They lined our back fence at the far end of the vegetable garden when I was young.

They seemed waist high but surely were not.

I remember the vivid colors. They shone like satin and felt like velvet.

A deep purple; their filigree tongues lined a bright yellow orange.

There were various shades of cream and yellow and blue but purple was my favorite.

I remember their beauty in my safe back yard, just a short walk to Sue Sue’s house across the alley.

Sometimes my mother cut them and put them in a vase for our dining table.

Their heads opening sunward, wider each day, until they fell apart petal by petal.

I often wonder if she could view them from her kitchen window – tucked so far back behind the garage.

Their appearance, along with the rose bushes in the front yard and the smell of honeysuckle down the street meant springtime.

And springtime in a small town meant freedom.

Freedom to ride away on our Schwinn’s.

Freedom to walk far from home on adventures.

Until mother’s voice rang loud and clear throughout the neighborhood calling us home.

It meant chicks and ducks in a range of Easter colors and frilly dresses over petticoats,

Bonnets tied under our chins and patent leather Mary Jane’s.

It meant dad’s fried chicken after Sunday church and the smell of mother’s cookies baking after school.

It meant home.

I bought the three stemmed plant of purple Iris two days ago when their large display of color called to me and thoughts of mother planting bulbs of Cannas, Gladioli and Iris took me home.

I’d say I could now relax, but once a novel is “live” and published it is time to begin marketing. I’ve updated my Novel pages today and added a lot of photos that I hope you’ll take time to glance at. I also placed research sites on Face Book. Please help me spread the word. I love Timing’s Everything. It’s probably my favorite of my three books. But We’ll Find a Way is definitely the best of the lot. The characters come to life. The writing is excellent and the story-line holds your attention from page 1 to the end. I’m proud of this project and I hope my readers will enjoy it!

Available on Amazon – paperback and Kindle, B & N Nook, and coming to Kobo soon.

Thanks for all  your support!

After six months, I’m happy (and mostly relieved) to announce that We’ll Find a Way went “live” on Amazon today, e book and paperback. The cover is beautiful thanks to my photographer/artist/book cover designer son, Michael.

I’m pleased with the outcome and appreciate all the help I got from friends and readers. I hope it has a nice blend of present day story and historical stories from Oklahoma. There is a lot more tension and ups and downs in this book than my others.

Enjoy and please, if you do read it, post a review on Amazon. Not important how many stars – what counts is number of reviews. Definitely be honest but gentle. ha

I’m taking a week to sit and read and enjoy being away from the computer. Thanks to all of you. Happy Reading!

So the answer is — yes, this is a sequel to The House on 4th Street. We pick up with Karen, our protagonist, seven months after the events in July. (no spoilers). It’s been a miserable winter back in Denver and Gary, her husband, surprises her with a trip to Puerto Vallarta in March. Denise, Karen’s best friend, and her husband, Ralph, join them. The week in Mexico is heavenly — lots of cerveza, lots of margaritas, lots of dancing — all of that results in some fun romps.

This book has only two historic sections. I know many readers disliked the numerous stories in The House… and I listened. The Tulsa race riots in the area of town called the Negro Wall Street were fascinating to research, and Edmond during the dust bowl days and the depression provides the reader interesting information as well as strong female characters. The presence of the KKK in Oklahoma during those years shocked me. The two stories are woven within the present day story this time and Karen learns from each.

Will there be a baby in Karen’s future? Is she changing careers? Will her father’s visit during the month of July turn out to be a disaster or a chance for them to draw closer? Does Karen return to Edmond? This book has twists and turns throughout, holding the reader’s attention until the very last page.

My editor says it is a strong stand-alone novel and does not require reading The House …. I hope that is true and I hope that you will recommend We’ll Find a Way to friends. Thanks again for all your support.

Enjoy!!  Connie

What a month this has been in every way. I promised myself not to be political, but it’s been difficult. So I’ve simply turned off television news. I was afraid I’d have a stroke if I continued watching. ha

Edits and revisions. Wow! I spent 8 – 10 hrs. /day for 3 weeks completing all of the final edits. The cover is done! Looks great, and once again I used one of my son’s photographs as the basis. It is uploaded to the publisher, Create Space, and I’m awaiting the proof before going “live”. But soon – probably in another week, it will be available as an e book and paperback. I hope you enjoy it. (obviously missed that Jan. 15 deadline.)

Cold cold weather in Arizona. For the first time in many years, we have actually had winter. I know I will get no sympathy from anyone living in colder climates. The positive – such fun to wear sweaters and jackets more than once a year!

Women’s March on Washington. Whether you agree with the premise or not, it was a great experience. I’m so danged old I’ve lived through the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam, Women’s Movement and Gay Rights. This was my first real demonstration/march. It was so uplifting and not negative in any way. Felt great to be in such a well mannered, thoughtful group of people and I feel that I helped make my voice heard. Goal for the year – do not let that be the end of my efforts. No matter which party you affiliate with, we all need to be more involved at the community level.

