The Magical Ian Knot

You only have to tie them once! It even works on the toughest shoelace.

Finding Kate

For those of you who know I've starting writing novels, you might be excited to hear that I'm making progress on getting my second book, Finding Kate, published. I've got it professionally edited, I've found a coach to help me write my queries and synopsis, and I plan to send it out to 100 agents before the end of April.

It's a lot like fishing! I throw out my hook (story grabber) and see if I get a bite. The goal is to catch the attention of an agent who would like to help me sell my book to a publisher. It's amazing how perfect every step has to be to get you to the next one. They get thousands of queries every day and I have to find a way to make mine stand above the rest. That's no small task, but I'll give it a try.

Here is the hook:

KATE STEWART is leaving Reno for the photojournalism job she’s always wanted and a chance to start a new life. She cautiously settles into the Bay Area, thriving in her work and savoring her new-found independence, but she can’t help looking over her shoulder, knowing her possessive and abusive boyfriend, RUSSELL JAMES, won’t be happy when he finds out she’s left him.

While on a photo assignment, a guarded and suspicious Kate meets PATRICK, a charming stranger who seems to be overly interested in her. She has no way of knowing that Patrick has been dreaming about her for months and that he is on his own quest to discover who she is. When Russell catches up with Kate, she realizes he’ll never let her go, in spite of Patrick’s protective guardianship.

Kate unexpectedly finds incriminating evidence that sends Russell to jail, and Patrick reveals his hopes of spending the rest of his life with her. Their future together looks promising until a tragic car accident takes Kate’s life, and Patrick is consumed with grief. Things aren't always what they seem, and his hope is reignited with an incomprehensible twist of fate.

WISH ME LUCK!

Teeth Transformed

It all started in 2009 when we found Kailey's tooth coming in sideways. She needed surgery to attach a bracket to the tooth hidden in the roof of her mouth, and braces to hold and pull the wire attached to the tooth, not to mention straightening out the rest of her teeth.

This is her

adorable

smile

BEFORE

braces.

This is her

hesitant

smile

WITH

braces.

This is

her

radiant

smile

AFTER braces!

After having them off for one whole day she said, "My cheeks hurt. I can't stop smiling!"

Isn't It Spring Yet?

Just when it was beginning to feel like Spring: a few days with 50 degree weather, barbecued steak, making plans for spring break in California, ready to take the snow tires off the car....

IT SNOWS!

AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL!

I love watching the big, puffy flakes float to the ground and land gently on top of one another.

This picture is snow on my rose bush that will soon be blooming again when the sun shines hot. (Yellow blossoms posted earlier in the year).

This is all great and beautiful....but we've had almost 6 months of cold weather and I'm ready to soak in the rays of a hot 85 degree summer season. My skin is almost as white as the snow and although it's probably healthier, I feel a little pasty. Spring break in California is looking better all the time!