With November closing I have to say it was a very productive month. I basically shut myself into my office and my family didn't see me until the last week of the month but I am happy to announce that the second book in the Healing Hearts series is completed...at least the first draft. I won't give anything away just yet but I will confess that one particular scene nearly brought me to tears and tore me up for days. (How's that for a teaser?) I haven't loved a couple more than Julia and Dylan in a very, very long time. That's good news for readers, I promise!
Even in the midst of a mad writing spree and NaNoWriMo (which I won on the 18th, a record for me!) I still made time to get the decorations out and prettify my home. I love decorating for Christmas and I am one of those people who puts them up very early. It's not that I don't enjoy Thanksgiving, I am just grateful for the beautiful lights and items that cover my house and want to enjoy them as long as possible. (I don't take my decorations down until Feb. 1st either!)
I was also able to attend an amazing even in San Rafael with 10 other Avon authors including my friend, Jennifer Ryan (if you haven't checked out her books, don't miss them!) We had such a great day meeting with VIP readers as well as any others who attended the panel and wine tasting after the VIP event. If you get the chance, go! Avon puts on a great party and you get to find out so much more about the authors you love than you might want to know. Things like "upstairs or downstairs" or who they might "screw, date or kill." Needless to say, there was tons of laughter, a few screams and too much fun to contain in one room!
This month saw an expected scare with the horses. Dusty (my 24 yr old gelding) sand colicked. It's common for him but it hasn't happened in several years and, at his age, can be very dangerous. All turned out well, he's feeling much better after a vet visit and he has been cleared to begin riding again. On Thanksgiving Day, after a three year hiatus, I was able to ride my boy again! And, Gypsy was able to clock in another ride on the lead line.
After a mad dash, a day early, to pick up Baby Girl, the wonderful Mr. Kline and I were able to have an impromptu "date" when she became stuck in three accidents along the Highway 1 corridor on her way home. That is how you make lemonade from lemons...well, for us at least. In the end, she made it home and soaked in the glory of being home again, where you have no real responsibilities and can hide from the world if you choose. Needless to say, a part of her didn't want to go back, any more than I wanted to see her go. But, Sunday morning, I put Baby Girl back on the train for the long trip "home." At least she'll be back in three weeks!
If you want more information on these events, just click the links!
December Giveaway
Of course we have another giveaway this month for you! I'm giving away TWO prizes in December...a set of Rodeo ebooks including Rodeo Queen, The Cowboy & The Angel and Learning the Ropes as well as a $10 Amazon Gift Card. You can keep them for yourself or give them away as a gift!
Jennifer rolled her eyes at Clay and slid the pitcher toward him. “Be my guest.” She turned to leave. The less time she spent near him, the easier it would be to get through the next week.
“Do you realize everyone is making bets on how long it will take before you slap me?”
She arched a brow at him and leaned her hip against the table. “Really? Who has five minutes?”
“I think that would be me.” A smile curved his lips. It made him look younger and less cynical. He was always so damn handsome when he smiled.
She forced herself to look away, busying herself with shifting the food on the table and stacking empty bowls. “Then I’ll wait a few more minutes so someone I like wins the money.”
He tried to hide the frown that furrowed his brow and turned his lips down again. It only lasted a second before he grinned and shot a glance at her brothers, still seated near Mike’s trailer. “Come on, Jen. How can you say you don’t like me?” He moved a step closer to her, his fingers toying at the side of the bowl of potato salad, over hers.
Her gaze bounced from their hands to his green eyes. “It’s real easy. I-don’t-like-you.” She made sure to enunciate every word. Why couldn’t he get the hint? She didn’t want anything to do with him, not now, not ever again.
Jen pulled her hand from under his but he took a step closer, his gaze holding her own. “You used to be friendlier,” he pointed out.
“And you used to be charming.”
Clay straightened his shoulders and took a step toward her as she backed away. “I’m still charming, with people who aren’t antagonistic.”
How dare he insinuate that she was being antagonistic. Okay, well, maybe she was, but he deserved every bit of resentment she directed at him. The man left her lying in his bed after proposing and never gave her any explanation for his departure. She narrowed her eyes for a moment before she allowed a sweet smile to curve her lips.
“I’m so sorry, Clay. I didn’t mean to be so hostile.” She reached for a half-empty bowl of potato salad. “You’re right, I used to be friendlier. Let’s start again. I’m Jen,” she said, thrusting her right hand out.
He eyed her suspiciously but took the bait, curling his fingers around her hand. “I’m Clay. Jen, do you realize you have the most amazing eyes?” he flirted.
“Thank you.” She gave him her most engaging smile and leaned toward him. “Tell me, Clay, who had the bet that I’d dump potato salad on your head?”
“What?”
He barely opened his mouth before she upended the plastic bowl over his head. Bits of mayonnaise, carrots and potatoes dripped down his face and she couldn’t stop herself from laughing out loud as she quickly moved from his reach. Clay swiped at the mess on his face, flinging it from his hands to the ground. She heard the laughter from her brothers behind her and looked over at them.
“Next time, don’t make bets about me.” She shoved the bowl into Clay’s chest. “And the three of you can clean up this mess. I’m leaving.”
