(Flickr photo by aidan)

It’s here. Can you believe it? The day I’ve been waiting for for over three years!

Give the Lady a Ride is out and available not just from me and Port Yonder Press, but also barnesandnoble.com and Amazon.com.

I’ve used the words “I’m so excited!” so many times, I’m beginning to sound redundant. But I can’t help it: I’m so excited!!!

There are so many people who were involved in the making of this book and who have proven invaluable since. The acknowledgment page tells of most of the people I appreciate, but a couple of extra thank yous are in order:

I owe Chila Woychik, owner of Port Yonder Press, a special thanks for believing in me.  She has been a long-time supporter and fan, and I’m thankful for her friendship (and thankful she bought a publishing company!).

Each of the editors at Port Yonder Press, Lisa Lickel, Suzanne Hartman, Susan Price, and Naomi Musch, offered terrific critiques and caught errors that escaped my tired eyes.  Thanks to each of them!

Anna O’Brien, the cover designer and formatter. What a wonderful job she did! And with enough patience to put Job to shame.

Linda Walker did my video, and she did a tremendous job. She’s particular about what projects she accepts these days, so I’m tickled pink she accepted mine!

Joy Tamsin David, who has been nothing but enthusiastic and supportive since first reading a clip of Ride on CW.com. She was the first to offer to help promote me and has sent me several ideas of how to promote myself. Thanks to her, I have a couple of blog tours set up!

Lisa Grace, who I had the privilege of meeting in Indiana last September, has given me valuable ideas about marketing. She even gave me the step-by-step for developing an author page on Goodreads. As the author of the successful Angel series, she has done a wonderful job marketing her books, so I feel blessed she shared her ideas with me.

And, as always, K.M. (Katie) Weiland. How can I thank her enough?! Not only is she my critique partner and primary encourager, she took time out of her incredibly busy schedule to design my promo poster and bookmarks. Knowing what a techno-idiot I am, she took it upon herself to do this for me.

I am so blessed–God is so good to bless me as He has, undeserving as I am. I’m humbled by His love shown through these wonderful people, through my readers here at Peppermint Place and elsewhere, and through my encouragers and supporters everywhere.

Now, on to business: If you’re a member of Goodreads, check out my giveaway there. I’m holding a drawing to give two books away to two lucky winners! Aside from that, in two weeks, I’ll draw a name from among those who join my authors page on Facebook (search Give the Lady a Ride) and from anyone who comments on my author page on Amazon.com. Winners will receive a $10 gift certificate to Amazon.com!

And speaking of winners:

CONGRATS TO MARTHA ROGERS,

GRAND PRIZE WINNER!!!