It is always an exciting time for an author when a new book is getting ready to publish. My tenth novel, set in the Smoky Mountains, called DADDY’S GIRL, publishes on April 1^st. It is already popping up on Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Amazon, and other sites for “pre-order” in either Print or eBook. I love bringing my readers to visit a new area in the Smoky Mountains with each book … and this novel takes readers to the charming small town of Bryson City, North Carolina. I blogged about Bryson City in my January blog, noting that my husband and I have happily visited the town often and hiked many times in that beautiful part of the Smokies.

The main character in my new book, DADDY’S GIRL, is Olivia Benton, a young woman who owns a small floral shop in downtown Bryson City. Olivia’s love for flowers traces back several generations and she especially cherishes the beautiful formal gardens lying behind the home she and her father share. As a girl, Olivia enjoyed happy hours playing in that garden with her neighbor Warner Zachery. Warner, always marching to a different drummer, left Bryson City immediately after high school. Full of big dreams, he wanted Olivia to drop everything and follow after him—and was angry with her for saying no. But first loves are not easy to forget, no matter how much time passes, and when Warner suddenly returns to Bryson City ten years later, Olivia is stunned to find her old feelings for Warner much more alive than she expected.

Of course, as in all my books, there is more to the storyline than a romance threaded throughout and many more fun and interesting side characters to enjoy. Elements of suspense slide in along the way, as vandals keep defacing public property and unsettling the town’s peace of mind. Bits of mystery begin to unravel with several characters, and troubling problems pop up involving school bullying and high school peer groups. … I hope you will enjoy your visit to Bryson City, North Carolina, as you read DADDY’S GIRL, and that you’ll have fun meeting all the new characters in this heart-warming, small town story.

To celebrate the publication of DADDY’S GIRL you are cordially invited to attend our annual
Book Launch Party on Saturday, April 8^th, Open House Hours 1-4 pm, in the picturesque Tipton Lodge at Wesley Woods Camp, Townsend, Tennessee. A wonderful regional bluegrass group, Clinch Valley Bluegrass, will pick-and-sing and entertain during the event and there will be snacks and drinks on hand. If you’d like to bring a snack item to add to the table, I’d love for you to do so since I do my own catering … but there will be plenty either way.

You will find the entrance sign to Wesley Woods Camp on the Old Walland Highway about two miles from Townsend, Tennessee, only a short distance from the entrance to the Smoky Mountains National Park. If you are coming from out of state, there are nearby motels and many cute rental cabins in the Townsend and Wears Valley area. April is a lovely time to visit in the Smokies as the wildflowers are blooming. Hikes abound around the area, and there is a fine hike to a waterfall right on the campground.

Our thanks to Wesley Woods Camp for giving us permission to use photos of the Tipton Lodge, entrance sign and camp logo in this post. You will find specific driving directions to  Camp Wesley Woods – and more photos and information – on the camp website at: http://www.campwesleywoods.com/driving-directions.html
… J.L. and I hope to see you all at the April Book Launch. We will have all of our books there – and you can pick up any you have missed and get them personally autographed.