The novel formerly called LONE STAR has been retitled TOUCHING STARS and will arrive at your local bookstore in July. This is a brand new novel, the fourth in the Shenandoah Album series. LONE STAR was publicized as my working title, and some of you will be looking for it under that name. But midway through writing it, my publisher asked for a change. I'm quite happy with the new title and hope you'll be as happy with the book.

Right now we're putting together a publicity plan, and later in the spring check the Railroad Station to see if I'll be at a store or shop near you. Look for me at quilt shows in Chicago and Paducah, KY in April, too. I won't have TOUCHING STARS to autograph, but all the other books in the series will be available.

After completing TOUCHING STARS, I dove right into the third mystery in the Ministry is Murder series. BEWARE FALSE PROFITS is now in New York waiting for editing, and it's scheduled to debut in November. I love writing both series. The balance keeps my writing fresh and my mind whirling.

Now SISTER'S CHOICE is under production. More or less.

Do you wonder how a writer comes up with her ideas? There are as many ways as there are books and authors, but a couple of years ago a small group of my writer friends and I decided to begin meeting twice a year to brainstorm together. Next week they're flying to Virginia to meet at my house for a good part of the week to work on our novels in progress.

I've known Karen Young, Casey Daniels, and Jasmine Cresswell for years, and knew I would enjoy brainstorming with them. Diane Mott Davidson is a new friend, but I've long been a fan of her culinary mysteries. Each of us comes with ideas to present, and each of us has the floor for two long sessions. We laugh, argue, interrupt each other, and tape it all. Hopefully when everyone goes home, they have a wealth of material to sort through and rethink.

Does this help? Enormously. Will I use everything? Absolutely not. Will I agree with them? Not always and sometimes not at all. But I never come away from my sessions without great new ideas or new directions for old ones. So I'm looking forward to presenting SISTER'S CHOICE next week for their input. I know the characters, some of the conflicts, and the historical context for the back story. I can't wait to see where it will all end up.

Stay tuned. . .