I eventually remarried a man already retired from teaching. He wanted me to retire early so we could do things together. He was writing and encouraged me to pursue my dream. Little did we know...
I'd retired early so I could go to work fulltime and write.
Starting out was easy enough. I'd write a book, at leisure, and turn it into my agent to sell to smaller epublishers. They were great. Still, I wondered. Could I ever sell to a large publisher? A couple years later, I allowed her to submit to the larger pubs. Things kinda went amuck. I got contracts from Harper Impulse and Random House Loveswept. Neither my agent, nor I kept track of my due dates in both contracts. A huge lesson learned. One time I had thirteen days between turning in books to the two publishers. This last round, I had to turn a book into each house on the SAME day!
Imagine my shock when I took the time to plot out my writing and release schedule for this past year! I've written six books in twelve months and what few operational brain cells I had are fried. I have a final book with Harper to edit and promote its release. Then my contract with them will be up.
Meanwhile, I've just signed a contract with Random House Loveswept for three more books with a smaller word count and a longer space between turn-in dates. I'll feel like I'm on vacation. This will be a wounded warrior series. Here's a prelude to the EAGLE RIDGE RANCH SERIES ...
In the Hill Country of Texas, a small
town developed around an old Apache legend—wounded warrior falls. Myth or
truth, the story was handed down generation to generation that the rocks in
Warrior Falls carried magical healing properties. Wounded Apaches would stand
or be carried beneath the waterfall for the healing-infused water to flow over
them.
The small town, Warrior Falls, has a
population nearing 6,000. Its few streets boast shops, restaurants, and supply
stores kept afloat by the townsfolk and nearby ranchers. Many of these
businesses are owned and operated by quirky characters to add humor to the
series. There are a few lovely “Texan roses” working in the town too.
Not far from Warrior Falls is a ranch
owned by ex-SEAL Warrant Officer Zane Quinlan, known to his crew and Texan neighbors
as ZQ. Eagle Ridge Ranch has been in his family for generations, and he’s
retired here from his deployments to Afghanistan to find some solace and healing of his own. Before long, an
injured member of his old team rolls in on his modified Harley, looking for a place of quiet to acclimate
to live in the world again.
Seeing the need for a healing ranch for
his old SEAL teams, he and his hired hands convert part of the ranch
to accommodate wounded warriors for short-term or longer stays to heal both
physical and emotional wounds. This 22,000 acre ranch becomes a hub of healing for the men and women who wore the Trident, the emblem of the SEALs.
~~Coming in 2016~~
