Saddle Up! It's Gonna be a Wild Ride . . .

When this whole crazy writing gig started last fall, I had no idea how much I'd be out on the book trail, talking about my Mace Bauer Mysteries.

Gone are the days when an author would hole up in a lonely garret, pound out a manuscript, and mail it out to the waiting masses. Nope, these days it's all about being out there: At conferences; at signings; at festivals. On Facebook.

I'm pulling together tax info, forcing me to slow down and take a look at where I've been since Mama Does Time came out in Oct. 2008. Some highlights:

The Today show in New York City. (I'm still, like, WOW over that one!)

Miami Book Fair. Vero Beach Book Center. (That cute invite, pictured above, courtesy of graphic whiz Pat Naegle, is from my first tour last fall.) Murder in the Magic City in Birmingham, Ala. BookMania in Stuart, Fla. Chatting with Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio on the Mayor's Book Talk TV show. Several Barnes & Nobles; a few Borders; great indies, like Murder on the Beach, Sanibel Island Bookshop, and Inkwood Books.

Now, Mama Rides Shotgun is on deck, set for release in July 09. I'm saddling up again for another crazy ride.

How lucky am I?