I hope it’s sparklers, hot dogs, and ice cream for all!

Hey there happy reader,

I’m just back from a writer’s retreat in Colorado, and it was awesome! There was yoga and hiking every morning and time to write each afternoon. Before dinner we’d all come together to have “writer’s chair,” a chance to read our new work and offer valuable critiques and suggestions to one another.

I’d been to Colorado before to ski, but not at the elevation level where I was hiking at Gem Lake. 

I now know with undeniable evidence that my peak climbing range stops at 7,200 feet. As we went higher, aiming for 8,800 feet, I had to stop. I got dizzy and worried that I’d hold up the group, so I slowly – and I do mean slowly – made my way back down! I survived, however…

More importantly, I was able to spend concentrated time organizing my thoughts around my work-in-progress, now titled, “Below the Horizon.” 

The Stonehenge book has been a challenge, partially because I couldn’t come up with a title that seemed to fit the story and the message I am trying to convey. No one knows what happened to the people who lived there and built that monument because they disappeared… they vanished below the horizon! The title came to me during a yoga class. I had cleared my mind of all the chatter and, voilà! There it was!!

I owe a huge debt to the women above… 

We met in Guatemala and continue to encourage and support one another on our individual writing journeys. They are each so talented and I will share their projects with you when they become available. Every person in the group is writing something significant and I feel so blessed to know them. They are a gift that keeps on giving – and they are great travel partners as well.

Hey there happy reader!

I’ve just returned from our annual family vacation. This year we chose to go to Vermont, thinking about cool, crisp nights and barely warm days. Wow! Were we wrong!!! It was brutally hot… and did I mention that the house we rented was off-the-grid, had no air conditioning and no WiFi connection? Have you been with your adult children without an internet connection? Let me tell you… there were some very tense moments!

We had to take some very drastic measures… like actually talk to one another, lol! 

Plus, no internet led to epic rounds of Catan and Bananagrams. Plus, these two little guys enjoyed just about everything that was outdoors.

They launched nerf rockets, played soccer, ran barefoot in the grass and slept well at night. What more could this happy Gigi ask for?

And for my husband, being in a place with no light at night was like heaven. He’s an amateur astronomer, and his latest telescope takes amazing digital pictures of galaxies far, far away…

I had the chance to enjoy my entire family sitting around the dinner table, joking with one another and generally just having a good time. But now the break is over, and I’m back to work.

I’m going to be attending a writer’s retreat later this week in Colorado with the women I met in Guatemala earlier this spring.

I can’t wait to see them again and workshop my new novel with this group of talented women. It should be another amazing experience!

We’ll be hiking here at Gem Lake. I can’t wait!

Plus, I’m sitting on some news. It’s big. Explosively so… and all will be revealed very, very soon!

Hey there happy reader!

I’ve been spending some time with a bottle of bubbles and a toddler with endless energy, and it’s been both meditative and educational. Seeing the world through the eyes of a grandchild is special for sure, but the rhythmic motion of dipping the wand into the bottle and blowing bubbles together has given me the chance to slow down and just watch that tiny bit of liquid soap float away on the air.

On a rainy, humid afternoon we sat on the porch of our house for an hour, watching the clouds build and simply blowing bubbles. 

I listened to my grandson’s sweet little voice as he told me about his favorite things (basketball and Bluey.) He was joyful each time a bubble lifted toward the sky. Time slowed down just a bit; I didn’t think about my long list of responsibilities or the errands I needed to run.

I just blew bubbles…

It’s a lesson I’m taking with me into my writing practice. 

Words are like bubbles. Sometimes they float and sometimes they sink (that’s what a good editor is for!) The joy is in the method, the action of creating a story. I know that when I get into the groove of my work, there’s no better feeling… and that’s where I am now with “The Stones.” I’m getting closer to sharing it with you and there’s nothing better than knowing that I have something very special coming your way. As soon as I have some cover art, I’ll post it here first!

I do hope that wherever you are, the sun is shining. 

Here in the northeast, we’ve been in a long rainy spell. I don’t mind it much when I’m this busy writing — I just hope for a beach day every now and then. It doesn’t matter what the weather is… any time you have to yourself is a good time to pick up a book and read!

Hey there happy reader,

Do you ever feel overwhelmed with tasks? So much so that you want to throw a blanket over your head and forget everything for a while, crawl into bed and just read a good book?

