First, let me say that it was a wonderful experience and it was so much fun getting to know you guys and watching as you grew comfortable with one another and made this little blog into a family. I appreciate that so much. I know most of you will keep in touch with each other as you have made life-long friends here, which is amazing, considering we are spread all over the world, and time zones, yet we still keep in touch.

Secondly, I want to thank Judy, the HP, for keeping me in line and trying to keep the rest of you in the gutter! Back in September, when I told her of my time constraints, she offered to take over the management of the blog. I appreciate what she did for keeping it up a little longer. I know most of you received her email explaining why she wasn’t able to devote time to it any longer as well.

I hope you will continue to email me and let me know what is going on in your lives. I’ve enjoyed meeting each and every one of you. Because of that, I’ve dedicated No Strings to the GGGs. When the book comes out in Spring 2009, I hope you’ll enjoy the dedication and find the reference to “the gutter gals” in the book! You were a great inspiration to me!

Thank you all for your time that you’ve given the blog this past year. You are all wonderful people. I feel honored to know you.

Farewell…

For those of you who have ordered autographed copies….Partners will ship bright and early on Monday morning!

And for those of you who were insane enough to go shopping on Black Friday…I hope you survived!

Yes…the holidays are upon us! Such a wonderful time of year to reflect on our lives and give thanks to all the people who have touched us in some way, however large or small. Don’t forget to smile and say thank you when you’re out and about during this busy season. You may just make someone’s day.

For those of you who have book orders with me for Partners….I still have not received my shipment of books. Hopefully, they’ll be here waiting when we return and I’ll get them shipped out immediately to you.

Have a good one…

Below is a brief synopsis of the last of the Hunter series. I don’t mind saying, it was hard to end this book, knowing I wouldn’t be visiting Tori and Sam again. I’ve created a lot of characters over the years, and some become favorites and stick with you, while others fade to the background. Those of you who have read this blog for a while know that Jake McCoy, from The Killing Room, is one of my favorites. So is Luke from Artist’s Dream. While I will say that, of course, Tori Hunter ranks as one of the all-time favorites, she is nothing without Sam by her side. They are a true team, personally and professionally. I don’t think I’ve created another “pair” as wonderful as these two. Synopsis:

Detective Casey O’Connor is back, this time with new partner Leslie Tucker. They join forces with Tori Hunter to track down a killer targeting single women who live alone. But as Casey and Leslie grow closer, Leslie begins to question her sexuality when she realizes her feelings for her partner are quickly surpassing those she has for the man she is supposed to marry. And Casey turns to Tori and Sam for advice when it appears her relationship with her new partner might follow the same path as theirs. Partners takes us from the squad room to the streets, and into the private lives of four of Dallas’ finest female detectives.  

I hope you all enjoy Partners…the continuation of Tori and Sam’s relationship as well as a new beginning for Casey O’Connor as she finds her partner…at last.

Have a great week, everyone!

So … I’m giving y’all a new page on Thursday because I won’t be around for the weekend. I’m leaving out early Friday for a trip to the mountains and I won’t be near a computer so if you accidentally get stuck in moderation, you’re most likely gonna be there until Monday. In other words, be sure your user name and email address are in the little boxes before you comment!

Now, y’all have a great weekend and I’ll try to catch up with you on Monday ….

And guess who I found in moderation? Norma, how do you manage to get there so often. Sometimes I think you do it on purpose just so I’ll come find you!

And just because I like to rub it in, Wendy, Gerri sent me the edited version of No Strings yesterday. Can’t wait to dig in this evening! I guess that means she hasn’t fired me so the “personal editor” position is still filled. Sorry! NOT!!!

Y’all have a great start to your week.

To continue my countdown … 11 days to the projected release of Partners! WooHoo! It is getting close now.

Y’all have fun now ….

With all of this news, sadly, it looks like Prop 8 in California passed. It seems with every step forward, we have to take a couple back. Maybe someday (hopefully in our lifetimes) gay marriage will be legal here in the US. For those of you in other countries (and in the few states here who allow it) who are lucky enough to have this right, celebrate! And wish us luck!

