We have a new baby. The Plano Book Festival had a silent auction to benefit the Collin County Adult Literacy Program—we won! We're now the proud parents of a miniature beagle. We named him Pete.

Pete - he loves playing in the backyard.

Pete playing with his sister Destiny

Getting some sun with Garth

Destiny was adopted in the summer of 2002. A friend found her on an animal shelter website. I had just completed the first draft of my book—and when I saw the dog was named "Destiny," well, I knew she was meant to come home with us. She's a 4-year-old beagle mix who demands a lot of lovin'.

Garth was adopted a year after we got Destiny. From the same friend, showing me the same website. Since my husband is a die-hard Texas Longhorn fan, as soon as I saw Garth had burnt orange spots I knew he'd found a home. He's a 4-year-old basset hound mix.

We have a new cat now: Cinnamon. My daughter brought him home one day and he is finally getting accustomed to his new house—and the dogs...

Not Pictured...

Hobo is no longer with us. He passed away last Christmas, after battling diabetes and leukemia. But his memory will be kept alive in the Death Warmed Over Mystery Series. I'll try to find a photo to scan so you can see what a sweetheart he was. And, yes, just like in my books—he was blind. He lost his sight to diabetes a few years back.

Barney lived with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law—Mark & Beverly. He's no longer with us, either. But he lives on in Destiny.