That’s how I’m feeling today! 

I have so many errands and small jobs to complete that it almost seems impossible to get it all done. I have to try and remember my favorite life guide and author, Anne Lamott’s best advice – just go “bird by bird.”

This book, with its invaluable life lessons, has saved me on more than one occasion from myself. 

Anne tells the story of her brother, who when having ignored a school assignment where he was to write a research paper, waited until the very last minute to begin. Sensing his son’s panic, their father offered some sage words. “Go bird by bird. One bird at a time.” Simple, but true. We can all do well to remember that we can only do one thing at a time…

Which brings me to my current work-in-progress.

I’m doing my best to hunker down and get my most recent draft in good enough shape to share some of it with you! As you may remember, I wasn’t happy with my first pass at this novel, so I started over. I can report that things are going much better this time around… hopefully I will have an excerpt or two to share over the summer months ahead.

I’m headed to my office now. I’ve reached a tense moment in the narrative, and I want to get back to it before I tackle cleaning my outdoor furniture before Father’s Day!!

Hey there happy reader!

New York City is buzzing with the basketball championships… the Knicks have moved forward for the first time in fifty years, and the excitement is palpable!

It reminds me of my college days, covering women’s basketball for our campus newspaper. 

Every shot, every missed pass or three-point play is cause for either elation or defeat. And the last five minutes of the game are stomach-churning! Combine the NBA playoffs with this week’s Manhattanhenge, and you can understand why New York is the city that never sleeps!

Of course, Manhattanhenge brings me around to my work-in-progress about the OG… Stonehenge! 

I’ve been working away at this book, and I must admit… it’s the most complicated and detailed novel I’ve ever written.

It’s turning out to be part historical, part suspense, and part romance. There are two female protagonists, an uprising of a society, a race against time to uncover the truth of what happened to the original inhabitants of Salisbury Plain, and the reveal of a secret that impacts the past and the present. Whew!

Luckily for me, I’m heading to reunite with my “Guatemala Girls” at the end of the month. 

This group of talented writers – we met at Joyce Maynard’s writer’s workshop—is reconvening in Colorado for an intensive four days of writing, meditation, and yoga.

I’m looking forward to sharing creative energy with these women. When we are together, we are a force of nature. There’s lots of idea sharing, constructive critiquing, and tons of laughter. It’s the recharge we all need! And as soon as I’m back, I plan to share an excerpt or two with you!

What do you do to refresh your own batteries? Garden? Bake? Visit with friends? We all need a way to shed the overwhelming responsibilities of our lives and find the thing gives us the “jolt,” or the little bit of magic that keeps us sane… wouldn’t you agree?

Happy Memorial Day!

Hey there happy reader!

So here we are… just when we thought winter would never release us from her grasp, it’s summer! In the northeast, we always seem to pass through spring without noticing – except for the torrential rainstorms and inhumane amounts of pollen drifting in through every open window!

The thing I like best about summer is the excuse to tuck a novel into my beach bag and sit in a chair at the shoreline. 

I’m lucky enough to live on an island, and while I don’t frequent the infamous Hamptons (too much traffic to get there, as well as twenty-five-dollar cocktails) I do head out to the shore often (we have lots of beaches here!)

Plus, I am lucky enough to spend time up on the National Seashore in Cape Cod, which might be one of my favorite places on earth!

If you’re looking for the perfect beach read, here’s a good one – Emily Henry’s “Great Big Beautiful Life.” 

It’s two separate stories about a journalist competing for a job to write the memoir of a very famous person. There’s the plot line about the famous person, then there’s the plot line about the journalist. Both are compelling, twisty, and all together enjoyable. High recommend!

And of course, if you’re looking for a series romance set in a beachy small town, there’s always mine…

“The Gypsy Moth Chronicles” will transport you to the sand from the first page to the last!

I hope to sneak out some time away from working on my Stonehenge book to sit on the beach, but I am committed to finishing this draft by summer’s end, and when I do, I’ll post some excerpts here first!!

Hey there happy reader!

For as much as I love the current season, it often brings a flurry of weddings, communions, graduations, and BBQs. Sometimes my calendar fills up so fast that I can’t find a spare minute to sit down, not to mention a solid hour to write!