And waiting is my topic for getting our week going. I’ve always loved to countdown the days to something special. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a calendar tucked away in my desk and marked each passing day with a “X” as I waited for the big day! I did it with the due dates of my children - one came a day late the other in a hurry three weeks early. I’ve never forgiven them for messing with my countdown! Recently, I’ve counted down planned visits with friends … days to the election (one more to go on that one! FINALLY) … and the projected date for moving into my new house BUT that one keeps getting changed!

So today we start a new countdown … 15 days to the projected release date of “Partners” … woohoo! You’d think I hadn’t already read them as excited as I get with the release of each of Gerri’s new books. Not to mention that as soon as I get my copy I still sit down and read it (usually in one sitting) with anticipation and excitement. But then again from the time I read the first pages until they’re released, several months have gone by and I’m told my memory isn’t all that great ……

Y’all have a great week where you are and I’ll be on my way now that I’ve given you a new page to play on! Please keep in mind that where Gerri is an early bird, I’m a night owl so I show up when it’s dark!

Have fun now ….

But we have a “ghost” here at the house. Really. We call him Jim. Jim was the original owner of the house, he built it along with the barn that sits at the edge of the woods. Jim died here at the house after a battle with lung cancer. We bought it from his widow. The “events” started subtly enough. The first time, two days before we closed on the house, she had already moved out, the house was clean, and she said we could start moving things into the barn if we wanted. This was in March, the days still cool, damp, darkness still comes early that time of year. Our first trip was uneventful and we unloaded boxes and such in the barn and closed it up. It is the kind of barn with the huge double doors that swing out. To close them, you put a long bar on the inside of the barn, across the double doors. We then closed and locked the side door and headed out. The next day, closing, I made a trip out there myself, early in the morning. The first thing amiss…the big double doors were wide open, the bar used to close them from the inside, lay harmlessly on the floor. The side door, still locked. Okay, I’m sure there’s a perfectly sane explanation for it. But what about the bag of trash strewn around the barn? It wasn’t there yesterday. There are no neighbors. And the trash? Old Christmas ornaments and cards, red bows and wrapping paper, and envelopes addressed to…Jim. Hmmm? The bag wasn’t there the day before and the widow had been gone for a week, back to Dallas. Still, there had to be a logical explanation, I thought, as I picked up the trash and stored it in the barn. And two nights later, it’s late, we’re inside painting, we haven’t moved yet, Diane’s up on the ladder and we need something…from the barn. “I’ll go,” I said as I grabbed a flashlight and headed down to the edge of the woods…where the very dark barn waited. Being a fiction writer, I do tend to let my imagination run and this night was no different. By the time I reached out my hand to the handle on the side door, I was seeing shadows in every corner, movement everywhere I looked. I jerked the door opened, reaching blindly for the light switch, relief as the darkness was chased away. My relief was short-lived. There, in the middle of the floor, lay the clock we had hung earlier. One of those large, round clocks, nothing fancy. But it lay on the floor, the two batteries placed carefully beside it. Oh, yeah…I ran like hell!

But Jim is just a prankster, I think. A week or two later, all the decorative lights that lined a flower bed were pulled up…all eight of them. Sure, a critter could have gotten caught in the wire that was buried just under the surface…right?

And it was in the spring of 2005 where he pulled his biggest trick. We were out in the yard, me in a flowerbed, Diane in the garden. Jordan was busy chasing lizards and anything else he could find, me trying to save everything he caught! Then an awful squealing came from the azalea bed…he’d caught a tiny vole. I rescued it, scooped Jordan up and threw his butt in the house. About thirty minutes later, he came walking by. What the hell? “Diane? Did you let Jordan out?” No, she’s been in the garden the whole time. Okay, so maybe he broke through a screen or something. It was a pleasant day, the windows were opened. But after inspection, only two windows were opened and their screens were securely in place. Okay, so Jim let him out. That was the only explanation.

Now, Jim’s only trick is to turn our closet light on. At first, I thought I just forgot to turn it off. We’d get home from work and the light would be on in the closet. Okay, sure, we could forget it once or twice. Not three times a week! So, we would make it a point to look before leaving the house. Light switch was down, light off. Come home…light switch is up, light on. “Dammit, Jim!” Those pranks have dwindled too, only occasionally will the light be on now.

Maybe he’s grown to like us. That’s what we think anyway!

Does anyone else have a story they want to share?