The Grayson Family

        Cowboy Deputy on sale now!

     I’ve written a lot of series for Harlequin, but few of them have generated the reader mail that I’ve received for the Lawmen of Black Rock series.

The Grayson family consists of a Sheriff, three deputies, and an FBI agent.  At the beginning of book one, Deputy Brittany Grayson has been kidnapped and the continuing thread of her dangerous situation has definitely struck a chord with readers.

Cowboy Deputy is Brittany’s brother, Benjamin’s story.  I’d like to think that it isn’t just Brittany’s kidnapping that has kept readers coming back to this series, but also the fact that the heroes I’ve created are strong, good men who protect not only their town, but also the women they love.

These are men who don’t have all the answers, but will go do whatever necessary to find them.  I want my readers to fall in love with my heroes and admire and like my heroines.  

Thank to all the readers who have responded so positively to the men of Black Rock.  Now, tell me what you like in your heroes and heroines!

Carla

Goodbye 2010

I have to be honest – I couldn’t wait to kick 2010 to the curb.  For me it was a year of family issues, the death of a beloved dog and breast cancer.  The spring and summer went by in a kind of radiation  and fatigue fog and I still feel some of the aftermath of both.

I get rather maudlin at the end of each year, looking back on what I perceive as failures and cursing the opportunities I might have missed.   Christmas always goes by with a kind of meloncholy as I feel the rush of the wind of the year coming to a close.

But, I am an eternal optimist and so the New Year always starts with brimming possibilities.  Do I make resolutions?  Yes.  Do I stick with them?  Rarely.   But, I do enter the new era with the hope of peace and health and good things happening.

This is a new era for me also because three weeks ago my husband retired. (he’s much, much, MUCH older than me) <G>  So, I now have him home full time and we’re trying to find a schedule that works well for both of us.  I am blessed that he respects my work time and the need that a writer has to be alone. 

This is a year of tight writing deadlines for me, but I also intent to take time to write on some projects that are calling to me, things that aren’t under contract but whisper in my ear just before I close my eyes at night. 

I would like to be a better inspiration to the people in my writing chapter, people who supported me through the breast cancer and continue to support me not only as a writer, but as a person.

Oh, and we’ve booked another cruise for later this year.  I’ll work hard so that I can play hard when the time comes. 

Big plans for the New Year.  Here’s hoping it’s a great one for everybody!

Carla

Cruisin’ Carla

     In all our years of marriage the only stellar vacation Frank and I had ever taken was a trip to Hawaii a long time ago.  When he told me he wanted to take me on a cruise for our anniversay/my birthday I was so there!  It had been a long year deadlines, family drama and a bout of breast cancer.  Seven days at sea sounded heavenly!

     To make things even better my hubby booked us into a spa balcony room, giving me not only a place to drink my coffee in the morning but daily access to the spa.  So, I packed my work and a couple of books to read and off we went.

     When we arrived at the port, the ship was awesome!  We were sailing on the Norweigen Epic, the second largest cruise ship on the seas.   We’d heard about long lines and the tedious boarding process but to our surprise within fifteen minutes or so we were in our room.

       It was small but efficient and had everything we needed!  Then we were off to explore the ship.

This was the light fixture in the gorgeous lobby.  I wanted to take it down and wear it around my neck!

 

We had full access to the spa which was wonderful!

And this is hubby on our balcony.

I still don’t have the hang of inserting pictures in the right places with text, so I’m just going to post some pictures and let you know we had a marvelous time!