Hope your summer is going well. I recently bought a used—but well-cared for—deck boat and am enjoying days on the water when I can get them. Here in Maryland, it will soon turn brutally hot, which means you avoid the heat by going faster in the boat to have the wind in your face!
Isn’t she sweet? She’s a Splendor 239 Sunstar. I considered naming her St. Clements Bluff, but there’s really nowhere on the hull to put the wording, so she will remain unnamed.
My upcoming book, Three Notch Safari, is sitting with the proofreader and is right on schedule for its July 23rd release.
Speaking of my books, I’ve been furiously plotting out Book 3 of the Heart of St. Mary’s County series. This book will be unlike anything I’ve ever written before, as I’ve decided to do a dual timeline novel.
Some of the action will take place in modern time—and be based a little bit on my own life—whereas the second timeline will reach back to 1944, when Patuxent River Naval Air Station was in the throes of construction to support the World War II effort. (Fun fact: Practice drills for the D-Day invasion of Normandy were conducted here. The Marines “invaded” local farms on nearby Solomons Island. Imagine going outside to collect eggs and seeing a transport full of Marines spilling out onto your property!)
In the story, a young Marine working on base is accidentally killed–or was it really a murder? His widow investigates but is beset on all sides by people who don’t want the truth known. It just might take a current-day Public Affairs Officer who stumbles upon the unsolved case to discover what happened, if mysterious forces don’t stop her…for good.
How will the timelines be connected? You’ll see when it is published next July!
Once this as-yet untitled book goes to the editor I will return to wrapping up my Revolutionary War trilogy, Forged in Liberty. With multiple plot threads across the colonies, including St. Mary’s County, it is my most ambitious project to date.
After that, in response to your many requests, Street of Tombs, Book 7 of the Lady of Ashes series will be next.
Poor Violet Harper has been waiting patiently for me to return to her Victorian undertaking world…and I know many of you have, too. Look for a fresh book in that series in two years.
With that, I am off to finish plotting my dual timeline book. I should probably figure out how to write while I’m on the boat, thus combining two of my favorite things!
Don’t forget to visit the Appearances page for a complete listing of my upcoming book-signings and events. It would be a treat to meet you and say “hello.”