This morning I woke up thinking I knew what the topic of this week’s blog would be. However, after some consideration, I’ve decided there will be a more appropriate time to post that post. It’ll all come out eventually, which brings me to the question: What’s today’s blog topic?
My daughter sends out a daily illustrated Bible verse. Today’s included Norman and Evie’s wedding photo. Why didn’t I include it in last week’s post? Probably because I can’t think of EVERYTHING! So I’m writing this today and including the photo the day AFTER their 90th wedding anniversary.
I need to mention two things about that photo. Number 1: Please note my mother’s bouquet. You’ll see it contains lilies and snap dragons. Why? Because when my mother asked her fiancé what kind of flowers he liked, the only flower he could think of right then was… you guessed it—snap dragons.
And then there’s my dad’s face as a young man. It’s spooky how much my grandson’s face resembles his great grandfather’s—the shape, the smile, the ears, the nose. I like to say Colt is a chip off a really old block.
Forty-plus years ago, when Bill was first faced with a roomful of my relatives who looked as though they’d all come from a rubber stamp, he told me, “Busks are like golden retrievers—they breed true.” That wedding picture proves it!
The other news of the day is this. At 82:2%, Unnamed Joanna Brady #22 finally has a name that has been run up the chain of command in NY and received the stamp of approval. It’s called Before The Trail Goes Cold. Please don’t try to reach out and pre-order it. Amazon doesn’t accept pre-orders more than nine months out, and this book won’t be available until the fall of 2027. In other words and as Evie would say, “Hold your horses.”
Mysteries, mine included, usually end when the bad guy gets caught. What happens after that is generally considered to be nobody else’s business. In Before the Trail Goes Cold, I’m following up on The Girl From Devil’s Lake and finding out who his victims were and how losing them affected the people around them. In other words, I’m discovering “The rest of the story.”
Thank you, Paul Harvey.
What a great photo of your parents. It’s a bit as I pictured them from your descriptions in your books. Right now my brain is trying to recall the imagined faces from your books and the photo. I’m a strange man I guess. LOL
Thank you for another great blog. And now I am going to have a hard time waiting for Fall 2027! By then I may have my second knee replacement healed…or healing.
Love the picture of your parents. Why does your Dad look familiar to me? I know I never met him unless he ever came to Texas.
Maybe by the fall of 2027 I will be able to call Joanna #22 by it’s rightful name.
Blessing to you and Bill.
All morning here in Virginia I’ve been waiting for your blog, the highlight of the week. Now you’re telling me I have to wait a year for your novel. Oy!
They look happy. Your book title is alluring. Looking forward to next fall
Thank you for sharing that beautiful photo and snapdragon story!
Yes, it will be hard to wait for fall of 2027. But isn’t there one of your other series books coming out this fall? …. I’ve never before heard of a couple having a 90th wedding anniversary–they must have married very young, and lived to be very old. What commendable commitment, though! Not seen so often nowadays. Hey, and SNAPDRAGONS! This year is the first year I’ve planted those in my porch planter, and I’ve quite enjoyed them, even though it was unplanned that I bought them–the greenhouse guy had hardly any of his usual pansies and petunias.
Thank you so much for sharing this priceless photo. Not at all what I imagined!!! I am struck by the fact that they look like brother and sister, same hairline and the look of absolute serenity. Hard to imagine that sweet, innocent face saying the things attributed to her. You have such a wonderful heritage and I’m sure most of your readers feel like they are part of our lives too. Just as you are. God bless you and don’t ever stop writing.
They only celebrated 68 years together on this planet, but we kids (in our 70s and 80s) still celebrate it. And my grandson, Colt, looks spookily like my dad.
What fun to see the early photo of our Old Friends. We celebrated our 66th Anniversary yesterday.
Duane & Marlene Johnson – from the “Equitable Days”
I’ll bet it was fun to see my dad as a twenty year-old.
How enjoyable it is to read your words, JA. Thank you for them all.
Best to you and Bill. <3
I like the title, something to look forward to next year! Lovely picture and bouquet
I like the title, something to look forward to next year! Lovely picture and bouquet. Interesting they both wore glasses so young, that may be a future blog story!
I’m a family historian, so I appreciate your posting the picture of your parents. They look so Scandinavian: determined, intelligent, and blond. Thank you for posting it.
My husband and I listened to The girl from Devil’s Lake in the car whenever we were driving together. It took several weeks to finish it. I’m excited there will be a sequel.
He was great, and so are you.
What a lovely pucture. They look so very young. Looking forward to the new Joanna book. I’ve started to re-read the series in anticipation of our trip to Arizona in February.
I had the honor of meeting you in Nashville years ago at a book signing. Bill was still traveling with you in a car . I must say that you take after your mother. Thanks for all the books that entertain and keeps me sane.
Beautiful picture of your parents.