In A Funk

I've been in a writing funk lately. Just can't seem to get inspired. Now I know I should just write anyway and bust through it, or maybe try writing on a different project. But so far neither thing is working. Any other suggestions from anyone who's experienced this and worked through it?

In the meantime, FATAL FORTUNE is now available exclusively at Fictionwise, with a new cover designed by my good friend and fellow author Maureen McMahon (www.maureenmcmahon.com). Check it out here: http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook36900.htm?r=3a20

Don't know if I've posted about the good news yet...the authors of ENCHANTED HOLIDAYS (of which I am one!) have a publisher lined up for our new anthology entitled, SHIVERS AND SCREAMS, VISIONS AND DREAMS. It's DiskUs Publishing, and we're looking forward to the release of the book this fall. More news here when it becomes available.

Spring has sprung here and beautiful flowers are bursting out everywhere. This spring is a real adventure for us, as we moved into this house last September, so we have no idea what's planted. Each new bud and blossom is a lovely surprise. I don't know what many of the plants are, but they're sure pretty! The previous owners did a terrific job of landscaping.

So, how come I can write a blog entry, but not a book? (sigh, eye-roll) Well, I'll keep trying, and if any of you have any tips, I'd love to hear them!

Wedding Picture

Just thought I'd post a quick little photo of my son Mike, his bride Amy, and our granddaughter, Isabel, who was the flower girl. Are they not all gorgeous (or adorable, as the case may be?


The 3,200-mile car trip with Isabel in tow was, frankly, exhausting. But looking at these pictures makes me realize it was all worth it. We finally got to meet our new daughter-in-law, and her family, and it was a chance to be back in Kansas for a bit. Thank goodness the weather behaved nicely while we were there!

So, do you have any family events planned for this spring? Spring is definitely a great time for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, births, any kind of new beginning. The crocuses are coming up in our garden and it's so lovely and warm today, nearly 70 degrees. Deep breath! Breathe in spring and renewal.

Back To Writing

I finally decided it wasn't right to spend so much time on this, my writing blog, talking about knitting. :-) So, I started a separate knitting blog. If you're a knitter and want to read about my latest projects, visit my new blog at http://liz-knits.blogspot.com .

I really am anxious to get moving on writing again. Lately I've been tied up with physical therapy to recover from my shoulder surgery, odds and ends still left to do from our move to New Hampshire last fall, helping our daughter and her family move here to New Hampshire and get a job, heading back to Kansas on a 3,200-mile odyssey car trip with our four year old granddaughter to my son Mike's wedding, teaching four online courses with a fifth to start next week...well, you get the idea, I've been busy.

But!

As of today, I'm starting work again on my novella. It's for a paranormal anthology tentatively titled SHIVERS AND SCREAMS, VISIONS AND DREAMS, and the other authors in the anthology include Kim Cox, Chris Grover, Elaine Hopper, Maureen McMahon, and Sheryl Hames Torres. We do have a publisher for the anthology, DiskUs Publishing, but don't have a release date yet. Check back here regularly for the latest updates.

My story for the anthology is titled "Restless Spirit" and involves a woman who's lost her husband and son, a Ouija board, and contact with a mysterious man from the past...

Hope this tantalizes you a bit!

So, what are YOU working on as a spring project?

Still Knitting

I'm still knitting like crazy, whenever I get time. Here's a picture of my latest completed project, a felted purse, for me this time (yes, it's drying on a radiator--we live in an old house):















I added a snap closure and a gaudy rhinestone pin, and I think it looks pretty cute if I do say so myself.

Now I'm working on a multidirectional scarf, to learn the technique. (Multidirectional knitting allows you to knit in different directions, like triangles or diamonds coming together at different angles, without cutting the yarn or sewing the shapes together. Check out a group on multidirectional knitting here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/multidirectional/)

I'm also knitting a scarf out of some really interesting yarn (Eros Glitz, check it out here: javascript:popupWindow ('http://www.knittingzone.com/catalog/popup_image.php?pID=2916'). I'm making the shawl on large needles and just using the garter stitch, so the focus is on the unique yarn itself, not the pattern. I've heard this yarn has been out for years. But coming from a place where the local Walmart was my only yarn store, to a place with a wonderful REAL yarn store (The Woolery, http://www.nhwoolery.com/) has made me realize how much I've been missing!

