I haven't posted in a long time because of dealing with Sheena's death, working on a master's degree in creative writing, and doing the final editing on my third book. This new book, The Diamond Road, came out June 27th from Soul Mate Publishing.  Here's the link to Soul Mate's page for the book:  http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/the-diamond-road/  I had a lot of fun getting to know many Canadians during my research. Believe it or not, they're just like us Americans. They love, have families and homes, they work and play, though some do it in 50 below zero and 20 hours or darkness or sunlight. Golfing at midnight...maybe not for me, but they do it in Canada. I'd appreciate it if you'd check out my book and those of other fine Soul Mate Publishing authors. The back-cover blurb is:

"Devoted to her family and God, American trucker Connie Williams decides to run the ice roads to earn money to pay her beloved father’s mounting bills as he fights kidney failure. Losing him will destroy her. Subconsciously, she feels inadequate because she never went to college like her siblings and still lives life like a teenager.

Canadian professor, rancher, and ice-road trucker Jake Baxter runs the ice roads for money to keep his ranch out of his greedy siblings’ hands. He clings to the ranch because it’s the only thing keeping his parents alive in his heart; their deaths are too fresh in his mind, too overwhelming. He blames God for his parents’ deaths and hates seeing any living creature die.

During Yellowknife, Canada’s ice roads, they will face two truckers fixated on murderous revenge. Connie and Jake and their friends have three short months to solve the mystery of who their attackers are and stop them, or die."

 Since I last posted, I had a long sob in late January and looked at the local humane society's webpage through the tears. Sheena can't be replaced, but my heart said it was time to love a new dog. I looked at their rescued dogs and loved everyone of them, but a German Shepherd  named Gretle caught my eye.  I went sobbing to my husband and explained what was happening. Funny thing was, he'd already been looking at other dogs even before Sheena died. Seeing his grief when he couldn't look when the vet helped Sheena's pain end,  I know why he was looking at new dogs. He needed that unconditional love, too. Even funnier, he'd looked at the exact same dogs I did! Great minds think alike? Funnier yet, I showed him the one I wanted and that was the one he had discounted! Even funnier yet, guess which one we got two days later? That one. He fell in love with her. Gretle had been taken from a barn full of other dogs who never saw the light of day and were starved almost to the point of death. I think it was a puppy mill besides. We've had our ups and downs with Gretie and her health, but she's adapting to my weird family. Knowing we're feeding her more than the rocks she was eating and spoiling her rotten makes me feel good. I recommend rescuing a dog or cat if you like them.