Look carefully at that photo and you’ll see I’m holding 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 stars! And while I’m committed to unhitching my wagon from the stars — not making my writing career about reviews — I will treasure those 5 stars forever. I am blessed — yep, blessed is the absolutely best word — to be part of the …
In Others’ Words: Kindness
“The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own.” ~Benjamin Disraeli (1804 – 1881), British Prime Minister One of the greatest blessings in my life? The people in my life who believe in me. Sometimes I am my own worst enemy, tripping myself up with doubt, slowing …
Wish You Were Here: Burnout and Dreams Come True
I am a huge fan of burnout. Four years ago, my writing want-to burned down to the faintest of glimmers of my former passion. What I didn’t know was that moment of “I can’t do this anymore” exhaustion would bring me to today: the launch day for my debut novel, Wish You Were Here. In the early days of burnout, …
In Others’ Words: Anticipation
“Never forget that anticipation is an important part of life. Work’s important, family’s important, but without excitement, you have nothing. You’re cheating yourself if you refuse to enjoy what’s coming.” ~Nicholas Sparks, Three Weeks with My Brother Tomorrow all the anticipation comes to an end. On Tuesday, May 1, my debut novel Wish You Were Here hits the shelves …
In Others’ Words: Dreaming and Doing
“It may be that those who do most, dream most.” ~Stephen Butler Leacock, (1869-1944), Canadian author Life’s been a bit crazy lately, what with novel #1 launching May 1 and novel #2 due to my editor on May 1. Did anyone else notice that those two things happen on the same day? Sometimes when a friend asked me how I …
Wish You Were Here: What’s Up with the Llamas?
So, let’s talk llamas. I know, I know. I write romance. I should be introducing you to the hero in my debut novel, Wish You Were Here. But the llamas — Kuzko, Pacha and Banzai — have have always attracted a bit of attention along the way to publication. The conversation usually goes like this: Interested person: So what’s your …
In Others’ Words: You
“The better part of happiness is to wish to be what you are.” ~Desiderius Erasmus (1466? – 1536) , Catholic priest I gotta be honest with you: I wasted a lot of time thinking the only way I could be really, truly happy was if I was somebody else. Someone more like you, maybe. I spent a lot of time …
Wish You Were Here & One of My Favorite Things: Photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen
httpv://youtu.be/apXX4seSwyc During today’s two minute vlog I introduce you to one of my favorite things: the nature photography of Thomas Mangelsen. As I say in the vlog, one of the fun things about being a novelist is including things I love in my novels. And when I wrote my debut novel, Wish You Were Here, I decided to slip one …
In Others’ Words: Gifts
“A wonderful gift may not be wrapped as you expect.” ~Jonathan Lockwood Huie, author For the past 11 months, daily episodes of vertigo knocked my life off-kilter. Pardon the play on words. I’ve learned to throw humor at something that made me wonder if putting my mascara on is going to cause the world to rock-n-roll. The first episode …
In Others’ Words: Moments
“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the ‘Titanic’ who waved off the dessert cart?” Erma Bombeck (1927-1996), author & humorist Seems everyone’s talking about the Titanic these days, what with the 100th anniversary of the ship’s maiden voyage, when it sank after striking an iceberg. The movie “Titanic,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet has been re-released in …