House of Seven, my latest book, will be released in the month of July, 2017. It is a humorous romantic novel about life in the early twentieth century. Although it is the sixth book in the Covington Chronicles, it stands alone with an independent plot. Here's the cover:

Cover Design by Dan T. Cooke

Photograph donated by Mary Jordan

  Here is the text planned for the back cover:

House of Seven packs a punch – romance, adventure, comedy, and mystery. Join Beth, a lovely, single author, as she moves to a new town after an unexpected gift from her uncle. An entertaining story told through alternating voices, including that of Beth’s zany Aunt Genie, a colorful character you will not soon forget.”

-Jameson Gregg, 2015 Georgia Author of the Year, Author of Luck Be A Chicken

Mary Lou Cheatham is a masterful storyteller and weaver of tales, and she has done it again with her latest addition to the Covington Chronicles. The House of Seven held my interest and kept me intrigued from the beginning. I couldn't imagine where she got the name for her book.....until I got to the end. What a great book—what a great writer!

-Sarah Walker Gorrell, Author, Freelance Writer,  

Blogger, From the Front Porch; Co-author of Travelers in Painted Wagons on Cohay Creek

This is a lovely story, filled with a cast of unlikely characters who make up an unlikely family. Racial unease in the early 20^th century. A group of people who need each other, who don’t always like each other, but who love each other and pull together when needed. Fun romance and humor that keeps the reader tickled and smiling.

-Kathy McKinsey, Proofreading Editor, Author, Blogger, Kathy’s Voice

Entertainment in Shreveport: Ki Mexico, Co-Op Mode

Today my sweet husband and I enjoyed some good local entertainment with friends. After church we went to brunch at  Ki Mexico.

The food is unusual. It’s mostly tacos. I had chile relleno with black beans and rice--very tasty. Most meals reach the table on painted metal plates. The tables have interesting wooden tops.

Two of our friends play in the Co-op Mode, which performed at Ki Mexico today. I like it best when the clarinet is featured.  If you go to the Facebook page Co-Op Mode, you can find some examples of their playing. 

Highlights of ACFW-LA Aspiring Writers Workshop June 3, 2017

DiAnn Mills, Mary Cooke, Winnie Griggs

Hello. My name is Mary Cooke and I write using my former name, Mary Lou Cheatham. June 3, 2017, I was one of the privileged north Louisiana writers who spent the day with two accomplished, multi-published authors, DiAnn Mills and Winnie Griggs.

DiAnn and Winnie go beyond writing: they have become teachers devoted to sharing their skills with other writers.

DiAnn, a professional who has boundless energy, taught us all day except for one hour. She lectured about character development. Her amazing handout, Advanced Character Sketch, was worth the cost of the workshop. (You can obtain a free copy by going to her website, DiAnnMills.com  and requesting a copy.) She shared some valuable insights about the use of backstory.

Winnie, who is eager to help Shreveport writers succeed, explained the importance of stakes in fiction writing. Both DiAnn and Winnie are world famous authors and I felt honored that they posed in a picture with me.

Eileen Copeland, Judy Burford

The members of American Christian Fiction Writers--Louisiana worked hard planning, organizing, and implementing the conference. I am especially thankful to the president of the organization, Judy Burford.

The members of the chapter have become a team, each using his or her special skills to produce an outstanding conference.

We met on the Bossier Parish Community College Campus, which is beautiful, new, and spacious.

Carole Johnson, Tammy Kirby, DiAnn Mills, Beverly Flanders

I'm looking forward to learning more from DiAnn Mills. In addition to compelling novels, she has published a writing manual, The Dance of Character & Plot. (available on Amazon) I can't wait to read this book and work through the exercises.

Morgan Smith, Karen Steadman

Hal Carter, Charles Sutherland

Charles Sutherland said:

Only two things could have made the 2nd Annual Writers Workshop better than it was. 1) If more aspiring writers had attended, and (2) If we could have had DiAnn Mills speak for two days instead of one. Maybe next year.

I was too busy listening and taking notes to take pictures. Hopefully, I'm inspired to show up at the page starting this week.