And, I'm waiting for a pattern I ordered for another felted purse. Hey, this felting stuff is fun! Here's the pattern: http://www.carodanfarm.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/product504.html This is a pattern by "Designs by Shelley," and I really like her other designs as well. You can check them out here: http://saboardman.tripod.com/ I especially like the Jester Bag, and the Flapper Bag and the Fancy Bag here: http://saboardman.tripod.com/id15.html

What are you working on? What are your hobbies? Do you have a new one you're enthusiastic about, or an old one you still love? Share, share!

Returning To An Old Hobby

In the last month or so, I've returned to a favorite old hobby: knitting.

I first learned to knit when I was five years old. A little young, maybe. But my dad, who worked for the Boy Scouts at that point, had brought us all to Boy Scout Camp for the summer. As you may imagine, there wasn't much for a little girl to do at Boy Scout Camp! My mom was kept busy taking care of my two year old sister, and I think she taught me to knit in self-defense.

I've been knitting ever since. Sometimes with great enthusiasm, and sometimes I put it aside for a while. In recent years I haven't knitted a lot, because the only "yarn store" nearby was the local mass merchandiser, who didn't offer a great deal of variety. I ordered yarn and supplies via the Internet sometimes, but it was tough to choose a yarn you couldn't see and feel before you bought it.

Then, we moved to New Hampshire...and my knitting life changed. Wonder of wonders, there's a yarn store just a few miles away! The first time I walked in there, I was mesmerized by all the different brands of yarn, the colors, the pattern books. I was in heaven.

I bought some wool yarns and made a felted purse for my daughter for Christmas. It's the first time I ever used wool--I was limited to acrylic before. And the first time I've tried felting. It came out great. That's the picture of it above. It was fun to learn something new, and to have wonderful yarns to work with.

Now I'm working on a shawl using the most amazing yarn. It's called Eros Glitz, and you can check it out here: http://www.plymouthyarn.com/index.php?nav=
cYarn.viewYarnImage&yarn_id=000088 (You'll have to cut and paste.)

Hard to tell, but the "yarn" looks like a ladder, with the two long sides made of black and silver thread. The cross bars are very fine, and inbetween them are bands of different shades of purple and blue. At least they are in the color I chose. ;-) The shawl is knitted on size 15 needles, so it's very open and lacy. I'm having a great time with it!

I'm also working on a scarf done in multidirectional knitting. Again, this is something new to me and I'm having fun with it. You can learn more about multidirectional knitting in this book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1579906494/sr=8-1/
qid=1139690659/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-7664966-4802449?%5
Fencoding=UTF8 (again, you'll have to cut and paste) and by joining the associated yahoogroups list. I think this should get you there: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/multidirectional/?yguid=236374673

And, I just ordered a great book of "vintage" sock patterns, revised for today's yarns and needles. I've never made socks either, and I think it'll be a fun project. It will be nice to have warm, soft wool socks in cold, wintry New Hampshire!

I also have a sweater I'm working on, but have put it aside for the moment, not only because of the excitement of the new projects, but because it's a bit too heavy to work on while I'm still recovering from my shoulder surgery.

So...are there any knitters out there? What are you working on? Do you have a local yarn store? How about a local knitting group? Let's talk knitting!

Snow and Resolutions

I'm starting to see what it's like to live in the northeast again. Western Kansas was cold in the winter, with nasty wind chills...the wind always blows there. But it was dry, so there was little precipitation of any kind. New Hampshire doesn't have much wind, but there's a LOT of rain and snow. We got about four inches this week over the space of two storms, and I just love it. Above is a picture from the most recent storm. I suppose the novelty will wear off, especially the "novelty" of having to put on boots and scrape my car every time I leave the house. But for now, it's an wintry fairyland and I'm enchanted.

