I've been at this writing thing for a while now. So you'd think I'd be...if not blasé, then at least matter of fact about a new book coming out. And there have been times when, swamped, already in the throes of new deadlines, that I've barely been able to acknowledge the arrival of that miracle, a box of books with my name on them.

Not this time.

I also didn't intend to start out this blog pushing books. But with one thing and another, delays of the technical, working, and personal kind, this thing launched later than expected.

So here I am, with OPERATION MIDNIGHT either in or about to be in the stores, and already available online. A book that I'm really excited about, for three main reasons. And now I'm going to risk that you won't think this will be an every week thing, and tell you those reasons.

So why am I so excited about this book?

It's the first book in the new Cutter's Code mini-series.(which I define as something over three books; I've done a few trilogies, one unintentionally, but not knowing wanting to get into the muddy area of talking about quartets or quintets or the even more fun sextets, I decided anything over three was a series) After ending Trinity West years ago I gave it a rest with a few unrelated stores. But then I stumbled into Redstone, Incorporated, and after a dozen books and over nine years, I thought I was done again for a while. Shows you what I know. But I love building and exploring a new world, even if it drives me crazy keeping track of it all.

It revisits a favorite theme of mine. Simply this: Justice. I've always loved stories that show people—both good and bad—getting what they deserve. Perhaps because it so often doesn't happen in real life. And now I get to explore that in depth, and I'm excited about the possibilities.

Cutter. Yes, lastly, yet most importantly, there's the delightful character who will tie all the stories together. I confess I've fallen for Cutter in a big way, and I hope you will, too. Each book will have a new hero and heroine, and feature appearances by previous characters(break out the big whiteboard!). But the books will be linked mainly by the character who has a knack for finding people who need his special kind of help. Or the help his humans can provide. Cutter has a nose for trouble, and an uncanny way of getting things done. That they seem to all fall in love in the process is...well, part of Cutter's magic. Not that he's magical. Really, he's not. At least, I don't think he is. Maybe. Then again....

So I hope you'll join Cutter and me on this journey. Not sure where it all will lead, but so far it's been great fun. Although I'm thinking the whiteboard may not be big enough!

Next week, a post about something else, I promise. Murder, maybe. Mayhem, perhaps. Or knitting. Which I do to keep from committing said murder and/or mayhem.

And come play with us on Twitter—although I hesitate to encourage Cutter, he's having too much fun with me already. Whoever heard of a dog with a Twitter handle, anyway?

Enjoy!

Justine

I hereby declare this blog, at long last, open! Open for what? Just about anything. Well, except politics and religion. Seriously. I get enough of that elsewhere. But anything else, I'm up for. Books, of course. It is what I do, after all. But not just writing, although I'll be talking about works in progress, books about to be released, works that are headed for the shredder (and why) and ideas that refuse to leave me alone even though I Don't Have Time. But that's only part of what I want to do here. The rest is up to you.

 Want to talk about writing? Sure. E-books? I'm still learning, but okay. Cover art? I'm good with that. My process? Your process? Go. I'll stack up the weirdness of mine against anybody's!

 But there are ::gasp:: other things in life. (Although there was a time when it didn't seem like it, but that's for another day.) Any knitters out there? You can always lure me out with discussions of yarn, patterns, or that time sink to end all time sinks, Ravelry. So anybody who knows how to get there, or knows the meaning of SABLE, or even knows knit from purl, come on in, get out the sticks and string, and stay a while.

 Dogs. Oh, yes. Love 'em. Tell me what your favorite breed is and why. Your least favorite and why. The best—or worst—dog you ever owned. I'm a 'big dog' fan, but as my sweet Lab got older and older, I started to appreciate the idea of a dog I can actually pick up when I have to. If there's another—and she'll be an incredibly hard act to follow—I'm thinking maybe 45 pounds, max.

 Got camera? I'm a photography hobbyist who is blessed to live in one of the most photogenic places in the world. Populated with an incredible array of plant and wildlife. Saving up for a big digital Canon that will use all my old film lenses. Maybe next decade.

 Classic cars. Yeah, I'm there. That red beauty in the picture on this site is really mine. And WWII history is a passion of mine, too. I was too young for the first, not even born for the second. Sometimes I think I was born way too late. Or reincarnated too early. Something.

 All these are fair game. Any questions, ask. You can always ask. I may decline to answer, but you can always ask. And should, because if you don't ask, I'll be forced to bloviate all over the place. Not a sight you want to see.