Lisa Wingate: Never Say Never

Kai Miller floats through life like driftwood tossed by waves. She's never put down roots in any one place--and she doesn't plan to. But when a chaotic hurricane evacuation lands her in Daily, Texas, she begins to think twice about her wayfaring existence.

And when she meets hometown-boy Kemp Eldridge, she can almost picture settling down in Daily--until she discovers he may be promised to someone else. Daily has always been a place of refuge for those the winds blows in, but for Kai, it looks like it will be just another place to leave behind. Then again, Daily always has a few surprises in store--especially when Aunt Donetta has cooked up a scheme.

Lisa lives in central Texas where she is a popular inspirational speaker, magazine columnist, and national bestselling author of several books. Her novel, Tending Roses, received dozens of five-star reviews, sold out thirteen printings for New York publisher, Penguin Putnam, and went on to become a national bestselling book. Tending Roses was a selection of the Readers Club of America, and is currently in its fourteenth printing.

The Tending Roses series continued with Good Hope Road, the Language of Sycamores, Drenched in Light, and A Thousand Voices. In 2003, Lisa's Texas Hill Country series began with Texas Cooking, and continued with Lone Star Cafe', which was awarded a gold metal by RT Bookclub magazine and was hailed by Publisher's Weekly as "A charmingly nostalgic treat." The series concluded with Over the Moon at the Big Lizard Diner.

Last Sunday I had the chance to meet Lisa. I learned she was having a book signing in Clifton, so CJ and I hopped in the car and cruised up there to see her. As always when meeting a fellow writer, I enjoyed hearing about her current projects and how she juggles her schedule.

Never Say Never has earned a spot on my keeper shelf. Her vivid characters made me smile and cheer for them. If you live in Central Texas, you'll enjoy seeing local places mentioned in her book. Hmm..., exactly where is Daily, Texas, anyway? If you've never picked up one of Lisa's books, I highly recommend you do so.