While on vacation, my husband returned to his seat at the counter of a bustling seafood restaurant to find me accepting a napkin from a stranger who’d hastily written his phone number on it. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Scandalous! (The expression on my husband’s face said the same, haha.) To put your mind […]
Book Besties
I know “book boyfriends” are a thing, but what about a book best friend? Romance novels just wouldn’t be the same if our heroines didn’t have someone helping them navigate the highs and lows of love. These besties bring empathy, wisdom, and comic relief. Sometimes such beloved characters get their own story in a […]
Bookaversaries, Celebrations and a Giveaway
May is a big month for me. During the first few years of writing, it seemed I was on a yearly publishing calendar for the month of May. My first book Holding on to Someday was released on May 8, my second book A Half Made Whole, released the next year on May 9, and […]
Appreciating Angst
Have you ever been out on a date with someone and felt like the two of you were really clicking, only to never hear from the guy (or gal) again? Yep, me, too. That’s part of what makes dating exciting, I think—the uncertainty. It’s also what makes reading a romance novel so much fun. You’re pretty sure the […]
Dueling Books # Giveaway
I set a goal to read more this year and so far, I’ve stuck with it. In the past, I’ve always carved out two or three days to read a book. But since I started editing, I don’t have that kind of time. Instead, I’ve found a new reading schedule. At night, my brain spins […]
Sunday Edition
Happy Sunday! I recently learned that my city in Australia, Canberra, has been declared an international tree city of the world, joining 138 cities around the world that have been recognised for their leadership in managing urban trees. The cities that have been recognised are spread across 21 countries, including the cities of Toronto, Auckland, […]
It Makes Sense #giveaway
Hi all! Happy May. We’re in the southeastern part of the States, and things are heating up! Shorts, cute dresses, and sandals are being pulled from the back of the closets as we speak. Pools are being opened, picnics are being planned, and people are doing all the outdoor things. I love it! But am […]
Tropes in Fiction and Real Life
If you’ve been around romance books long enough (and I’m fairly confident we all have!), then you’re familiar with the concept of tropes. This is the literary device authors use as the theme of their romance—the means of which they center their meet-cute all the way to their happily-ever-after around. And, if we’re being honest, […]
The Five-Year-Old
The other day, Narelle, Elizabeth, and I (along with some guests), recorded the StoryChats podcasts for June. Yes, we record four shows in one day. Yes, we record well in advance. (Blame my husband’s work schedule for that. The rest of us do.) I’m not sure which episode, exactly, we were recording at the moment. […]
Time to Love
How long does it take before a couple can use the “L” word? Have you ever been reading along and the hero declares he loves the heroine, and you stop and think, “Already?” When I first got the idea to write a “Roadtrip Romance,” AKA a romance set on a vacation, one of the biggest […]