I'm no Poet...

Last week I went to a poetry workshop, thinking I would grow as a writer.

I learned a great deal. I’m not a poet, will never be a poet, it fact, I should not be allowed to ever hold a book of poetry. I feel sure if the teacher of the workshop could have kicked me out of class she would have done so in rhyme.

I’m counting the days down until REWRITING MONDAY comes out. I like my hero in this book. He’s not perfect, in fact he doubts himself most of the time, but he cares deeply about the people around him and the town.

This story has two heroes. Very different men who work together.

Tonight I’m going to a rodeo as I do research on the new book I’m working on. The stories never stop. As soon as I finish one, another is waiting to be born.

One little surprise kept me away from my work this week. Ella moved back to town. (Her parents came with her) She’s only 6 months old, but she’ll call me Gram one day.

4 1/2 Stars, High School Rodeo, & My Intern...

Exciting news today, Romantic Times gave REWRITING MONDAY 4 ½ STARS. The book will be out April 7th but the reviews always come out about a month early. I also have an article in this month’s issue. I’m interviewing Robyn Carr. I wouldn’t have known about all this except my friend called me. I swear, some days the world could end and I’d miss it.

Right now I’m in the world of my new book and having great fun writing it. I’m doing research on high school rodeo for one character. When I was in my teens I rode in the rodeo every year when I stayed with my Uncle Leroy and my Aunt Dixie (anyone who doesn’t know me will think I made up those names) I thought I was something, riding in the parade and every night in the Grand Entry. The last day of the rodeo I was riding out to the pasture and, after living in the saddle for four day, got tossed off. To this day when my leg hurts I tell everyone it’s the old rodeo injury.

Want to have some fun check out the the Cowgirl Hall of Fame website!

Happy Trails,



P.S. This is my new intern here at West Texas A&M University, Carmen Hamilton, holding copies of the international versions of THE SECRETS OF ROSA LEE...

Quartz Mountain Inspiration

I went on a virtual little vacation this week. My son and his bride of two years slipped over the border into Oklahoma for a few days stay at Quartz Mountain Lodge. They sent pictures of their days thanks to her iPhone. What fun. I’ve made that trip several times and felt like I was along for the ride with them as they climbed and listened to the sounds of the water.


Quartz Mountain is really only a hill in southwest Oklahoma but it was the seed planted, thanks to Kirkland family reunions in my childhood, of a mountain that would later be the spark for Whispering Mountain—a five book series I will be finished writing this year.

When people ask me where my ideas come from, I’m usually clueless, but sometimes I know where the spark started. I remember climbing that hill and setting on top with Tom and thinking I could see forever from that spot.

Maybe it’s because I write historicals. Maybe it’s because I love history, but sometimes I feel like the past walks beside me.

The kids also visited Quanah Parker’s and Geronimo’s graves at Fort Sill.
A touch of my history: I had an Uncle named Dolan Parker who’s ancestors came from Parker’s Fort, the place where Cynthia Ann Parker (mother to Quanah) was captured.

In the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum, a walk across campus from my office, Quanah Parker’s headdress is on display. I’ve heard people who visit it say they can still feel the power of the last great Comanche chief coming from his war bonnet.

Rainy Days and Thursdays

I'd like to thank everyone who came out to my autographings this weekend. Autographings always frighten me a little. Before i ever sold a book I used to dream about them and think I'd love them. I always thought I would wear a strange hat and look very intelligent behind the table, but little of that picture came true. No hat. The look is usually tired, not intelligent and myhand hurts from signing. The only great part of the autographing is meeting friends and fans. I love knowing they are out there reading and encouraging me.

It is almost raining in the Panhandle today. I love rainy days, but I live in the wrong part of the country for them.

I'm into the new book and having a great time. Problem is, I don't want to stop writing long enough to write a proposal. That always happens to me. I love meeting the characters. They've been dancing in my head for months now.

Cowboys, A Cover Sneek Peek and New Beginnings...

This will be a busy weekend for me with three autographings of GIVE ME A COWBOY. The three other authors, DeWanna Pace, Phyliss Miranda, and Linda Broday will be joining me for each event. We think by having three in Amarillo, we’ll have time to visit with everyone, and of course each other. Because of my writing and speaking schedule, I’m not able to travel to autograph this one, but it will be with me on every table when I’m autographing REWRITING MONDAY in April.

Thought you might like to see the cover of REWRITING MONDAY...

Watch for a video preview in a few weeks.

The beginning of a new book is always so hard for me so this week has been lots of pacing and not much writing. I’ve put together characters and the opening to their stories, but knowing who to start with his hard. So far I’ve written about twenty pages this week and tossed 15 of them in the trash. If only the first fifty pages were as easy to write at the last 50.