A snippet of one of my favorite scenes...

I think every writer must remember their first good piece. This is mine. I was pretending to study for the LSAT one rainy Saturday in college when this scene popped into my head and I could hardly make my pen fly fast enough to get down the scene played out across my mind. It's amazing to me that a whole book came out of this scene. I must confess that the book I envisioned writing to go along with this scenario is not the book that now exists, but I firmly believe in following my mother's advice, "Let the characters write themselves." Had I forced my first vision, I don't think we'd have the product I'm so proud of. Below is a very small glimpse into Miss Lilly and Home is Where Your Boots Are. Enjoy!

Late Tuesday afternoon, I sat at the old Chippendale desk procured by my mother, in the office procured by my father, surrounded by stacks of files and miscellaneous papers-old work product that I didn’t need any more, left over from the days at Hurst and Edwards. I had often used my previous cases to prepare for current ones. But now, instead of handling only real estate contracts, I was going to be a “Jill of all trades”, taking care of traffic tickets and wills and any other problem the citizens of a small town thought they needed a lawyer for. I also had a fearful premonition that I would be doing a lot of pro bono work. I doubted any of the high profile cases I had dealt with in Dallas would add clarity to any situation I needed to prepare for in Brooks. Although the law was the law on either side of the border, I supposed.


I still hadn’t been able to fully get a handle on my usual methods of organization. My hair, instead of the smooth, quietly sophisticated style I preferred, had given way to the mop of unruly curls it had a natural inclination for. I had done better with the makeup this morning, and along with my normal skin regimen, had managed mascara. Probably due to Nonnie arriving at the house at six a.m. with a cup of her coffee and the biscuit she so thought I needed.

“Lilly honey, don’t even think of stepping out of this house without your lashes covered – it makes you look tired.”

I think I mentioned that Nonnie had long dispensed with the niceties. When she handed me the mascara, she surveyed me critically and dug through my array of cosmetic enhancers for blush and simply handed it to me. Thank God for Nonnie, and God Bless her meddling little soul. I’d always thought she could sense what needed to be done before anyone else and today would prove no exception.

I pushed the mop back from my face and blew out my breath upwards, causing wayward curls to dance on my forehead as I surveyed the mess of what was now my “office.” Daddy’s connections had proven themselves and had found me a quaint little downtown space to “get me away from the hustle and bustle and back to my roots.” Just close enough to his office and Mama’s shop for either of them to pop over and say ‘hey’. Bless their hearts – heavy on the sarcasm. But I supposed that was to be expected; the keeping. You see, in Brooks, everyone knows whose check’s good and whose dog isn’t. If you weren’t sure, guaranteed someone could find out within the hour. The grapevine of gossip in Brooks was more efficient than the PTA phone chain in Stepford.

So here I was; 5:30 on a balmy, breezy Oklahoma evening, putting off going home to either run or have Tally drill me on commercial real estate contracts while trying to talk me into investing in her latest fashion business venture. What I really wanted was a nap and the ability to wake up and have control over my life.

I heard the door open out front and the bell jangle in a hokey fashion. Pushing my chair back from my desk with a sigh, I searched for the cup of caffeine that had long lost its warmth and appeal. I bumped my hip against my desk, muttered “ouch”, and headed toward the outer portion of the office, calling “Comin’,” in the redneck drawl that had crept back into my speech.

I stepped through the doorway, glanced up, saw him, dropped my favorite mug, not noticing when it shattered, and silently cursed, like I always do around him.

“Howdy, Miss Lilly.”

Photo Shoot Styling is Tough

Recently, I had a cover shoot done by the fabulous Catie Lawrence. She took both my headshots, and the covers for the first three books in the Miss Lilly series. I know Catie's job is tough, but as a writer trying to do everything yourself without a "real" publisher, styling the shoot was a huge coup for me. I know nothing of this type of thing, other than I knew what I wanted in my head.
After some blood, sweat and blisters, we managed to make it happen. I now have great cover art for the first three books. Home is Where Your Boots Are will be available for purchase late October. I look forward to sharing the journey of self-promotion with you all!
By the way, I have fabulous friends. They were the ones sweating in the hot Oklahoma sun, without any complaints!