Hey there happy reader!

I can’t believe that it’s almost Labor Day! It always seems as if summer is the quickest of all the seasons. Here in the northeast, May is rainy and cold, June slowly warms up and then boom! We have two months of heat and humidity before the leaves begin to fall. Cue the pumpkin spice…

I don’t mind this change at all because fall is my favorite time of year. 

I think it has something to do with the beginning of the school year. I’ve always loved blank notebooks, sharpened pencils, and the excitement at the chance to learn something new. Even though I haven’t been a traditional student for a very long time, I find autumn to be reinvigorating. The crisp air, the deep blue skies, the crunch of falling leaves underfoot… it all makes me happy.

So even though I haven’t been to the beach yet this summer, I’m already turning the page. Bring me a pumpkin spice latte, please!

I may no longer find myself in a classroom, but I feel as though I’m always learning something new. 

I think it has all to do with writing historical novels. Through my research for my work-in-progress, “Below the Horizon,” I’ve discovered so much about Stonehenge that I might have never known.

For instance, the multi-stoned monument was not built as a burial ground or cemetery, as many once believed. Now it’s thought that Stonehenge was a community center, a place where the people of that time came to share news and trade goods.

Scientists have determined through carbon dating exactly where the stones came from and how old they are, and archeologists have discovered artifacts that have led them to believe that the people who lived there cooked over open fires and had a sense of true community.

How did they know to position those stones so that the sun rose directly overhead on the spring and autumn equinox? No one knows, and maybe that’s a mystery that will never be answered. It is nice to be able to think about it and create my own world out of that exact question…

To me, that’s the joy of writing fiction.

You get to build a world, populate it with interesting characters, and tell a story. I can’t wait to put this new book in your hands… and this time, the professionally narrated audiobook will be available immediately as well!

For now, get outside to enjoy these waning days of summer. Sit under a tree, head to the beach (if your surf isn’t too rough!) and read a book. You deserve the time to catch your breath and re-energize!

Hey there happy reader!

We’re inching closer to the publication of my new and improved small-town romance series, “The Gypsy Moth Chronicles,” and I couldn’t be more excited. As you know, I’ve signed on with Vinci Books, a London-based publisher specializing in working with indie authors like me.

I’ve shared the new cover art with you already, but here’s another look…

As soon as I have the publication date, I’ll let you know here first! 

And then, in a random and very cluttered antique store in Santa Rosa, California this weekend, I found these…

These two small dishes have gypsy moths painted on them! 

I think it was a sign letting me know that those books are going to make a splash once they hit the marketplace. Or at least I hope so…

This is one of the libraries at Oxford University…

I’ve been spending a lot of time with my work-in-progress, “Beyond the Horizon.” I’m incredibly invested in my two female protagonists, one (Maya) nearing the end of her career, the other (Miriam) just beginning hers. It’s an interesting juxtaposition; one I didn’t really plan on when I began writing this book.

It’s always fascinating to me when a novel takes a turn that I didn’t expect. No matter how many outlines I create, or how many notes I take, the characters always dictate the story – literally! I hear them telling me everything I need to know. 

The photo of the library above is a perfect example of that. When I started this novel, I had no idea what an important role it would play for one of my characters. Imagine discovering something unknown in a library within a book as ancient as the original printing press. It’s intriguing, right?

And while we’re on the topic of historical novels, who else is watching Diana Gabaldon’s “Blood of My Blood?” It’s the origin story of “Outlander,” and I’m hooked!

Hey there happy reader,

I can’t take much more of this oppressively humid summer heat. From the minute I step outside I feel like a wilted and soggy mess, and I count down the seconds until I can be back inside the air conditioning. Anyone else feeling this way? I’m longing for sweater weather!

I know that come February I’ll be cursing myself for feeling this way, but seriously… how much iced coffee can a girl drink?

I’ll stop complaining now and share some fun news… 

Here are two more new book covers for the re-release of “Perfectly Polite” and “Fabulously Flirty,” and I love them both! I think that the artist has truly captured the fun nature of these titles. I hope you like them as well!!

I look back at these books with such affection. 

I wrote them the year my sons were getting married (ninety days apart on two separate continents!) and I was obsessed with all the wedding related details that were constantly on my mind. It was a crazy time with a packed to-do list the length of my kitchen counter, and while I’m truly happy with how those two events turned out, I’m even happier that all of that is behind me!

