Some time ago I mentioned that I was writing a new book, but I didn't want to say too much about it until it was done. Well,now, happy day!--after much writing and editing, revising, changing scenes, and revising again, the book is finished.

It's called "That Certain Summer" (although it's coming out in the Fall) and is a romantic-suspense novel to be published by Author House. It tells the story of Sally Grimes, a feisty girl from Iowa, who gets a dream job writing the life story of a famous actress, Diane Fenwick. She moves to a Gatsbyesque community in Connecticut, (Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" is her favorite novel), and meets the actress's adorable twins, Meagan and Alec, and Rufus, a special dog, who is more intuitive than a lot of humans. She also falls in love with Ricardo, the handsome hunk next door, who is an honest-to-god count and a Princeton graduate, but is working as a handyman for the reclusive millionaire Morley-Watts, who suspects Diane is hiding something he desperately wants. What is Ricardo's connection to Diane, and why is Sally suddenly plunged into a dangerous situation she has no control over?

Sound intriguing? Hope you think so and that you'll enjoy reading the book. I worked very hard, as I always do, to get it "just right," but it was a labor of love so I can't complain. I was enchanted with the seven-year-old twins in the story, Meagan and Alec, who are two of the sweetest little kids I've ever invented (I was going to say "met," although they're strictly figments of my imagination). As for Rufus, that amazing dog, I did base him on an actual dog I had as a child, a beautiful border collie named Sandy. As a youngster I confided all my hopes and dreams to Sandy, who like Rufus, was extremely smart and could carry on a conversation with you even if he couldn't speak--at least I thought so. And what about Diane, the beautiful actress who has hired Sally to write her life story? What secrets is she hiding, and why is she so afraid of growing old? Some time ago, you might remember, I wrote a blog called "Age is but a Number" which dealt with this very subject. Diane is gorgeous, but so worried about each tiny line and wrinkle she can't relax and enjoy what she has, which is pretty sad when you think about it. But as I said in my blog, and firmly believe, while we can't avoid growing old, we can't stop living because of the fear of it, either.

Finally, of course, "That Certain Summer" is the love story of Sally and Ricardo, who come from vastly different backgrounds and experiences, but are kindred souls who find each other. Theirs is not an easy journey, and they must go through many twists and turns and suffer heartbreaking doubt and suspense along the way. But does the book have a happy ending? I'll let you guess and hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Now, as they say, the really hard work begins, marketing the book. So I'll have to leave you now until the next time--thanks, and wish me luck.