...and Happy New Year

First - advance notice that there will be a newsletter going out next week. If you haven't signed up, you can do so here. 

Second - if you want to be ahead of the crowd and get an advanced reading copy of BREAKING THE MOLD, you can do that by signing up for the newsletter, or by updating your newsletter preferences to include "ARC reader." 

Third - I guess it's time to get to this week's blog post!

While I've been taking a holiday break from writing, ideas continue to bombard me. "I could write a book about this!" "Oh, wait! This would make a great story!" etc. Which goes to prove authors never really stop writing - if you include the writing they do in their heads. This creates problems for when I actually do sit my butt down in front of a keyboard to type actual words into a story. This author's life goes something like this:

That article I read about the man who goes to the psychic was really cool! He's learned how to be skeptical, as much as he wants to believe in them. Like me, he has grown up enjoying stories like that in books he's read, or TV shows. So when he stumbles on a "real" psychic as part of a job assignment, he's more or less blown away. Makes me think of Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost. Think of all the story angles I could explore with this! Should I make an appointment to see a psychic for my own personal edification? 

Oh! That might make a great series! Suddenly Psychic. Random events out of the ordinary that happen to people that they can't believe. Remember watching Night Gallery? And The Sixth Sense? (the TV series, not the movie). And then there was the Twilight Zone, but that was maybe less about mental perception... Time to binge some television shows.

(A book shows up in a newsletter, or maybe it was an ad somewhere.) A gargoyle? That morphs into a human? With wings? That's kinda cool! I could write a gargoyle. The Bodyguard. Kudos to the author an attention-grabbing passage that totally sucked me in. 

(A Christmas book ad shows up somewhere.) Oh! I have a great idea for another Christmas book! Maybe I should write that instead! Or in addition to. No, I really should focus on the new series, but a Christmas book! Squirrel! How fun would that be? Except Christmas romances are usually on the "sweet" side, and the idea might take me into something steamier. I could make it a male Cinderella type story. Yeah. That would work...

I really need to start writing. Start trapping those squirrels one at a time. A New Year's Resolution? 

Wishing you all health and peace in a Happy New Year.

Merry Christmas

It’s all over but the shouting, or so the saying goes.

Because I’m between books, I’ve been taking some quiet time to relax and enjoy. At my house, the “shouting” is over, although today I’m going to try one more time to visit Christkindlemarket with the Big Guy, and I have a classic Christmas movie watching date with my good friend. You know. The old black and white movies. So maybe a little shouting left.

Merry Christmas to you, people of my blog.

A Christmas present to myself

I'm done with BREAKING THE MOLD. It's available for preorder in ebook and paperback, and the audio is in production. The "on sale" date is February 1, 2022. Who else is looking forward to this one?

With that project behind me, it's time to move ahead. I have a fresh idea that I'm working on with and I just read a blurb from someone else that has sparked even more ideas for my next series. I'm anticipating a Night Gallery binge somewhere over the next couple of weeks for more inspiration.

Did you know LIVING CANVAS was inspired by a Night Gallery episode? One with Roddy McDowell where he saw his dead uncle rising from the graveyard in a painting to come knocking on the door (clearly, that didn't happen in MY book, but the visual stuck with me). Another episode that I always remember was washing a spider down the drain. If you didn't see that one, suffice it to say the spider didn't STAY in the drain.

Along this same vein, my condolences go out to Christopher Rice at the loss of his mother, Anne. The Vampire Lestat books were among my favorite vampire books, and her Mayfair Witches inspired me to visit New Orleans. Her settings were rich in detail, and while I didn't always appreciate her cliffhanger endings, I liked the stories enough to keep reading her books. She will be missed.

I may be a little quiet over the next couple of weeks while we celebrate the holidays, but I'm looking forward to new energy at the start of 2022, which I intend to share with you!

Make an author’s Christmas and buy their books. It’s the best present you can give them, appreciation for their months of hard work. I try to keep mine reasonably priced so I don't break your budget! 

For more information,
or to preorder, click here!

Christmas Carols

I find it ironic that one of my favorite Christmas songs is also written by the composer of Carol of the Drum (Little Drummer Boy). Why ironic, you ask? Because I'm not a big fan of the Little Drummer Boy. I do, however, LOVE the rendition by for King & Country.

Katherine K. Davis also composed a lesser-known carol called As It Fell Upon A Night. In all the years since I sang it in choir in grade school, I've struggled to find it recorded anywhere. So off I go down the YouTube rabbit hole to share it with you.

And one more - this is the one my kids will tell you is my favorite. Gloria (Angels We Have Heard on High) is a "bouncy, happy song" that has me directing the orchestra. I used it as a threat to "Gloria" them out of bed and off to school in December when Christmas break didn't come soon enough. 

Do you have a favorite Christmas carol? Hanukkah song? Seasonal music?

The Joy of … Writing

A memory popped up on my FB page which reminded me how much I love writing, even when books don't go to plan. My editor often sends me the random comment or things like this this (I knew I liked her for a reason). When she sent me this, I'd told I was planning to title Epitaph 7 THE GARDEN and she said this popped into her head. (The story isn't anything like this fabulous So You Think You Can Dance routine, but it is fun to watch!)

