KK and Merry take a swim! Ah, summer. Lilah relaxes in the pool. It’s a dog’s life… So we look a bit like holiday serial killers, but Merry and Lilah look good, right? Understandably, they did try to eat the elf hats after the photo opp… Our recent trip to France was a loooong overdue vacation, partly inspired by TAKE ME IF YOU CAN! The book is partially set in the south of France, where I got to have fun doing some research… Chateau Chambord. Big, big casa in the Loire Valley of France! KK outside another chateau. Random, beautiful French field! My favorite gargoyle. He is clearly on deadline. Mr. Kendall, ooh la la! Le Vin, le vin! Where the good stuff is. Our favorite: Chateau Chenonceau. Hot French hot-air-balloon-meister. VERY small basket. Yikes. No way are we going to get eight people in there! Our balloon, starting out on the ground. It gets bigger! Holy Moly! Mr. K helps out. No, I did NOT deliberately take this shot of hot French hot-air-balloon-meister’s derriere! That’s a lot of hot air… View from balloon. I finally opened my eyes. Champagne on the ground, which I am so glad to be on again … Older Photos (really an exercise in showing how bad my hair can look at every length). If you’re wondering how old I am, the answer remains “29″ until death do us part. KK’s office… on a good day. Me (right) in New Braunfels, TX at the Gruene Hall signing with Dennis Fallon, guitarist for Two Tons of Steel, and his girlfriend Susan, total sweetheart! Gruene Hall is Texas’ oldest dance hall, and it and Two Tons are featured in my book FIRST DATE. Boo really enjoyed being an only child and was very bummed when the greyhounds came home! Karen and husband Don celebrating 10th anniversary in Hawaii. True story: when Karen first met Don’s mom, she looked puzzled. “Karen,” she said. “You look like such a nice girl. What are you doing with my son?” No kidding! Karen as a child. Mom, how could you have dressed me in that?! Karen’s sweet, goofy dobie Malia (Mah-LEE-a) who was the inspiration for SOMEONE LIKE HIM. She never hurt a flea and the cats used to beat her up! We lost her to a tumor before the book came out. Authors Susie Crandall, Karen White, Wendy Wax, me, and Mary Kay Andrews in New York for the 2003 RWA conference. Fun times!