~ SUMMER 2008 ~

We’ve all read the line, “It’s better to give than to receive.” The full meaning of this is felt when I put this into practice: giving to others in need without expecting anything in return. The thank you is my reward, along with a wonderful feeling of having done something that’s not about me. You know what I’m talking about.

This explains just a little of what I felt when I decided a number of years ago to support the efforts of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital located in Memphis. It is an internationally recognized pioneer in research and treatments for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas, St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. And they save children’s lives.

In getting involved with St. Jude I was particularly drawn to those diseases that disproportionately affect the African American community. Two years ago I approached the Regional Multicultural Marketing Director and offered to write a romance novel that would both feature and benefit St. Jude. I am pleased and proud to announce that my book, FOR ALL WE KNOW, will be published by Harlequin this September!

FOR ALL WE KNOW, Arabesque, September 2008; ISBN# 0-373-83104-8

At St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, hearts, hope, and healing hands join in beautiful and inspiring ways--especially when unexpected love creates lifesaving miracles...

When Michaela Landry discovers a runaway teen in her garage, she realizes right away that the boy is not dangerous, but very ill. In the tense days that follow at St. Jude’s she comes to care for the boy, and is undeniably attracted to rugged, charismatic Cooper “Smith” Townsend, a youth advocate for a local church.

Warmed by Michaela’s desire to help the young teen’s ongoing care and bring community awareness to a serious illness, Smith is torn by his own passions as a servant of God, and very down-to-earth desires as a flesh and blood man. But, for all he knows, finding love with Michaela may be as unplanned as it is fateful.
 

What would an update to my newsletter be without a recounting of all my travels in the last year?  I mentioned in the last updates (a year ago!) that I’d spent my June birthday in Paris with friends.  The last time I’d been to Paris before last June I was a freshman in college.  That was a long time ago, but I was happy to see that so much of what I remembered from that earlier trip was still the same: Notre Dame cathedral, the banks of the Seine River, the Eiffel Tower! But there was so much that was new:  upscale fashionable café’s and shops, the fabulous Musee D’Orsay.  As luck would have it I got the opportunity to return again last November.  What a treat!

In January of this year I flew to St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.  I visit St. John often but had not been back in about five years.  Like everywhere else in the world, the island showed a lot of development and growth, but still remains my favorite of the three islands in the chain.  As a matter of fact, St. John is the setting for ADAM AND EVA, the first Black romance published by Harlequin and written by a Black author!  Half the novel was written while I was on St. John for a vacation.

At the end of May I was in Los Angeles for the annual BEA or Book Expo America convention.  It’s thee major publishing industry trade show.  I rented a car and braved traffic on the notorious 405/Santa Monica Freeway to drive myself back and forth each day to the convention center. Piece of cake!  The weather was southern California perfect, I stayed with a friend, and met up with other friends, and had fun at the fair!  It included an insightful and amusing presentation by Terry MacMillan, and sighing copies of my book, CELLULOID MEMORIES, at the Harlequin booth.

A week later I was in Memphis for the Sisterhood Showcase (see piece above) where I had an opportunity to chat up attendees about St. Jude and their extraordinary work, and my next book, FOR ALL WE KNOW, a romance written to benefit the hospital.

I barely had time to do laundry and repack before I was leaving on a jet plane again, this time my destination was Seattle in the beautiful northwest.  Despite its reputation for being rainy and dreary, it was warm and sunny during my entire visit.  I was in Seattle for a conference, but managed to squeeze in a ferry ride over to Bainbridge Island, drive almost all the way north to Port Angeles, visited a local winery, and to catch a screening of “Sex In The City” (very funny) with my girlfriend.  After Seattle I drove down to Portland, Oregon to visit with more friends.

Just before July 4^th weekend, I went to the Jersey shore at Long Branch where I did nothing more strenuous than decide what flavor ice cream I wanted after dinner every night!

My next trip will be at the end of July when I fly to San Francisco for the annual RWA convention.  I’ll be moderating a panel discussion, and taking part in a group book signing where, I’m told, early editions of FOR ALL WE KNOW will be available!

Last, but not least, I will be returning to Memphis in late October for the official St. Jude/Harlequin launch of my novel, FOR ALL WE KNOW.  It’s the perfect setting, since the novel is set in Memphis, the home of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  My book tour will continue on to Chicago, and will end in New York.

In Memphis the event will take place at the ALSAC Pavilion, a small building for quiet worship and meditation on the St. Jude campus.  I’ll be posting the exact dates of my visit on the EVENTS page as soon as I have the information.

And while you’re buying my book and reading the story, please consider making a donation to St. Jude.  For more information and to make an online donation, go to: www.stjude.org/arabesque and www.novelsofhope.org

What would an update to my newsletter be without a recounting of all my travels in the last year?  I mentioned in the last updates (a year ago!) that I’d spent my June birthday in Paris with friends.  The last time I’d been to Paris before last June I was a freshman in college.  That was a long time ago, but I was happy to see that so much of what I remembered from that earlier trip was still the same: Notre Dame cathedral, the banks of the Seine River, the Eiffel Tower! But there was so much that was new:  upscale fashionable café’s and shops, the fabulous Musee D’Orsay.  As luck would have it I got the opportunity to return again last November.  What a treat!

In January of this year I flew to St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.  I visit St. John often but had not been back in about five years.  Like everywhere else in the world, the island showed a lot of development and growth, but still remains my favorite of the three islands in the chain.  As a matter of fact, St. John is the setting for ADAM AND EVA, the first Black romance published by Harlequin and written by a Black author!  Half the novel was written while I was on St. John for a vacation.

At the end of May I was in Los Angeles for the annual BEA or Book Expo America convention.  It’s thee major publishing industry trade show.  I rented a car and braved traffic on the notorious 405/Santa Monica Freeway to drive myself back and forth each day to the convention center. Piece of cake!  The weather was southern California perfect, I stayed with a friend, and met up with other friends, and had fun at the fair!  It included an insightful and amusing presentation by Terry MacMillan, and sighing copies of my book, CELLULOID MEMORIES, at the Harlequin booth.

A week later I was in Memphis for the Sisterhood Showcase (see piece above) where I had an opportunity to chat up attendees about St. Jude and their extraordinary work, and my next book, FOR ALL WE KNOW, a romance written to benefit the hospital.

I barely had time to do laundry and repack before I was leaving on a jet plane again, this time my destination was Seattle in the beautiful northwest.  Despite its reputation for being rainy and dreary, it was warm and sunny during my entire visit.  I was in Seattle for a conference, but managed to squeeze in a ferry ride over to Bainbridge Island, drive almost all the way north to Port Angeles, visited a local winery, and to catch a screening of “Sex In The City” (very funny) with my girlfriend.  After Seattle I drove down to Portland, Oregon to visit with more friends.

Just before July 4^th weekend, I went to the Jersey shore at Long Branch where I did nothing more strenuous than decide what flavor ice cream I wanted after dinner every night!

My next trip will be at the end of July when I fly to San Francisco for the annual RWA convention.  I’ll be moderating a panel discussion, and taking part in a group book signing where, I’m told, early editions of FOR ALL WE KNOW will be available!

A beach at Caneel Bay, St. John U.S.V.I.this past January for a post Christmas vacation.	At Harlequin's party with Kimani Press Senior Editor, Glenda Howard, Kiman Romance Editor Kelli Martin, and Sandra.	Sandra in Paris June 2007 for my birthday, standing outside the Musee D'Orsay.
Sandra in front of the famed Canary on Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco.	Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, November 2007, my second visit	Sandra with Johnny Temple, publisher of BRONX NOIRE at the Harlem Book Fair.