Springtime Friendship

Spring presents a fresh and friendly start to life on multiple levels. The photo shows my garden glistening from the Good Friday shower. Rhodies, rosemary, and unknown shrubs bloom into splashes of welcomed color. Neighbors and a friend in nursing care received unstructured bouquets over the Easter weekend. Their smiles warmed my heart.

Vegetable planting continues, as bunnies pulled sprouted pea starts and left me holes for more. Wire mesh will be added next time. I’m happy to throw lettuce seeds near bushes where light-colored tails of furry friends disappear.

Warmer weather encourages companions besides Tallulah and Lance on our trail walks. I will never knock having male buddies, but female friends tip the scales to balance love for my husband and sons with the need to connect to other women. Chatting and walking outdoors is a gift I don’t take lightly. I’m blessed with friends I’ve met through writing, horses, crafts, the Seattle Art Museum, and work. True friendship requires patience, humor, and kindness from both sides. I’ve had to weed out people from my life who either didn’t understand my core beliefs, or began to usurp my energy–a difficult but necessary decision.

I write clean romantic suspense (plenty of sensuality, but without intimate scenes) and my women characters who are friends may not always agree, but their basic impulse is to love and support one another. May your spring blossom with flowers and friendship. Happy trails, Sally

• If you covet sizzling chemistry, determined assassins, and Montana scenery, then you’ll love Sally Brandle’s galloping thriller.

• If you thrive on tenacious heroines, sizzling attraction, and a shadowy villain with a grudge, you’ll love this prescription for thrills.