I was back in the office last Monday but now I’m really back.   This morning I started writing again.  Yippee!  While I love meeting my readers and actually do well on tour, I’m happiest when I’m sitting in front of my computer with an entire group of people no one else can see.  (Some people get sent off to the loony bin for the very same thing—I guess I should be more careful what I say.)

I’m back to swimming a half mile in my local pool, too.  After six months out of the water (I walk in Florida) I wasn’t sure how long it would take to get back into the swim of things—pun intended.  Okay, so it wasn’t pretty, but I made it the entire half mile.

Wayne and I are gradually settling into our lives here in Washington.   We love living in Florida, too, but Port Orchard will always be home.  One of the things we especially enjoy in Port Orchard is watching movies at home, and we’ve been having fun with that this week.  Our tastes are vastly different, so we take turns choosing which ones to watch. 

It was years ago when we first discovered the vast difference in our tastes.   Wayne  wanted to watch Harley and the Marlboro Man, and I was itching to see the newly released Bambi.  The chasm  continues.  This week  Wayne watched The Kingdom, and I stood the violence as long as I could by hiding my eyes.  Last night it was my turn.  I chose Andrea Bocelli in concert.  I’m happy to report Wayne didn’t plug his ears once.

Wayne and I rolled into our driveway last Saturday night both exhausted and excited to be home at last.  We drove from the signing in Miami to my last signing in Fort Wayne, Indiana and then on to Port Orchard with a couple of stops in between.  For the last thousand miles we were like horses heading for the barn.  The very first thing I did, even before unpacking the suitcases, was hug my grandchildren.  Now that, my friends, is a real homecoming.

Saturday’s stop in Clarksville, GA was fabulous, hosted by A Twisted Skein.  Thank you, Jan!  I met some wonderful people.  How can you beat books and yarn in one spot?  Clarksville is not a huge town, so it’s easy to pick out strangers.  Wayne and I were obviously not locals, and I got a huge kick out of a teenager’s question when we stopped at a small café in down own Clarksville, “Are you here for the big signing?” 

Earlier today I stopped off at two yarn stores in Fort Wayne, IN:  a terrific shop called Knitting Off Broadway, where I found the cutest horse buttons for my horse-crazy grandson, Isaiah.  I also stopped at Sarah Jane’s Yarn Shoppe, named after a grandmother who was an avid knitter.  Sarah Jane already has a picture of me on her website--you guys are amazing!

I exceeded my own record today for the longest signing: I signed for four hours at the Meijer grocery in Fort Wayne.  My readers are incredible, driving three to four hours to see me and waiting in long lines.  One gentleman stood in line three-and-a-half hours to get a book signed for his wife.  You all amaze and inspire me!

I’m in city 19 out of 20 and meeting up with Wayne tomorrow.  From there we will drive to Fort Wayne, IN (with a side trip to Clarksville, GA) and on toward home.  I’m not ashamed to admit I’m really home sick for Wayne, the kids and grandkids. 

I’m not able to write while I’m traveling so heavily, but one good thing is I’ve been going to bed with plot ideas, so lots of new stories are taking root.  The huge pleasure of meeting so many readers, who have been phenomenal, continues to lift my spirits, even when I lost my voice in Phoenix.  I got treatment, and I’m glad to say it’s working and I’m 80% better than I was!

Last night I spent a quiet evening in my hotel room knitting.  I’ve had so much going on every night, the chance to slow down and relax with my knitting was a real treat.

Another treat while in Houston was meeting up with my friend, Karen Young, who took me to some yarn stores.  (Not only is Karen a knitter, but she’s an author of Christian romantic suspense.  Her next book, Blood Bayou, will be published in May 2009, and I can hardly wait!). We were on our way to Yarns 2 Ewe, standing on the corner of Shepherd and Blossom Street, when it hit me!  I felt like I was home and walking into my local yarn shop!  How could you not love a shop around the corner from Blossom Street?

This past weekend I was in Los Angeles for Book Expo America.  I had a great time catching up with author friends, meeting sales and publishing representatives, and attending a special dinner hosted by my publisher.  It was a respite from popping in and out of cities and airports for the tour, but I got a good bird’s eye view of what’s on the horizon in the publishing world.  On the lighter side, I met several buyers from Safeway who kissed me!  Come to find out they loved the scene in 16 LIGHTHOUSE ROAD that takes place in a Safeway grocery over bananas!

LA was  delightful--low 70s during the days and high 50s at night, sunny  and welcoming--but it was great to arrive in Dallas and the 100-degree weather.  It felt so good to my thin Florida blood!  Dallas is terrific in so many ways, wonderful readers and terrific signings, and  the shopping is incredible! 

From Dallas it’s onward to Houston. A few cities more, and then I’ll get to meet up with Wayne.