I read somewhere that life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes. I believe that time works the same way. Here it is the middle of April, and it seems like only yesterday that we brought 2024 into the picture.

Maybe the passage of time so quickly is in direct correlation to how busy a person is. Seems to be that way for me. I’ve finished two novels since the first of the year and am working on the first historical that I’ve written in many years. A prequel to Trouble in Paradise that covers two of the shady lady’s lives when the old brothel in Spanish Fort, Texas closed its doors for good. It’s an exciting project, and I’m glad Montlake will be publishing it, possibly sometime in 2025.

The kids and I took a research trip on the first of this month. And OMGoodness, what a trip it was. We packed so much into that five-day road trip. We went from southern Oklahoma to the Guymon, which is located in the panhandle. From there we traveled down to the northern part of the Texas panhandle so I could get the lay of the land for a cowboy series I plan to write sometime this year. The wind was blowing so hard that tumbleweeds were literally flying over barbed wire fences and chasing each other across the road. Fifty-mile winds kicked up a dust storm and at times we could scarcely see the next yellow line on the highway.

We went to a lovely museum in Spearman, Texas, where the cowboy series will be set, then traveled on down to Amarillo and Abilene, where I plan to set another contemporary. From there we were off to Palestine where the historical book I’m writing now is set. We made a quick stop in Hico, Texas to check out that town for a contemporary and saw the eclipse while we were there. On the way home from Palestine, we experienced hard, driving rain, and flood warning signs. So, all in all, I have lots of fodder for this years’ writing. Now, my office chair is calling my name to get all the stories written for my amazing and loyal readers.

My son, Charles Lemar Brown, and I will be signing books in Ardmore, Oklahoma on April 27. Then we’ll both be attending the Wild Deadwood Reads event in Deadwood, South Dakota, in June, and will be signing on Saturday, June 15. Follow my Facebook page for locations and times. Hope to see some of y’all there!

On a personal level, we got a brand-new great-grandson on April 3. His name is Theo Lemar Brown, and of course we all think he’s just the cutest little feller ever.

Once again, thank you to all my readers for your support and the love you show me!

Until next time,

I saw a robin this morning just sitting there on my back fence. I hope that he was bring the message that spring will be here soon. It’s hard to believe that January is now gone and we’re thinking about Valentine’s Day.

I’ve been looking back over 2023 and all the wonderful memories that we made. That will be the year that goes down as the best and worst of years. On a personal level, we had three book signings in which Mr. B, our son, Lemar, and I were so privileged to share.



We went to the last Book Lover’s Con in Houston as a family, came home for one day and ran the washing machine nonstop, and then were off to Cincinnati for Lori Fosters event, RAGT, where we won first place in the costume contest as Okie Rednecks.

A few weeks later, sixteen of the family went on an Alaskan Cruise. Then in October we road tripped again to Utah where I was the keynote speaker at the Utah Reader’s luncheon.



We made so many amazing memories that we will hang onto for the rest of our lives. Because on December 8 we lost Mr. B. He was my husband, the father of our three children and my best friend for 57 years. So, 2023 was really the best of years and the worst of years all rolled into one.

On a professional level, it was a very good year. Eight works of fiction and an audible original all hit the market. And Meadow Falls brought in the new year when it came out on January 9 and is Amazon’s #1 bestselling book in Sister’s Fiction at the time of this newsletter.


Here’s raising a glass to a wonderful year in 2024 for us all.


Until next time,

I love all four seasons, but this past very hot summer almost got thrown completely off my “love” list. I’m glad that it’s being sent to the history pages, and that fall is finally here in southern Oklahoma.

It’s been a very busy year for the Brown family. We were in Houston for the last Booklovers Con and said a sad farewell to a great conference. We came home for one night and loaded up the truck and headed for Lori Foster’s event in Cincinnati the very next day. We all went to the costume contest as rednecks and brought home first prize which was very exciting. Then in October we made a long road trip to Utah, where I had the privilege of being the speaker at the Utah Reader’s Luncheon.

We are closing in on Thanksgiving, and then we will blink a couple of times and Christmas will be here. In one of my books the characters are all sitting around the Thanksgiving table and each one is telling what they are thankful for. That made me realize how much I have to be thankful for:

My health, my home, my faith, my career, my family.

My husband, Mr. B, who has stood beside me for the past 57 years. We’ve raised three kids together, had sicknesses that we thought we couldn’t get through and had our many ups and downs. I’m grateful for every year, every moment, and every experience that has been ours.

My kids: Lemar, Amy, and Ginny and Bobby. I birthed three of the kids, and we got Bobby with a marriage license. It’s all just paper, so in our eyes he is ours as much as the other three.

My friends. You know who you are and how much you mean to me!

My agent, Erin Niumata, and agency, Folio Management. They believed in me when the future didn’t look so good and continue to believe in me these days.

My assistants, Christie Conlee, and Jess Macy, who take care of my social media. Don’t know what I’d do without them!

My readers. Bless all y’all’s hearts, and I mean that in a good way.

There are many more things I can think of, but to write them all down would take hours. Such as a rainbow after a hard rain, my great grandkids laughter and smiles, my grandkids accomplishments, green grass under my feet, just to name a few.

Happy Holidays to all y’all!