Reluctant Smuggler

The Reluctant Smuggler, the third installment in Jill Elizabeth Nelson’s To Catch A Thief series, takes the reader from the snow covered landscape of Boston to the tropical jungles of the Yucatan Peninsula, to archaeological digs.

While trying to find flaws in the Mexican museum’s security system, Desiree Jacobs finds herself chased and the false artifact she carries stolen. Back in Boston, her fiancée, FBI agent Tony Lucano is almost killed during a raid and lies in a coma. Page turning thrills and suspense tie these two incidents together and threaten to jeopardize Desi’s and Tony’s upcoming wedding.
In The Reluctant Smuggler, Jill Elizabeth Nelson digs deeper in Desi’s and Tony’s love for each other, the dangers of crime-solving and protecting precious antiquities, and shows us the strength of true-love. The Reluctant Smuggler was my favorite of the three books in the To Catch a Thief Series. Full of romance, danger, suspense and God’s sovereignty. I’m looking forward to more adventures written by Jill Elizabeth Nelson.

Favorite

A critique partner asked me which of the three Summer Meadows books was my favorite. Here's my response:

Wow! I guess I'd have to say my favorite was the second one, Candy-Coated Secrets. It takes place at a county fair and Summer ends up being befriended by a nasty-tempered elephant named Ginger. It's silly, twisted, and fun. Of course, the first one, Fudge-Laced Felonies will always hold a special place in my heart because it's the one that got me the contract.

Finished First Draft!

Finished the first draft of book three in the Summer Meadows series. Feels good. I'll be having final edits of Fudge-Laced Felonies coming any day now, and I'm working on the first chapter of my new series. Marsha (Mars-Bars) Calloway inherits her father's doughnut business. Someone is using her doughnuts to poison people, them robbing them. When they wake from the medication, no not a killer this time, they can't remember the last hour of their life. What do you think? Sound interesting?

Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Yippee! The website is up. Go on by and join the club to read the funnest cozy mysteries around. May's release will be my very own, Fudge-Laced Felonies. Be one of the first to receive it!
Just click on this link. http://www.heartsongmysteries.com/

Happy New Year!

Wow, the beginning of another year. Resolutions? Oh, yeah. Lose thirty pounds, finish book two and three, write another one, get through the age of 16 with my son, write on my blog more, quit smoking...sounds daunting, doesn't it?

And, to top it off, my son got a restraining order served against him by his ex-girlfriend's parents. She got made when he broke up with her, didn't leave him alone, filled his head with "I'm sorry's" until I feel ill, and now the silly boy has to go to court for violation. Never mind she follows him around. And calls. And finds out where he's going to be and shows up. He believed her lies. Oh, the power females have over males. Especially ones with raging hormones. Well, my son's eyes are being opened--painfully. I pray God gets us all through it. My son's court hearing is February 1.

We still don't hear from our adoptive daughter who will be 19 on January 4th. Still praying she turns back to family and God.

The rest of the family is doing great and we celebrated a very happy Holiday season.

Here's to a blessed 2008 to all of you.

Geocaching

After reading Colleen Coble's latest book, Abomination, my husband and I bought a GPS and decided to try our hand at geocaching, minus the dead body's of course. What fun! Before we knew it we had been searching for 3 1/2 hours! Time flew. We found most, some we couldn't, but we're raring to go again. Next time, we might even take our kids! This is a wonderful way to spend time outside, working together as a team to find a treasure. We're already trying to decide where to stash our own cache.

An Update

I should probably see the first signs of book cover art for Fudge-Laced Felonies sometime in March. I can't wait. I'll probably cry. I've going through the first scope of editions for Candy-Coated Secrets (this was a fun book to write), and am 20,000 words into Chocolate-Covered Crime.

In addition to writing, I'm kept busy reading wonderful books and reviewing for Author's Choice Reviews at faithinlove.com. When you've got the time, head over and take a look. Reviewing is a priceless, and fun, way of keeping up with what is happening in the industry of publishing. Many of the books I have the priviledge of reviewing aren't in the stores yet. I get one of the first looks. The best way to see what publishers are looking for today.

If you're serious about writing, you must read. A lot.

Still Moving!

Just stopped at the bank to open a checking account with my first advance check. What a thrill. Also left a business card with a very interested teller. The Barnes and Noble in Surprise want me back for the local author's booksigning in January, and when Fudge-Laced Felonies is released wants to throw me a launch party! It's just keeps getting better and better. I ordered 200 black pencils with my website in gold and once I see what I know will be an awesome cover for the book, I'll make bookmarks. I'm having so much fun!

Moving Up!

More good news on the book front. Fudge-Laced Felonies has been moved from July 2008 to May 2008. Another author missed their deadline and that left an opening for me. I can hardly contain my excitement. My agent has book two in the series and I'm 15,000 words into book three. Then it's back to the drawing board for another quirky, lovable character that can live on through at least three books. I'm having a blast!

Bayou Justice

Robin Miller, writing as Robin Caroll has managed to draw the reader deep into Cajun country. Smack dab in the middle of the swamp. Alligator death rolls, Cajun food, age-old family secrets, love and distrust. These are all the components that make up her first novel. Having read the manuscript in critique form, I can't wait to purchase a copy and am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series.

