It’s May, 2008, and we just had our first triple digits (over 100 degrees). I love most everything about the desert, and we do a lot of our entertaining out of doors. In the summer months we turn on the patio misters, which drops the temperature about ten degrees, and we also spend lots of time in the pool. From my desk I see the back courtyard, and also the desert beyond with a mountain painting the final backdrop. While writing, I’ve observed almost every wild creature the desert shelters. A few of these slip through the wrought-iron fence and drink from the pool.

Nature, itself, is an oasis, and I love drinking in its serenity. I praise God for his creation and for the inward peace he places in my heart. Spending time with my soul-mate and family add depth to my heart’s perception, both a warm tingling and a fierce love sometimes mingled with pain. Writing delights my imaginative soul. Add some hardships and disappointments, even grief, and these bring faith into the mixture.

Together all of my personal experiences, of a faith-life in an imperfect world, help me create fiction manuscripts that I hope portray real-life situations that inspire as well as entertain my readers. Touching readers is my ultimate goal. That’s why I covet your emails.

Writing update
I found an awesome agent, Greg Johnson with WordServe Literary. He has my finished manuscript, The Baron’s Secret, which is the first of a three-book series. Presently I’m working on a fiction series: Calico Bride, Conestoga Courtship, and Clementine’s Pistol. The setting is early 1800’s, Kentucky.

On the side, I’m doing a nonfiction, presently untitled.

My book, Ohio, was reformatted in hardcover, large print edition with each of the four stories published separately: Proper Intentions, Lofty Ambitions, Ample Portions, and Castor Oil and Lavender. These are available in my Books section.

The grandchildren are growing, so here’s some updated photos.

Dianne and Jim with Elijah, Vanson, and Makaila	Son Mike & Heather, Daughter Rachel & Leo, Jim and Dianne, Mike’s Elijah & Makaila, and Rachel’s son Vanson.