I would be hard-pressed to find a writer who hadn’t spent years reading before he or she put that first sentence to a page. So many writers I know write books today because they fell in love with reading at a young age. I’m one of those writers, too. One reason? My walk home […]
Wishing You a Merry Sea Glass Christmas!
Have you ever felt invisible? Trace Murphy knows what that feels like, too. She’s been the head concierge at Sea Glass Inn for more than ten years but has recently begun to notice that the staff sometimes takes her for granted … So, this Christmas, Trace Murphy has put everyone around her on the naughty […]
Thankful for You
I’ve just returned from a massive writing conference in Las Vegas, Nevada called 20Booksto50K. Nearly 2,000 writers converged to talk writing and marketing, but you know what the biggest topic of conversation was? YOU. This yearly conference is for writers in all genres, but on the eve of the first day, about a dozen authors […]
Have a Holly, Jolly … Romantic Mystery
Like a little cozy mystery with your Christmas Romance? Me too. Though I’m known more for my inspirational beach romances, I’ve also written a few cozy romantic mysteries that take place during the holidays. I was thinking about this the other day when I noticed Christmas trees up at a local store (already!) This reminded […]
Escape to … Italia
Seven years ago, we traveled through Northern Italy. Have you ever been? Even now, I can shut my eyes and remember the aromas of truffle oil and garlic that saturated the air around our apartment in Florence. So heavenly! What does this have to do with writing novels? Everything. You see, at the time, I […]
The Novel of Your Life #Giveaway
Have you ever thought about writing a novel based on your life? Many people tell me they’ve mused about putting the events of their life into a book but have never been able to sit down and do it. That’s understandable! It’s tricky to fictionalize events that are so personal. I learned this about six […]
Where Do You Retreat to Read?
The past few months have been—how do I put this?—far from restful. Trauma from losing a loved one, an intense workload, and a nagging illness have all combined to force me to do something I’m not that good at: Rest. So I’ve had to learn this art of resting. And part of that has been […]
Castles and Covers Revealed
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 […]
Fiction that Makes You Wonder: How Much is True?
Are you like me? Do you find yourself Googling Did that really happen? while reading a book or watching a movie or TV show that has roots in real life? (I’m looking at you,The Crown). That’s one reason why my novel, Chasing Valentino, was such a kick to write. The book’s setting is Hollywood by the […]