July 30, 2007

NEW HORIZONS

Georgia Strait. And some precious sunshine. A slice of heaven.

It’s fresh horizons for me today, as I leave this neck of the woods — fictionally speaking – and head for the Hunter Valley in Australia, where my next project is set. It was huge fun setting my most recent story (THE HEART OF A RENEGADE — a March 2008 release )in my local environment, but now, while my feet are still solidly grounded here, my imagination is going to have to go Down Under.

Where are you going today?

July 27, 2007

ALONG MY TRAILS …

It’s stories like this one, about  a woman in her 30s found dead next to her bike in a BC ski resort, her body guarded by a small brown-nosed black bear, that remind us the wilderness is … wild. And respect is due. A necropsy found the bear to have human remains in his belly. In the same week, a Banff campground was also shut after a grizz attacked two cyclists.

Here in my own ski town, a brazen cougar who’d been chasing cyclists and following people around the golf course has been shot by our conservation officer, along with a couple of bears who had been breaking and entering homes. I have very mixed feelings about this. It’s their world as much as ours, and we’re punching more and more trails into the wilds. Still, those cats have me just a tad jumpier on the forest trails at the moment.

And thanks to Hornblower I’ve been nominated a Rockin’ blogger!! (she likes my photos of my mountain town)

Now I too get to nominate 5 ultra-worthy blogger chicks. So … without further ado:

Barbara Samuel’s a Writer Afoot. I adore her blog for so many reasons. And well, she rocks. She got Orange ;). And has me fired up to try my hand at orienteering.

Spyscribbler for daily insights that always seem pull me in. And she’s an espionage fan! Romance and espionage? Can’t get better than that! Rock on Spy.

Anna Louise Lucia. She does cool things, and writes about them beautifully. I love the occassional view into her world. Tell her to post more often!

Suzanne McMinn Cool daily photos of a farm-life to die for. She’s a rockin’ writer lady.

Kate Austin for her window into a Vancouver writer’s lifestyle and thoughts. Love her tone.

And I can’t nominate Toni because I see she’s already Rockin’. And I see she has me Rockin’ too …

Hornblower has a pretty awesome blog and life as well. Check her out.

July 24, 2007

WHILE I WAS IN DALLAS …

The family held fort. Er … camp. Guess they didn’t miss me. Much.

But this proves the sun *does* sometimes shine in this neck of the rainforest. And shine it did today. Whoooo Hooooo. I went cross-training on the trails for almost two hours, soaking up every last little bit of it. Just in case it doesn’t shine tomorrow.

Now I’m cracking my knuckles, and trying to cut my manuscript in the dizzying face of ever-shortening word counts. It’s a daunting task since I plotted this one for the longer count. And I sold it under the longer word count. Maybe I’ll just take my Nordic poles out running again …..

Cutting should be saved for a rainy day.

July 23, 2007

SUMMER DREAMING

Big Bar, summer ‘07

The older I get, the faster a year seems to pass, and like the dandelions already gone to seed, I am thinking, already, of next summer. And dreaming of Thrillerfest 2008 which is slated for New York the second weekend in July.

Think David Morrell, Gayle Lynds, Tess Gerritsen, Clive Cussler, Barry Eisler, Lee Childs, James Patterson, Stuart Woods, Daniel Silva, Joseph Finder  … think the publishing captial of my world …. you get the picture? I want to be there. I want to learn from these people. I want to meet these people. I wanna go to New York city next summer.

So I am presently counting airmiles … anyone care to join me?

July 20, 2007

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Back on the ‘routine road’, in my mountains.

It took a little while for me to mentally unwind from RWA Nationals in Dallas – I came home super charged, psyched about writing – yet the adrenaline was somewhat counterproductive in that it kept me out of my chair. But I’ve done a few hard runs through the forest to work it off now, caught up on sleep, and am finally back on track. Back in my chair. And focused. Mostly

And I need to be. I have a series of rolling deadlines approaching. This is also the time I start fretting over whether I shall be blessed by the cover gods with my November release — SEDUCING THE MERCENARY. Dare I say: Wish me luck?

July 18, 2007

THE MOUNTIE GETS HIS STORY

It’s all systems go — my Mountie got the go-ahead, and he will lead the charge in new northern miniseries, starting in the Yukon. I am thrilled!! Watch this space for details …. after the next two Shadow Soldiers books, of course.