It's been too long since I've offered a news page.  I have two not-so-feeble excuses.  I've been writing more books, and I've been helping to raise more children.  In the last year I've written--all related, all published by Silhouette Special Editions, my original publisher--and I'm hard at work on the fifth and sixth in the series.  And the children?  Well, they're my grandchildren.  During the school year the two girls are with us full time while they attend school--first and third grades this fall--and our grandson visits often.  So I'm far from retirement.  Not heading out to pasture anytime soon.  Except maybe to commune with the horses, which have given me so much pleasure over the years and so many four-legged characters for my stories.

So about the RITA finals.  Romance Writers of America awards the RITA every year at its annual national conference.  There are quite a few categories, and I've won for Best Single Title Contemporary.  I've been a finalist many times for my series books.  This year I'm pleased to announce that IN CARE OF SAM BEAUDRY is a finalist in the Contemporary Series/Suspense category.  Since this is a judged competion and the judges are published writers, it's really true that it's an honor to reach the finals.

SAM BEAUDRY was the first book in what has become a multi-book series set in Montana, the Dakotas, and Wyoming.  I just received the cover for ONCE A FATHER, the fourth book in my Double D Wild Horse Sanctuary series, and I'm thrilled with the handsome cowboy who graces it, but picture him as a Lakota Sioux.  Logan Wolf Track is a Tribal councilman.  He's also a horse trainer--the best there is.  Sergeant Mary Tutan trains service dogs for the Army.  They both want to take part in Sally Drexler's wild mustang training competition, but Sally says they don't qualify.  Not separately, anyway.  But between the two, Sally figures they have what it takes.  And do they ever.  Mary needs a place to call home, and that place might just be the Logan's generous heart. I have lots of work to do before school starts, so I'd better get back to it.  Enjoy your summer reading.  Try these: