NEWSLETTER – WINTER 2010

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you’re as busy with new projects as I am and that your lives are filled with family, friends, lots of fun and plenty of books. Here’s the latest from my side of the desk:

Writing News – To my delight, SUMMER AT THE LAKE (May 2009 Superromance) took FIRST PLACE in the Colorado Award of Excellence and the Write Touch Readers’ Award contests. Many thanks to the Colorado and Wisconsin chapters of Romance Writers of America for sponsoring these prestigious contests. Many thanks to those of you who bought the book and who’ve let me know your reaction. Authors love, love, love to hear from their readers.

SUMMER AT THE LAKE is still available in-print or digitally through Amazon.com or digitally through eharlequin.com. This is the story of a burned-out cop who wants a new career. He meets his match in a feisty young widow who asks for his professional help in finding the man who hurt her daughter. Add in a beautiful mountain lake, a therapeutic dog, a flute, a piano, and lots of family…

I should mention that QUARTERBACK DADDY is still available to buy, too. The contest season is just starting for this February 2010 release, so no news about that yet.

Current Writing Projects – So, what am I working on now? People are asking and I finally have an answer which will be posted on the Upcoming Books page as well as here. I’ve completed a new novel that combines romance with women’s fiction, and I’m working on a second one as well. These are big family stories. Big in length, big in scope, big in conflict – and big in resolution. No matter how many problems and how much angst my characters go through, they will always find their way to an uplifting solution. I believe in hope and second chances, so you will always get a satisfying and upbeat ending with a Linda Barrett novel. That’s what I like to read, myself, so why would I write anything else?

The working titles for these two books are: THE BROKEN CIRCLE and FAMILY INTERRUPTED. I don’t know if these titles will remain or when they the books will be published, but I’ll keep you posted. Check back here at my website or friend me on FaceBook. I post there regularly now.

Thinking about an ereader? They’re the wave of the future…or so I’ve been told. At a recent writers conference which focused on the future of publishing, digital books and their reading devices were on everyone’s mind. The forecast is for a huge buy in Kindles, Nooks and other electronic readers for Christmas/Hanukkah this year. The prices are expected to drop as the holidays approach. Anyway…that was the discussion, but I’m not guarantying anything in regard to price. I am convinced, however, that electronic readers and digital downloads of books are here to stay not only in the U.S. but around the world. When one small user-friendly device can store hundreds of books…what’s not to like? Except, of course, if you love to hold a real book in your hands.

Personal News: We’re downsizing! I still can’t believe it. How did my dh and I go from having three kids running around underfoot to being empty-nesters? I turned my head for a moment…wasn’t it only a moment?....and the boys grew up. Reality must be faced, however, because I’m air-conditioning empty bedrooms. Very wasteful. So, it’s time for smaller digs. Which means getting this house ready for sale. Which means, cleaning, packing, throwing out…ugh. But somehow, the writing continues…

Linda

Click here to read about my contest winners!