Last week, my only son married a beautiful woman; full of accomplishments, talents, and a devotion to the Lord that brings me such joy. I’m not sure I could have scripted a more perfect wife for my son, but time will tell. We’re all a little giddy these days.

Weddings are different now, some things more intentional others more elaborate, but if love is at the center, then the rest is just frill. They’d chosen to marry at the Hotel Emma in San Antonio, and that destination was an architectural jewelry box. Having written novels about architects, restorations of decrepit spaces, and the stories that walls tell–I was enchanted by this location. Because of my interest in all things wedding related, I regret that I didn’t linger longer in the library, take the history tour, or explore the old brewery elements utilized as light fixtures and decor throughout. That’s what the next time is for, right?

So many good stories are hidden in the structures we create, and I’m drawn to those elements almost as much as I am by characters. We’ll see how I do with this new novel I’m writing, and hope that Comfort Zone (due out at the holidays) will have the zing of repurposing in all its many twists.

I’m attaching a photo a friend snapped of me in the library at the Hotel Emma. It’s one of those keepsake photos, and maybe it will appear on a novel’s backcover or maybe just my husband’s bedside table, but it was a thoughtful gesture.