Another year gone

Hi everyone.

I hope you had a wonderfully blessed Christmas.

Not only did I get to enjoy the holiday with my family but loved all the decorations around town. This year we met some family members from North Louisiana area. We all met up in Natchitoches for the Christmas lights. There were twenty of us all together. It was great fun! Natchitoches does it up beautifully. It had been 10-15 years since the last time I attended the Christmas lights...and man how it has grown. There was so much for the kids (grand kids & nieces) to do. They actually got to ride down a snow bank. Real snow and ice...just not natural. Remember we're still in Louisiana. For us this was great. The kids enjoyed the heck out of it. For all of you who live north sliding down snow comes every winter. This was a first. Unfortunately not all the stores on the main strip stayed open, so only a little shopping was done. The town was so quaint. We loved it all.

The week before Christmas I flew to California and spent time with my oldest daughter, Rachael, in Dublin. She had surgery and is doing well now...still in some pain but getting better every day.

My son Chris and his new bride of one year (Rosie) had Scott and I over for dinner Christmas night. It was wonderful. An elegant table setting with fine china and crystal...I felt like a queen...and the food was delicious. We had a marvelous time. There we have two grand-pups. They aren't puppies though. Butch and Sundance. When they stand on their back two legs they are as tall as me...or taller. Both are Pitt bulls I believe...but so sweet and so well behaved!

2013 is less than a week away. Are you ready for the new year? Every year gets better and better. I know God has blessed my writing, growing it more every year. My first book signing for 2013 is January 5th at the Barnes & Noble in Citiplace. It's for Crime in The Big Easy. I'm looking forward to it.

I was interviewed by a writer for Town Favorites and will be in their magazine in February. I'm looking forward to that too.

This year I hope to be speaking at two conferences...The Berries, Bridges, & Books Conference in Ponchatula (April I think) and ACFW conference in September of 2013. I'll keep you posted of these things on my web. MY LINK

There should be two more books released in 2013 by my publisher Oak Tara. That too, I'll keep you informed.

The big news for 2013 is -- a new baby -- Yes. My daughter, Molly, (my middle child), is pregnant with her 3rd. Her oldest is 16 and youngest is 10. Both are boys (Scotty & Koby). Pete, her husband, is elated...as are we. We're keeping our fingers crossed for a girl, but if its a boy -- that's great also.

Nothing but good coming in 2013. I'm looking forward to next year. I hope you are too. God bless you one and all.

Talk to you soon.