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.

Hey there happy reader!

I am putting the last few items in my suitcase and am heading out early tomorrow morning for Guatemala. I know I’ve been talking about this trip for months now, but it’s finally here and I’m excited!

I promise lots of pictures in the next newsletter, but for now, just know that I’ll be working on “The Stones” in every individual writing session and critique hour available to me at Joyce Maynard’s Writer’s Intensive Workshop. 

I can only hope that the time spent there helps me strengthen my work in the best sort of way…

For now, I’m going to leave you with the next part of “The Stones.” 

If you recall, there are two female protagonists, Maya – who lives at Stonehenge at the time of its construction, and Miriam – a PhD student researching her dissertation topic in present day.

Miriam’s trying to prove that it was a matriarchal society on Salisbury Plains and that these women leaders have been forgotten through time. She travels to Oxford to try and find more proof of her theory. Maya is facing challenges of her own as some of the men are about to make a “power grab” and threaten the life her people have always known.

The book flips back and forth between the present and the past. This novel is part historical, part suspense, and a bit of magical realism thrown in for good luck. 

Here’s a little piece of it…

Oxford University
September 2025

Jet-lagged and ravenously hungry, Miriam struggled to find the College Dining Hall on campus. It was already lunch time, and she’d slept past breakfast, even though she didn’t mean to – she made the mistake after arriving from Heathrow of just “resting” on her bed for a moment, and the next thing she knew, the sun was high in the sky.

Miriam pulled her scarf out of her bag and draped it around her neck as she walked across the common, its lush green lawn not yet faded despite the sharp autumn wind that swept across the open space, signaling the abrupt change of season. She couldn’t help but admire the beautiful architecture of the old stone buildings that surrounded the pathway. Oxford was historic – these stones certainly were not as old as the ones she had come here to study, but they had the patina of age, nonetheless. She knew that there were formal dining halls here, she’d read about them in the literature the university had sent her in her welcome packet. One of these halls was apparently the inspiration for JK Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series. No matter. She was headed to The Buttery for a simple lunch. She could find Hogwarts later.

Miriam made her way to the building that housed the canteen style cafeteria and once there, surveyed the offerings, deciding on a toasted cheese sandwich with chips because it felt like the ultimate comfort food. If they’d offered tomato soup, she would have picked up a bowl of that as well, but they didn’t, so instead she decided to be somewhat British and filled up a mug with hot English Breakfast tea. She pushed her tray toward the cashier and did a quick conversion of dollars to pounds in her head; food cost pretty much the same at Oxford as it did in New York. I guess I’ll continue to be a struggling student here as well, she thought. She paid for her lunch and turned to the large space to find a seat. It was crowded, filled almost to capacity. She snaked her way between groups of animated students, clearly pleased to have been reunited with their peers after the summer holidays until she found a single unoccupied chair at a table in one corner. She looked at the man sitting across from the open spot and asked, “Is this seat taken?”

When he looked up from his book, she was struck by the gold flecks in his green eyes.

“No,” he said. “By all means, please, sit.”

“Thanks,” she murmured as she slid into the chair as gracefully as she could while still holding onto the tray. She set it down with a clatter of silverware, her tea sloshing over the side of the mug.

“It’s tight in here today,” the man said. “It seems like all have returned for another year of study at once. It’s not usually this bad, is it?”

His proper British accent sounded musical to her American ear. “I wouldn’t know,” she replied. “It’s my first time here at Oxford.”

“Is it? How wonderful,” he said a broad smile highlighting his features and with what seemed like true enthusiasm. “What will you study while you’re here?”

“History, I guess you’d say,” Miriam told him. “But I’ll be offering a seminar as well. What about you?”

“History, you guess?” he asked with a smirk. “Is that what you’ll be teaching? Are you sure?”

She picked up one half of her sandwich and stared at him for a moment. He’s teasing me, right? she questioned, realizing in the moment that it had been a long time since anyone had done that. Or is he flirting with me? It had been even longer since she’d experienced that sort of behavior from a man. She shook her head and smiled. “Yes, I’m sure. I’m working on my dissertation. I’m here for one semester. From New York.”

He grinned broadly. “I could have guessed that, given the chance. You look like a New Yorker.”

“What?” she asked, shocked that he’d pegged her so quickly. “How could you possibly know that?”

“Your clothing. It’s all black,” he answered. “I find most women from Manhattan tend to dress monochromatically.”

It was Miriam’s turn to smile. “Okay, you’ve got me there. I do wear a lot of black. But sometimes I wear grey.”

“Why is it that you New Yorkers do that, anyway? I’ve always wondered,” he said with sincerity.

“It’s just a whole lot easier than trying to color coordinate your outfit when you’ve got more important things to do, I guess.”

“And history. That’s more important, I would guess?” He paused, then added, “I’m Spencer, by the way.” He offered his hand for her to shake. “But my friends call me Spence.”

Miriam rested her sandwich back on her plate, quickly wiped her hand with a paper napkin, then reached across the table and slipped her hand into his. When he tightened his grip a bit in greeting, she felt the strength of his fingers as they wrapped around her palm. She liked the feel of the warmth that transferred from his hand to her own.

