I think (perhaps erroneously, but I hope not) that I’ve finally got a grip on an edge of my life again. 

I’m starting a new book this week after six months of not writing because of family obligations.  My hero has changed his name (yes, this is regular programming, and I should have expected it) and he might be changing his occupation (well, he’s not the same guy, obviously).  But so far my heroine seems to be hanging in there, bless her heart.

“It’s because I’m steadfast,” she told me.  Her name is Edie.  And she’s the business manager – and daughter –- of Mona Tremayne, whom you may remember if you have read The Virgin’s Proposition.  If you haven’t, it will be along in September in the US.  Edie is the one who has been keeping her mother’s life and career together. She’s the one, I discovered, who has been holding the entire family together for years.

She takes good care of everyone – except herself. 

Of course Edie thinks she’s taking care of herself.  She eats, she sleeps, she exercises, she takes her vitamins.  And she never goes out with Unsuitable Men.  Or any men at all for that matter.

She’s very well defended, our Edie.  And she isn’t about to let What’s-His-Name, our hero, mess with he family – or her life. 

What’s-His-Name, as you might imagine, has his work cut out for him.  I can see it now. 

I can even see him. I’m just not sure what his name is. Oddly, I can’t picture Edie, but I can hear her.  She’s been talking in my ear for the past month or so.  In fact, I can hear both of them.  I just wish he’d tell me his name. It would be a start.

I’m getting excited about getting going. A name, would help.  

I’m excited, too, about having spent a month watching the ‘men in shorts’ at the World Cup. Their stamina is amazing.  So are their legs – and some of them could feature in my books.  I’ll miss them (though through the largesse of my telephone company I have three months free of their ‘sports package’ so I won’t miss them completely. Not until October anyway).

Also, I’m gathering books for the Great Book Give-away and will be posting them later this week. There will be lots as I have something like 8 or 9 weeks’ worth to catch up on. 

Stay tuned. Better yet, send me an email from the ‘contact Anne’ on the sidebar or from my contact page, giving me your snail address. Chances are good you’ll win a book – or two or even three.  We’re doubling or trebling up since June didn’t get posted at all and I still have part of May and the first half of July to post. 

  AND – stop by The Pink Heart Society on July 12 for the Male on Monday post, which is mine and which follows up my last post there about a Must-Watch television series. 

I wrote that about Justified, the new FX series starring Timothy Olyphant. Guess who my Male on Monday is this week!

I thought maybe, in the interests of regular programming, I should give you a few more bonus pictures here.  Just, y’know, because I’m glad to be back and hope you will be, too.

So, what you have been up to?  Read any good books lately?  Seen any good movies?  Gone any place truly memorable?  I feel like I’ve been out of touch forever, which I pretty much have been.

Talk to me!