It's hard to believe, but this is my eleven hundredth blog post. Amazing.

The draw and the pasture are white with fog, the East Coast is in the grip of a blizzard, and the Saints won the SuperBowl. That's the news from Linda's kitchen table. :)

I am SO into writing "Austin". I mean, I am inside this story, almost one of the characters. It's fun, it's difficult, it's exhilerating, it's exhausting. It's a challenge, it's a joy. I'll be glad when I finish, and sad, too.

I've joined a couple of ATC swapping groups, and on breaks I work on cards. This is so much fun. I haven't really had time for any larger art projects lately, though I've begun either knitting or crocheting in the evenings while I listen to my favorite podcasts: Cast On, Craftcast, Craft Sanity, and the BBC's wonderful "History of the World in 100 Objects." I'm like, the world's worst knitter, and I'm not much better at crochet. :) But there is a peace that is almost like meditation in doing needlework; it calms me and helps me forget any worries I may be entertaining.

And we do "entertain" worries, don't we? By going over and over them in our minds? "Come on in," we seem to say. "Sit right down and tell me all the reasons I ought to be worried."

I'm not going there, and I hope you won't, either.

There is simply too much to be grateful for.

Make a list. You'll feel better.

We're enjoying (yes, enjoying) a rainy Friday morning here in Spokane. It's a light the fire, put on a kettle of soup kind of day. Even better, it's a writing day--the very best kind of day there is. I am so into "Austin", I can hardly wait to have my breakfast, get dressed, and head for Blue River, Texas.

Yesterday I did a radio interview, had a phone meeting with my team at HQN, and made dinner for my cousin Sheri and friend Kat. They are delightful--brought flowers and wine and their senses of humor and we had a great time. In between all that, I wrote about 10 pages, and I loved every minute of it.

It's no secret to any of you that writing this trilogy has been particularly challenging--I've loved the stories and the characters from the moment I conceived the original germ of the idea, but for some reason, there were a lot of obstacles along the way. For all that, these books are some of my very best work. The reception "Tate" is receiving is nothing short of phenomenal. I can only reiterate one of my most basic beliefs---there is a reason for everything.

And I'm grateful, even--or especially--for the hassles.

Who knows what gifts they bring?

Have a good day and a good weekend.

"Tate" is #5 on the New York Times bestseller list and #2 on the USA Today list!

YES!!

Writing this book was such a challenge; there were times, as many of you will recall, when I thought I'd never be done with it. It's so gratifying to see "my boy" Tate out there kicking up dust.

I want to extend special congrats to my long-time buddy, Robyn Carr. Her new Virgin River book is right up there, too, and we're plotting to meet somewhere and party like rock stars.

In the meantime, though, I'm still expected in Blue River later today, and there's a phone meeting scheduled, too. Real life, as John Lennon said, is what happens while you're making other plans.

It's all good. Tonight, my cousin Sheri and her partner, Kat, are coming to dinner. They are two of my favorite people and I can't wait to see them--they always make me laugh. Sadie-beagle, who adores Sheri, will be over the moon.

See you tomorrow, pardners.

Three radio interviews this morning, and the first one was at 5:30. I enjoyed them all, since I'm a real ham, but I figure the folks in Blue River are starting to wonder where I am.

When I last saw Paige Remington and Austin McKettrick, they were standing toe to toe in a swimming pool, with a sky full of Texas stars spread out overhead, reminding themselves of all the reasons they shouldn't give in to temptation.

Will they, or won't they?

Well, I'm certainly not going to spill the beans.

:)

OK, time to get to work.

Six more weeks of winter? Well, there you go. The rodent has spoken--and there's no way I'm going to attempt to spell his name. :) I hesitate to tempt fate, but so far we've enjoyed a mild winter here in Spokane--in January, there were a number of sunny days, pretty enough to make your throat catch. The draw is foggy this morning--I haven't spotted any wildlife down there so far, but you never know. Deer, wild turkeys, whole packs of coyotes and even the occasional moose are not an uncommon sight here on the Triple L.

I had an early radio interview today--my thanks to Tron Simpson of KCMN-AM's "Tron Talk Live", on the USA Radio Network. As always, talking to Tron was easy and fun--he's a real pro. A $25 Petco gift card is being given away with each of the interviews I have scheduled to promote "Tate". I have 3 more tomorrow, and the first one is at 5:35 am, my time. :) It's great fun.

I'm writing "Austin" and doing well, though my cold is holding on. More Vicks, more Tylenol, and more of the goings on in Blue River, Texas. :)

Next month--next month--Sally and I head out for our yearly vacation. This year, we're bound for Barcelona, with side trips to Portugal and the south of France. There will be pictures and if humanly possible, blogs. It was a kick last time, blogging from Prague, because I had to use the hotel computer and navigate instructions in Czech. We shall see how it goes in Espanol. :)

Time to whip up some breakfast and get to work.

Once my writing day is done, I'll be snipping and gluing new ATCs. Loving the whole swap aspect of that.

More tomorrow.

Be blessed.