Hey there happy reader,

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, and for a romance writer that’s like the Superbowl and New Year’s Eve all rolled into one very sweet holiday! Did you know that in the week leading up to this day of love, Americans will consume fifty-eight million pounds of chocolate?!?!?

While most of us celebrate with flowers and candy hearts, the actual day was meant as a tribute to St. Valentine of Terni. 

In the late 5^th century, Pope Gelasius declared February 14^th as a day of remembrance for this man who secretly married men and women after Emperor Claudius banned these unions, wanting to keep his soldiers dedicated to him instead. It wasn’t until the 14^th century when the holiday became associated with romantic love.

Then, in 1861 Richard Cadbury, the son of the founder of the British chocolate company of the same name, created heart-shaped boxes of their confections, decorated with Cupids and rosebuds, popular symbols of romance to this very day.

And before you could say, “will you be my valentine?” a celebration was born!

For many, Valentine’s Day is just another Hallmark holiday. 

For some, it becomes a target date to become engaged or to get married. In recent years, “Galentine’s Day” has been celebrated as a way for women to spend some time with their bestie. Whatever you do or however you celebrate, just know that it’s the perfect day to indulge in something decadent… I for one always opt for dark chocolate and a glass of very good Pinot Noir!

This Valentine’s Day I plan to be deeply immersed in writing. I am down the rabbit hole of my latest work in progress, my Stonehenge novel. I’m at the point where that’s all I can think about. My characters are keeping me busy, even as I sleep. I keep hearing them tell me their stories. Now it’s my job to write it all down!

Hey there happy reader!

I don’t know about you, but I’m struggling through my third head cold of this winter season! The weather has been so wonky – one day warm, the next day frigid – it’s hard to get a handle on what to wear and how to prepare yourself to go outside. Earlier this week I woke to a snowstorm, only to have the temperature reach close to sixty degrees by mid-afternoon. Sheesh!

I have been inside working on my current novel (still no title. UGH) about Stonehenge. 

Here’s what I can share… 

There are two female protagonists, one living in the present day and one living at Stonehenge right before it was abandoned by the people who built it. My present-day heroine is researching the historical site, first at Columbia University where she is a graduate student, and then at Cambridge University in England. My past-day heroine is the leader of the people of Stonehenge. She knows that their task is complete – the stones are in place – and that her job is done. The question is what she plans to do next…

Both women are linked by a common ailment. They both suffer from migraines and they both use homeopathic remedies to alleviate their symptoms.

Some migraine sufferers have claimed to be able to see auras, and that’s an important detail for this story. 

My heroine in the past does see auras of different colors and uses those auras to help her make important decisions about the true motivations of the people around her. My present-day heroine sees them as well; they signal the appearance of the bizarre dreams she has when a migraine is forming in her head. Sometimes she thinks that she can see into the past, but can she? Or is her research influencing her life in a way that blurs the line between reality and these strange, headache induced nightmares?

As I’ve mentioned before, this book is my first novel to employ a bit of magical realism, a literary technique I’ve long admired but never attempted to write before this.

I continue to enjoy the challenge of dipping my toes into uncharted waters. I find it both a creative experiment and a stretch of my own imagination… I can only hope you enjoy it once you have this book in your hands!

This is the work-in-progress that I will take with me to Joyce Maynard’s Writer’s Intensive Workshop at the end of March at the real Bird Hotel in Guatemala. I can’t wait to have the chance to share my rough draft with other authors and get their feedback. It’s both nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time…

As for my current reading list, the above are just some of the titles I’ve read repeatedly in the past two weeks. 

My California family will be heading home to LA soon, but we’ve had so much fun for the time they’ve been with us. While the circumstance was scary, we’re all hoping that the rebuilding process can begin shortly and that things will go back to being “normal” once more.

Hey there happy reader!

Bedlam.

That’s what happens when you let a two-year-old loose in your house! My California grandson is here (and yes, so are his parents!) for an open-ended visit while things shake out environmentally at home in Los Angeles.

Currently, most experts have advised that children not be outside in the toxic mix in the air from the fires that finally seem to be under control. Unfortunately, the homes that burned released a mix of unhealthy chemicals into the atmosphere. It finally rained, but not enough to wash away the remnants of this disaster… so we have an energetic house guest!

We’ve been blowing a lot of bubbles. 

Well, not exactly blowing them. We hold the tightly closed bottle, because, well, no bubble blowing inside the house, and this little boy is not so fond of a cold, northeastern winter day!

Instead, we run around talking about blowing bubbles! I’ve found that the simplest of pleasures can be found inside that ten-cent bottle of soap. It’s the thought that one day we will blow those bubbles that seems to matter. And honestly, it’s a metaphor for this entire experience.

Soon enough, the season will turn, and the sun will come out and warm the day. And hopefully, in the not too distant future, Los Angeles will rise from the ashes, and he can safely go back outside and play.

When we’re not talking about blowing bubbles, we’re in the basement “cooking” up something on an old play kitchen, complete with a “microwave” and a “cordless phone.” You would think that we’re on the set of a Food Network program, competing to make something delicious. Hours can pass as we “bake a cake” or “make eggs…”

All this to say that not much writing has gotten done here this week. 

But, I wouldn’t change a thing about this unexpected visit. Life is too short to miss any opportunity to hang out with a two-year-old!

Hey there happy reader!

I’m back from the west coast with my favorite two-year old in tow! With the fires in Los Angeles leaving poor air quality in their wake, my daughter-in-law and grandson have come to stay with us for a while. We’ve put away all the breakables and secured anything that might become a projectile for the immediate future…

I’m excited to have this little California boy see snow for the first time, need to wear his mittens and winter coat when we go outside, and watch him experience cold weather! Something tells me he’s not going to like it all that much.