ACFW Conference 2007

This was the most amazing conference ever! During lunch on Friday, I was presented with a contract for my cozy mystery, Fudge-Laced Felonies. The contract was offered in front of 500 attendees by Susan Downs of Barbour Publishing. Needless to say, I was flying high all weekend. Another publisher may be interested in my romantic suspense, Mountain of Fear. God is good! Here are pictures of me with my agent, Kelly Mortimer and my Barbour editor, Susan Downs. There is also a picture of me with the infamous author Brandilyn Collins (the red head), another with author Janet Dean and my agent, and a group photo of myself, my agent and other of her clients at the award banquet on Saturday night.

Scattergories!

SCATTERGORIES...it's harder than it looks/sounds! Rules: Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following... They MUST be real places, names, Things...NOTHING made up! If you can't think of anything, skip it. Try to use different answers if the person before if you had the same 1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question. Once you're done, forward on to friends and back to the person who sent it to you. Now Go!

Your Name: Cindy
1. Famous singer/band: Michael Crawford
2. 4 letter word: crap
3. Street name: Cincinnati Avenue4. Color: Crimson
5. Gifts/presents: Candid
6. Vehicle: Cadillac
7. Items on a menu: cheese crisp
8. Girl Name: Carol
9. Boy Name: Chase
10 Movie Title: Cellular
11. Drink: Coke
12. Occupation: Cab driver
13. Flower: carnation
14. Celebrity: Candice Bergen
15. Magazine: Cars
16. US City: Cleveland
17. Pro Sports Teams: Cardinals
18. Reason for Being Late for Work: chronic diahrea
19. Something U Throw Away: cardboard
20. Things You Shout: Come on!
21. Cartoon Character: Casper

Valley Vista High School's Inaugural game

Valley Vista is a new High School in our city. Only open for two years. The first year we only had freshmen and Sophmore. This year we added Juniors. Yippee! If you're into football pain. We had our first Varsity game ever. And lost. 50 - 0. Ouch! Complete with fireworks, by the way. My son, who not to brag, is the star of the Junior Varsity game is also on the Varsity. For lack of players with talent, apparently. Despite his having carried the ball for a total of more than 200 yards the night before, and scoring two touch-downs, he didn't play a lick last night. The same guys over and over and over and over. I swear the game lasted for ten hours!

Anyway, after watching the same play (that didn't work the first time by the way) over and over and over, because obviously the coaches didn't think the other team would catch on, someone in the crowd yells to keep the clock running during a time-out. The rest of us spectators clapped.

Anyway, we know it'll be tough without any seniors on our Varsity team, but a couple of points wouldn't have hurt, would it? Or, how about a chance for the "2nd" string to play, which consisted of mostly JV players suited up, to look like more bodies I wonder? What could it have hurt? We were already at zero. Couldn't go backward from there!

Oh, well. My son's name is still in the paper as one of the players. After last night's game, is that a good thing? How about a reporter at the JV game? We might actually run some plays.

Mortimer Literary Agency

I HAVE AN AGENT!!!! Kelly Mortimer called last night and asked whether I was still interested in her representing me. Of course I said yes, as I danced and screamed inside. Praise God!

Something Fun...and a little mean

Ever want to have some harmless fun? I was at Barnes and Noble the other day (my favorite place) and this teenage girl was walking past my car. For the heck of it, I pushed my alarm button. She jumped five feet. I laughed hysterically. Wouldn't it be fun to just do it and watch people's expressions? I honk at my kids every time they walk in front of my car, and laugh every time it scares them. I'm sick, I know. Just don't do it to anyone too frail. You don't want something having a heart attack.

Cairn Terrier Puppies

A week late and five hours on the bathroom floor, we finally have puppies! Aren't they cute? This is Truly's first litter. A boy and a girl.

Candy Coated Secrets

Well, I finished the first draft and am rattling around the house not knowing what to do. Should I start on the third book of the series, or finish another manuscript that's already begun? People say you should take a breather and go in with a clean head, but I'm feeling a little lost. Alot of it depends on the upcoming conference, and whether the agent I'm hoping for decides to represent me.

I'm also waiting on my dog to decide to have her puppies. She's four days late and the vet says not to worry unless it's over a week. Yeah, well it isn't his dog.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Yep, I'm admitting here in blogger land that I am a Harry Potter fan. Read the first one to see what all the hoopla was about and whether or not it was something I would allow my kids to read. Got hooked. Bought book number seven Saturday morning at 10 and finished the almost 800 page book by Sunday afternoon at three. Easily the best book by far.

JK Rowling even states the Bible verse, without the scripture address, "Where your heart is, there will your treasure be also." The Deathly Hallows is all about loyalty, the dangers of racism, and the power of love. From the first chapter the action grabs the reader and doesn't let go until the end.

Not a book for younger than thirteen, unless the child is a very mature reader, but teens and adults will absolutely love this book. The character arc of Harry Potter is immense. The death toll is high, tears are plenty, humor breaks things up just a bit, love, friendship, and sacrifice is on every page, and the reader is left gasping in parts. This is going to be one heck of a movie.

Veil of Fire

Read Veil of Fire by Marlo Schalesky. Wow!

Book Reviews

In addition to book reviews I may list on my site, I am now a reviewer for Author's Choice Reviews. Visit their site for reviews on movies, fiction and non-fiction books. http://IDealinHope.com/bookreviews