I went home to Robertson County this week to speak and sign my latest book, Skip Rock Shallows. It’s been many years since I lived there, but still the rolling hills and winding roads are as familiar as the streets of my subdivision. A thunder storm was rolling in across the ridges as I drove into town. I thought of my girlhood, when I would wrap up in an army blanket (courtesy of my father’s service in WW2) and enjoy the storms from my family’s back porch.  Usually, I had a cat wrapped up in the blanket with me.  I was momentarily homesick for that porch and the security of that scratchy wool blanket, not to mention the succession of cats that shared rainy days with me.

My homesickness dissipated as soon as I walked into the library and saw the folks gathered there for my reading. As I shared my book, they shared their memories, so much like mine, of growing up “on the farm.” Some on them had attended the same one-room schoolhouse in Piqua that my brothers and I did. One recalled the column that a friend and I authored for the local newspaper during our high school days. How sweet to share that rainy evening with homefolks.

One of the joys of being an author is being invited to libraries to meet with people who love books as much as I do. I’ve just finished reading, The Forever Fix, by Ricki Lewis. It relates the true story of Corey Hass, a boy whose sight was restored through gene therapy. Forever Fix explains “complex biological processes in understandable ways.” I’ve just downloaded Gretchen Rubin’s, Happier at Home, and am looking forward to a book on making a house a place of simplicity, comfort, and love. Sort of like a woolen blanket, a cat, and a cozy back porch on a rainy day.

Here’s hoping you have a good book for your rainy days.

This week I discovered what makes one of the main characters in my upcoming book, Tattler’s Branch, unique. It continues to amaze me when a character begins to express who they really are, and sometimes it catches me off guard. This character is a gambler, and I don’t even play cards, so where he came from I don’t know. I like getting to know him, though. He has an interesting background that adds a lot to the book. This reminds me that every person I meet, whether fictional or not, has a unique and interesting story.

Have you ever wished you could go home again?  Well, I am going home again this week with a trip to Mt. Olivet, Kentucky to do a book signing at the Robertson County library. I was raised on a tobacco/dairy farm there. Readers often ask how I know so much about country life—chickens and cows and gardens. That is why. When you’ve done the work you don’t forget. I live in the city now, and I am thankful. I Iike having neighbors, and I enjoy the conveniences living in town offers. Saturday morning, I went to a local farmer’s market where I bought fresh eggs, cucumbers and two juicy tomatoes. I have the best of both worlds.

Maggie is lying on the floor with her head on her paws waiting patiently for her walk. She is bored with me spending so much time at the keyboard. Maggie would like to be a country dog. She would love to be a hunter, digging into ground hog holes and chasing squirrels. I’m sure the critters are glad she lives in the city and takes her walks on the end of a leash.

Pray for the people in Colorado. Have a safe and blessed week.

Do you remember that wonderful old hymn, Showers of blessing, Showers of blessings we need.Ky.has been showered with blessing this week in the form of much needed rain. My yard looks a little better, but the grass is still brown.

I have been showered with blessings this week also. On Tuesday, I was honored to speak at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville.  My dear friend, Elizabeth Hoagland, facilitates the book club there. It’s a real treat and very much a blessing to great new readers there as well as those who have followed my books from the beginning. One of the ladies who attended my reading on Tuesday is a true blessing to my heart. She heard me give one of my first talks after Troublesome Creek was published and has cheered me on since.

Today, I enjoyed another type of blessing as I did some catch-up housework. My maids (in the form of washer, dryer, sweeper, microwave, and dishwasher) were appreciated as I did my chores—especially my dishwasher. My old one had to be watched constantly and nudged through each cycle. I’ve had my Frigidaire dish washer for over a year now and every time I load it I’m thankful.

My biggest blessing this week, however, was Family Day at Oakwood, the residential facility inSomerset,KY., where my middle son, David Andrew, lives. Each year, Oakwood has a day of fun with game booths, great food, and lots of entertainment. Drew was all dressed up in new tee-shirt, shorts, and white sneakers. He looked so handsome. His special “buddy” Jerry accompanied him to all the special activities and to the food tent for hamburgers. It was a fun and festive day for all.

Drew has lived at Oakwood since 1987. It is home to him. Placing Drew in a facility was very difficult for me and for Drew’s dad and his brothers. We were sure that nobody could care for him as well as we did. Our great blessing is that Oakwood can and does.

Count your blessings, name them one by one. I do.

I’ve received some interesting questions and comments over the last few days. I thought you might like me to share.

Christine from Wisconsin asked about my experience of winning the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild First Novel Contest in 2004.

I’d finally finished my first book (and the first thing I’d ever written) and decided to enter the manuscript in the contest that Mr. Jenkins and Tyndale House Publishers sponsored. It was the first ever, First Novel contest. I think I’d read about the contest in Writers Digest Magazine. I was definitely a novice without a clue as to what I was getting into. I had listened to Mr. Jenkins speak at a conference a couple of years before this, and I was impressed by his knowledge and his encouragement to writers, not to mention his wonderful sense of humor.

I hoped, as I sent Troublesome Creek off to Colorado Springs on a wing and a prayer from my home in Kentucky, that maybe, just maybe, someone there at the Christian Writers Guild would take a look at my project and give me a bit of encouragement. I’d already been told by an editor in the business that my book was too long (correct) and that historical fiction did not sell (INCORRECT).

A few weeks after entering the contest, I received an e-mail from CWG saying my manuscript was in the top 20. A couple of weeks later it was in the top 10. This was definitely encouraging—my prayer had been answered. Then I received THE PHONE CALL, Troublesome Creek was in the top 3! The three finalists, along with our spouses, were invited on an all-expenses paid trip to Atlanta where the winner would be announced.

Imagine my delight when my too long, too historical fiction novel was declared the winner. Now I’m writing my 7^th book for Tyndale, Tattler’s Branch.

Another reader, Kathy, wondered, since I wrote of my recent experience with a skunk, if there would be a skunk appearance in a future book. Some readers might remember that the never-do-well character, Isa Still from Still House Pond had tried his hand at skunk farming.

Nelda, a retired teacher, shared a story from her childhood. She caught a mother skunk with 3 babies. A doctor bought them and removed their scent glands. He kept them for pets.

And Victoria sent me an e-mail of encouragement. She wrote in part, “I truly get lost in your characters. So, please don’t let this one (Skip Rock Shallows) be the last one in the series.”

Good Lord willing, if you’ll all keep reading, I’ll keep writing.