Christmas in Times Square and 40% off select paperbacks!

I'm not a city girl. At all. So when my husband suggested we go to New York for our anniversary, I was like, "If you want." Not to mention our anniversary is in December, which means snow, right? Well, we got really lucky, and the weather in New York was unseasonably warm, even warmer than Arkansas. And while I've been to New York before, I've never been during Christmas. If you're ever going to go--I highly recommend this time of year. I wish I could pass along the magic we felt walking down Time Square at midnight, thousands of people around us, Christmas trees and displays lighting the streets, and beautiful Christmas songs blasting through the air. It was beautiful, and I came to appreciate how, even as different as a New Yorker is to a country girl like me, we have so much more in common. I came away feeling more connected to a culture that's so foreign it's almost like visiting a different country.

The Statue of Liberty Grand Central Terminal

Lights on Time Square Enjoying a wonderful chocolate dessert

40% off Paperback books While ebooks are all the rage, sometimes we just want to hold a book. And for gift-giving, there's nothing like having a physical object. Just for you, I'm offering a coupon for 40% off select paperbacks. This coupon is not valid on Amazon.com but only through the link provided in this email. Click the book title to see it online! coupon code: YYVZ6ZSD Expires Dec. 31, 2016

Inevitable Lay Me Down Cassandra Jones: Walker Wildcats Year 1 Cassandra Jones: Walker Wildcats Year 2

Romance short story People have been telling me to do it for years. I've hemmed and hawed and changed the subject. But I'm finally writing a romance. With no serial killers. Granted, it's a short story, I'm doing it with friends, and I've only written a page so far. But I'm DOING IT. Hopefully I'll have it completely drafted by the end of this month. I'll keep you posted. Any exciting Christmas plans? What places have you visited that really impacted you? Where do you want to visit? Thanks for reading! Love,

Around North America

Thanks to the many different places we visit in my book, I feel like I'm getting to know a lot of North America. Wouldn't you know, it's really making me want to visit these places? Especially now that I'm writing scenes from the detective's POV. When it was just the girls, they didn't get to really experience things, like hotels, restaurants, sights. They were scared and running for their lives. But it's different with the detective.

We start out in Shelley, Idaho, a sleepy little town most famous for its honey. Our detective is from Idaho Falls, though originally he claimed Alabama as his hometown. The first stop is Havre, Montana, mostly used for its proximity to a highway and an entrance into Canada. We spend a lot of time in Victoriaville and Montreal, Quebec (Canada). Wow, Victoriaville sounds like a lovely place. Full of new industry and artists. We see bits of Dallas, Texas, a glimpse of Vermont and Maryland, and then we enter the Adirondack national forest in New York.

I'd heard of Adirondack before, but never realized that it's the biggest national forest in the continental US. How fascinating is that? Located in the Gore mountains, famous for their cross-country skiing and hiking, it's dotted with little townships and hamlets. The largest one, Johnsburg, has just under 3,000 people. I've watched some beautiful footage of this place.

Then we move on to Little Falls, New York. I want to stay at the Bed & Breakfast where Detective Hamilton stays. I want to eat that French/American food! The menu looks fantastic. And just around the corner is the National Historic District of the Erie Canal. Not to mention the art shows and antiques and the veritable history in this little city!

From here we visit Rome, New York, and I'm not sure yet where our Detective is going to stay, I haven't written that far. But I'm ready to put on my backpack and grab a map and explore these places!