Welcome to My Website!

Well, once again I’ve let myself get far behind with updating this page. I’m thinking of submitting myself to the Guinness people as the World’s Greatest Procrastinator. But somehow I never seem to get around to it. (Tee-hee.)

And there’s quite a lot of news I need to spread. For one thing, my fourth book from Severn is, as of this writing in March 2013, due out very soon in the United States. It’s already out in the UK. It’s set in Wales, in a fictitious castle, and thus is called Murder at the Castle. Personally, I would have liked another title, but it’s the publisher’s call. It involves a big choral and vocal music festival, and I had great fun with that. I got to program all my favorite pieces!

The research was wonderful, of course. I toured several of the castles in North Wales, and hired a car and driver for a day to take me around to wonderful hotels to sample their lunches and teas. And of course I got to stay in my favorite B&B, Tower Wales, with the nicest hosts anyone could imagine. Ah, it’s a hard life, that of the writer!

I’m just now finishing the next book, number fourteen in the Dorothy Martin series. I don’t have a title for it yet; I do seem to have trouble with titles these days. It’s the result of my travels after I left Wales last summer and went to the northern reaches of the UK, the islands of Orkney. Orkney is the most amazing place! Now, you may not be turned on by archeology, but trust me, it’s fascinating. Orkney is a veritable showplace of the Neolithic era, letting visitors not only see but feel how people lived some 5,000 years ago. I wish I could convey the sense of wonder and mystery I felt when wandering around the ancient sites, seeing houses and temples and tombs that were in use before the Pyramids were built. Somehow those people who lived there are still around. One isn’t quite in the 21st century in Orkney.

And speaking of the 21st century, I’m finally moving into it. My early Dorothy books are now available in electronic versions for both Kindle and Nook. Those of you who want to read the series in order and haven’t been able to find the early ones are in luck. They’re not all up yet, but the Severn House people, bless them, are working at it as fast as they can. I confess I still prefer real books, but I know many of my readers love the devices, and more power to them.

While you’re here, take a look at my schedule for the next few months. Not a lot on it yet, but more will be added soon. .

I like to call my books “cheerful mysteries.” For despite all signs to the contrary, I continue to believe the world is a good place and most of her people are trying to do their best. So my books reflect that philosophy and I hope this site does, too.