The dog days of summer. Giant Texas hair. Heat, humidity, and mosquitoes. Back to school shopping. All of these phrases bring to my mind one word: August – that pivotal month at the end of summer when so many things end, and so many other things begin.
August is a very special month for me for more than one reason. My sister’s birthday is in the first week of the month, and anyone who knows me well is well-acquainted with the fact that my sister is my best friend and business manager.
My sister and her husband celebrate their wedding anniversary in the second week of the month. I was the maid of honor in their wedding and their wedding vocalist way back in the 80s. My brother-in-law is like a big brother to me, and I really don’t have a lot of memories in which he wasn’t a part of our family.
And my dear sweet Mama celebrates her birthday in the last week of the month of August. My mother and I are practically joined at the hip. She’s been a big influence and driving force in my writing and was the first person to ever hear CICADA as I read it out loud to her. If you’ve read my second book FIREFLY, you know I dedicated the book to my parents with this inscription:
As if all those reasons aren’t enough, August has another very special meaning for me … especially this year. The third week of August will be the one-year anniversary of when my doctor told me he suspected I had cancer and sent me to an oncologist. Those weeks before my surgery were sobering. I’d spent a lot of time on my knees praying for a miracle. I’d sent out prayer requests to everyone I knew. And I’d relived all my regrets – those things I’d always wanted to do, but never took the time or had the opportunity to do. It was a time during which I realized what was and wasn’t important in life. It was a time in which I changed and became a different person much like my characters in my books transform.
This August, my characters become who they were always meant to be as the last book in the Cicada Trilogy releases. Just like a butterfly spreads its wings and shows its colors to the world, so will my beloved characters when my lovely readers fold back the cover of MONARCH and follow the story deep into the jungles of Brazil to discover the answers to all the questions left in the story.
Just like the ending of my own stormy August story – no cancer! – my readers may discover a very satisfying ending to a turbulent trilogy.
I hope you’ll check out my books for some great reading for these hot, dog days of summer. You can find out more about my books and me at my website. While you’re there, check out the links to my social networking sites. I love hearing from my readers, and I always respond.
Here are a few MONARCH teasers for my lovelies:
I love this recommendation from my editor:
And a sparkly promo for MONARCH. My main character, Blair Reynolds, didn’t wait for things to happen for her. She did what it took to make her dreams come true.
Don’t ya wanna grab a copy?
And, oh, the sexiness of my dangerous character, Ash.
Just thought I’d sneak in a little recommendation for my editor. Without her expertise, my books wouldn’t be the best they can be. Keep Editorch.com in mind for all your editing needs!
I hope you’ll stop by my social networking sites and say “howdy” sometime!
Many thanks to Coffee Time Romance for the opportunity to share a little with y’all! It’s an honor being on the awesome blog!!!!
XOXO
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