Yes, here in the Southeast, Summer has rushed in with heat more reminiscent of late July or August. It’s only June, but I’m already looking forward to winter. Our little dog, Lugnut, isn’t sure about all this heat either. He went out into the yard with my husband for a few minutes and, when they came back in, he lay down on the cold tile.
On a sad note, our sweet kitty, Miss Kitty, crossed over early Sunday morning with little warning that anything was wrong. I’m still recovering from the suddenness of her passing. Rest In Peace sweet lady.
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In other news, we now have several black snakes stealing our chicken eggs. We’ve built new nest boxes, bricked up any places where they could get in, but they are still in there stealing eggs. Anyone got an ideas?
But for writing…
I’m still working on the edits for Old Flame, for the Gambler’s Folly series. Editing is so slow going at times, but it does make for a better book. And my editor is nearly finished with Ben of Blackstone’s Forge, for Esperance. One book for each series! I haven’t forgotten you. It has just been a little chaotic around here, between physical therapy, chiropractic, vet visits, and summer weather. But I’ll try to get back to a more regular schedule.
I’ve been getting the next book from Gambler’s Folly edited–hopefully for the last time–so I thought I should give you a few snippets. I also have a book coming later this year from Esperance!
So who wants an excerpt?
OLD FLAME
Gambler’s Folly Book 4
They hadn’t spoken or met since their university days 30 years ago, but here they were on their way to Houston to board the shuttle for Gambler’s Folly. What mischief does Mother Nature have up her sleeve this time?
The landing went well, but he noticed her fingers clutching at the armrest of her seat.
“All right?” he asked.
“Landing always makes me nervous. It’s too close to crashing.”
“Any landing you walk away from is a good one,” Kort said, quoting the old saying. “Let’s go eat some lunch. We can’t check in for another two hours.”
Lunch was good. Another thing he’d always liked about Liz was that she wasn’t afraid to eat. She’d managed to stay at a good weight even after all these years. She had a little extra padding, but he didn’t like stick figure women anyway. With his size, they always seemed so fragile. Liz, on the other hand, might be a lot of fun.
What was he thinking? Get your mind out of the gutter, Kort told himself. Why would she be interested in him? This was Liz, who might be intimidated by his social position, but would never let it dazzle her.
“Kort? Where have you gone?” Liz asked.
“Somewhere a long way away,” he admitted. “How is your lunch?”
“Fantastic! I’d forgotten how much I love Thai food. Thank you, Kort.”
“Well, I couldn’t let you starve, could I?” he teased.
“Are you saying I need to watch my weight?”
“Not at all. I like a woman I can get hold of and wrestle to the ground.”
Where in hell had that come from? Wrestle to the ground? Good lord, what must she think?
Liz doubled over in laughter, partially easing his embarrassment. Apparently she wasn’t offended.
Ben of Blackstone’s Forge
Esperance Book 5
Everyone had assumed that Ben and Deborah would marry once they were old enough. But when Ben went away to finish his apprenticeship, someting happened and nobody knew what. Suddenly Deborah was distant, cold, and at times, downright hostile. As the oldest daughter, tradition said her sisters couldn’t marry before she did and she wasn’t ready. Ben’s father was urging Ben to find a wife, but he couldn’t think of anyone but the Deborah he knew before his apprenticeship journey. What does the future hold for them?
“Thanks, Mr. Blackstone,” she said. “And see if you can teach Ben some manners.”
With a sway in her hips that heated Ben more than the forge, she turned and disappeared down the walk toward the town square.
“Why don’t the two of you get together?” Seth asked his son. “She’s good-looking, from a good family, and can cook with the best of them.”
“Yes, and her tongue is sharper than a carbon steel blade,” Ben added.
“All she needs is a firm hand and a good seeing to,” the elder Blackstone said with a laugh.
“It would take a brave man to bed Deborah Wills,” Ben said, picking up a pair of tongs. “A man could wake up and find himself neutered.”
“Now, Ben, she’s not as bad as all that.”
“No? I think she hates all things male,” Ben said. “She rides a mare, her dog is a bitch, and the cat has been cautioned to have only female kits in her litters.”
His father’s hearty laugh filled the forge, finally bringing a smile to Ben’s face.
“I thought you two were an item there for a while,” Seth said.
“Yeah, I thought so, too. I don’t know what happened after I left to work with Bellamy Forge. We were good when I left, but when I came back she wouldn’t give me the time of day.”
“I haven’t seen her with anyone else,” Seth answered. “Why don’t you ask her out for the Gather dance?”
“She won’t come. I’ve asked her out to the last three dances and she’s refused. I’ve asked her out to dinner and been turned down. Same with coffee and sandwiches. She’s not interested.”
“Are you asking anyone to the dance? A man your age should be thinking about a wife.”
“I was going to ask Moire. She will at least speak to me.”
Watch for these two books later this year. I’ll keep you posted on progress and release dates.
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