THE OUTLAW’S LADY is a finalist in the short historical romance division of the Carol Awards! This is the annual writing contest for published authors in the American Christian Fiction Writers’ organization, and was formerly called the Book of the Year. The winner will be announced at the ACFW Conference in Indianapolis September 17-20. Congrats to all the other nominees, among which are several Steeple Hill friends and friends with other Christian publishers!

To say I’m over the moon about this doesn’t begin to cover it. I’ve always thought nominees who say “it’s an honor just to be nominated” were only being modest, but I finally understand that feeling. I really can’t imagine feeling any more jubilant if  I won. Being a finalist means that some of my peers in writing Christian fiction thought that THE OUTLAW’S LADY was one of the best short historical romances of the year, and that means more than I can say.

I just sent my editor a proposal for the fourth book in my “Simpson Creek Brides” series today. This is Caroline Wallace’s story. She lost her fiance in the influenza epidemic, and then encounters his brother Jack, who hadn’t known of his brother’s death, but who was hoping the newlyweds would babysit his two daughters while he goes off to Montana, until he can send for them. Of course when he finds out that his brother died several months before, and that Caroline thinks he’s incredibly nervy to have thought he could dump two children without warning, and that his Montana plan is half-baked, the sparks fly!

I finally got my IPAD, and I LOOOOOOOVE it. There’s still things I’m figuring out or haven’t used yet, and it’ll never replace “My Precioussssss” on which I write this blog and my books, but it sure is nice to read my email and books and not be attached by a cord.

Blessings, Laurie