I’m easily overwhelmed, so I have to remind myself to leave some blank space in my schedule to accomplish the things most important to me. Yesterday, I put away my laundry list of responsibilities and planted some pretty flowers outside in my yard.

I love planting! 

It’s creative, it’s relaxing, and it gives me permission to dig in the dirt for a bit. It also helps me clear my head. I was grappling with a roadblock in my Stonehenge book and by giving myself the opportunity to be outside in the sunshine and allowing my mind the chance to wander while I dug trenches for my pretty flowers, I found a way through the problem. It was a win-win all around!

I remind myself that there’s a good reason why children enjoy being outdoors so much more than being confined inside the house. That sunshine really elevates your mood and makes the whole day better!

A big thank you to all those who grabbed a free copy of my romantic suspense novel, “Question Everything.” 

It was a very successful weekend for this title – over 2500 downloads, lots of new readers! And if you’re a member of a book club, this story would make for a lively discussion.

I’d be happy to Zoom with you and your group to chat about this (or any of my books) this summer. You can let me know via email: hilari.mpp@gmail.com.

I already have a number of these fun events on my calendar, but I’d love to add yours to my list!

Hey there happy reader!

To help me celebrate my birthday this month, I’m giving you the chance to download my romantic suspense novel, “Question Everything” for FREE this weekend! 

That’s right… for the next three days – today, tomorrow, and Saturday, this title will be available for download on Amazon and The Fussy Librarian for ZERO DOLLARS!

This twisty, spicy tale will take you on a roller coaster ride… 

Mia has a car accident and loses her memory. Kyle has a past that he’d like to forget. When they meet, sparks fly. He’s determined to help her regain her identity, but when all is revealed, the truth may shatter them both!

I had a blast writing this story… honestly, I feel as though I should apologize to you up front. This novel will leave you with a book hangover! All these months later these two protagonists are still living rent-free in my mind…

And spread the word! 

Call your friends and let them know that they can get a free book as well… the more the merrier! The story is as engaging as a good game of tic, tac, toe, lol! Plus, I’m hoping to shatter my own download record. I’ll let you know if that happens.

On a more serious note, I know that Mother’s Day can be tricky for some of us. Just know that whether you celebrate or not, it’s the perfect spring day to do something outdoors. Take a walk, go to the beach, or read a book under a tree. We all do so much for the other people in our lives that we often forget that it’s best to take care of ourselves as well! Whatever you do, enjoy the day…

Hey there happy readers!

I am so excited that beach weather is almost here that I wanted to kick off the season with a gift for all of you. If you haven’t read my romantic suspense novel, “Question Everything” yet, you’ll be able to download it for FREE on May 8th, 9th, and 10th on Amazon. It will also be free on The Fussy Librarian site on May 9th as well!

As you may know, the plot for the story came to me in a dream, and I just scribbled it all down! 

I wrote this book in tribute to my dear friend who is suffering from memory loss. For those of us touched by this terrible illness, it can be both heartbreaking and scary for the patient and their loved ones. I wanted to capture the fear a person faces when she can not remember her past, or even her own true name. And while this book does have a happily ever after, I’ve come to understand that we need to live each day of our lives to its fullest; tomorrow is not a guarantee.

And if you’re looking for something to get your mom this Mother’s Day, tuck a digital link to the book you download into her email. I think both you and she will enjoy Mia and Kyle’s twisty, steamy story… and of course I hope you’ll let me know if you do!

In other book news…

I’ve gone back to the beginning of my current work-in-progress, “The Stones” and rewritten the opening. When I attended Joyce Maynard’s writer’s intensive workshop, Joyce offered her opinion on what I’d written. While she was intrigued by the story, she thought I needed a more gripping beginning. After much thought, I have to say that I agree. UGH!

While writing full-out is a creative joy, revising is where the truth happens. It’s so hard to be hyper-critical of your own words, but I’ve learned that one needs to be unsympathetic and ruthless when revising.

Sometimes when I delete full paragraphs, I store them in a file and tell myself that I should save them for future use. It’s like when you clean out your closet. You know that the dress you’ve kept in a size you’ll never fit into again stays tucked into a corner is just mocking you. It’s best to donate it to someone who can resist dessert – and that person isn’t me.

I realize that the sun is just starting to rise over my Stonehenge novel now. Truths are being told. I promise a sneak peek of the new opening very soon…

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…