Hey there happy reader!

I love this time of year. The flowers are budding, the lawn is turning green… and I’m suffering from seasonal allergies!

My eyes are watering and I’m sneezing non-stop… but I guess it’s a small price to pay for the warmer weather, right? I think that for now, I’m going to watch things bloom inside from my picture window. It’s more comfortable that way, lol!

I’ve been so fortunate to have so many book clubs continue to show an interest in my historical novel, “The Wick and the Flame.” 

It’s the story of four brave young soldiers during the Israeli War of Independence in 1947. I’ve been so appreciative of the lively conversations and shared experiences with so many of the people I’ve met since I first published this book four years ago. It’s truly a gift to me to feel the love for this story from my readers.

If you’re a member of a book club in the New York metropolitan area, I’d love to swing by and discuss this novel with your group. If you live further away, I am available to attend your book club via Zoom. I can promise an interesting evening talking about all things book related!

I’m working away at my new novel, “The Stones,” as I write this newsletter. 

I’m going to have the chance to workshop it with some of the women I met at Joyce Maynard’s Writer’s Intensive this coming June. We’re reuniting to share our “work-in-progress” stories at a retreat in Colorado.

Knowing this terrific group of women, shenanigans are guaranteed. I’ll be sure to share photos once I return…

For now, I’m getting ready to celebrate my birthday (early May) with a special book promotion. 

Details will follow, but if you haven’t read my romantic suspense novel, “Question Everything,” you’ll have the chance to download it for free! It’s my way of sharing the love I have for all of you – and it’s the perfect book to tuck into your beach bag this summer. I promise that it will keep you turning the pages until the final mystery is revealed!

I hope that April showers are past and that you’re getting a chance to venture out into the warmer days. Hopefully, you can enjoy the beautiful flowers that are popping up just about everywhere! Stop and smell the roses…

Hey there happy reader,

I love to travel, but I love to be home even more! There’s something about sleeping in my own bed that makes me happy. I have more trips planned in the months ahead, but for now, I’m staying put, keeping my head down and writing!

As I mentioned last week, the after effects of my time in Guatemala has truly affected my new novel. 

I’ve given much thought to the connection women have to the earth and moon. It truly matters as I tell this story. From all I have read about those who lived at Stonehenge right before it was abandoned, they were a civilization of spiritual people who believed in community and tradition.

While they didn’t have the tools (written word) to tell their own stories, my imaginings have led me to a simple conclusion. They would have respected the earth as well as the seasons and the bounty they received from the land they lived on. They would have kept time with the moon and its phases; they would have navigated by observing the constellations in the sky.

I’ve gone back to incorporate all of that into my novel and my ancient main character, Maya, is the window into that world. Part of the problem for my modern character, Miriam, is that she isn’t connected to the earth. Until she finds that vital link, she won’t be able to solve the mystery of who ruled Stonehenge and unlock her own future.

My writing exercise (self-imposed!) this spring is to head outside and spend some more time in nature. 

I don’t know if you follow Catherine, Princess of Wales, but she said recently that while recovering from her cancer treatments, she found that being outdoors helped her both mentally and spiritually. I can absolutely understand that, and I’m committed to trying it for myself! I am hopeful that I can do a whole lot of thinking on my planned walks around my neighborhood. I might even stroll along the ocean every now and then as well!

Hey there happy reader!

Talk about a crazy idea! I’m out in Los Angeles for a few days because I couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing my west coast grandbaby until our family vacation in June. He’s getting bigger and more verbal every day, and when he tells me that I’m in New York and he’s in California, well… I just have to remedy that, if only for a few days.

But here’s where the crazy part comes in… 

I’m having a Passover Seder in LA on Saturday night, hopping on the red eye and sharing the second Seder with my New York based grandson at our house!

I thought I had it all figured out, too. 

I cooked an entire meal and put it in our downstairs freezer. My husband is really the only one to use the basement – he has a gym down there, as well as his video games (!) and virtual reality headset. (Yes, he’s a grown-up. Don’t ask!)

Anyway, he must have grabbed a water bottle out of the refrigerator, slammed the door and popped open the freezer without realizing it. I went to grab a container of milk – what must have been days later – only to find a defrosted mess! Melted ice cream, defrosted chicken, soup, and a variety of other cooked dishes all ruined!

Luckily, I had time to recreate the dinner. Suffice it to say, my husband is banned from opening that refrigerator until after the holiday. Whew!!

In other news…lol… 

I’ve been reflecting on my time in Guatemala and thinking about the lessons I’ve taken home with me. Joyce Maynard is a master teacher and the one thing she said that resonates most with me is the use of your most honest voice.

She stressed bringing a piece of yourself into your characters. That means your struggles, your fears, your insecurities belong on the page because those truths will make the people you write about all the more authentic.

So, this is what I brought home. 

The feeling I got when standing in front of this volcano. There is a pull – it’s almost magnetic – and you sense when in the shadow of this massive life force. The idea that the earth and the moon guide us, that we are all connected as inhabitants of this planet was driven home while I was in Guatemala.

I’m writing about a woman (Maya) who is truly in touch with the earth, the elements, the stars in the sky… she may live in a primitive world, one we truly don’t know the details about, but she was greatly connected to the ground beneath her feet and the constellations above her head. It’s remarkable how that works out, right? I’m taking a moment to rethink the opening of my Stonehenge book. I’ll get back to you with more information soon.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for something to stream, can I offer a suggestion? “Love on the Spectrum” is back with its third season. Your heart will explode with affection for these hopeful romantics. They’ve surely captured mine.

And if you need something to read, don’t miss “Broken Country” by Clare Leslie Hall. It’s a gripping story that kept me up way too late turning the pages.

Spring is definitely here. It’s time to get up, get out and smell the pretty blooming flowers. A walk around the block is in order. You deserve it!

Hey there happy reader,

I am so grateful that I took a leap of faith and attended Joyce Maynard’s Writer’s Intensive Workshop. I could never have imagined how impactful that experience would turn out to be… I met a group of fellow writers who I now consider dear friends and learned so much at the feet of the master teacher, Joyce herself!

It’s not easy to get to Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. 

I took two planes, a pretty scary van ride on the Pan American Highway, and a small boat to finally arrive at Casa Paloma – the real “Bird Hotel.” But once there, I was swept away from the beauty of the place and the magnetic pull of the volcanoes that sit right across the way.

Joyce has created a truly special place (more on that in a later newsletter).

It was remarkable that she was able to bring ten writers together who would form such a tight, cohesive bond. We were a supportive group from our first meeting!

These were women from all over the United States and Canada; a journalist, a naval commander, two watercolor artists, a minister, a former porn star, a college administrator, a political refugee, a filmmaker, a new widow, and me! All had stories to tell and we shared those stories long into the night!

These are all brave women, and I admire each of them. 

Some have overcome sexual trauma, some are learning how to navigate life alone after the death of a loved one, others have experienced a “grey” divorce after long marriages, and all are talented writers.

I feel such gratitude that each one told her truth in our group sessions, and such joy at their successful efforts to put their thoughts down on paper.

And then there’s Joyce. She’s a force of nature! 

Joyce is a master teacher and can see right to the core of your work, tweak it a bit and make it stronger, all with the stroke of her sharpie! It was amazing to watch her work at the white board and I learned a tremendous amount from her.

Plus, we got to hear about her new novel. She’s in the revision stage now, but when it becomes available, I will absolutely read it. It’s full of intrigue and deception, two topics which will make it unputdownable…

I will have more to share with you on this experience in the coming weeks, but for now, I’m going back to my work-in-progress. I promise updates on my new novel soon.