Exciting News!

1. We found out this week that The Wild Women of Lake Anna is a finalist in the juvenile fiction category of ForeWord magazine's 2005 Book of the Year awards. We plan on going to a reception in May at Book Expo of America in D.C. when the ultimate winners are announced. But you know what, Sugar, Bailey, Jim and I are pleased as punch to get this far.

2. The Thief at Keswick Inn went to press on Monday. Yipee!

3. I had a wonderful visit yesterday with students at Falmouth Elementary School in Stafford. They had great questions for me, and were very thoughtful about why Justin acted like he did in Wild Women.

4. Our daughter, Miss Abigail's book also came out this month. It is called Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage. It is a very cute book. Everyone should get a copy.

5. The daffodils had snow on them yesterday! Silly weather.

Daffodil

Despite the roller-coaster weather (it was 70 yesterday and maybe will reach 50 today), we have a brave little daffodil in bloom in the front yard. It's a sign of spring. There are many bushes and trees with buds on them, including the lilacs and apple trees. The bluebirds are back, too. They go in and out of the wooden box house and look for worms on the little feeder we put up next to it. Yesterday we stopped at the wild bird store in Fredericksburg and bought another container of 500 meal worms, which the bluebirds love. I gave them about a dozen this morning when I went out to get the paper.