Researched how to make time slow down. There really is such research! Focusing intently on anything slows the perception of time. As we did as children, notice every single detail of each and every moment of the day and we can stretch time once again. And – equally important, learn something new, do something a different way, take a class or take up a new hobby. Anything that requires learning makes the brain work in a different manner and actually changes time perception.

So we head into February. My Valentine crafts are out, candy hearts in the candy jar, and a spring wreath on the door. Getting ready for some sunshine, warm weather, golf tournaments, Arabian horse show, possibly a visit to a beach. What are you up to this month? Drop me a line and let me know. Happy Valentine’s Day a little early!

I looked at the calendar this morning between book revisions and realized I’d lost another week. I’m sure it happens to everyone, but it seems to be happening way too often to me.

I passed the holiday torch this year. I guess at my age, that’s a good thing to do. My daughter decorated her house, inside and out, and prepared a fabulous meal.

I never put up a tree. I minimally decorated the front yard under neighborhood peer pressure. I couldn’t be the only house on the entire block without some lights. The fact that it took me 30 minutes to take it all down, wipe it off, box it and shelve it tells you how much I had out. I pulled candles off the highest shelves in the laundry room, put out some of my favorite dishware and put a wreath on the front door. Got out some old Christmas CD’s, sent a half dozen cards and called it good.

The most fun was baking and decorating cookies for a full day in my kitchen with my adult children. My son thought this project took about an hour. Ha, my daughter and I scoffed. At six that evening, we went out to eat; all of us covered in flour with stained fingers from the food dye. It was a wonderful day!

Next year — a trip somewhere. I truly am becoming a scrooge. I blame it on age.

For those of you following this sequel novel, please note that I am chained all day to my computer. Right now the entire book is divided by chapters, sitting on my library room floor. I’ve moved and added, cut and trimmed, changed wording, corrected punctuation errors, and read aloud for hours. Add more emotion! Where’s the drama? Start on Chapter 2. All remarks from my task master editor, whom I adore. So close — each day I say it — so close. I still have high hopes for the Jan. 15 deadline (self-imposed) and am harping at my artist son to complete the book cover while writing author friends begging for endorsements. The usual final push.

I lowered the price on The House on 4th Street hoping for readers who will want this sequel – We’ll Find a Way. This one is a doozy. Action packed, drama filled, surprises throughout, and a shocking ending. Hoping those words intrigue you…

Happy New Year! Health and happiness to you all!

Re-post from 2011

Christmas is less than a week away. The house has been decorated since Thanksgiving. The tree is lovely in new silver and white decorations and glittery ribbon. I’ve baked a tiny bit – made lots of Chex mix to give as gifts. Gave in and made puppy chow for my son. I’ve shopped and wrapped and finished my lists. I even sent a dozen cards to friends and relatives the other evening.

I bought snacks and beverages and got out the good silver. The CD player is full of Christmas music. The front yard glows with red and gold, and the plastic snow man waves his upraised arms slowly side-to-side each evening. It is crisp for Arizona. I’ve worn my boots, gloves and scarves. I’ve snuggled in the warm chenille throws watching Frosty and Charlie Brown and the Grinch. I’ve been to church and sung carols.

And yet—it isn’t here-not yet. I wait. I sit with coffee and candles and music and memories. It hasn’t arrived. When will it come? I worry that it won’t come at all. I want to feel it! That internal spirit, that feeling of warmth, of happiness, of hopefulness. It has a fullness of its own when it settles inside me. It sometimes brings tears, sometimes smiles, but always it comes–the spirit–the unseen–the joy within…

I want to know the for sure that Christmas in Who-Ville will come. Somehow or other it will come just the same.

It will come without ribbons; it will come without tags;

It will come without packages, boxes or bags.

For Christmas doesn’t come from a store.

Christmas, I know, means a little bit more.

“Welcome Christmas, bring your cheer

Cheer to all Who’s far and near.

Christmas day is in our grasp

So long as we have hands to clasp.

Christmas day will always be

Just as long as we have we.

Welcome Christmas while we stand,

Heart to heart and hand in hand.”

Dr. Seuss, How The Grinch Stole Christmas

 Merry Christmas to each of you and a happy, healthy New Year.

Finally working on edits!

After reading my editors’ notes over two weeks ago, I posted them on the wall, rewrote major suggestions on very large art paper and taped them there as well. Then birthdays hit and Thanksgiving and a visit from my sis and brother-in-law which was great fun! A trip to beautiful Sedona where we hiked and photographed and ate and hiked some more. Then the tile guys arrived to demo my bathroom and put in tile. The counter tops were installed, and now I’ve cleaned off dust for a week.

No more excuses, no more procrastination, no more avoidance. It is time to – as we writers all say – time to put the butt in the chair. (BIC) Here we go . . .

Thank God for great editors and Evelyn is the best! She is so detailed, so critical, so excellent at what will make a good story better. Time to hunker down and do what she’s asked.  Christmas can wait!