Seasons greetings!
I hope this end-of-year letter finds you thriving. If thriving is a stretch, at least maintaining an even keel. If even that is out of reach at the moment, may I suggest chocolate? It's in abundance on store shelves right now.
A quick recap of what's happened in my neighborhood and beyond:
The first ever Author Appreciation Day, co-hosted by The Bookery and Monarch Books in downtown Lebanon, was a cozy, entertaining success. I and five other authors set up our tables outside of The Bookery, in The Old Town Mall, and gave short, intimate readings from our books inside the bookstore. Turnout was good in spite of the wet, chilly weather, and I enjoyed the opportunity to socialize with members of the local community. Jessica, owner of The Bookery, is a lovely, supportive business woman who I adore and hope to work with again soon.
As for February 2026's Annual Local Author Fair at the Lebanon Senior Center? Spaces filled up faster than expected and I'm on a waiting list. With luck, there will be a cancellation and I'll have enough to time get the word out. Will keep you posted.
Ramsey Judd (co-authored with Tina Spencer) is now available for purchase in audio format. This is an Apple Books audiobook, narrated by a digital voice based on a human narrator. I am still wading through tutorials on how to listen to an Apple audiobook on my Linux PC. In the meantime, I would be interested to get feedback from anyone who does hear the story: not just whether you liked it, but was the quality of the recording acceptable. I plan to have Apple Books produce audios of Come Snowfall and Destination Stardust early next year, once I'm convinced they can do the Navajo and Arapaho language excerpts justice. Again, will keep you posted.
Speaking of feedback, i.e. reviews, I created a book review meme on Canva.
If you enjoyed one of my stories and have a moment to spare, please consider leaving a short review on the site where you purchased the book and let other readers know. Your help in spreading the word is gratefully appreciated.
How am I doing on the marketing and relaxing goals? My husband and I bought matching recliners as gifts to ourselves, so the relaxing part has been a breeze. Marketing is hit and miss. I've been dabbling at updating my Pinterest page. Hopefully I will have something worthy of reporting soon. As in sometime next year.
I struggled over something witty and prophetic to close with, then happened upon these words from Dr. Josh Axe that resonated with me: "If you’re walking through news that feels final or frightening, take courage. Take hope. Don’t let fear have the last word…"
Dear readers,
I'm happy to announce that Becker's Trail is now available in paperback and ebook!
"A family torn apart by the lure of gold and the chance for a better life, shadowed by heartbreak and bitterness. When tragedy strikes, Levi Becker is sent to search for the father who abandoned him – and discovers the meaning of courage and family loyalty. A powerful coming-of-age story about the hard road toward forgiveness and a young man carving his own destiny. If you enjoy Francis Tucket's Adventures in the West, you'll love Becker's Trail."
Please visit my website for more info and buy options.
The Bookery and Monarch Books in downtown Lebanon, Oregon, are hosting Author Appreciation Day, November 1, 2025, from 12PM – 4PM. I will be among the authors setting up a table for book sales and signings, and I plan to read an excerpt from Becker's Trail. Come by and say hi, grab a map and enter to win a Thankful For You book basket. For details, go to Author Appreciation Day.
My husband and I dug our gold pans out of storage and took friends up Quartzville Creek a couple weeks ago. Our panning skills were a bit rusty and our luck finding gold slim to none, but any day spent in the wilderness with good friends is one to cherish. This is the general area I wrote about in Becker's Trail, though my characters were much better at finding the shiny stuff. :)
Panning for gold on Quartzville Creek
As I write this, the holidays are rushing up on us fast. The garden is still producing but much slower, and it won't be long before we get our first frost. My goals for the rest of 2025 are to focus on marketing and to relax for the holidays (not necessarily in that order). What are some of the things on your list to wrap up the year? Drop me a line and let me know!
Until next time, I wish you all the best. Stay safe, eat wisely, and enjoy.
Pumpkin rock sunning on a bench.
JoJo and her buddy Milo sharing the shade.
Greetings from the dog days of summer here in the PNW!
I'm happy to report ARCs (advance reader copies) of Becker's Trail are in the hands of my beta readers at last. While I wait for their feedback, there's watering, pruning, and harvesting to keep me busy. I canned the first seven pints of green beans yesterday, and the tomatoes are finally turning. Somehow (LOL), three tomato plants became five, so we should have another bountiful harvest this year. And more canning to look forward to. Every bit of shade is appreciated right now, with temperatures pushing 100 degrees Fahrenheit for days on end.
The Bookery and Monarch Books in downtown Lebanon, Oregon, are co-hosting Author Appreciation Day, November 1, 12PM to 4PM. I've registered and hope to showcase Becker's Trail in paperback alongside my other western-theme titles. Stop in and say hello if you're in the neighborhood.
I've always been a strong supporter of libraries and their importance to authors and local communities. So it was a thrill and honor to discover Destination Stardust on the Large Print shelf of Lebanon Public Library!
That's a wrap for this edition. Stay safe from whatever Mother Nature throws your way.