Scones

 I have scones on the brain.  I am deep into writing the next Crochet and Crumpet book tentatively titled SCONED TO DEATH.  I have been reading articles about different way to incorporate the butter in the batter. It is really interesting to learn about food science.  I'm getting pressure to make some from my scone loving son.  

The food in my books is my family's favorite part.  No problem finding volunteer tasters.  I was surprised at how much they liked the olive oil chocolate cake from MURDER BY THE HOOK.

I am already on the lookout for muffin ideas for the next Yarn Retreat book.  I have come across all kind of cool idea of things that can be made in a muffin tin.  

After just a few sunny warmish days, it turned cloudy again.  There is even a chance of rain on Saturday.   The good news from all the moisture in the air is that everything is a bright shade of green.  Another month gone by so quickly.   On to May!

This Week

          

            It’s almost time! The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is next weekend. I’ve mentioned it several times here. It’s being held at the University of Southern California campus on the weekend of April 26 and 27 this year. Also as I’ve mentioned, I’ll be at the Sisters in Crime booth and Mystery Writers of America booth at different times on Sunday, the 27th. I was also invited to participate at the Romance Writers of America booth but unfortunately the timing didn’t work out. I’ll try to visit there on Sunday as well, though.

            Meanwhile, I continue to work on the second book in my new series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense. It’s moving right along, and I’m having fun with it.

            I’m also having fun continuing to research an idea for a new series that I had a while back. I’ve done a little plotting for it too, and I’m hoping it’ll go somewhere soon. On the other hand, it’s been really fun to research it, and if that’s all that results… well, I’ll definitely enjoy continuing to research it anyway.

            And yes, if I ever write it, it’ll definitely contain dogs—like everything else I write!

            Did you know yesterday was Earth Day? I did—and I really hope things with our earth, environment and wildlife improve. A lot.

Weather or Not

 What happened?  It was sunny last week and warm bordering on hot.  Today is solid gray gloom and it's cold.  Just when I was shoving my warm clothes to back of the closet, I had to pull them out again.

It's been a week of dealing with all different writing projects.  I received the contract for a second Crochet and Crumpet book.  It's all online now.  Even signing it.  

The audio company that puts out the audio editions of most of my  books is celebrity that KILLER HOOKS has been out for a year and they're offer a great price.  At the same time, the same company needed a PDF of MURDER BY THE HOOK for the narration of it.  

I have seriously started working on the second book in the Crochet and Crumpets series.  While at the same time doing research for the next Yarn Retreat book.

Jakey is on vacation this week, so we took a day trip to Ojai.  It is so interesting going there after writing about it.  I see places and think of who I had sitting there talking in MURDER BY THE HOOK.  We went to a grocery store across from the police station and I imagined Molly and Mason leaving there as it was getting light.

The playground at Libby Park is one of Jakey's favorite stops.  It also happens to be near where a lot of the action in the book took place.  The ethereal concert took place in a courtyard right in front of the playground. Across the street is the Arcade  where Molly and Mason went shopping and got ice cream.

I mentioned the pink moment in the book, but it seemed like we had always left there before dark and I never actually saw it and depended on photos and my imagination.  We got a late start on the day and so were leaving  at sunset and I got to see the sky turn pink.  Our last stop was at a grocery store to load up on more pixie tangerines.   

Backlist Fun

             Yes, I’ve been out there for a while. My current release is my 63^rd traditionally published novel. And I’m delighted to see it on store shelves!

            But some of my oldies are also back out there in other forms. I’ve mentioned before that my Alpha Force novels that were originally published as Harlequin’s Nocturnes, about an undercover military unit of shapeshifters, are being republished as ebooks, thanks to my agent. They’re getting out there again one at a time, with some really fun covers. The latest include UNDERCOVER WOLF and HAWK’S CHALLENGE.

            In addition, some of my Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mysteries are also audio books now, and I just got word this week that two of them that have been available for a year are now on sale for a month or so at 70% off: HOWL DEADLY and NEVER SAY STY.

            But I’m certainly continuing to promote my Harlequin Romantic Suspense books, including my latest, CANINE REFUGE. They’re the ones I’m most likely to have available at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, which occurs at the University of Southern California campus on the weekend of April 26 and 27. As I’ve mentioned, I’ll be at the Sisters in Crime booth and Mystery Writers of America booth at different times on Sunday, the 27th. I was also invited to participate at the Romance Writers of America booth but unfortunately the timing didn’t work out. I’ll try to visit there on Sunday as well, though.

            Yes, busy. And still writing, working on book #2 on my new Harlequin Romantic Suspense series. Always fun!