'Cuz We Need a Little Christmas

Sometimes life doesn't go the way we expect it to, and in those moments, we need something to shine light into the darkness.

For me, that part of my brain that multitasks gets stalled out, which means I can only concentrate on one thing at a time, so here's what I've been doing.

Buy it here

WHILE WE WERE SHOPPING released in November (did you get your copy yet?). If you're in the mood for a sweet, fluffy holiday read to go along with watching Hallmark movies, then you'll love this Christmas romance.

Buy it here

I also had the audio for EPITAPH in the works, so once the Christmas book was released, I took time to listen to the audio files to make sure they were good to go. Jane Oppenheimer does a wonderful job bringing Amy and Kevin and all the characters to life. I have approved the files, and they should be available for sale in the next week or so.

Buy it here

I've also been working on FAMILY ALCHEMY, my next release and first in a new series. While I was attending to my other projects, I was trying to get this finished, as well. I had done a final "proof listen" and had set it aside for one last visual proof, which I have now completed. Release day is January 14 and I'm very excited for you to see it. It's a New Adult/women's fiction/"witchy" novel - a departure from my usual romance fare, but my fingerprints are all over it for those of you used to reading my books. You can click on the link in the right-hand column to find out more.




Which takes me to the next project, which I had started, but with everything else, yes, I had to set it aside while I finished one thing at a time. I'm now full speed ahead on the second in series, but we are also in the midst of the holidays. So I know you'll understand if I tell you I'm taking a blog break to spend time with my family, because we need a a little Christmas, right this very minute.

I will be sending a newsletter in January announcing the audiobook and the new release (nudge, nudge. Make sure you're signed up!). Until then...

May the peace and love of the season be with you. 

The Circle of Life

There are times in life when words fail.

I am blessed to be part of a close family. I have my parents to thank for that, and in their absence, my sisters. We talk regularly during the good times, and when trouble strikes, we band together. I cannot tell you how thankful I am that my parents had four of us.

Today, I want to tell you abour my oldest sister. She would HATE that I was talking about her in public, but there is so much I want to say.

When we were little, we weren't allowed to come downstairs on Christmas morning until a certain time, so the four of us would sit on the top steps while my oldest sister kept track of the time with her watch. She made "sculptures" out of stacks of presents, like reindeer (at Christmas) or crabs (for bridal showers). For years, she was the one who organized the family reunions that brought us all together.

She was always up for an adventure. Anytime we asked if she wanted to take a road trip, she was ready to go. We'd get tickets to go to a show in the city, or spend time together on a "sister weekend." When my parents were ill, she and I often rode together to visit them since we live in promixity, giving us time to talk through our emotions before we arrived so we could put on a brave face. She was never judgmental, and there wasn't anything I couldn't talk to her about. And we often did talk, for hours at a time. Weekly. She gave so much of herself to her family and to her friends.

I lost my sister this week, and I don't know how we'll ever fill the void she left behind. She was such a very special person to all of us. There are no words at times like this. Mortality is something we all must face, and something we all take for granted. None of us knew how little time we had left with her, and she didn't know how little time she had. I thank God for her life, for her presence in our lives, and for the love she shared in abundance.

Happy Thanksgiving

So many things to be thankful for this year.

Every year is fraught with struggles, and yet we go on. I'm sure I could come up many nuggets of encouragement to keep us going through the difficult times, but my favorite is "Rainbows come after the rain."

Time claims its due and we lose people we love, but God has blessed us with people who share our loss and the strength to continue on our journeys. New lives are added in the form of babies or friends. I am thankful for each of these things. For lives well lived, for family to help us carry on, for new lives added. These blessings are gold.

Bailey's Cheesecake balls

As an author, I'm thankful for those readers who keep me going, who encourage me with their kind reviews when they relate to my words and stories. This year I'm thankful for audiobook narrators who bring my words to life (Epitaph will be available in January!).

Homemade cinnamon rolls

I'm looking forward to baking wonderful, traditional treats for Thanksgiving and in preparation of Christmas. and because #MyLifeIsAMusical, the soundtrack to this post? My Favorite Things.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Engineer's Wife

This post might also be titled, "But I don't feel like writing"

There are certainly enough distractions over the course of a day to keep me away from my keyboard, or away from the work in progress even at the keyboard, but with a number of them now eliminated, I've run into one more. Hence, the subtitle of this post.

The Big Guy and I went to exercise at the pool last week, and when we came back, I put my watershoes in the utility sink to drain and forgot them there.  Usually, I put them by a window, in the sun. So imagine, the next time we went to the pool, I retrieved my watershoes and they were still wet. And stinky. Fortunately, they weren't showing signs of mold or mildew yet, so I washed them and took them along. Lesson learned. When we came home, I put them where I usually do, like I should have done the time before, but The Big Guy figured  he’d help me and moved them for "optimal air flow for drying."

As background on this, The Big Guy is an engineer, so he has a certain way of doing things. A certain way of organizing things. And yes, he's a little OCD. When I load the dishwasher, he moves things around because, apparently, I'm not balancing the load properly. When we come home from the grocery store, there is a certain way to put some things in the refrigerator. Most of the time, I don't care. He can do whatever makes his OCD happy. I'm generally much more laid back, but sometimes...



Sometimes, I don't WANT him to rearrange my stuff. My shoes have rubber soles (I'm feeling a Beatles reference here). They aren't going to get 360 degree air flow.

But I digress. What does this have to do with writing? Well, it goes to state of mind. Today, he annoyed me with his OCD and now I'm walking around reacting instead of letting it roll off - the way I normally would. Normally I DON'T care enough to react, but today... Well there are enough other things going on in the world that it's one more thing to add to a mood.

HOWEVER - it's also an excuse. Just because I decided to get into a snit doesn't mean I can get away with not writing. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off. Let it go, let it go... (Elsa, anyone?) and get the job done.

Oh, and contrary to what the song says, the cold DOES bother me (anyway), and we're getting winter way too early this year.

I guess my rant is over. Despite the imperfections of human response, I'm living my happily ever after. And now, time to get back to work writing!

Serendipity

I'm finalizing my next release, which should be available in January, and I'm working on the second book in the new series. As I was writing today, I took a "breather" and found a picture that relates to the new book (I quoted the song title, because the one character has a tendency to sing Beatles songs). What are the odds of stumbling across this song today after writing my character thinking about it? Serendipity, I tell ya!

Maybe, just maybe, it's the world telling me to soldier on. Keep writing, even when life throws heart-twisting moments at me.

Do you ever run across seemingly random things that make you stop to evaluate how random they really are?