Being an author can be a thankless job. These movies - they play out in my head and I don't seem to have a choice but to put them on paper - virtual or otherwise. Sometimes, it's an exercise to clear my head and sometimes I feel like I'm creating magic. Word Alchemy. For all the days I have writer's angst or imposter syndrome, there are times when I finish a project and read what I wrote and am shocked to have been able to create something I can be proud of. Something I enjoy reading. Rediscovering this memory made me smile and reminded me how much fun I had writing the Epitaph series.

I'm starting a new series, which makes me stop to wonder if I'm off the mark with my ideas (an inevitable part of being an author). Will other people be interested in my ideas? When I started the EPITAPH series, I met with an editor for a publisher I was trying to work with who loved the idea, loved the writing, loved the story. She got me all the way to the acquisition meeting before the powers that be told me ghosts wouldn't sell, that vampires were hot. As much as I've enjoyed vampire stories (the original Dracula is still one of my favorite books), that wasn't my sweet spot. I'd reached the end of the road with that publisher. Several years and seven ghost books later, I have no regrets sticking to my vision. 

So what's next? I've returned to the beginning. On my very first web page, I posed the question, "Imagine if you will..." (NOT an actual Rod Serling quote, although it's often attributed to him) "...a world of possibilities. Déjà vu. That dream you had last night is suddenly playing out during your waking hours. Have you ever had a moment when you were struck by the feeling there was more to what you see? Hearing a voice that you recognize, but you’ve never met that person. Seeing a shadow that no one else does, something just out of line of sight and you just know who/what it is."

The new series I'm envisioning is called "Suddenly Psychic," in which the main characters experience these unusual moments and aren't sure what to make of them. When such a moment redirects their lives. Sort of a return to The Twilight Zone, or Night Gallery, or One Step Beyond. Into the world of my imagination.

In the meantime, you can help support a struggling author by buying her books 😁 In case you're wondering what to buy an author for Christmas. I have two books you might enjoy this holiday season - MIST ON THE MEADOW, a sexy romance with paranormal elements, and WHILE WE WERE SHOPPING, a sweet "Hallmark" style romance that's a bit more fluffy. In newly released audio, you can listen to THE MIRROR, and coming in February, just in time for Valentines Day, is BREAKING THE MOLD, a romance set in the fictional town of Hoffman Grove, and a new addition to the family of friends.

My December newsletter will be going out this week, so make sure you're signed up to get a cookie idea and a book recommendation, along with a chance to win a copy of the new audiobook.

Happy Thanksgiving

I know I'm a day early, and I realize there are folks in other countries who don't celebrate the same day, but I'd like to take the opportunity to express my thanks and gratitude. 

I'm thankful for my family - all of them. For those who have gone ahead of us, for my husband, my children, sisters, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins that we've spent so many holidays with. For friends both past and present who have helped shape the person I am. 

I am thankful for those readers who buy my books and support this author's vision and dreams. I'm thankful for readers who recommend my books to their friends. I'm thankful to my father, who with every book of mine he read would always say "this is your best one yet." I am thankful for a second cousin, who recently sent me notes my grandmother wrote when she was a young woman, who reinforced that I came by my ability to write honestly, for the reminder of the book my uncle on the other side of the family wrote in his own endeavor to "be an author." 

In a world that seems to be coming apart at the seams, I am grateful for the opportunities I've had and the life I've been given, even the darkest hours that make me appreciate the many blessings I have.

So, while the actual date of the holidays may no longer find me surrounded by family, I am thankful that we can find alternate days to gather, giving the people I love opportunities to share the bright light of their presence with their "other" families. 

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving, and a wondrous holiday season!

Holiday Baking

Well, it's getting to be that time of year again. 

Cookie-baking day with my family is less than two weeks away, and I'm already getting excited! I'm making my signature pinwheels and chocolate toffee bars. We'll be decorating gingerbread men, and making hot cocoa cookies and corn flake wreaths (fondly referred to as "spit cookies" in my family because of their "spit polished" appearance). I suspect we'll have a variety of cookies to share, not to mention the fun we'll have spending time together and remembering those who are no longer around to join us. 

I love festive holiday desserts. When I was younger (and much thinner), I used to make a Buche du Noel (Yule Log cake). Decadent fudge frosting, creamy custard -- my mouth is watering just thinking about it. It makes a beautiful centerpiece. These days, I go for simpler desserts, and I aim for healthier options.

For those of you who read MIST ON THE MEADOW, you might remember this recipe. For those of you who read ENCHANTED MEMORIES, this might not be exactly what Madeleine likes, but it would probably do in a pinch. 

Recipe For Ofenschlupfer

(Apple Bread Pudding)

1-2 golden delicious apples
4 slices of bread (Can use 4 Hawaiian rolls, sliced into thirds)
2 Tbls butter
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup raisins
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla
dash of salt
2-1/2 cups milk, scalded

Heat oven to 350 F. Toast bread slices lightly. Spread slices with butter (margarine).   Peel apples, cut in fine slices and toss with brown sugar and cinnamon. Arrange bread slices buttered side up in a 1-1/2 quart buttered casserole dish.  Top with apple mixture and raisins.  Mix eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt. Slowly stir in milk.  Pour over bread. 

Place casserole dish into a square pan, 9x9x2, on oven rack. Pour very hot water (1 inch deep) into square pan. Bake until knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean, 65-70 minutes. Remove casserole dish from pan of hot water.  Serve warm or cool  6-8 servings.

Enjoy this easy bread pudding recipe on its own or with a thick creamy vanilla sauce.

Do you have a favorite holiday dessert?