It's official! I have signed with my publisher, Henery Press, for four more Zoe Chambers Mysteries! That's books 7, 8, 9, and 10 and takes the series into 2020. I'm thrilled and hope you are too!

My second visit to New Mexico was in November 2014. By then I knew I was going to write a book set there and decided to use the same time of year in the story, especially when I returned home from the mild southwestern days to a frigid 22 degrees back in Pittsburgh! I took well over 100 photographs that trip, so I can't share them all. Here are a few to give you a better idea of the territory and weather Zoe encounters. Vast open spaces, amazing blue skies, and a skiff of snow that fell overnight and melted during the day. Some of the scrub trees that dot the landscape. Nothing like the towering shade trees and dense pines we have here in Pennsylvania! Awesome views everywhere. Rugged and wide open. Some mountains... ...and miles and miles of FLAT. Nowhere to hide! I've photographed Shiprock many times, from different angles. This one shows the immense openness around the rock formation.  And then there are bluffs and canyons and barely there roads.

Mid February, sunny, and 68 degrees. If I still had a horse, I'd have been out on the trails for sure. So when Hubby suggested we go for a ride on his new/used ATV (I'd not been on it before), I jumped at the offer.  We headed out into what used to be MY territory. My old route. My old trails. Yes, it would have been more fun on four legs than four wheels, but...it's mid February, sunny, and 68 degrees. Beggars can't be choosers, as they say. This is a shot looking at the rear of my house (the little log one) from the rear of what used to be our pasture. Heading through the gate toward the old road I used to ride. This really is an old road from colonial days. Rumor has it General George Washington once traveled it. I have no evidence, only the stories I grew up on. I remember it as the tractor road to our upper hay field. My grandfather was born in a log cabin off to the side of the road. I remember finding the stone foundation when I was a kid. Lots o

I know I promised to start this series of posts last week, but I was so sick I couldn't get my brain to work well enough to put words on the page. At least not coherent ones. But I'm much better now and looking forward to the release of No Way Home in ONE MONTH. As I've said, No Way Home is partly set in New Mexico because of my love for the area. My first trip out there took place in June 2013, This is a picture of Hogback Mountain. Not mentioned in the book, but Zoe passes it during her travels. Below is a shot from the Aztec Ruins which is mentioned in the book. Shiprock is also mentioned in the book: These photos should give you an idea of the landscape Zoe encounters in her attempt to solve the case this time. Not at all what she's used to.

Next Tuesday will be FOUR weeks until the release of No Way Home . I'm really excited about this one and hope everyone enjoys it. The genesis of the story began four years ago (notice the theme of FOUR there?) when I took my dream trip out west. It was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip. I had no idea I'd go back again. And again. I didn't realize then that my fifth Zoe Chambers mystery would be partly set there. Heck, I didn't even have a contract for the FIRST Zoe Chambers mystery at the time. However when I went back for my second trip to New Mexico, I did have a contract. And an inkling of a story idea. By my third trip, I was in solid Research Mode. Trip #4 was all about verifying my facts for an already written manuscript, and grabbing some photos of the locations. Beginning next week, I'm going to share some of those memories and photos. New Mexico is now my second home. I'm looking forward to returning for a fifth time this summer to promo