And while he sleeps, I’ll continue to work on my new book! 

I’m doing a deep dive into ancient religions as I try to understand the culture of Stonehenge. While religion isn’t the focus of the book, I do think it’s important to capture the truth about the way of life all those years ago. I find that the more historical fact I can add to my fictional story, the better the narrative. And since one of my main protagonists is the leader of this tribe of people, I do believe that it would help to gather as much of the truth of the time as possible. It makes the story feel more authentic – I think you’ll agree!

My plan is to have a good portion of this book written by the time I leave for Joyce Maynard’s writer’s workshop at the end of March in Guatemala. It’s a lot to get done, but I’m hopeful that I can do it!

In the meantime, I’ve been invited to speak at a number of book clubs this winter and spring. 

While these are in-person appearances, I am available to Zoom into your book club as well. We always have fun talking about books, writing, and what it means to take a creative leap and do the one thing you haven’t allowed yourself to do before.

If you would like to get in touch, you can always reach me at hilari.mpp@gmail.com. I’d love to drop by and meet you!

Hey there happy reader,

I come to you today with a heavy heart. The fires in Los Angeles have devastated the city where my oldest son, my daughter-in-law, and grandson live. While their home has been spared (and we are so grateful), many of their friends have lost everything, including their livelihoods. Businesses are destroyed in a city already facing the effects of the dying entertainment industry. It’s a crisis beyond imagination and the uncertainty that lies ahead is frightening.

For now, my family has evacuated to San Diego (which is where I am today!) because the air quality in LA is terrible. We’re all hoping that the fires will be contained and that the Santa Ana winds will finally abate, giving the first responders a chance to do their job.

Natural disasters – like the hurricanes and tornados that affected Ashville, North Carolina, and these fires in LA remind us that we must have a plan for every emergency. Pack a to-go bag with medications and extra clothing, add some bottled water and snack foods that have no expiration dates. Important documents need to be in a fireproof, waterproof file box with a handle so that you can grab it in an emergency. Take photos of your house—inside and out – for your insurance company in case all is lost. Listen to the evacuation orders and follow them. Be ready to go if need be!

I’m sure you’re all familiar by now with the ways to help in this crisis. The American Red Cross, José Andres World Central Kitchen, and the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition are all accepting donations to help those who’ve lost everything. I’m donating there, and if you’re able to do the same, just know that the people of Los Angeles appreciate you!

And then, there are the libraries.

This is a before and after photo of the Palisades Library.

It’s gone, all the books burned in the blaze. It will take billions of dollars to rebuild this city… I can only hope that sacred places like libraries will be included in the renaissance that I’m sure LA will experience. Without books, we’re barely a civilization.

I’m going to keep my eye out for LA libraries as they begin to re-emerge after the fires. If there are places to donate books – it’s a great way to clear your own shelves and make space for new titles – I’ll let you know!

Speaking of civilizations, I’m trying to recreate the history of the lost people of Stonehenge.

We know that there was a thriving community there at one point, thousands of years ago, and that they used the stone structure as a community gathering point. What we don’t know is where they went, and why they left. In my imagination, they moved on because of a major change in leadership – the one-time matriarchal society became patriarchal – need I say more?

For now, I’m going to enjoy the company of my favorite almost two-year-old! Somehow being with a grandchild makes you forget your troubles for a short while…

Hey there happy reader,

I’ve missed you! I took off a bit of time around the holidays to refresh and recharge, but as we all know, things don’t always go as planned… I spent more than a few days sick in bed with a stomach virus, and then the worst happened – my husband caught the bug from me!

It was bad enough when I had it, but he needed little reason to stay in bed all day and complain. Sheesh!

Seriously, though, this virus was not fun. I’m just glad we both survived it, lol. It made me think of that scene in the film, “The Devil Wears Prada,” where Emily turns to Andie and says that she’s, “just one stomach bug away from her goal weight.” I lost three pounds, but my husband lost seven!!! I’m happy to report that we’ve both recovered – at least he has. I think I’m emotionally scarred for life…

I did get a chance to catch up on some of my TBR list. 

If you haven’t read “James” by Percival Everett, I highly recommend it! It’s the retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” through the eyes of Jim, or in this case, James. The story is familiar, but the point of view is entirely different. I’d love to hear your take on it.

I also read “The Women” by Kristin Hannah, a saga about the women who served in Vietnam.

While I’ve never been a Hannah fan, this book did keep me turning the pages long into the night. The female protagonist, Frankie, was a brave solider, who like many of her generation, was not credited for the trauma she faced during that war. It was well worth reading!

For now, I’m hard at work on my Stonehenge book.

I’d like to have the first half of it done by the end of March when I head to Joyce Maynard’s intensive writing seminar in Guatemala. I’m excited (and a bit nervous) to attend this event, but I’m sure I’ll get a lot of work done there. Plus, there’s the bonus of having Joyce weigh in on my writing, and I get to stay in the actual Bird Hotel.

Looks like paradise, right?

And finally, as 2024 ended, I’m happy to report that I was able to send a sizeable donation to the Alzheimer’s Association after I received my first royalty check from the sales of “Question Everything.” 

It felt great to make good on that promise, and I owe it all to you! Thanks for buying and reading this book – and if you haven’t done so yet, it’s not too late. I’ll send more funds to help support their research after next quarter’s royalties hit my bank account!