While We Were (Christmas) Shopping

Hallmark has begun airing its Christmas movies - yes, even as early as last month, but I decided to wait until AFTER Halloween to share my latest work with you.

For those of you who love a little bit of fluff at the holidays, a feel-good story with a happily-ever-after that includes snow and hot chocolate and Christmas markets, I hope you'll pick up a copy of my latest book which released TODAY! WHILE WE WERE SHOPPING is a story about a woman who loves Christmas, and wants to bring the joy of the season to other people who are struggling--or at least who she thinks are struggling. A boss on the wrong side of the ocean. A coworker separated from his family. She's a woman on a mission because "Everyone should love Christmas, right?" 

You can buy it here

Happy Halloween (Books that go bump in the night)

I was that kid who scared her babysitters. They'd come over on Saturday night and I'd ask to watch Creature Features. I loved Dracula, and all the scary movies. Vincent Price, anyone? My babysitters did not appreciate my taste in television. Me? I wasn't so scared.


Bela Lugosi as Dracula

Fast forward about 10 years. A date took me to see Halloween at the movies. Good scary movie. Especially when, after the movie, we went to pick up his sister from work. "I'll go see if she's ready," he says to me (while creeping around the car and then jumping out at me on My side with a resounding BOO). Yes, I jumped. Yes, I was scared.

I also loved reading Stephen King novels. I might have started with The Shining, although I can't say for sure. 'Salems Lot, The Stand, Dreamcatcher, The Dead Zone. My son evidently inherited my appreciation for Stephen King. He's read more of the novels than I have.

After watching the movie, The Haunting, I was compelled to read the story, The Haunting of Hill House. Loved them both.

But the one book that actually did creep me out? The Amityville Horror. I couldn't be in the same room with that book when I finished it.

I've watched Night Gallery, One Step Beyond, Outer Limits--all of those scary shows--and rarely got scared. Except for that one time while I was babysitting...

What scary books stick with you?

Sometimers moments

There are days when my brain just seems to skip out on me, I get caught up looking at fall colors or watching an animal scurry around and the next thing I do is “disengaged.” I forget everyday things. Muscle memory tasks. These are what I refer to as “Sometimers moments.”

Recently, the Big Guy and I went to the grocery store.  Nothing unusual or out of the ordinary, but I daydreamed for the one mile it takes to get there. In the parking lot, I went to unbuckle my seatbelt.  But wait! Where’s the release? I reach down blindly and can’t find it. Feel around with my hand. LOOK for the release. Where’s the release?

The Big Guy looks over at me. “What are you doing?”

“I can’t release my seat belt.” And of course, once I say it out loud I realize my problem.

The release is on the other side.

And the Big Guy, in his infinite wisdom says, “ I’m worried about you...”

Me too, Big Guy. Me too.

On the left, on the left

Hallow-Thanks-Mas

I was in our local WalMart the other day and wouldn't you know they're already stocked for Christmas? And Halloween, and Thanksgiving. I'm one of those "one holiday at a time" kind of people.

With that being said, I've been working on a "Hallmark-type" story that I want to share for Christmas, so I suppose I've been skipping holidays myself. I'm pleased to announce the story is queued up and ready to go. More details in my next newsletter (are you subscribed?). There's a fun little reference in the story to marzipan pigs, which confection I saw at the Christkindlmarkt one year. Of course, they also had marzipan angels and reindeer, but pigs? Too fun to ignore. 

More in keeping with THIS holiday, while I've been out and about I've seen numerous decorations for Halloween, which I have been documenting on my Instagram page (do you follow me there?) I went to the doctor's office last week to get my flu shot and even THEY were decorated, including "Welcome My Pretties" and "Laboratory" signs on their lab. They also had a witch's hat and shawl positioned over one of the chairs.

Which (witch?) reminds me, my new novel will be coming soon! {wink wink}

Write What You Know

One of the things you hear most often when asked for writing advice is "write what you know." But what does that mean exactly?

Expertise
I've covered this topic in the past, and writing what you know doesn't mean that if you're a grocery store clerk, you have to write a story about a grocery clerk. However, since that is one person's experience, I'm sure there are a thousand stories a grocery clerk could share. Examples of this line of thinking are John Grisham - a lawyer writing legal thrillers. The law is his area of expertise, and he's able to weave exciting stories based on that.

Personal knowledge/trivia
Let's take this to the next step. Are you a history buff? Maybe there's a moment in history that would make for a great story, using that history as a backdrop. Do you know baseball inside and out? A story based on baseball, or a baseball fanatic applies to "write what you know."

What you read/what you love to read
Then there's the concept of "write the book you'd love to read." If you read sci-fi, you're more prone to think along those lines, to be familiar with the rules for the genre, which means writing in that genre.

What NOT to do
There are folks who think this gig is easy, that "anyone" could write a certain type of book. Romance gets targeted most often. "Anyone can write that drivel." Guess what? Not as easy as it seems. Case in point (one author's experience). "I have the background to write xxx. I know the subject matter. I want to write a story like that." All well and good, and falls into "write what you know." But you also need to know the market and the genre. If you don't, even if you *think* you know what you're writing about, it will fall flat.

For my part, I read a lot of historical novels. Love them. Can I write one? Not to save my soul. Not even going to attempt it. I hated history when I was in school and I didn't do well in it. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate those authors who are steeped in it, know the ins and outs and can write it flawlessly. I've heard author friends complain about the details that "neophyte" authors make when they start out, how they "think" they know the subject matter but end up getting the historical details woefully wrong. Let's take this one step further. In a world that has evolved through the course of history, romance readers don't want to read about oppressed women. They want to read about women who conquer the stigma associated with being "the weaker sex" or "the fairer sex." How does a historical romance author stick to accuracy in a history steeped with oppression and still appeal to their readership? I'm here to tell you, some of them have done this flawlessly, while others have tried and failed.

But I digress.

I've recently made a foray into "I could write for that market." Guess what? I couldn't. I was fully in "write what you know" territory, but missing some of the fundamentals. So for me, I'm sticking with my niche. *This* is what I write. *This* is my voice. Forcing it is not only uncomfortable, it doesn't work.

Romance anyone? With a side of supernatural? And don't forget the suspense.

GMC deconstructed

The most important part of writing is giving characters goals, motivation and conflict. That's what attracts the readers. Susie wants X. What motivates her to get it? What gets in her way?

Except it isn't as simple as that.

Quite often, when I start out a new novel, I set my characters GMC. It's perfectly clear to me, I mean we all have goals in our lives, right?  And motivation? For a lot of us, the motivation is a mortgage payment, or mouths to feed. But is that enough for a storybook character?

