In my last post of 2021, I listed some disappointments of the year and goals for the new one. Number 1 on the list: Reading for pleasure. Since I didn’t read any books just for fun in 2021, I set a goal of 12 for 2022. I didn’t really count as I went and didn’t […]
2023 Goal: Read More Romance (+sale & freebie!)
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions anymore. It’s been years since I’ve bothered. Just as soon as I made a list of goals, habits I wanted to change (or develop LOL), weight to lose, well, I’d break it and never manage to get back on track. And then the Type A overachiever side of me […]
What is The End?
What is The End? I love how a simple phrase can have multiple meanings, and it brings us different emotions depending on the situation. When I’m writing, I love when I reach the end, especially if my characters have fought me throughout the entire story. When I’m reading, I might be sad to reach the […]
Writing about Writers – and Christmas!
Do you enjoy reading books about writers? What about books about Christmas? What about books about writers AND Christmas? Do you ever wonder how much of a book about a writer is based on the author’s actual own experience? Well, have I got a book for you… A few years ago I wrote a book […]
Books That Make You Go WHOA! #Giveaway
After over 200 rejection letters, I spent four intense years studying the craft of writing. Certain I’d learned all I needed to know, I prepared to go to my first national conference, back in 2005. I’d submitted my latest manuscript to a publisher and was waiting to hear back from them. I felt good about […]
Fall Books I Love
I’m wrapped in a blanket, wearing fuzzy socks, and drinking hot tea. No, it’s not winter, but this Texas-born girl feels cold as soon as the temps dip below 75. And seeing how northern Virginia got the fall memo on September 22nd, I’m permanently wrapped in layers. So I thought the perfect way to commiserate […]
It’s a Reader Thing
When I first started writing, I had never really considered words like tropes or story arc. As a reader, I read what I enjoyed and didn’t consider the structure behind the story. That all changed when I began bringing my own stories to life and I learned–boy did I learn–that there was so much involved […]
Sister Stories
The sister relationship is one of the most complicated. From best friends to mortal enemies, every set of sisters has a different dynamic and relationship, and that’s true not only from family to family but sister to sister within the same family. With three daughters and a sister of my own, it’s definitely a relationship […]
Small Town Romance
I live in a small town. I’ve lived in my small town of less than ten thousand people for the past twenty years. Before that I lived in another small town. And while there are some advantages to living in the city (and hey, I’ve written books set in cities from NYC to London) there’s […]
Newsletters – Why Sign Up? #Giveaway
Most authors have newsletters these days. Let’s talk about why you should sign up. There’s usually a free book or giveaway involved for signing up. Newsletters usually include exclusive info only available to subscribers. Authors get more personal in newsletters. All that personal and exclusive contact is addicting. They’re usually encouraging and uplifting. If you’re […]