Have all of you made your New Year's resolutions? Are they the same ones you always make? I find I tend to make the same ones every year, and the reason is because I never keep them, so I start over in January. I'll eat better, I'll exercise more, I'll be kind to everyone and won't lose my temper. Sound familiar?

This year, I'm doing something different. One of the things that distresses me in life is having panic attacks. They come on like gangbusters with all the Kansas thunderstorms that can morph into tornadoes, so I'm endlessly thankful to have moved to a tornado-less spot. The others--flying, hospitals, IVs/needles, driving in city traffic, getting lost while driving in city traffic--are still here and have to be dealt with on occasion. I can avoid flying, but I can't avoid surgery. In fact, I have to have some rather nasty shoulder surgery in two weeks.

So, my resolution this year is to try to tell myself, when panic looms, that at least it's not a life-threatening situation. (And to try to forget that sometimes, things like airplanes, hospitals and city traffic CAN be life-threatening.) The odds are with me that I'll survive all these things, and if I can just convince myself of that up front, I'll eliminate a LOT of stress.

Are you making any new resolutions this year? What are they?

Merry Christmas and Happy Tax Time!

I hope all of you who celebrate Christmas had a merry one! And those of you who celebrate other holidays at this time of year, I hope they were joyous and special.

We had a hectic but interesting holiday, since we drove eight hours on Christmas Eve day to visit my dad, then turned around and drove eight hours home on Christmas. But he would have been alone otherwise, so it was a good way to spend the holiday. Helped keep my mind off the fact that this was the first Christmas we've spent without our children (and grandchildren).

As we move forward into 2006, I know many of you will be thinking/worrying about doing your taxes. One thing that always bothers me is wondering if I've taken all the deductions I'm entitled to. The tax forms are so dang complicated! I like to think of myself as a fairly intelligent person, but I'm never quite sure I'm doing it right.

Fortunately, there are experts out there who DO know how it's done. Julian Block is one such expert. And the best thing about his books are, they're written in easy-to-understand language for the layman. Here's the info on one you might want to pick up this tax season:

TAX TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES: Savvy Ways For Writers, Photographers, Artists And Other Freelancers To Trim Taxes To The Legal Minimum

“One of the best tax books, an excellent source of information. Julian Block writes in such a lively clear style that a reader might never guess that he is a tax lawyer.” --- New York Times

“One of the best personal-finance books…a handy general treatment of personal income taxes…clearly written and both wide and deep in its coverage.” --- Money

Most freelancers and other owners of small businesses lose more than necessary to the tax collectors. Individuals who have their own businesses can learn ways to make the continually changing tax laws work for them. And business owners can learn the steps they should take to reduce taxes for this year and even get a head start for future years. Tax Tips For Small Businesses is an indispensable reference that offers clear, concise, uncomplicated and immediately useful advice on how to sidestep pitfalls and take maximum advantage of frequently missed, perfectly legal opportunities that can save many thousands of dollars.

No other book for consumers is as detailed and helpful as Tax Tips For Small Businesses. In fact, publications for attorneys, accountants and financial planners are not as detailed.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Julian Block is a nationally recognized expert, syndicated columnist, former IRS special agent (criminal investigator) and attorney, and a member, and former officer, of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, the preeminent organization of nonfiction writers. He has been praised by the New York Times as a "leading tax professional" and by the Wall Street Journal as "an accomplished writer on taxes."

Reading about taxes can be just about as unpleasant as paying them. Tax Tips For Small Businesses is a welcome exception. To order a copy, send $19.95 for a postpaid copy to J. Block, 3 Washington Sq., #1-G, Larchmont, NY 10538.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, pick it up if you want to be sure you take every exemption you're entitled to.

And to all, a very Happy New Year!

It's Winter Time, Little Bear

When I was a kid, one of my favorite stories was about a little bear who didn't want to go hibernate. He wanted to play in the leaves, watch the bugs, roll around and have fun. His mother kept saying to him, "But it's winter time, Little Bear." That became a saying in our house...and now that I'm in New Hampshire, I think I'll be saying it a lot!

