Here it is! Bright and shiny, the brand-spanking new version of my website, with updated links, pictures, and a whole new look, thanks to my famously professional webmaster who handily happens to also be my brother. This update is in conjunction with the imminent release of my new book, The Wrong Hill To Die On. It is coming out in November, and I’m feeling particularly excited about this one, since in this story I have Alafair, her husband Shaw, and daughter Blanche traveling from their native Oklahoma to Tempe, Az, in March of 1916, just as all hell is about to break loose on the border. Explore all the nifty sections, Dear Reader. To the left of this page is a thumbnail picture of the Wrong Hill cover. If you will click on “About This Book”, you can read the first chapter to whet your appetite a bit. In fact, you can read the first few pages of any and all of my books at their “About” page.
I am preparing to do some traveling as soon as the book is out. I’ll be making a few appearances around the Phoenix area at the end of October, and then on to Los Angeles and San Francisco at the beginning of November. Check out the Events page above to see if I’ll be in your area. I’d love to see you. I’ll be traveling with Canadian author Vicki Delany, whose wonderful new Gothic novel, More Than Sorrow, came out in September.
The update also has a lot to do with my determination to come back to life. I have spent much of the past five years dealing with off and on family health crises — not a secret to any of you Dear Readers who have been kind enough to follow the saga. This has put a terrible crimp in my putative writing career. I’ve managed to write a couple or three books that turned out very well, if I do say so myself, but I have nearly fallen off the map when it comes to self-promotion.
So. I don’t know how long this hospital-free period will last, but Don is better now, and I am making hay while the sun shines. Day before yesterday he and I actually spent the day out together like we used to–went out to eat and went strolling around the mall. On the way home it occurred to me that I had been babbling like an idiot all day, going on about the ridiculous and the sublime and general nothing. As I told a friend of mine, I felt like a bird singing because the weather is nice. It made me realize how much I’ve missed him and how nice it is to have him back, at least for a while. There is nobody else to whom I can say absolutely anything and be assured that he’ll still like me even if it’s shocking and evil or stupid.
It’s nice to be able to make my own plans, as well. To have a life of my own, as it were. And it’s been so long since Don has been on his own, without me hovering over him, that he’ll be glad to see the back of me for a while.
Time to rejoin the living!
October 2nd, 2012
I love the fresh new look of your website, Donis, right down to the background images. I’ll be checking in often as you can rightly guess.
You and Don so deserve this period of wellness and freedom. Wish I could be at one of the launch parties for Wrong Hill to Die On. I will happily make do by ordering it for my Nook, the minute it becomes available. Count on it!
October 2nd, 2012
Fantastic, Irene! I’m posting the first chapter of Wrong Hill on this site today (10/2/12). And thanks so much for all your support and good wishes over all these years. Women Writing the West converence next year, I hope!
October 2nd, 2012
…That’s CONFERENCE, of course.
October 3rd, 2012
Congratulations, Donis, on the new book and the “new and improved” Write Errant. However, the new look sucked me into reading the entire thing in one sitting! Sort of like your books…Best wishes for safe travels and good health in the coming months.
November 9th, 2012
Donis, now I know where to get my Casey information and to know what is going on. Glad you are on your way home. see you soon I hope.