At my very first writing conference, I went to a session with a conflict grid, but I only saw that as conflict (silly me) and while I found it very thought provoking and helpful, I missed the more important aspects. I got it, I understood it, but did I really?

The thing the character wants is best presented as diametrically opposed to the way it works out. Something stands in her way, and here's the important question that often gets overlooked.

Susie wants X. What happens if she doesn't get it? The audience needs a reason to get behind Susie's goals, to root her on. This goes to her motivation. She HAS to succeed, or else. I mean, we all want to succeed, right? But what are the stakes?

Conflict? Add a few speed bumps. Anything that can go wrong will. Just when she thinks she's succeeded, something gets in her way. Trouble is interesting. People don't talk about all the things that are going right in their lives, they talk about what's going wrong.

Here's a classic example of GMC. Merida wants her mother to change, for her mother to understand who Merida is without forcing her into who they want her to be. She's being forced into a marriage she doesn't want, so she seeks out a witch's help. The witch offers her a spell, and her mother does change - into A BEAR! While that's bad enough, the one thing her father HATES is bears. So when Mom comes home all furry and growly, Dad is going to shoot that bear dead! Wait! This isn't what Merida had in mind! She can't tell anyone what she's done, and she can't let her father shoot her mother, thinking she's actually a bear. How does she fix this? Sound familiar? I thought it was the perfect example of GMC and conflict.

With that in mind, I'm off to think about the next book while I wait for my editor on the current one.

What stands between you and your goal?

Newsletter Contest Winners

Happy October!

I ran a contest for my newsletter subscribers, and 

sent notifications to the winners via email this morning!

Here are the lucky winners. 
Each of them will be getting a copy of my new audiobook!

Lynda O.

Alfreda

Michelle F.

Dorothy B.

and "BookLady"

Check your email, ladies!

Didn’t win? You can still get your copy here 

Writing is hard work

I finished the latest draft of my next novel! Yay! and I'm setting it aside to percolate before I go at it one more time. While I'm gathering some distance, I picked up my Christmas story to see that it's in good shape and I discovered a time warp.

I want to sit back and cry.

I shopped the Christmas story in March, and when the rejections came in, I moved on, figuring I'd share it with my newsletter subscribers as a bonus. Well, now I can see more clearly why it was rejected! I'd been working on a very tight deadline and rushed it through. This is what distance does from the works in progress. Gives you a fresh perspective to catch what you missed on the first go round. Like a major time warp.

Whattya gonna do about it Karla?

This is when I, as the author, have to kick myself in the pants, pick myself up, dust myself off, and put my nose to the grindstone. There is work to be done here, and I need to get at it! Crying isn't going to solve anything. "There's no crying in baseball!" (okay, so this isn't baseball, but the same principle applies.)

The market I'd originally targeted wanted a higher word count than I'd written. What I ended up with was a novella. I've made the corrections, and now I'm wondering if I can't hit that word count with a few more revisions. I did leave an open thread...

In the meantime, I've been chatting with my editor and the schedule could potentially slide into next year for the new release. I'd really hoped to be able to share the new book with you before then, but these things can't be rushed, I suppose. My editor (bless her heart!) says she's anxious to read it and is diligently trying to get to it sooner rather than later (the benefits of a good working relationship with your editor!). In the meantime, I'm diligently sitting at my computer, creating new worlds, writing new words, developing new characters. I may be behind, but I'm still in the race!

Where did you get your love of reading?

I’ve been thinking a lot about my mom lately. She was the one who read to me, who handed me my first Victoria Holt novel. From there, I spent hours in the library.

Before that, my godfather used to send my sisters and me records that contained everything from classical music to folks tales to showtunes. One of my favorites was Danny Kaye's Tales From Faraway Lands. "Oo-wunga-lame-a" (what's the name of the tree!). Another of my favorites was Victor Borge reciting Hans Christian Andersen while he played background music on the piano. I used to listen to those records for hours, especially when I was home sick and couldn't do anything else. I spent so much time listening, in fact, that my sisters and I could ALL tell you the name of the tree.

As I've gotten older, I have a hard time concentrating on listening, or maybe audiobooks are longer than short little fairy/folk tales. With that being said, I know there are lots of people who like to listen to books, and for that reason, I have broken into the audiobook market. I'm very excited to announce that COOKIE THERAPY is now available on audio! While I was hesitant at first, the fabulous Vicki Pierce did an excellent job narrating it, and I've fallen in love with the story all over again!

If you love audiobooks, and if you love a great story, I hope you'll give it a listen!

Audible | iTunes

When Life Hits the Pause Button

Just when you think you have everything figured out...

The good news: The audio book for COOKIE THERAPY is completed and in the final production phases. If you haven't signed up for my newsletter, now's a good time! I'll be sending out news as soon as it's available, along with fun exclusively for subscribers.

The other good news: The Big Guy is still working on clearing out his infection, and it seems to be getting better. We're making daily trips to the procedure clinic so they can continue to shoot him full of antibiotics. Hopefully he can put this behind him early next week (trust me when I tell you he's had enough fun).

The not so good news: I haven't had dedicated writing time. However, with the first draft completed, I'm mainly working on making sure it all makes sense and adding in missing details, etc. I'm one of those backward writers (any other ones out there?) who writes a sparse first draft and goes back to fill in the missing stuff later. Most authors I know write too much detail on their first draft and end up cutting copious amounts of words. What can I say? I've always done things a little differently. I HAVE been spending time with the story, and while I'd love to tell you all about it, because my thoughts are scattered all about these days, I'd hate to tell you one thing and have it end up to be something altogether different! Still wondering what the title will be, and I may post something over at my Facebook page for your input once I get some ideas to toss around.

My "to do" list is being addressed. With things settling down just a little bit, I'm concentrating on getting this new book ready for editing.

Back in the groove next week (or so I hope!). Keep on reading!

Have a cookie...

The last week has been an interesting one. The Big Guy developed an infection and ultimately ended up in the hospital to get antibiotics mainlined. Have a cookie, it'll make everything better.

Needless to say, writing has been difficult. I'm about two thirds through the rewrites on the new book, and in the absence of writing, I've been listening to the audio files for the audio book each morning before I run to the hospital to keep my honey company. Have a cookie, it'll make you feel better.

As you may know, I'm a cookie-holic, which attribute I gave to the main character in COOKIE THERAPY. When life throws you a curve ball, have a cookie. Fortunately for me, that's the only attribute I share with Elizabeth Lambert in COOKIE THERAPY! (Oh, wait, except for my talent for tripping on air...)