That said, I'm still waiting for the first real snow of the season. Well, the second...we did have a lovely snowfall on Thanksgiving, so it was a terrific white Thanksgiving day. And luckily enough, I was cooking all day and didn't have to drive in it. I like watching the snow, and walking in it, but NOT driving in it. I'm also looking forward to building a nice, cozy fire in our woodburning stove--as soon as my hubby cleans it out and checks the flue.

Winter, of course, also brings Christmas and other December holidays, and I am NEVER ready for them. This year is no exception. Well, Christmas will be skimpy anyway, since our house back in Kansas hasn't sold yet. (sigh) But I haven't even thought about cards, let alone the few presents I plan to purchase, or putting up the tree.

How about you? Are you one of those people who's so organized, your decorations are up the day after Thanksgiving, and you've bought all your Christmas presents, wrapped them, and addressed all the cards that same weekend? Or are you one of those like me who has great ambitions to be efficient *this* year, but somehow it never seems to happen?

Oh man, I have to get going on that shopping...baking those Christmas cookies...addressing those cards. My work is cut out for me.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

Flu Season Is Here...And What About Bird Flu?

So, it seems flu season is upon us. I haven't been able to get a flu shot--yet--so I'm washing my hands a lot and knocking on wood that I don't get sick. There was supposed to be plenty of flu vaccine this year after last year's supply debacle, but there's a monkeywrench in the works somewhere.

My daughters and grandchildren have had a stomach virus of some type, but I don't think the flu comes with intestinal symptoms. Still, that's no comfort when you're sick. They were pretty miserable, and I hope that particular virus stays away from my door!

There's a lot of talk and concern about the bird flu and the possibility of a pandemic. The way I understand it, the bird flu as it exists now isn't much of a danger, as you have to be in contact with a live bird that has the disease before you can get it. The problem is, viruses mutate frequently, and if this particular flu viruses mutates so it can be passed from person to person instead of bird to person, THAT'S when we'd get that pandemic.

The Hungarians have developed a vaccine for the current form of bird flu. They say they've tested it and it works. But the question is, if the virus mutates, would it mutate enough so a vaccine for the current form wouldn't work against the new one? If so, I assume we'd have to wait to develop a new vaccine until the mutated flu actually struck, which could mean many people would die in the meantime.

What are your thoughts on the possibility of a pandemic version of bird flu? Are you worried? Are you changing your habits because of it? Have you gotten your flu shot this year when you never did before, just in case it helps? I'd love to get your take on it.

Beautiful Fall

We've finally dried out and I'm enjoying the unseasonably warm temperatures we're having right now. The fall colors are beautiful. I've heard some people complain they aren't as vibrant as usual, there aren't as many reds as usual. But to someone having their first New England fall in many, many years, they're incredible! I wander around the house, look out each window, and every window is a picture. Gosh, I wish I could paint. I'll have to learn someday.

I was a little surprised that we only got half a dozen trick-or-treaters here. I suppose it's because of the steep hill we live on. But I enjoyed each and every one. I'm going to try to remember how to post pictures, and add a picture of my granddaughter and grandson on Halloween. I wish I'd been able to see them in person. That's the only down side of moving to New Hampshire...leaving kids and grandkids behind. Aren't they adorable? And no, I'm not prejudiced at all. ;-)

One thing I'm coping with is learning my way around a new neighborhood. After living in one place for the last ten years, it's a challenge to find new grocery stores, new doctors, new restaurants. I've never been terribly good at maps or finding my way to new places, so every time I have to do so, it's a teeth-gritting experience. I have to find my way to the airport next week, and with all the traffic, that will be a real challenge. I think I'll deserve a medal if I make it!

So what's your favorite thing about moving to a new place? What's the biggest challenge? How is your fall going...are you enjoying it?

Rain, Rain, Go Away

New Hampshire has been beautiful up to now, and I swear I've loved every minute. But in the past few days, this "land of sunshine" has turned into Noah's Ark, Part Two. We've caught the tail end ofTropical Storm Rita, and boy, is it producing lots of water! We've gotten about six inches of rain here in the past few days, but other places in the state--not so far away--have gotten hammered. Roads and bridges washed out, houses and buildings destroyed, water undrinkable, and people dead and missing. Nothing like the aftermath of Katrina, of course--except for those who lost their cars, houses, and property. But it serves as a reminder that no place is one hundred percent safe from the ravages of Nature, or Man.

