My first novel, "Northwoods Forest Mystery", was published on 20 March 2006 through PublishAmerica. The second "Death Across the Pond", was launched in November of 2006. The third, "The 'Ghost' in Bolton Hall", will be in 2008. (That's because this one has much more research.) And they said living out of a suitcase would never pay off!

My husband, Mick, is a budding English writer (yes, he really IS a Lancashire lad from the North of England). I come from a writer's heritage with other family members being published in the 1920's and 30's.

We're on our way back to the UK in 2009 to soak up more history for the next part of the series...these are accurate murder mysteries as to location! Plus, there is some comedic relief in them as well. You have to love Franco and his fractured English. Just wait until he takes you to Italy and a cooking school! Part of "Rubies in the Ashes" (book 4) is a non-stop treasure hunt! Except for the part about the murders at the convent!

Other than writing, we are both plaster statuary restoration artists and work mainly on church statuary. You will see that on our web site.  

Alas, no little certificates in nasty old frames - yet. Although I much prefer crystal and monetary awards, it's still a little too early for those things. But sales are going up on Amazon.com for both books and that's a good indicator of what lies ahead.

"Death Across the Pond" was released ahead of its 26 December 2006 release date. This is the follow up to "Northwoods Forest Mystery". And now, "The 'Ghost' in Bolton Hall" is coming up fast to publication. This will be the third book in the series and it's, shall we say, rather 'explosive' in nature. It's quite a departure from the first two, however, it stays with the theme of the Sanderson saga and expands upon the locations, friends and family. This time, we see International intrigue, an assassin and weapons theft, among other segments of the book. New characters mix with the old ones and it keeps the reader engaged in the story line. As usual, the book ends with a cliff-hanger. Only book four will have a conclusion...or will it? And that's in the works as I type. A fifth book, a total departure and a stand-alone manuscript is a paranormal mystery novel which transfers characters from the present into 1840 and back again...bringing the 1840's characters with them to the present. You won't want to miss this one! As my proofreader said, "it scared me to death."

"Northwoods Forest Mystery" is the fictional account of a crime committed in 1883 in a logging camp close to Bemidji, Minnesota. One hundred twenty years later, the mystery is solved by the descendants of the unjustly accused man, Caleb White Bear, whose life and heritage were ruined by lies and greed. It's also a contemporary love story set in today's Bemidji. Two families are intertwined in friendship and heritage. Come visit with the characters and become swept up in their lives. This is the first installment in a four-part series of mystery, romance....and murder.

The Cook Companies
Our family web site, featuring my photography and our restoration work, plus great links to other sites.

Second book in the four-part series about the Sanderson family and friends. This time, their journeys take them to Bosnia-Hercegovina and Italy, Ireland and the UK. Murder follows them, as does an international assassin. No one seems safe...and people die...but who and why?

This is the third book in the series and will be a huge change in theme from the first two. We are bombarded with more crime, intrigue and deception. I've always wanted to blow things up in a book and this time I do it royally. And that could be a clue...or is it? Coming in 2009, the "Ghost" will hold your attention and have you asking, 'who dunnit?' And it isn't who you think!