“I’m Miriam. And what shall I call you, Spencer or Spence?” she asked.

“Well, now that we’ve met, I hope we can be friends as well.”

“Spence it is, then,” she responded. She reached for a chip and popped it into her mouth. The salt was sharp on her tongue. “What are you studying?”

“Not studying. Finished that years ago. I teach Economics.”

“Oh,” Miriam said, suddenly feeling foolish. He was dressed casually, in a short-sleeved, powder blue polo shirt and khaki shorts. She never would have guessed that he was faculty – he looked too young and good looking in a way that reflected a practiced ease.

“Are you surprised to find that I’m a professor, not a student?” he asked her.

She tried to cover her reaction by mopping up the spilled tea with the same paper napkin she’d just used on her hand. “Um, no, no. I mean, you don’t have to be some old stodgy person to teach here, right? I’m probably close to your age, so no matter.”

“That depends, Miriam.” Then he lowered his voice to a whisper. “How old are you, exactly?”

She could feel herself blush. “Old enough to know that you shouldn’t be asking me that question. It could be construed as harassment.”

“No, not really. I just wanted to be sure that you were old enough to visit my favorite pub with me tonight. If you’re not from here, you probably don’t know where to get a proper G and T.”

“A what? What’s a G and T?”

“A gin and tonic. You know… Hendricks, a lime, a splash of tonic…or don’t you drink in Manhattan as you wear all black or sometimes grey?”

She smiled and shook her head.

“I drink on occasion, but not tonight. I just arrived here this morning, and I probably will fall asleep before you even leave to go to your pub. And I need to prepare for my first class tomorrow.”

“Well then. Hand over your mobile. I’ll put my number into your contacts and when you do feel like a drink, you can call me.”

She gazed at him, stunned for the moment at his brazen approach, but then unlocked her screen and handed her phone to him anyway. After all, he didn’t take her number, but instead, gave her his. This certainly was not New York City, and in the moment, Miriam was glad that she made the decision to cross the ocean, if only for the semester. She watched as he quickly added his number to her list of contacts. Then he stood.

“I’ve got to get on, I have a department meeting in ten minutes,” he said as he stood. “But it was nice to meet you, Miriam. I do hope you’ll ring me for that drink.” When he smiled at her she noticed that his two bottom teeth were just a bit crooked, which seemed to lend to his charm.

“It was nice to meet you, too. I’ll keep your offer in mind,” she said with a smile, not wanting to tell him that she never drank alcohol because it often triggered a migraine. No need to put him off, she thought to herself. It might be a good idea to get out every now and then, if I can make the time. She watched him walk out of the canteen and then turned her attention to her sandwich, now cold and not as appealing as it was when she purchased it. Make the time, she reflected on the concept of having a spare minute to socialize. Who are you kidding? It will never happen…

But then again, she mused, I’ve never met anyone named Spence before, either.

There will be more when I’m back…

I hope you’re enjoying the longer days and warmer weather. Time for a walk around the block to look for some spring daffodils, peeking up at you on your way. Take a minute to smell the flowers… it will change your whole day!

Hey there happy reader!

I have been gobsmacked at the reception I’ve received for my romantic suspense novel, “Question Everything.”

Next to my historical novel, “The Wick and the Flame,” it’s my most widely read book. I’ve just released it in England and Australia, and I’m curious to see if it does as well there. As you may know, the plot (NO SPOILERS) involves a certain member of the royal family. I can’t wait to hear the response from those who live in the shadow of Buckingham Palace!

It’s always exciting to publish a book in another country. 

I’m starting to think about having some of my titles translated into French, German, Spanish, and even Hebrew, just to have a chance at reaching a global audience. Plus, with each copy sold, I have a bit more to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association.

If you haven’t read “Question Everything” yet, you can find it on Amazon. And if you do read it and have a moment to leave me a review, just know how much I appreciate your goodwill!

When I wrote “Question Everything,” it was a nod to my favorite romance novel trope. 

I love a book with a mystery, and combined with a spicy love story, it’s my first choice when looking for a new book to read. What about you? Do you like a romantic suspense, or do you prefer a historical romance? Do you like a big city background, or is small-town love your thing?

If you do enjoy small-town romance, you’re in luck. The queen of the genre, Lucy Score, has a new series out right now!

For those of you unfamiliar with Lucy’s work, she’s the author of the “Knockemout” books, beginning with “Things We Never Got Over.” I love this author. Not only does she write engaging novels about people you’d like to meet, but she’s also a genuinely nice person. She helped me out at the beginning of my career, guaranteeing her a fan for life. I can’t wait to get my Kindle fired up on the long plane ride to Guatemala (next week!) and dive into this small-town romance.

And speaking of my trip to Joyce Maynard’s Writer’s Intensive Workshop, I’m counting down the days in single digits now. 

I’ve been busy writing as much as possible in advance so that I have plenty of words to share with the other authors in attendance. We will be given time each day to work in what looks like the most spectacular setting I’ve ever seen. Then each evening we will come together to read what we’ve written. It’s one part inspiring, one part intimidating, and just the challenge I truly need. I promise lots of pictures and shared stories once I return home.