraged her to do so, saying, "Oh, please do tell me." I'm only human, and I do make mistakes....

  Dear Reader, Well, I have some news I'm still a little giddy about. Fading Light has been chosen as the current read for the ISSDAR book club! If you know me at all, you know what that means to me. Captain Edward Beeson is my fourth great grandfather, and it was through him that I joined the Daughters of the American Revolution in the first place. Writing his story was my way of honoring him before America's 250th anniversary. Now the very organization that connected me to him is reading his book. I couldn't have dreamed that up if I tried. And it gets better. On August 22nd I'll be featured on their podcast, talking about Edward, the research behind the book, and what it was like turning two hundred year old records into a family you can get to know. Though before that, on Saturday, August 1st , I'll be signing copies of Fading Light for DAR members at the Asotin County Library in Clarkston . Members, if you already have a copy, bring it along and I'll happi...

  Dear Reader, This is the last newsletter before America's 250th, so I want to spend it on the ancestor who started all of this for me — the first patriot I was ever able to actually prove was mine. You know him already. Captain Edward Beeson , my fourth great grandfather, the patriot I wrote Fading Light for. With the 4th right on top of us, I keep going back to a few passages from that book. So today, instead of another round of research, I want to just sit with some of his story — and his family's — for a minute. Here's how I put it in the author's note: "Some people celebrate anniversaries with cake. I wrote a book. Captain Edward Beeson is my fourth great grandfather. When I discovered I could join the Daughters of the American Revolution through him, I made it my mission to write this novel in his honor before America's 250th anniversary." Every Beeson in that book is real. The births, the marriages, the battles — they all came out of actual milita...