Category Archives: Newsletter

In Etched on the Heart, Maria is disillusioned that women weren’t seen worthy of staying in school. She was taken out at the age of 13 to work at home. Her discontent of that inequality and her search for identity is part of her “character arc”, how her character develops in the story.

Our family went to Germany for a week in May and it was an awesome time! There are so many things to love about Deutschland. I thought you might like seeing some of our photos from the trip.

May is one of my favorite months. It’s the weather…so unpredictable! We get torrential rains here in Central Texas, then hot weather, then of course we have a freeze. Never a dull moment!

But having so many cloudy days makes the unexpectedly bright days so worth celebrating. And we must have rain for the beautiful cascade of wildflowers that this area is known for. Bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, and many others dot our landscape.

Aren’t you glad the weather is ‘sort of’ warming up? I’m encouraged that spring is coming! I received many compliments on the historical info I included in last month’s newsletter. So here’s more: There really are twelve historic churches in Cologne, Germany. They existed in the 1880s, when Nicklaus studied their Gothic and Romanesque architecture and woodcarvings.

It’s been hectic, helping people find Etch of a Promise—by keeping up with social media, donating books, and planning speaking events.

But I’m never too busy to reach out to you, my core group of friends. I appreciate you so much!

Winter is a magical time in Cologne.
Maria and Nicklaus bundle up and brave the whitened landscape together. Fires crackle and warm the home where Maria lives with her three friends.

I really love writing you monthly, because you are special to me! The never-ending summer seems to be moving out! Yay! I’m ready for brisk mornings and cool evenings—pulling out those sweaters hidden in the mothballs.

I really love writing you monthly, because you are special to me! The never-ending summer seems to be moving out! Yay! I’m ready for brisk mornings and cool evenings—pulling out those sweaters hidden in the mothballs.

I promised I’d send you the mockups of the book covers and I did receive them from the designer, but they’re not exactly what I wanted. So, I really need your opinion, especially if you’re a book-lover, and you know what makes an attractive cover. *Sigh* Such are the “hurry-up-and-waits” of publishing a book!

BIG NEWS—within a couple of weeks, you’ll have a chance to help me choose among 3 trial cover designs. It’s time for your voice to be heard! I’ll send them in a special email. I truly need your input and I just can’t wait to hear what you think!