One of my favorite places to hike: Bagley Lakes Trail, North Cascades

In any given week, I play a lot of different roles. I am self-employed, and in this economy I have to work at two businesses to pay the bills. I am a contract writer and editor, working on projects that range from creative stage plays to online help systems for cardboard manufacturing plants (see www.pbeditorial.com if you’re really interested, but I don’t blame you if you’re not). I am also a licensed private investigator, working on—well, I’d have to kill you if I told you much about the projects I work on; discretion is everything in the PI business. Suffice it to say my cases involve everything from business fraud to child custody issues (see www.siriusinvestigations.com if you really want to know more about the things I and my biz partner Molly do).

And then, on top of scrambling to write an article about a new piece of software or running out the door to do emergency surveillance, I’m a creative writer. I write nontraditional romances and outdoor adventure mystery novels, and I also cobble together the occasional screenplay. I just landed a three-book deal with Berkley Prime Crime for my Summer Westin mystery series, for publication in 2011 and beyond. As of August 20, 2010, my romantic suspense On Shaky Ground will be available in e-book and POD formats from The Wild Rose Press and Amazon and other online sites. (Note: On Shaky Ground is now available as Shaken)

When the phone rings on any given day, I have to look at the caller ID and ask myself, “Who am I to this person? Writer, editor, investigator, friend, family member?” I have to think hard to keep myself from sounding like a clueless fool to the unsuspecting caller. I know that many of you have chaotic lives, too; you might not be quite as frenetic in the business world, but might be even more crazed at home and within your community circle. It’s a good thing I don’t have kids—I’d probably have them locked in a closet somewhere in an attempt to rein in the chaos. I don’t know how you working parents do it.

A friend of mine posing for the camera

Obviously, I could write about all sorts of topics, and no doubt many will find their way in here. But mostly I want to write about the person I am every moment of every single day, and that’s a nature lover. I am a hiker/kayaker/snow shoer/cross-country-skier/scuba diver. Nature appears as a primary character in all books, in the form of the cougars in Wild (Note: Wild is now available as Endangered), my first mystery novel, and a snake, a raccoon, and a tree frog in my romance, On Shaky Ground. So come along with me into the great outdoors. I always find it an awesome place, and I hope you will, too.

I don’t have to venture into the wilderness to find natural delights. I live in suburbia and there are plenty of wonders in my own backyard. This week the Perseid meteor showers have been keeping me wowed after dark. I lay on my deck and watch for the shooting stars. (Yes, the neighbors probably think I’m a little touched…) I hope some of you are also turning off your lights and enjoying the heavenly show.