Hey there, happy reader!

I’m home from London trying to recover from nagging jetlag. I had an awesome trip; one I’ll hold close to my heart for a long time to come.

I had the chance to go back to Stonehenge, the setting for my newest novel, “From Below the Horizon.”

It was an emotional visit, because I’d spent so much time with that story, the characters, and the setting.

I had a real need to walk the path around the stones one last time and thank the monument for the inspiration that took me on this journey.

The sun was out, the air was warm and blustery, and I felt that strong female energy once more. I’m glad I went!

From there I went to the Cotswolds and stopped in the town of Burford.

If you’ve read the book, you know the significance of this small village and the Priory building that sits in its center. Seeing it for myself was remarkable and incredibly validating.

I do tons of research for my historical novels, but nothing replaces physically standing in front of a place you’ve written about – I knew in that moment that I’d gotten the details right.

From there I went to Oxford University, and all I can say is WOW!

Rumor has it that JK Rowling based the Harry Potter books on this historic campus, and I can confirm that it certainly makes you think of Hogwarts!

More importantly, I can absolutely imagine that there’s a secret library or two hidden away in those massive stone buildings…

This trip also cemented what I already knew – I love London!

It’s a spectacular city with warm people and great restaurants. I can’t wait to go back! The above photo was taken in the lobby of my hotel. This old dress form had been turned into a whimsical lamp. Do you love it as much as I do?

I’m home for a bit now, and back to work. But before I head into my office to work on my Brooklyn Bridge romances, I need to ask a favor.

If you’ve read “From Below the Horizon,” would you be so kind as to leave a review on Amazon?

Even a quick star rating would mean a lot. Authors today live and die by the Amazon algorithm. Reviews power that engine. Help this writer out, won’t you?

xoxo,
Hilari

Hey there happy reader…

I’m thrilled to announce that the ebook for “From Below the Horizon” is now live!

You can download a copy to your device right now – at a special low introductory price!

This book was a true labor of love for me. I hope you enjoy Maya and Miriam, and all the women who had a hand in the history of Stonehenge.

This story reflects the way I see the world.

I truly believe it would be better if women ran things… so I did what any writer would do. I created a scenario where that could happen.

I do hope you’ll take this ride along with me and read “From Below the Horizon.” It may just open your eyes to new possibilities!

For now, I’m packing my bags – I’m headed to London to meet my publishing team at Vinci Books.

We’ve got lots more ahead for you, including my work-in-progress, the first of my “Brooklyn Bridge” series. A little rom-com? Yes, please!

I’ll leave you with this photo of me and my husband at his surprise birthday party. Our sons planned a night out at the Mt. Wilson observatory, about an hour outside of Los Angeles. It was clear and we saw so many stars and planets, and even a far-away galaxy or two.

Seeing the universe that way makes me want to reach higher. What about you?

I’ll be traveling next week, so you’ll hear from me two weeks from now with lots of Vinci news and updates. And photos. Lots of photos!

xoxo,
Hilari

Hey there happy reader…

The time has come!

You can pre-order your copy of “From Below the Horizon” today. The ebook will be live next Tuesday, October 7th!

Vinci has a different release schedule than the one I used when I self-published.

They release the ebook first and the paperback and audiobook a bit later. Those will be available on December 9th, but you can read this book as soon as next week on your favorite device.

It’s always a good time to read something fun, but this book uses Halloween (or Samhain, as it’s also known) as a setting.

There’s some magical realism in this story… perfect for the “spooky season” that we’re entering this month.

This book is dear to my heart, and I hope it finds its way onto your TBR list.

Join me as this book makes its debut into the world!

xoxo,
Hilari

Hey there, happy reader!

The air is cooler, the leaves are changing color, and we are officially in my most favorite season of the year!

I love grabbing a sweater to go out in the mornings… here’s to leaving the humidity behind and embracing the shorter days ahead.

Just as summer ended, I read a book that made me feel every degree of those scorching hot summer days.

It takes place in Tampa Bay, Florida, in the late 1950’s – a time before air conditioning was common in private homes.

The title is “Sunlight Finds You” and it’s by Laura Moriarty.

It’s a compelling story of a young woman, the truths that are withheld from her and the impact of secrets that are kept from her.

It was a page turner! I highly recommend it…

And speaking of books, my publisher, Vinci Books, is offering a free download this week. You can find it right here:

Now I’m going to enjoy that crisp fall air while it lasts. I recommend you do the same!

xoxo,
Hilari

P.S. Where do ideas come from? I shared some thoughts on that over on Substack.

Hey there happy reader!

We’ve all waited long enough… here’s the cover art for my new novel, “From Below the Horizon.”

I think it captures the essence of the novel. 

I also think that the placement of the amulet is intriguing. That piece of jewelry holds great significance in this novel, so I’m glad it’s front and center on the cover.

We’re inching closer to the December 9th launch of this title and I am excited!!!! As soon as I have details about a pre-sale date, I’ll be sure to post them here first.

Plus, I’m hard at work on my Brooklyn Bridge series. 

This project has certainly taken on a life of its own. I must admit that it’s interesting to switch to a contemporary novel after having written one so fully steeped in history.

I’m listening to current music to help me set the mood in my own mind. (Do you have the playlist? If not, here it is again.)

I am having so much fun with these books.

My male protagonist, Jack, is a green flag sort of romantic hero. He’s thoughtful, witty, cute, and too good to be true… he’s the ideal guy!

And Brianna, the female protagonist is a hot mess. She’s been looking for love in all the wrong places, and when it shows up on her doorstep, she doesn’t know what to do first.

I think you’ll like the banter between these two – and wait until you meet their friends! I’ve taken a big city and turned it into a small community, which, to me, is the ideal place to live.

Here’s a short sneak peek:

*************************************

“Was your girlfriend busy tonight? It’s too bad that she couldn’t join us.”

Jack could feel the discomfort at having to confess the truth begin in his knees and quickly travel to his chest. “Yes, well, about that. Um… there is no girlfriend.”

Brianna stopped at the red light on the corner. “What do you mean, no girlfriend? Didn’t you tell me at the coffee shop that…”

“I did. I’m sorry. It’s my standard response when I meet a woman. I know, it’s terrible of me to lie, but you can’t imagine how many crazy people I meet. Not that you’re crazy. You’re not. I’m just – careful?”

She started to cross when the light changed to green, but just as she did, the car in the intersection tried to beat the need to stop, sped up and turned toward them. He grabbed her hand and pulled her back onto the curb. She stumbled a bit and steadied herself against his chest.

“Whoa,” he said, not sure for a moment if he was reacting to the near miss or the way her body felt pressed up against his own. “Are you okay?”

“That was close. I didn’t even see him coming at us, did you?”

“No,” he said. But in his mind, he was sure it was because he was watching to see if she wanted to jump in an Uber to get away from him. He’d lied to her, but she was still there.

Was that a good sign?

*************************************

I hope you find this small piece of “The Forty-Eight Hour Rule” intriguing.

These two characters keep talking to one another in my head… he falls first, but they both fall hard!

This is the perfect time of year to grab something from your TBR list and take it with you to the park or the beach to enjoy some lovely autumn weather. Get outside and read!