Sue's News, March 2006

Hey there, everyone! Hope all of you are healthy and happy as we face the last vestiges of winter.

My next book, Walk Like A Man, will be released on March 8. Order it now from Barnes and Noble

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&isbn=1594144346&itm=5

or from Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594144346/qid=1141254580/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/103-4731650-2890250?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

I'm getting some very nice reviews. Here's a sample:

Swift has penned a very enjoyable contemporary romance between a major sports figure and the therapist whose skill is all that stands between him and life in a wheelchair. Lynne Welch, Booklist
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

My editor calls Booklist one of the "Big Four"—the others being Kirkus, Library Journal and Publisher's Weekly. This is the first time that one of the Big Four has deigned to review my writing, so I'm pleased.

And check this out:

Sue Swift…is an author to watch. WALK LIKE A MAN is an altogether enjoyable reading experience. Jane Bowers, Romance Reviews Today

So what's the book about?

Here's the blurb:

Macho quarterback Jim Wellman meets his match in bright and sassy physical therapist Marti Solis, who goads him out of his wheelchair, pushing him to walk again. Unlike every other woman Jim has wanted, she refuses to jump into the sack with the celebrity athlete. Though attracted to his bedroom smile and rugged good looks, she's intimidated by his fame and turned off by his arrogance.

Can Jim become the lover Marti needs? Can he learn to walk like a man?

Set in California's beautiful Napa Valley, this multicultural romance delivers humor and pathos, sparkling dialogue, layered characters, a heroine to root for and a hero who's pure fantasy.

And here's a free book offer!

I'll email you a copy of Mac's Secret Father, a full-length romance, upon the receipt of proof of purchase of Walk Like A Man. Simply tear out the dedication page of your copy of Walk Like A Man, write your email address on it, and send it to me at P.O. Box 241, Citrus Heights, CA 95611-0241. As soon as I get it, I'll email you the book.

What's it about, you ask? Well, here's the blurb:

Despite spending most of her teenage years mooning over her hero, Dave Madsen, Linda Travers has moved on with her life—being left pregnant and alone will force that on a gal. She lives in their hometown with their six-year-old, Mac, a son Dave knows nothing about.

But suddenly botanist Dave reappears in her life. A vicious snakebite suffered while on an expedition has left him on crutches and in need of treatment by the only physical therapist in town: Linda.

To Linda, Dave has always been temptation personified. But can she overcome the hurt, anger and pain stemming from his betrayal?

And can Dave trust Linda? She never contacted him regarding her pregnancy or their son, and is now offering what are, to him, flimsy excuses for keeping him out of their child's life.

So there are a lot of similarities between these two books—if you enjoy Walk Like A Man, you'll love Mac's Secret Father!

What could be better? Two books for the price of one!

And remember…I always run a contest

But only subscribers to this newsletter list are qualified to win.

Our most recent winner is Ayreann S. of Portland, Oregon. Just because she's subscribed to my emailed newsletter list, she received a gift card to Starbucks and a free autographed book.

So tell your friends!

Well, I obviously hate blogging…

And I wonder why so many people, especially authors, seem to think that the world breathlessly awaits their latest mental emissions.

As for traveling…I am really not sure anyone wants to know the latest.

In brief: the hubster and I had a great trip to Maui from the 3d to the 13^th of February. But when we celebrated our Valentine's Day early in our excessively orgiastic fashion, a call came in on my cell phone from one brother about the other brother…the one I haven't talked about much.

The one with Stage Four kidney cancer.

Apparently Keith had "died" and been resuscitated. Reportedly his first demand upon rejoining the land of the living was for his Propecia, in that he didn't want to die bald.

Despite his humor, which normally would betoken health, we changed our travel plans so we could fly directly from Maui to San Diego. Or at least that was the plan. Instead, the plane's pilot, as another passenger put it, "was a retard who couldn't land the f-ing plane" so instead we ended up in Ontario, California, a place which makes the back of the beyond look hip and exciting.

At 11:30 p.m., the last thing anyone wanted was a midnight tour of southern California, but that was what we got. Buses eventually arrived (from Los Angeles—please do not ask me why) and we were taken to San Diego Airport, arriving there a mere three hours behind schedule. A cab took us to Sharp Memorial Hospital, where we learned that Keith's heart had stopped and been resuscitated three additional times. Don't know if he again demanded Propecia.

Bruce left later the same day, while I stayed overnight.

Those of you who have been in the same situation—facing the loss of a loved one—know that certain matters must be discussed. Life and death. The settling of old disputes which may have seemed important in the past, but which now pale in significance compared to the great journey ahead. Declarations of love.

Forgiveness.

I have never before been a forgiving person, but now I am. It's a good thing, as Martha would say.

Another trip to San Diego has already taken place while two more are planned. I greedily grasp onto each and every opportunity to see my brother. At his age—a mere 56—who would have thought that time would be in such short supply?

At the same time, I know I must not allow the threads and tendrils of my life either unravel or knot. So I bounce back and forth, up and down the length of California, enriching Southwest Airlines. A sense of unreality attends my travels even though I and my family are facing the most brutal reality of all.

If any of you out there have a loved one suffering, feel free to post a comment.