Welcome

Welcome, Friend, to my home on the web! Because I write two completely different types of books, I suppose if this house were real instead of virtual it would be an odd mix of antique and modern. (Eclectic, the design magazines might say.) There would be a map room with everything from geological maps of the western United States to crumbling parchments from 9th century Europe. Stacks of books wait in the library, ready for my inquiries about the chemistry of volcanic ash or how to spin flax. I’d want a butler’s pantry where my loyal Jeeves prepares filling, no-cal lunches, and don’t forget the salty snacks for the afternoon. Yet my assistant is also ready at a moment’s notice to show me how to shoot a shotgun or make a sword.

My favorite room is the writing room. Since I am pretending, I can give it a wall of windows that offers a panoramic view of the Grand Tetons. Research materials and handwritten notes make a mess around my laptop where it waits on a desk with lots of brass-handled drawers. Jeeves keeps a fire stoked in the winter, and a covered porch is one step away so that I can work outside when the outdoor temperature cooperates. And a coffee maker, please, along with milk, sugar and ice. (Iced coffee, yum!)

Most important of all, time stops in my writing room so I don’t miss track meets or the next episode of The Americans or my wedding anniversary as I toil the hours away bringing to life the characters whose stories insist on erupting in my head.

They show me what the lady in the red dress is seeing.

Did you notice her up there, standing so rudely with her back to us?

What is she seeing, anyway? That is exactly what I asked when the website designer emailed the banner image. “I like the lady in the red dress very much,” I said, “but what is she doing there, in that dress, out in those trees?”

Clicking around in my virtual house might help you decide. You might decide she is in the wrong place at the wrong time, witnessing the inescapable pressure wave from the Yellowblown volcano. Or she’s a feisty heroine seeing the first glow of love from her aristocratic hero in a historical romance.

Or you may decide she is just like you, exploring, coming to see what all the fuss is about.

Of course, there is always the possibility that she’s just a crazy tart wandering the woods in a red satin dress. In any case, she’s interesting and I like her and sometimes that’s all you need to know to want to keep exploring.

Welcome, Friend, to my world.

Blog

A New Chapter

Well, friends, I have been missing for a LONG time. A year ago I was working on an edit of “Unbidden” when a terrible thing happened. And then two months later another terrible thing happened. I’m not going into the details, but suffice it to say I was emotionally gutted, and my day-to-day life was hijacked by the needs of others. Writing was out of the question, both from a time standpoint and from lack of creative drive. (I did participate in a boxed set of novellas, Hearts Aflame, with some other Love Historicals authors. Luckily I had the story “Rowan’s Legacy” written prior to July 2015, and only had to edit to get it ready.)

Five months or so ago, in the midst of the very stressful and time-consuming task of forcibly downsizing my parents’ living situation, a wonderful thing started to happen. An opportunity for a full-time job sort of evolved in an industry I left in 2003 and never thought I would re-enter. All I can say is this path felt more clear, sensible, and stimulating than the idea of continuing to write when I can’t seem to earn the support of more than a few people who buy books. So, I’m starting this week on a new/old professional journey.

Local readers often ask if I’m working on the next book. I have a few in my head, in both my existing series and one totally different story, but writing them is another thing. The inclination exists, the love for the written word and my characters is still there. I just can’t imagine I’ll have time. If I choose to continue, it will begin again as a hobby, which is how I started, after all.

Thank you for visiting my blog and website, and for being one of the fans who enjoys my writing. I’m sure I’ll be distracted by this new chapter for awhile. Hopefully, one day, some characters will become so loud in my head that I’ll start to let them out again. And when that happens, I’ll definitely be talking about it here!

La Déesse Noire: The Black Goddess on First Sight Saturday

This week on First Sight Saturday, Mariana Gabrielle shares a first meeting excerpt from La Déesse Noire: The Black Goddess, her historical romance featuring the daughter of an Indian paramour and a nobleman of England. Mariana Gabrielle is a pseudonym of Mari Christie, a professional writer, editor, and designer. Her fun fact is that she ran… Continue Reading

My Outlander Obsession – Good Guys!   #MFRWHooks

My Outlander Obsession – Good Guys! #MFRWHooks

I’ve been having a serious problem balancing my need to read the entire Outlander series immediately—if not before—and my real-life obligations. I realize I’m a little late to this party considering the first book was published in 1991, but I’m here now and I’m a fan! I’ve been double dipping by voraciously reading while getting caught… Continue Reading

New Hotness on Hot for Fridays

New Hotness on Hot for Fridays

So happy that my favorite book boyfriend, Boone, will soon be burning up ereaders. Rhyolite Drifts: Yellowblown™ Book Two, my New Adult contemporary slightly apocalyptic romance, is available for preorder—at a discounted price—and will be released on May 5. Here are a few of Boone’s swoon-worthy lines, spoken to Violet, that reminded her why she… Continue Reading

Charlemagne – Talking Points

Everybody’s heard of Charlemagne but many of us have no idea why his name has endured through history. Today is Charlemagne’s birthday, so here are some talking points to grow your brain and impress your friends. 1. Charlemagne was born on April 2, 742 or 747 or 748. (Historians can’t agree on which year, and really,… Continue Reading

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