wet behind the ears and all that—it’s always a wonderful thing to have merciful and calm veterans helping you find your way, make your way, enjoy your way.

I’ve been published as a novelist for just under three years (my first book, Why the Sky is Blue, was pubbed in June 2004) and I am still learning how to be what I am. Writing a book makes you an author but it doesn’t make you smart. You have to learn the ropes of any industry you jump into.

So I’ve been thankful for the people God has placed in my path the last three years. A warm welcome, a gentle smile offered at big events, advice freely given, encouragement openly shared — it’s all meant a great deal to me.

Today, I am specifically thinking of Jane Orcutt — a wise and gifted writer who befriended me when I felt like a kindergartener in a room full of professors. Kind, witty and gentle-hearted, Jane made me feel welcome without even trying. She was a sweet soul. And she’s with Jesus.

Jane was ushered into glory on March 18, 2007, after a heroic struggle with acute myeloid leukemia. She left behind a husband, two sons, many friends and colleagues, and a completed book not yet published. Jane’s All The Tea in China, (its lovely cover is posted above) will hit bookstore shelves in mid-June, and I think it would be a fabulous tribute to her if the book topped the charts. Perhaps you would consider picking up a copy of All the Tea in China, even if you’re not typically a historical romance fan, for the joy of celebrating a life that ended too soon. Jane was a gem. And that’s a pretty cool cover, no? A cool chick with a sword. It’s bound to be a fun read.

Thanks, Jane, for every little thing. Have a blast in heaven.