I'd call it: Whoo-hoo Day

And those don't come around all that often!

Today I received my paperback proof of my book.  Exhilarating!  Fabulous!  Daunting!  Now to go through it page by page and find all the little things that need tweaking before I can sign off on the thing.  But still !!!

It's a thrill to have that first hard copy in your hands.

Mr. Teal

Tonight I thought I'd share another of the quirky things I collect: dinosaur photos.  This fine beast is one of my favorites.  He's a rugged little thing, standing about twelve feet tall and forever frozen by the side of the road as you head toward Dinosaur National Monument.  I seriously love him!

We visited the the Monument a few months back.  Everyone had a great time and we learned that Dinosaur Land is a Really Funky Place.  There's so much there.  Who knew?

Weirdest was a silly-sand place called Fantasy Canyon.  It's in the middle of nowhere defined.  I mean, we drove past two horses, lying dead by the side of the road, as we traveled to get there.  I thought we'd headed out of Vernal and straight into the apocalypse.  Check it out, if you ever get the chance.  It's bizarre.  But beware the rattlesnakes . . . .

I'd call it: Ride on, little doggie

Riding in Wyoming

I'm going through a serious cowboy phase.  Call it a second childhood.  Or an obsession.  Whatever.  All I know is that though Painted Boots is finished, I'm just not ready to leave Wyoming.  It's a compelling place: rugged, beautiful--the place where my great-grandfather carved out a ranch, the place that haunted my grandmother for a lifetime.  So it makes sense, at least to me, that my next story is set in Wyoming.  I can't help myself!  I haven't worked Wyoming out of my system.  And beyond that, I'll tell ya.  It's a great place to set a romance.

I'd call it: Favorite Lines

Tonight I'm thinking of a few of my favorite lines--from movies, mostly.  I started this romp down memory lane because as I was fixing dinner, one of my favorite lines from Painted Boots just popped into my head. 

It's from the moment when Aspen is itching with anticipation but at the same time chilling with dread over how her first date with Kyle will goes.  She narrates at the beginning of chapter ten:


BY SATURDAY NIGHT I’m an emotional wreck.  I’ve had weeks to wonder why Kyle has ignored me, weeks to wish for my mother’s comfort and five days more to decide this evening will end like a dystopian novel.

Call me cruel, but I laugh every time I think of her comparing her date to a dystopian novel  ...  maybe because so many of my first dates were awkward little train wrecks!