As I've been listening to the audio book files, I've been struck with the familiar, "I wrote that??" feeling. Yes, I know I wrote that, and it's one of my prouder moments. Nope, I don't need a cookie. I AM trying to kick my addiction, after all.

I've listened to the whole audio book now, brilliantly narrated by Vicki Pierce. She has two last, very minor, changes to make and the production process will be complete. I'm pretty excited! A bright spot in a week of crazy, and then I have to try to concentrate enough to create more magic with the new book (and there's a deliberate pun in that line, which you'll understand when you read the new story!).

I think I'll have to have a cookie to celebrate! It might be an addiction, but sometimes we deserve to treat ourselves, after all.

Watch for my newsletter, which will go out as soon as the production process is complete and the audio book is available. If you can't wait for the audiobook, you can always buy the paperback or ebook!

Buy it here!

Chasing Butterflies

Here, I thought I'd have SO MUCH free time on my hands, and that isn't the case.

In the past month, we've had lots going on, and I figured this week was going to be a "what do I do now?" week. Funny how things keep showing up on my calendar. And if that isn't enough, the chapters for the audio book are populating for me to approve, and I'm caught up in listening to COOKIE THERAPY all over again. Still one of my favorites! (although all my books are my favorites, but I do have a soft spot for this one...) Hopefully, I can make an announcement next week, and if you're a newsletter subscriber, watch your inbox for news!

LEGO exhibit, Morton Arboretum 

Then, there’s the matter of the book I'm currently working on. Having decided to steer back into my lane, I have work to do on that one, but with guests and audio and whatnot, I've been distracted. And then a friend suggested a movie/book to watch/read for ideas. So I've been reading. I've already got my groundwork laid, however, and although I'm enjoying the "reference" book, I tend to take a more subtle approach in my writing. It is, however, sparking my creative processes. Now, I just need to apply myself to the story I'm writing! Instead, I'm chasing butterflies. With all the distractions, every time I go to open my file and start in, something else pops up to distract me. Fortunately for me, I'm not on a deadline. Yet.

Digging my heels in, preparing the new book for you, but the audio book will release first. Can't wait for you to hear it!

Write what you know

Every author is hammered with the concept of "write what you know." What exactly does that mean?

For years, I thought it meant don't write about topics you aren't familiar with. Welp, I threw that out the window with my very first book. I wrote about Pompeii without ever having visited Italy, much less the famous site, but I have to tell you I spent MANY weekends in the library reading and looking at travel brochures - even learning Italian. And I interviewed people who had been there, including one woman who said "you absolutely can NOT write about it without having seen it." This is where I tell you she was impressed with my research when she actually DID read the book I refused to not write.

Recently, this warning has taken on a new meaning for me. I’ve been toying in a new genre, something I’ve always wanted to try. This wasn’t my first attempt, but this felt like my best shot. What I learned: write what you know means more than writing about your areas of knowledge. It means writing in your own voice. Sticking with the way you are geared. The genuine you.

The genuine me knows what goes into the genre I wanted to cross into, was raised in such a way as to understand and embrace what I needed to write, but my inner voice, my genuine me, doesn't write that way. I can slap in the "this goes here and that goes there," but that doesn't make the story relate-able, it makes it forced, at least for me.

Having finished the first draft, I sent out some queries to shop agents in my new market. One of them pointed out to me that what I'd written would be a tough sell. As written, there isn't really a market for it, in the first place. Interesting. I didn't realize the genre was that restrictive! Then I had a friend who writes in that genre check me, and beyond the market issue, she pointed out genre issues. Can I fix it? Yes, but this is where I'm going back to write what you know.

I've read books in this new-to-my-writing genre and enjoyed them, but that isn't how I write. In this experience, write what you know translates to "write in your voice, the genuine you." Not as a doctor writing medical romances or as a lawyer writing a legal thriller, but those are great examples. I'm not a doctor. I wouldn't be good at writing a medical romance. I'm not a lawyer. I wouldn't do well with a legal thriller. I'm just me, a hopeful romantic who looks for rainbows and personal connections and sometimes likes to search out the ghosts hiding in the corners.

Where does that leave me? The good news is I can work on my first draft and steer it back into my lane. That also means more brainstorming as I consider which of those things that drive my writing I want to incorporate.

Beep beep! Lane change! Time to write what I know.

The In Between

I'm at the point again. In between projects.

I've finished the first draft my latest book and started shopping it. With that being said, there is still editing to do, but it's in the "resting" stage until I can go back to it with fresh eyes. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with the end result.

And then there's the audiobook. As my narrator, the talented Vicki Pierce sends me chapters of COOKIE THERAPY, I'm reminded how much I loved that story. I'm still struck with "I wrote that?" moments. I'm hoping to release the book next month - I'll keep you posted as production continues.

In the meantime, I'm "in between." Time to address those things I've let slide while my attention was focused elsewhere, and to get ready for friends who will be visiting next week. I'm still settling into a new routine and exploring the new things I want to add to my day that I didn't have time for before - there are so many!

What do you like to do with your free time? (beside read my books, of course...)

Being Good at What You Do

Now that I'm embarking on my writing career full time rather than part time, I stopped to consider some advice that I'd given out recently. Sometimes I'm pretty darn smart, doncha know? Someone asked me, "Do you think I can do this job?" and my response was, "If you believe you can, so will everybody else." It's the truth. Some folks might say that equates to fake it until you make it, which might be partially true, but in the end, you need to have the chops. And you need to KNOW you have the chops.

It's about time I applied that to my writing job. One of the hardest things we do as authors is promote ourselves. I mean, how arrogant are you when you tell someone you wrote a really good book? But wait a minute. I was expected to tell people what a great manager I was at the day job as part of my annual evaluation, so how is this different? And yet we second guess ourselves all the time. I know I can do this job!

One of my friends recently handed a book in to her editor and she's in the throes of writers' angst. What if her editor tells her it's awful? This is an author who has dozens of books to her credit, who has sold thousands of books. She is established. She has arrived. Maybe she's not a NYT Best Seller, but she writes really good books, and yet that writer's angst kicks in every time. Why? Because everyone's a critic (I'm NOT advocating withholding reviews with this remark!). With the hundreds of reviews we get on our books, which one is the one that sticks in our head? "That one review" where the reviewer criticized something that isn't even in the book! That one comment that says "eh, it wasn't for me." Those are the ones we take to heart. But you know what? My books aren't for everyone. That doesn't mean they aren't "really good books."

