The world needs more knights in shining armor and stemware at breakfast!

It's been a week. Holy Moly! I'm thinking of getting another "I survived" T-shirt. The only thing is, no matter how hard I pedalled, it was relatively thankless and I'm sure that I'm even further behind for all of my efforts. (Whining, whining. Aaahhh!)
So... I've been thinking. You know that old piece of advice about using the nice sheets and wearing nasty underwear because life is short? Okay, so it's not a direct quote, but you know what I mean. Well, I always use the nice sheets because, well, duh! (Please don't tell my children that I said that word.) And my derwear isn't truly negotiable, but today, I used the stemwear for breakfast! It was positively liberating!
And, guess what outlandish thing I'm going to do next! I'm going into my secret chamber and I'm going to fire up that magical fairy writing implement(my laptop). I'm going to transport myself into the fourteenth century and hang with with Sir Peyton Wolfgar, hunky warrior of the kingdom and his intrepid love, Chantaya Kincraig! They are so much more fun than reality!
In case you weren't aware, I'm working on my first medieval book. I think you'll love it! I do! I've decided that the world needs more knights in shining armor. And stemware at breakfast. Life IS short, even when the week feels like a year. Maybe tomorrow morning I'll propose a toast! Jaclyn

Oh man.

I got on-line this morning and was so sad to see that Chip McGregor has decided to stop doing his blog. Dang it! He's been one of my all time favs and has been invaluable to a blithering idiot newcomer like myself. Some bloggers are all about selling you something, but Chip was great to just give of his wisdom. Not to mention that he has an incredibly funny sarcasm at times, (typically aimed at blithering idiot newcomers). I will miss it immensely. But, you gotta do what you gotta do. At least he's going to leave everything up. Thanks for all your input, Chip and good luck in what's ahead. Jaclyn

Attitude

I have this marvelous old red horse. He's 20 and he has arthritic knees and navicular disease and laminitis in one foot and he's a great old beast. I slept at the barn the night he was born and I love him dearly. I need to put him to sleep this fall before really nasty winter sets in and that's a horrible thing to have to do. He must have begun to suspect or something because yesterday he actually trotted across the field with his other old buddy to greet the other horses. He doesn't trot much these days. And today... Holy Toledo! He came loping across that field like a two year old! It was awesome!
You know, in this life, sometimes we just have to have the attitude of a two year old. It's a beautiful thing! It can give you a whole new lease on life! Literally!
So kick up your heels today! The other horses love it! Jaclyn

Living here in the Emerald Isle

We've gone way past monsoon here in Oakley. It's been raining for more than a week off and on and I am LOVING IT! We're talking the coolest thunderstorms ever! Yeah, it's looking a lot like Ireland out there. I think we'll be green here right up until we're buried in snow -which may be soon. Thousand Peaks got it last night.
Don't worry, I just gather all my little chickens under my wings by the fire and... Well, I mean after football practice and soccer and achievement day activities and, oh, are there any hunts going on? Oh, that's right. I was wondering what had happened to all the men I love. They can hunt all they want. Predation is a guy thing. Us feminine chickens are going to sit by the fire and listen to the thunder. Maybe read a good book! Hope you all have a great thunderstorm to fall asleep to. Jaclyn

Aaaahhh! My "Webmaster" went off to college and my site keeps crashing. Please be patient while I figure out how to do all of this. Thanks, Jaclyn

It's official!

Finally!!! I finally got my first copy of my first published book Journey of Honor A love story day before yesterday! It was so awesome! It's been a long time coming. Yesterday was my first ever book signing and it was great! I got to sit beside Jack Weyland! Yes, THE Jack Weyland, the legend!
I'm still trying to figure out what I'm doing most of the time, but it's been fun to meet people that are so excited about my writing! Now I just need to settle down and begin to get a better handle on marketing. My website looks great, but it's stuck somewhere in web neverland where I can find it great from my secure log in, but I can't get it to pop up by just typing in my URL. AAAaaahhh. So much to do and still be a decent wife and mother. Have a perfect brightness of hope day, Jaclyn

The Latest Book Available from Jaclyn M. Hawkes: Journey of Honor

A Journey Through The Refiner's Fire

Disowned, she came to America anyway. Attacked and left pregnant by a vicious mob, she still pressed on. Finally, in spite of being accused of theft by the vilest of her attackers, Giselle tries to remain as upbeat and uncomplaining as a prairie wildflower as she travels to Zion.

Thoroughly disillusioned with the ugliness and cruelty of slavery in the South, Trace Grayson leaves his young medical career to go west, hoping to leave bigotry and hatred behind. He begins taking goods by teamster train to sell in the territiories. However, this fourth time across, in July of 1848, he's stuck in St. Joseph, Missouri, waiting for enough wagons to join the train so that they can leave.

Knowing that if they don't start west soon, they'll be caught by snow in the mountains, Trace is thrilled when the final wagon signs on. Then, when the beautiful, young Dutch girl traveling with the last wagon is falsely accused of stealing and is detained, the whole trip is jeopardized. Thrown together by circumstance, Trace and Giselle team up to begin to figure out just how to make this epic journey across a continent a success.

With a deep sense of honor and an equally strong sense of humor, together they learn to deal with everything except the one trial that neither one of them can overcome.

Buy Journey of Honor by clicking on the Granite Publishing link to the right.