It's amazing to see how destructive water can be. Fire is intrinsically dangerous and we don't wonder when it wipes out a building. But water? This soft, cool, vitally necessary stuff that covers so much of our planet? It doesn't seem possible water could cause a bridge to collapse or a house to come crashing down.

Remember the old margarine commercials with the punch line, "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature"? I guess they weren't kidding, only it should be, "It's not smart to underestimate Mother Nature."

Anyway, how's the weather in YOUR part of the country? Are you waterlogged or bone-dry? Hot or cold? Are the leaves changing where you live, as they are here? I'm settling in for a lovely, cold, snowy New England winter for the first time in many years--if only the rain doesn't wash me away first!

We've Arrived In The Land Of Sunshine

This move has been difficult for us in several ways. First, my husband was not only leaving a job, but also leaving a career in music and starting a career in the finance industry. Second, we were leaving a house, town and location we liked, for the unknown. And third, though not third in importance, we were leaving behind our children and grandchildren.

But there are advantages, too. I've always loved New England--I was born in Massachusetts. So I'm happy to get back here, and just in time for our first New England fall in many years. Also, my mother and sister live nearby, and my dad not too much farther, so I know I'll see them more often.

The housing market here in New Hampshire is crazy...we've ended up with half the house, with about a sixth of the land, for twice the price of what we had in Kansas. But it's a lovely house, built in 1900 so I know it must have an interesting history, and recently remodeled with loving care. It's nice to move into a place that doesn't need immediate renovation, as would everything else we looked at.

I think we knew the move was looking promising when we ate out at a Chinese restaurant a week or so before we moved. My husband's fortune said, "You are traveling to a land of sunshine." So here we are in New Hampshire, a land of sunshine...and happy to be here!

An Adventure In Moving

The biggest news on the home front is, we'll be moving to New Hampshire in a few weeks. From Kansas, that's a big move in many ways. Obviously, it's a lot of miles. It's a huge change in terrain and scenery, and the weather will be different. (I definitely won't miss the tornados of Kansas...but will have to get used to driving in snow again.) We'll also be "downsizing," so will have some pangs as we get rid of treasured pieces of furniture.

But perhaps the worst pang is, this is the first time in twenty-four years we'll be moving without our children. They're all grown and on their own now, and I hate the thought of moving so far away from them. And my grandchildren! What good is a Nana who can't cuddle her grandchildren and give them gifts and candy and spoil them?

I'm thankful for the things we have now that we didn't when I moved out at age 18. I'll be able to keep in touch with my children via e-mail, Instant Messenger, webcam, etc. instead of simply writing letters or making an occasional long-distance call. But I had hoped to be a more regular presence in my grandchildrens' lives, and they're not old enough yet to communicate via e-mail.

At any rate, I'm a New Englander by birth, and I'm looking forward to my first beautiful New England fall in many years. We've found a tiny but lovely house (prices are much higher in New Hampshire), but there's just the two of us now, so it'll work. And I'll be closer to other family members, something to help fill the gap of leaving children and grandchildren behind.

I guess life is full of ups and downs, and mostly this move will be an "up" for us. Have you ever had to leave children or grandchildren behind in a move--or have they left you? How have you handled it?

Summer TV Blahs

Okay, I admit it, I'm a TV addict. At least, I'm a "good TV" addict. I'm not the type who will watch infomercials, or that Christmas station that just shows a yule log burning for days. What I watch has to be GOOD. But if it is, I'm there.