Crazy, though… my husband and I are invited to six weddings in the coming months. I’ve got to dust my dancing shoes off and figure out what I’m going to wear, lol! Whatever I choose, I’ll post some pictures here…

For now, I’m going back down to my cave to write! My work-in-progress, “Below the Horizon,” is morphing into quite the page-turner. I can’t wait to share some of it with you in the coming weeks!

Hey there happy reader,

I feel a bit buried under piles and piles of work. Ugh!! I decided that my website needed a refresh. I mean, don’t we all after a bit?

My current website is the photo on the right, lol!!

I feel like I’m dusting the cobwebs from the corners of my website and tidying it up, getting ready for the re-release of my new book covers….and here they are!!!

I love them and I hope you do as well. 

I think the background colors really pop and reflect the season each book represents. As soon as I have the publication date, I’ll post it here first.

Is anyone else watching “The Gilded Age?” 

I am loving the attention to historical detail that Julian Fellowes puts into everything he does. From the costumes to the place settings at the very elaborate nightly dinners, everything matters. That’s why I like the task of researching history for a novel. It’s the small things that make the difference for readers.

That’s why the pieces of jewelry above are important to my Stonehenge story, “Below the Horizon.” 

These opulent artifacts were found in 1808 on the site in Salisbury Plain. They date back to the time when people were building and living at the monument. Clearly, they belonged to a woman of status and high rank. In my mind, they were worn by my protagonist, Maya. Intrigued? I sure hope so… I’m racing to the finish line to get this work to my editor!

Hey there happy reader!

As you know from last week’s newsletter, I’ve signed on with Vinci Books and they have a plan to re-release my backlist. They will publish “The Gypsy Moth Chronicles” first.

Here’s a sneak peek at my very first new cover…

I hope you love it as much as I do! 

I think it has a vintage postcard look and resembles something you might buy on a beach vacation to scribble a note or two to send to the folks back home! If you remember, “June” is the first of a five-book series, all small-town contemporary romances.

And just to clear up any confusion – I did have some people ask me this question – Vinci Books is not a traditional publisher, but rather they’re a hybrid one. 

“Publisher’s Weekly” explained it best. In an article about how British publishers are adapting and expanding into the US market, they said that new companies, “…like Vinci Books, a digital first publisher, works with independent authors using POD (print of demand) as a test case.” That means that if an e-book sells, they have large distribution channels and can ship physical copies out quickly to fill the need in the marketplace. For me, signing on with Vinci frees up more of my time that I can then dedicate to writing, and that makes me very happy!

I think that after Vinci publishes my first series, they may look to re-market “Perfectly Polite” and “Fabulously Flirty,” because while those books are standalones, they do share characters… the protagonists of those novels, Julie and Caroline, are best friends. I can’t wait to see what their art department comes up with for new covers for both!

Interestingly, the cover of my first historical novel was created by Stuart Bache who is now Vinci’s creative director. 

Something tells me that the cover for that novel, as well as the cover for “The Woodcarver’s Secret” (also designed by Stuart when he was still freelancing) won’t change at all, and that’s fine by me. I love the artwork on both of those books!

And I’m anxious to see what these creative minds dream up for “Below the Horizon,” my Stonehenge title. Of course, that all depends on when I finally finish writing it…

For now, I hope you are seeing the fruits (literally) of your garden. Our tomato plants are starting to look promising. I’m looking forward to juicy tomato sandwiches very, very soon! What do you have growing in your vegetable patch?

Hey there happy reader!

I’ve been writing and self-publishing since 2017. I’ve learned a lot along the way and have met amazing authors and readers in the most unexpected places. But nothing could have prepared me for the email I received from the publisher of Vinci Books…

Vinci is a British publishing company, specializing in works written by indie authors like me. They’ve asked me to come join them and have taken on my backlist – all my currently published titles – and will be rebranding them with new covers, as well as producing audio books and foreign translations. They will also be distributing my books in both brick-and-mortar stores and libraries…

YES! IT’S A DREAM COME TRUE!!!

The idea is to give me a chance to concentrate on my writing and let someone else deal with the social media, advertising, and sales aspects of book publishing.

I am so happy to turn that part of this job over to a group of professionals – it means more time to create and less time crunching numbers.

I have my first team meeting tomorrow, so I’ll have more to share as time goes on. 

Vinci is interested in my next book, “Below the Horizon” as well, and their artistic director is the person who designed two of my previous covers – “The Wick and the Flame” and “The Woodcarver’s Secret.” I’m excited to see what his cover concept will be for my Stonehenge project.

I guess it all boils down to this: I would not have been chosen for this bounty without all of YOU! 

I am grateful every day and look forward to bringing you more stories as time goes on. We’re in this together!