At a luncheon recently, I spoke to someone I don't see often who said she was excited for my next book. "Oh? You've read my books?" I ask. (see, I'm supposed to be telling people what a kickass author I am in the first place, not waiting for them to bring it up.) She tells me she got the first one as a gift from her book club, and she was hooked. Brilliant marketer that I am, what do I respond with? "Did you like them?" Well heck. If she didn't, she wouldn't have bought more, would she? (Thank you, Samantha! I'm really excited you like my books!) But this is something I need to do better.

With my attention now focused squarely on the writing, it's time I get out there and tell people I know what I'm doing without blushing and ducking and "aw shucks-ing." I'm good at my job. I've had lots of excellent reviews. I've done well in contests. With more time and attention to get in front of more people, I can show the rest of the world that I'm good at this job!

Buy it here

Wouldn't you know it? As I was writing this post, I received notification that THE TWINS (Epitaph 2) was Awarded Finalist in the Romance: General category of the 2019 American Fiction Awards! I must be doing something right!

If romantic suspense, or romance in general or ghosts aren't your thing, my next venture takes a step outside those boxes into what I consider women's fiction (or some might see as new adult) - its an inspirational novel that I'm pretty darn proud of (but I have to finish it!). A couple of my favorite romance authors have stepped out into women's fiction with varying degrees of success. One author has excelled at it, the other is still writing her trademark romance into her WF novels. Let's call it what it is ladies, and stick with what you do best. Part of me wonders if people will say the same of me (stick with what you do best), but this is a labor of love. Can't wait for you to read it and tell me what you think! Is it really good? Yes! Is it what you want from me? Well, that remains to be seen, and if it doesn't resonate with my audience, I can still be an excellent writer and go back to what my readers want from me. I have plenty of stories waiting to be written, in whichever genre people want to see from me. I hope you'll let me know which of my books you like best!

Turn the Page

I have been very preoccupied as of late. I've made a life decision, and as with any major decision, it comes with it's share of insecurities.

You know that feeling when everything seems to come together? When just the right amount of bad things happen, and they're counterbalanced with an equal amount of good things that all figure into a decision you've been contemplating? No? Not eloquent enough?

There are times I hear a higher power speaking to me, and this is one of them. The decision to leave my day job has been one I've entertained numerous times through the years. *Now* is that time. It's time to turn the page. I've faced life decisions before, some of them good decisions, some of them not so good, but even the not so good ones helped shape me into the person I am today.

I'm ready for this new chapter. I'm writing a book that's different from what I've done before, but something I've always wanted to do, and I'm expecting that once I've settled into a new routine, my muse will choose if this new book is just the beginning of the road leading a different direction, or a labor of love dedicated to the people who taught me how to make those life decisions (acknowledging the good and taking responsibility for the bad) who will forever be a part of my life's journey.

So congratulate me. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life.

Hotter Than Billy Blue Blazes

This has been an interesting year, from temperatures that dipped well below the freezing mark, to triple digit heat waves. Maybe I need to move to Santa Barbara, where the temps don't vary much from season to season.

I do enjoy the changing seasons. When you're freezing in the winter, you appreciate that in a couple of months you'll be hot. When the earth comes back to life in the Spring with brilliant shades of green and a spectrum of colors with flowering buds, you remember that in a couple of months everything will change colors, to flaming reds and golden yellows as leaves die and fall to the ground.

So now, while we are in those "hotter than billy blue blazes" days of summer, I'm hiding in the comfort of my air conditioned space writing, where I can breathe without gasping. Outside time is limited to early morning or late evening when the weather isn't quite so threatening.

Last weekend we took a trip up to visit One Young Son and his Lovely Bride and what do you know? We walked a nature trail in the summer heat. I'm not one to miss out on an adventure, no matter what the weather. Even though we chose the shaded trail, it was still hot. Folks waded in the stream and sat beside the small waterfall to cool off (You can see the waterfall here).

We have friends coming for a visit next month, and we have lots of outside adventures scheduled. Here's hoping the weather cooperates, but if it doesn't, well, I'm not one to miss out on an adventure (and I certainly don't want to disappoint my friends, either!).

How does the weather affect your plans? Or does it?

Feeling Pretty Proud of Myself

I've been getting back a chapter at a time of the upcoming audio book for COOKIE THERAPY. Listening to it has been like reading it all over again.

During the writing process, reading the same story every day, editing what you've written, anticipating where the story is going and then doing the final proofing and editing can be very wearing. When it's all said and done, I'll have read the same book MANY times and it stops being a story and becomes a "project" that needs to be finished. When that final proof/edit is completed and I send my baby out into the world, I rarely go back to re-read, unless I'm looking for something in particular. Upwards of ten times is plenty, thank you.

Buy it here.

Now I'm reading along with the narrator to make sure she hasn't missed something or that she hasn't read something incorrectly (nice to know that doesn't just happen in print!), and I'm discovering that I still love the story. After every chapter, I have a moment of, "Did I write that? That's pretty good!" I suppose this falls into the category or writing a book you'd like to read. I'd definitely buy this book! 😁 I'm feeling pretty darn proud of myself.

The audio book is contracted to be completed by September, but if my narrator keeps at it the way she has been, it could be sooner. I'm pretty excited, more than I thought I would be considering how long it took me to dive into this new-to-me medium.

I hope you'll all love it as much as I do! Can't wait to share it with you.

Using "real life" in fiction

Many of the things authors write about stem from real life experiences, to varying degrees. While it's certainly true we have vivid imaginations, inspiration starts somewhere.

Sometimes its a simple event. Today I learned my nephew is engaged to be married! (Congratulations, you two!) No, that probably won't creep up in my stories, but consider all the elaborate proposals you've seen on YouTube or elsewhere. As a romance author, I'm always looking for a fun proposal, although I doubt sincerely I'd take my characters to such great lengths.

Likewise, I've used work experiences. You've likely seen memes talking about not making the author angry because they'll write you into their novel and kill you off! Yes, I've done that. Exactly once.

Real life can also backfire on you. I had a friend while I was growing up who I had a not so pleasant relationship with. I often refer to her as my best worst friend. She was always there for me, but on the flip side, she also caused me no small amount of grief. While we haven't spoken for years, I did model a character after her, and people did not warm up to that character (for good reason). As an author, it's my job to rise above petty differences and irritating people. I have to take a closer look at why they are the way they are. Even antagonists have motivation. They are people, like everyone else, with experiences that shaped their lives. A good author will develop "sympathy for the devil." Which doesn't excuse his behavior, just helps people understand it a little better.

