A time of growth

Spring is definitely the time for new beginnings, perhaps even more so than the coming of the new year because in the dead of winter, the promise of new life seems so remote. But now, in late May, things are popping out all over the place. My roses are blooming,




















and just yesterday, one of the lilies I planted last fall burst into flower.




















Peaches isn't a little puppy anymore, but she is so full of exuberant life, she makes me feel young just watching her enjoy her first springtime as only a dog who was near death in December can do.


























And last, but certainly not least, my son Michael graduated from Purdue this month and has been accepted into graduate school. Now, that's a new beginning!




















I planted my garden on Tuesday--a bit later than I usually do, but what with deadlines and an over-abundance of rain, I simply hadn't gotten to it yet. As soon as I finished planting, a little thundershower passed over to give those seeds a good head start on growth.

And we could all use a little help when it comes to growing, both as people and as writers. Like all of the Casablanca authors, I, too, have suffered the pangs of childbirth associated with a new book. Not long ago, I finished the final edits to Hero, which will be born in August, and I'm now nearing the finish line on the next book. I was calling it Renegade, but about a month ago, Deb sent me this:


























The cover was totally hot, but the new title has taken a while to grow on me. It does have the virtue of being unique--while there are several other books coming out with renegade in the title, I don't think there are many virgins, at least, not with respect to the hero. I'm hoping this will make it stand out from the crowd and draw in some new readers, but even if is doesn't, I know some people who will be happy to have it in their hot little hands no matter what it's called.

Being able to provide fun, escapist entertainment for my readers has been the best part of being published. My heroes really mean it when they say, "I will give you joy unlike any you have ever known," and with what the world has to face these days, we could all use a little joy. In tough times, people need a vision of the future that offers hope and new beginnings for our world and our species, and if I can contribute even the tiniest little bit to that vision, then I've done my job.

One book at a time.