I'm busy getting HORNED OWL HOLLOW ready for the editor. The projected release date is February 21. In the meantime, you can catch up on some of my other books at discounted prices for a limited time.
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And in AudioFamily Alchemy and Breaking the Moldare discounted for the first quarter of 2023. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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We've had yet another year filled with uncertainty and catastrophe of epic proportions. I watch the news and see millions of people who were stranded over Christmas at airports due to the crazy storm that crossed the country. For days! It's like one of those rom-coms gone wrong. I did, however, see an article about a group of strangers who rented a car together to get to their destination - a la Planes, Trains and Automobiles. That sort of thing shows that people CAN and WILL work together when they need to, and gives me hope for the upcoming year.
As I look forward to the new year, I'm excited about my new release coming in February. I'm looking forward to grandbaby #5 and wish my son and his wife all the happiness they deserve. I'm looking forward to a trip to Spain to celebrate my niece's wedding.
My New Year's resolution is to look for the joy and let go of the disappointment. Celebrate my blessings and look for ways to shine light on those who need it.
Sharing hope for a bright, shiny new year to you all.
There are a bunch of holidays crammed into December! To celebrate, I'd like to offer my readers a gift.
I'm one of those silly, sappy people who watches Hallmark movies. You know what? I agree with those people who condemn them as all the same, and even my husband can now point out "the black moment," in all of them, which is pretty much the same overused cliche in most of them. It generally stems from a misunderstanding that is easily resolved. (I can hear you saying, "why don't they just talk to each other," Terry!) Some of the movies have irrational responses to force this moment, which irritates the life out of me, but overall, they are "feel good" movies that you know will result in a happy ending. Light. Fluffy. Hope in a dark world.
A couple of years ago, I set out to write my own "Hallmark" movie, which is how I got my dear husband to watch them with me. Researching the genre. The funny part was when I told him we didn't have to watch anymore, he still wanted to. I should add the disclaimer here that he is not a fan of the old standards (like Its a Wonderful Life, and White Christmas, and Christmas in Connecticut - "black and white movies? Who watches those?"). He figures watching the Hallmark movies saves him from suffering through the oldie moldies. I have to watch those on my own or with a friend (ready, Bobbi?).
Did I mention a gift at the beginning of this post? I DID! And in honor of the holidays, whichever one you celebrate, I'd like to share the e-book version of my "Hallmark movie" book, While We Were Shopping, with you. After you've read it, I hope you pop over to Goodreads and let me know how you liked it!
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| Click here to download your copy |
Here's the eagerly anticipated first look at my new book! What do you think?
Antiques dealer Elle Barclay is called to the Horned Owl
Hollow mansion to evaluate an antique figurine collection. What should have
been a simple assessment of the collection’s value takes an unexpected turn when Elle
learns the house is haunted. Residual energy taps into Elle’s sensitivity telling her to protect the estate for Martin.
Martin who?
A violent pop-up storm engulfs the estate and brings a sailor
to the front door seeking shelter—a man claiming to be Martin Foster, the heir
to Horned Owl Hollow who was lost in the Bermuda Triangle a hundred years ago.
Suddenly, the current owner of
Horned Owl Hollow is speaking in a voice not his own—an angry spirit
determined to see his wishes carried out. Other souls who perished in the house
return to reveal the mansion’s dark history of treachery and greed dating back
to the Prohibition Era.
Today's post is back to the ankle saga.
I don't think my ankle got the memo.
Sunday morning, my ankle was swollen and sore again, so I iced it and put the boot back on. Monday, I went to the physical therapist who cleared me to stay in the brace but to quit “overdoing it.”
You know what? If housework is overdoing it, I’m happy to hand that over to DH. I’m fortunate in that he is willing to do his part. In the meantime, the new book is close to finished - I'm spit polishing it for the editor. The cover is in production and I should be able to share that with you soon.
Newsletter goes out tomorrow, along with a contest. Are you signed up?
After finishing the first draft, I started in on making HORNED OWL HOLLOW readable. And ran into something startling.
They say when you don’t know what to write, just write. The words will come to you. I agree with that sentiment for the most part, and oftentimes that means I’m writing “notes” such as “…and then this happens, and then that happens.” Get the ideas down even if they aren’t proper prose. The theory is that even if you write garbage, you can always clean it up later.
As I was reviewing and “cleaning the mess” that is the second draft, I confused myself. Wait. That doesn’t make sense. How can “that” happen before “this” happens? And here’s the thing. I know what needs to happen in the story, but I got it in the wrong sequence. The good news? The story is there, it just needs to be fixed.
Write. Even when you don’t know what to write. You can clean it up later.
This week, I’m cleaning up. This is the first time I’ve made such a tangle of threads in a book, but hey, I like a puzzle. I’m moving chapters around, identifying which threads got lost in the tangle, and cutting those threads that don’t belong in the mess.
Happy Thanksgiving! I’m thankful to all of you who have been on this writing journey with me. Without you, there would be no road to travel.