And here's a funny tidbit. Years ago, when I wrote the "reign of terror" at work into one of my novels, I took that person who we had all designated as evil and fashioned him after a famous person (artistic license) with questionable motives, someone who, at the time, I didn't know much about other than the profile fit. Today, that famous person is even more famous and those questionable motives are even MORE questionable, which makes me feel almost clairvoyant!

So yes, real life creeps into fiction, but it is usually distorted to fit the story rather than a recounting of actual events. A random odd phrase. An unexpected response. And yes, sometimes a way to release that inner turmoil.

When an Author Writes a Review

I was recently given several books to read/review, and was especially excited that these "random" books fell in my wheelhouse of favorite genres. I read the first book and was very excited for the opportunity, giving it high marks.

Then I read the second one. And another one. And another one. And my enthusiasm waned.

As an author, I want to get lost in the story. I don't want to get pulled out by odd phrasing or typos or "let's stop and describe everything I see before we jump into the action." Stopping to describe something does exactly that. It stops me from reading. Authors need to sneak that stuff in unobtrusively. Also, as an author, I tend to see things your average reader might not.

Hand in front of face, eyes closed, deep breath. Forget everything I know and enjoy the story. Sometimes this is easier said than done.

I recently read a period piece, something set in a foreign country where the characters use a ton of dialect, and I found it very distracting. You know who did that well? Diana Gabaldon. We heard Jaime's Scots dialect, but not everything he said was mired in Gaelic accent. I, myself, struggled with writing that very thing in my first book, Touched By The Sun, set it in Italy. As I go back to read it now, 20 years later, I roll my eyes at the goofy dialect, too (and I did try to correct some of that when I re-released it on its tenth birthday).

When asked to write a review, I try to focus on what an author does well and turn off my inner editor. I go back to check other reviews of the book to see what I missed or if I'm in the minority. As an example, I read a book several years ago about a woman's journey after she discovers her husband is cheating on her and her return to independence after being a wife and mother for twenty years. I thought the book was awful, unrealistic, overdetailed, lots of "bad" things. In short, I hated it pretty much from cover to cover. Aside from that, she used exclamation points so often you had the impression everything in the book was meant to make you gasp. I went back to read the reviews, and there were people who absolutely loved it. Lots of them. On the flip side, many readers saw the same flaws I did.

At the end of the day, reading is subjective, whether your eye is overly critical, as mine can be as an author, or if I am reading it without my inner editor. I've read some very successful novels that didn't resonate with me, and in those instances I will only review the parts I liked, or not review the book at all. Where there are clear points I can make that might help the author, I will add those, because we all grow and learn from our mistakes, but where it might just be me... I'm a minority of one. I can keep my "I didn't like this book" opinion to myself.

Why Authors Write

I've been feeling sad after finishing my last series. There I've said it. Or maybe it's fear of starting over. While I have a new story to write, a new direction, leaving old friends behind (the McCormicks and the Bensons) is sort of like going away to college. It isn't like I'll never see them again, is it?

But we all move on. Life moves on. There are new stories to be told. As an author, I begin to question if I have another story in me. The answer is always yes, and has been since I was something like five years old. The harder answer is will I write it?

Yes.

Why, you may ask? Because that's what authors do. These people live inside my head and they want out. Even when I'm struggling for the story, there's something exhilarating about creating something new. For musicians, it's a new song. For artists, it's a new painting or sculpture. For authors, it's a new story. Even when the ideas start out slow, even when you're still looking over your shoulder at the characters you leave behind, something ignites the fire inside of you and you can't wait to make new friends, learn new things.

The struggle part is often what makes the story that much more interesting. Reaching outside my comfort zone. Learning new things. Discovering those hidden traits inside my characters that they didn't know they possessed. Today's discovery? Making bath salts. Silly, huh? But it's something that has my character excited. She gets to spend time building a relationship and learning a new skill, and as the author learning along with her, I'm having just as much fun. Of course not everything is fun and games. Watch out for the conflict {duh, duh, duh!} But right now, I'm having a ball with the simple stuff, and trust me when I tell you this character has had their share of conflict! She deserves a simple pleasure to ease her mind.

So why do authors write? Because we have a story to tell. A word picture to share. A world to create and invite you into. Because it's in our DNA, and not writing isn't an option, even when we sometimes think we don't have one more word left.

Writer's Angst

I've been reading articles recently on "Imposter Syndrome." Essentially, it's a psychological condition that people in all walks of life stumble into, where even if they are doing an outstanding job, they feel like it's only a matter of time before someone discovers they're only faking it. From musicians to authors to people in so-called regular jobs, the advice is to get over it. We've earned our way. Proven ourselves. Not everything we do is going to be perfect, but we've shown we have the skills.

A recent rash of unfortunate reviews have plagued me and one of my fellow authors. For my part, because I had a disproportionate number of reviews relative to the number of books sold, I reached out to some professional review sites to give me a boost. Books without reviews don't qualify for promotion. The result of those solicitations? Oddball reviews (lesson learned). People pick the book up because they get a free copy, but it might not be something they'd normally go for, and then they penalize me because of it. Regardless of whether the review is warranted or not, the effect on an author can be demoralizing.

Writer's angst rears it's ugly head. Is this book a dud? Or did it reach the wrong audience? The points I got dinged on are the same things people liked in my other books, which makes me tend to dismiss the comments. Does that make me delusional? An imposter? Reviews and critiques are by their very nature designed to help me improve my craft. Do the comments reflect the changes we are undergoing as a society? Do I need to adjust? Evolve?

While all these thoughts are going through my head, I'm forging ahead on the next book, which is something completely different. I'm enjoying the ride so far, and in the vein of evolving, I think it covers a lot of bases that had me questioning societal changes while I was writing my last couple of books. Things like don't believe everything you hear. Get your facts before you form an opinion. And the evolution around the way men and women interact.

I recently re-read an old book, one I grew up with, and the premise for the romance had me cringing. That sort of thing would never work in today's world, and yet, when I was a teenager, it didn't faze me. The author did write some groundbreaking plots, but this one was just plain bad, something I didn't have the knowledge or experience to understand then, but which rings a very loud "NO" bell today. You don't fall in love with someone who goes out of their way to make you jealous in a very hurtful way and then justify it by saying if they hadn't have made you jealous, you wouldn't have realized you were in love with them. Nope. That's manipulation at its worst, and a very poor basis for a happily ever after. The world has changed considerably since I was a teenager. But I digress.

On behalf of myself and my author friends, I'm giving you all a gentle nudge to leave a review on the books you read. They are important to the author, even if you didn't like the book. Without them, we don't qualify for promotions for our books, and if our books don't warrant a good review, let us know. Otherwise, we can't write a better book next time.