This past year has been agony and ecstasy for me with television. You want the good news or the bad news first? Okay, let's get the bad over with. THEY CANCELLED "ENTERPRISE"! In some ways, that was my dream Star Trek show. Okay, in one way: Scott Bakula. I've loved whatever he's done since the days of "Quantum Leap," so to me he was the perfect choice for a starship captain...intelligent, thoughtful, kind, and of course, good looking. I actually wrote a letter to UPN asking them not to cancel it. They did write me a nice letter in return, but darn it, that wasn't the result I was aiming for. ;-)

Now, the good news: LOST and DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES. I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed these two new shows. The only fly in the ointment is that my husband won't watch them with me, so I have to try to catch them when he's not around, or remember to set the VCR. And with my memory...let's just say, remembering to tape doesn't happen often. I've been a big fan of "disaster flicks" since the prime one, to me anyway: AIRPORT. Now, you wouldn't get me on a real plane...panic attacks, not a pretty sight. But show me AIRPORT and I'm there. So LOST had me from the first episode. And DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES is a fantastic cross between The Stepford Wives and General Hospital. I just love it!

But then the summer comes, and it's all reruns or really strange shows that didn't make it during the rest of the year. What's a TV addict to do?

Well, one idea is to watch movies on video or DVD. We've discovered that our local library loans out (free!) videos and DVDs, and they have a pretty wide selection. Of course, some of the movies we have less interest in than others (Fly Fishing in Ten Easy Lessons!). But we've "rented" lots of great old B&W movies and had a blast.

Sometimes, though, we don't have time to run to the library, so we're back to what's available on the airwaves. One TV phenomenon I've never understood is the reality show. I am as confirmed a reality show-hater as you're going to find. I can't see how plopping an odd assortment of people down on an island and making them eat bugs and vote each other off is anywhere close to reality. Puh-leeze. LOST is a lot closer to reality than those survivor shows. ;-)

But this summer I've found a "reality show" that actually works for me. Care to take a guess which one?

[Imagine the Jeopardy theme music playing]

Time's up! Nope, you're wrong, it's not Superbabysitter, or Who Has the Worst Hair. It's Dancing With the Stars!

No, really. I've always enjoyed watching ballroom dancing...it looks so elegant, so much fun. But I know I'd never be able to do it. I have about five left feet. :-) So this series combined the best of both...the elegance of ballroom dancing, with the angst of watching someone trying, and sometimes failing, to master the steps. This is one reality show I'd watch if they bring it back next year.

So, enough blathering from me. What are YOU watching on TV this summer? Or are you giving the tube a break entirely? What else have you got planned?

Happy Fourth of July!

I want to wish all my American friends and family a Happy Fourth of July. I'm looking forward to the fireworks tonight...in that respect, I've never grown up. ;-) But tonight there will be three generations watching the show together...my husband and me, our oldest daughter, and our two grandchildren. Everyone else is working or occupied elsewhere, which is unfortunate...but I guess someone has to "run things" while the rest of us are off partying!

Of course, there's always a chance the fireworks will be rained out. I just hope Mother Nature will hold off on *her* fireworks until we've finished with ours.

Sometime this month we'll officially become "empty nesters." Our younger daughter moved out last month, and our son is moving out this month. In general, we're looking forward to it--the privacy, the quiet, the reasonable hot water and electricity consumption. ;-) But, I know I'll miss being a daily part of their lives. How many of you are empty nesters now? How have you dealt with it? Any tips to pass on?

Have a great holiday!

Liz's Bad Luck Spring

This spring has been unusually eventful, and mostly not in a pleasant way. Our dog, Max, has been ill since early April with what was eventually diagnosed as a very rare tick-borne disease, only the 5th case they've seen in the state. (Naturally, Max has to choose the RARE disease, instead of the easily-cured-and-cheap-to-fix disease.) And now he's on his second round of hospitalization at the veterinary hospital on the other side of the state for a new, unrelated problem--something blocking his throat so he can't swallow. The vet bills are mounting quite high, and we're wondering how much higher they can go before we're totally broke.

In addition to Max's woes, our water heater broke and had to be replaced; the sprinkler system needed repair work on virtually every sprinkler head; we had to have the septic tank pumped out; the main water pipe leading into our property was leaking and had to be repaired; the water softener quit working. And perhaps worst of all, my husband's knee is troubling him so much that he had to cancel his long-awaited two-month bike trip. You can imagine how happy that makes him. Hah!