The Trouble with Backstory

Inevitably, I get stuck whenever I start a new book trying to talk myself into a prologue. Why? I want to give you the character’s backstory. How did they get where they are? And inevitably, I end up trashing the prologue in favor of slipping small snippets of information throughout the story.

Info Dumping
It’s easy to want to introduce your characters right away, to tell everything you’ve learned about them, from how they grew up to who their best friend is to what made them the way they are. But readers these days do not want you to dump all that information in the first chapter. In fact, they don’t want you to dump that information at all. They prefer to be spoon fed little bites at a time. Nothing glazes over the eyes faster than wasting precious words that don’t move the story forward.

But wait? Isn’t backstory important? Absolutely! But filtered in. It’s seasoning, and you know what happens when the cook adds too much salt to the stew.

Backstory Serves a Purpose
As an author, sometimes it’s good to get that prologue written—and then moved to a different file. It helps me, as the author, get to know my character and ground myself in what makes them tick. I understand why my character acts the way she does because she has shared her life history with me. Conversely, the reader is more interested in the action, and less in the history. Save the history lesson for when it makes the most impact.

Example: “She hadn’t been through this part of Ohio since she was a kid.” END OF BACKSTORY. This gives the reader enough information to know the character has been to Ohio. But it might come into play later in the story, so the reader will tuck that tidbit of information away, so that when you go back to that and say something about Ohio, the reader can then feel smart when they connect the dots. “Oh yeah, she was there when she was a kid.” And that return to Ohio should be something that moves the story forward, and the character’s previous experience, something that colors her view.

In the prologue version of this information, I might start writing, “She grew up in Ohio,” and go on to detail the whole experience which left a mark on her. It’s good for me to know as the author, but the reader doesn’t necessarily care about her past until it makes a difference to her story TODAY, the “why is she acting that way?” response to an everyday occurrence.

Backstory is important. Everything we do impacts how we respond to different stimuli and different situations. A good story starts with the stimuli and the potentially over-the-top response. Or the conditioned response. This raises questions to the reader about why the character acts the way they do, and then a dribble of information helps them to understand until, over the course of the story, the character is able to overcome whatever makes them respond differently. To grow beyond their own backstory.

Listening to books

I have been late getting to the audiobook party, largely because I don't listen to books. I don't have the attention span. Listening often puts me to sleep, especially when trying to listen for extended periods of time.

I've tried listening to audiobooks in the past - books that I loved and have read more than once. I couldn't make it through to the end. In fact, an hour was pushing it. The eyes droop, the brain disengages, and it becomes a voice saying "something, somewhere." Recently, my son recommended a podcast to me. It generally runs 40 minutes or less, and I've made it through those fairly well without falling asleep, but they're also smaller chunks.

With all that being said, many people I've spoken to like audiobooks. They pop them in when they're traveling, or listen while they're doing something else. Multitasking. I've asked the question before - if my readers listen - and have gotten mixed replies. Am I a dinosaur for resisting? For not expanding into a market? For not serving those listener readers?

While I have this "bonus time" at home, I'm considering this option more seriously. My husband thinks I should record them myself, a massive undertaking, but something worth pursuing should I flip that switch to full-time author.

Which of my books do you wish was on audio to listen to?

Recuperation Period

Yes, I survived. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to send me love and good wishes. Yes, I have a wonderful husband who is taking good care of me, but it's nice to know other people are out there, too. Someone once said they didn't feel they needed to check on me because The Big Guy was there, and he is, but does that mean he's the only one who cares about me? It's nice to hear from EVERYONE, to feel the love and support. Did I mention the basket of cookies I got? The perfect gift for a cookie monster.

A week out of surgery, I figured it was time to start thinking about the new story again. My head is clearing, I'm moving around again, I'm getting antsy.

I'd planned to get some serious writing done while I'm on leave, and while I'd made a couple of attempts at Chapter 1, I'm envisioning something different. The direction I've started isn't bad, but it's missing critical elements, like where is this story going? What are my characters' goals?

To get into the mood, I'm listening to a podcast my son recommended to me. It's sort of like listening to Mystery Theater, a radio show I listened to when I was a kid. I also read a book by Victoria Holt to get me into the mood, and I discovered I picked a lemon. I always knew I didn't like her Australia books, but this one was badly outdated and did NOT withstand the test of time. I wanted to slap both of the main characters for acting so poorly and playing mind games with one another. As I look at my TBR pile, I've been trying to decide if I make a dent in that or re-read a Susan Elizabeth Phillips that paid homage to the Gothic authors we grew up with. I still have a hankering to write something like that, but as I've learned, the stories will be what they will be. All of this amounts to ways to kill time rather than put words on the page, and I'm anxious to write!

In case I don't make it out alive...

By the time you read this, I'll have survived (or not) my second hip replacement surgery. The risk is low, and I had no qualms the first time. The first time, while they told me all the things I'd never be able to do again, I weighed it against all the things I couldn't do "now." Three years later, I have my life back! I am doing many of the things I couldn't do before that surgery, even if it means I can't run or play tennis or ski ever again. I don't feel 100 years old. I can actually move, ambulate, walk -- all without pain. "Before," people would talk about how they didn't feel their age, how it was just a number, and didn't I feel that way? With the hip in the condition it was in, I felt every bit my age, and older. I no longer feel that way, thanks to the miracles of science. So why am I worried about Hip #2?

When I had children, the first child was a miracle from start to finish. Every moment of pregnancy a wonder. I was looking forward to the delivery, even if I knew it was going to be scary and painful and whatever. It was a new experience to be savored. And then I got pregnant the second time. While it was every bit the same miracle, I began to worry about what could go wrong. Why? Beats me! Everything had gone well the first time - for the most part. I had no reason to think the second pregnancy would be any different, but there were differences (every pregnancy is different, just like every child is different). In the end, the labor and delivery was actually easier, but for whatever reason, I was much more worried the second time around. Shouldn't experience make you less worried? Maybe because the novelty is gone you don't look at the "wows," you look at the "what ifs."

I'm in that same boat now. They're doing the surgery differently this time around. It's supposed to be easier, recovery is supposed to be faster. Less painful. Fewer restrictions. So why am I worried? If it was harder last time and I came out like a champ, shouldn't I be excited that it will be easier this time? Maybe I'm hearing my father's voice saying "she could die!" Maybe I read too many articles presurgery about how there's a risk of nicking the femoral artery. My doctor is a pro. He's done this a million times. He's well respected. He knows what he's doing. So even though I'm writing this before the fact, I'm confident I'll be back to blog for you in another week.

Probably.

Post Script: I survived.

Charming Chimneys

This past weekend I took a tour of one of President Roosevelt's "New Deal" towns. Back in the 1930's when the "boys" were returning from war, the United States wanted to ease their transition by giving them affordable housing to come home to, along with jobs. Enter Eleanor Roosevelt and her three "Green" towns, one of which was in Wisconsin.

Essentially, the returning vets could apply for housing in these towns based on their income and rent the houses from the government. The government also provided a base of stores and services to get things rolling, and within two years, the vets were able to buy the houses and take over the businesses.

The town I toured still resembles the town it once was, and the people who grew up there stayed. The town is close to a big city, close to an airport, and yet it is insulated from the rest of the world.

There's a statue of Norman Rockwell, painting on the village square. A fountain dedicated to Eleanor Roosevelt, and other statues/monuments throughout this family-centric town.

Because the original housing is now 80 years old, there is some maintenance that needs to be done, although the construction was designed to last - and it has. With changing times, some modifications were necessary. For instance, most homes are no longer fueled by coal. Chimneys are no longer used, which causes moisture to creep in and decay the structure. Enter one of the townspeople, a mason, who not only repaired the chimneys, he wanted to hide the "knot" his repairs caused with an artistic touch so he covered the knot with artwork. These chimney decorations add to the charm of the town.

Hooray for... Arrowood?

Luck of the Irish

As you wander the streets - and they're all connected with walking paths, many of the roads don't go through to minimize the through traffic - if you look up, you'll see examples of what makes this town unique. It is holding on to its history, while maintaining its civic pride. Here are just a few.

Berry Ct.

The hand of God

Police - represent!

...And the firemen

Getting to Know You - Characterization

While I've made a running start on the new book, I haven't laid any groundwork ahead of time. My process is not always the most efficient way to dive into a project.

Many times when I start a new book, I have the basic premise, an idea of who the main players are, and a general direction to start out. Like driving to the next state without a road map until I hit the unfamiliar roads. I've traveled that direction before, so I know how to get there. Sort of. Some times you can fake your way, and sometimes you need directions. I'm not afraid to stop and ask where I am.

Sometimes it takes several chapters before I know my characters, so this method of starting out without the map isn't always a bad thing. It gives me "driving time" with them so I get to know them first, but eventually, I have to stop for a cup of coffee at the diner along the way to find out what makes them tick. Before we go any further, I need a road map. Goals. Motivation. Conflict. Why they act the way they do. Who they are deep down? Why are they on this journey? Where are we headed? Me? I'm just the Uber driver.

Because my writing time has been restricted so far this year, I only have the basics down. I know what drives my main character, I know her inner conflict. I have a basic grasp of the story. I have some peripheral characters, but I need to know more. Who is the antagonist? What are they going to do to get in her way? What is her journey in this story? I've reached the coffee shop on our trip and it's time to sit down with her and find out about her family and friends, about what her destination is and why she's going there. Then I need to spot the roadblocks along the way that she isn't expecting (that's my job as the driver). I also need to chat with the other characters to find out what role they'll be playing in our journey. Like the antagonist. What is he/she after and why does he/she think my main character is in the way? And then there's the whole concept of theme and genre. Is this going to be romantic suspense? Women's fiction? Mystery? I'm working to expand my brand with this one, and potentially lay the groundwork for a new series.

So I'm going to take a few minutes, sit down over a cup of coffee and talk to my character. Find out more about her. Get to know her. She's my pivot point, and she'll tell me where I need to drive. That's the exciting part about being a virtual Uber driver. Each passenger takes you to different places, and half the fun is getting to know them.

Slow Release

Slow release is a new-to-me term with the arrival of a multi-cooker in my house. Reference: InstantPot or a Ninja Foodi.

R2D2

The final day job deadline was yesterday, and after three months in the pressure cooker, we are now on "slow release." Essentially, instead of people peppering us with work and unreasonable demands, now we go into a steady stream of work, but my team is now running for the hills, taking time off. Decompressing. The work is still there, so those who aren't running immediately will still have to deal with lots to do and less people to do it. Slow release.

With the end of deadline season and fewer very long days, I'm hoping to reclaim some of those hours for myself and my writing. Yes, I have time off scheduled (recuperative, in more ways than one) for 4-6 weeks where I can dedicate myself solely to making up stories once again.

To my team at work - way to go handling very intense deadlines this year. To my readers - I've got some new stuff coming, including a "sweet" holiday romance that I'm shopping.

While I'm redirecting my focus, I'd love to hear from you. What would you like to read more of? In this world we live in, are you finding yourself looking for a different kind of story? Tropes you like better than others? Things you used to like that suddenly feel off? I'd love to hear from you!

Genre Books

What kind of books do you read? What kind of books should I write?

I've seen many of my favorite romance authors jumping into "Women's Fiction," and I have to say I'm not happy about it. They are excellent authors, so generally speaking, whatever they write is wonderful, but as a reader, I'm looking for what brought me to them in the first place. No, I haven't given up on them, and yes, I read across genres all the time, but it poses some interesting questions.

As I've been developing my new series, I've considered if I should tap a different artery. I've always loved reading Gothic novels, so I've been spending time looking into the elements that make up such a story. Also trying to decide if I should write one book - stand alone - instead of mapping out a series, while leaving my options open.

Most Gothic stories--romances, usually--are historical. Victoria Holt, for example. A few years ago, Susan Elizabeth Phillips wrote a wonderful homage to the great Gothic novelists we grew up with in a contemporary setting. Essentially, you need something a little bit creepy, someone in danger, and a haunting setting. Sounds like a neighboring alley to what I write.

Haunting setting? I had decided on my next setting many books ago, a very "charm"-ing place. Haunted/haunting? I've heard the place described as Pleasantville. Is that going to be a problem, I ask myself? Yeah, it could be. The setting is a step back in time, where today and yesteryear come together. I don't know if I want to add a sinister element to Pleasantville, and yet look what Stephen King did with the Quabbin reservoir in Massachusetts. What Dan Brown did with the Basilica's cistern in Istanbul. They aren't Gothic authors, but you get the idea.

I'm doing my research, to the extent I can while still on deadline with the day job, and preparing for a mad flurry of writing next week when my life switches gears once again, including a tour of "Pleasantville" and its charms.

Yes, I've started the story, but it's slow going while the balance in my life is weighted against writing time. Can't wait to set loose the reins of my imagination! As the final deadline draws close, the anticipation of immersing myself into this new world is like counting down the days to vacation. That's me, bouncing in my seat. I can hardly wait!