I've also heard similar stories of multiple woes from many friends and family members. It's as if the whole planet is having an entire month of Friday the Thirteenths.

So my question is this: what the heck is going on?!?

Tell me about YOUR weird spring...or if your spring has been entirely pleasant and normal, tell me that too, so I'll know there's hope! ;-)

Fatal Fortune is Available Now!

FATAL FORTUNE, the first book in my Lottie Baldwin mystery series, is available now from New Age Dimensions. Here's the blurb:

No one in Cheyenne, North Dakota believes in Lottie Baldwin’s psychic abilities; especially not Harlan Erikson, sergeant in the sheriff’s office. Harlan is willing to take Lottie’s love, but as far as her Tarot readings go–well, he prefers to play it by the book.

When the husband of Lottie’s best friend Janet disappears, Lottie can’t sit on her hands while the official investigation grinds slowly along. Armed with her courage, her insight and her Tarot deck, Lottie sets out to solve the mystery herself, regardless of who tries to stop her: Janet, Harlan–or the criminal.

To read an excerpt from FATAL FORTUNE, or to buy your own copy, go
here.

So, what books have you read lately, and what did you think of them? Any raves? Any pans?

Liz

Fellow Romance Author Needs Help

A friend and superb writer, Deb Stover, is in a very difficult situation right now and could use help from anyone who feels moved to do so. Below is the official announcement--please feel free to spread it to anyone you think would be interested. Thanks! ~~Liz

***Feel free to forward***

Deb Stover, romance author, knows adversity. Though she married her true love at a young age and they have three wonderful children, she's endured one sucker punch after another over the past three years. Leaving her friends in Colorado behind, she moved to Oregon when her husband, Dave, received a new job. However, soon after settling in, Dave was laid off and even worse, the cancer he'd successfully battled in Colorado returned with a vengeance. On top of that, Deb's health deteriorated and baffled doctors in their attempts to figure out why. A month ago Deb and her family moved to Oklahoma, where Dave felt he could better support his family on his limited income.

But the time they thought they had together evaporated. Dave has been given only a few weeks to live. He wishes to be buried in Colorado and Deb wants to return to her friends in that state. However, money is extremely tight and besides the devastation of losing her soul mate, Deb has limited physical strength. In order to help out, her critique group, The Wyrd Sisters, are asking for your help in raising money to help defray funeral expenses and move Deb and her family to Colorado.

Any amount you can donate--even a dollar--will be greatly appreciated. A PayPal account has been set up for those who wish to use a credit card. Send donations through PayPal to DebHelp@noveltalk.com. Or if you prefer to send a check, make it out to Pam McCutcheon and send to:

Help Deb Stover

c/o NovelTalk

5975 N Academy Blvd.

Suite 105

Colorado Springs, CO 80918

United States

Thank you so much for your help in this heart-breaking situation.

The Wyrd Sisters:

Karen Fox, Paula Gill, Laura Hayden, Von Jocks, Pam McCutcheon, Angel Smits,Maureen Webster.

New Cover Art For Two Books

I've just posted the new cover art for FATAL FORTUNE, coming out soon from New Age Dimensions Publishing, and the new cover art for LADY OF THE TWO LANDS, coming out May 1 from Amber Quill Press. I hope you enjoy it, because it always takes me so long to figure out how to post pictures! Maybe one day I'll retain the knowledge from the last time. ;-)

I think they both came out wonderfully. Cover art time is always scary, because it can make or break a book. After all, let's be honest--if you go to a bookstore and see a book with truly dreadful cover art, you're not going to pick it up anyway and read the back, are you? The odds are, you'll just pass it by. We're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but we do.

So, let me know how you like my new cover art, and if it would make you pick up the book and at least read the back cover description of the plot. I'll be posting more info about both releases on my website soon at www.elizabethdelisi.com.

Liz

Here's the terrific new cover art for LADY OF THE TWO LANDS, with Hatshepsut's temple in front. Isn't it gorgeous?
Posted by Elizabeth Delisi