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In Memory of Kyle–An Elegant Mourning
Today’s post is a repeat of one that I’ve done before, but I’m posting it again in memory of my nephew, Kyle Alexander, who died twelve years ago today. My buddy, Tim Moody (whom we lost two years ago), wrote some music after he first read this piece about Kyle and PJ. He named it An Elegant Mourning and it’s lovely. I like to imagine Kyle and Tim up in heaven making music together, because I’m certain God brings all his musician angels together now and then, and that heaven is frequently one big jam session. Please listen. God bless you, Kyle and you too, Timmie, and peace be with…
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8-Sentence Sunday
How did it get be Sunday again already? Whew! Well, we’re still in The Summer of Second Chances, Book 3 of the Women of Willow Bay series. I’m jumping ahead a little (and using some creative punctuation to bring you this snippet). Ben has been in Willow Bay for two weeks. While he’s been busy writing, Sophie Russo has been drooling over him. She’s torn between finding out if he’s feeling the same attraction she’s feeling and believing it’s best to suck it up and just remain friends and colleagues. When she shares her dilemma with Jules, her friend encourages her to go for it, to enjoy a hot summer…
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Welcome Linda Morris!
Today, I’m welcoming Linda Morris to the blog. She is a writer of contemporary romance. She writes stories with heart and heat, along with a joke or two thrown in. Her book Melting the Millionaire’s Heart was an Amazon Top 100 Series Romance bestseller. Its sequel, The Mason Dixon Line, released this month. Her vacation fling romance, Nice Work if You Can Get It, will be published by Swoon Romance in 2014. When she’s not writing, working as a freelance editor, or mommying, she’s doing yoga, reading, working in her flower garden, or baking delicious things she probably shouldn’t eat. She believes that there are two kinds of people: pie people and cake people,…
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8-Sentence Sunday
Happy 8-Sentence Sunday, Mes Amies! I’m continuing the meet-cute scene between Sophie and Ben from my no-longer-untitled third Women of Willow Bay novel (title reveal coming up). Freelance editor Sophie Russo and author Ben Dugan have just seen each other for the first time after working together for over ten years. All their communication has been via email and telephone, so when Ben arrives in Willow Bay, Michigan to rent one of Sophie’s summer cottages in order to finish his novel, it’s their first face-to-face meeting. It’s the night before he’s due, and clad in jammies, wearing no makeup, and with her hair tossed up in a ponytail, Sophie’s slipped…
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8-Sentence Sunday
It’s good to be back! I decided to just pull a random 8-sentence scene from Book 3 of the Women of Willow Bay this week, so here goes. Set-up is that 45-year-old freelance editor Sophie Russo is moving permanently to her summer home in Willow Bay, Michigan. Her dear grandfather has died and left her two cottages, so she’s settling into one and renting the other to her friend and colleague, Ben Dugan. At 51, Ben is newly divorced and pretty gun-shy about women. Sophie and Ben have worked together for 10 years, but they’ve never met in person, so this scene is from the first face-to-face “meet-cute” as he…
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Happy Valentine’s Week Sale!
Fabulous news, Mes Amies! In honor of Valentine’s Day and love and yes, even in honor of great sex after forty, the Women of Willow Bay novels are on sale! For one week only, exclusively on Amazon, you can get both Once More From the Top and Sex and the Widow Miles for the low, low price of just $2.99! Don’t miss this chance to buy both books in this romantic series at an amazing discount. Grab the Women of Willow books now, and thank you for sharing my faith in romance and falling in love after forty! After Valentines Day, this wonderful sale will be over…
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Please Go Vote in the JABBIC
I’m so excited! Both the covers from the first two Women of Willow Bay series books are entered in the Houston RWA’s Judge-a-Book-by-Its-Cover contest. The contest is judged by booksellers around the world and there is even a special part of the contest where readers get a chance to judge. My covers are so wondrous! I love them because they’re different and kinda retro and very me. The fabulous Lani Diane Rich of Storywonk did these covers for me and she captured perfectly the look and feel of my Baby Boomer romances. I wanted some thing different from the usual fare—no naked chests, no heaving bosoms, no sweaty clinches, no…
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January Memos
Dear Snow, Um, I’m fairly sure we’ve had this talk before. Need I remind you that the holidays are over? You kinda blew white Christmas for us, and although I thank you for the big storm that gave me extra time with Son, DIL, and Grandboy, I’m ready for you to go away now. Oh, and take your pal, sub-zero temperatures with you. Scram! Slippin’ & Slidin’, Nan **** Dear Writers of Downton Abbey, **Spoiler Alert!!** Really? You had to go there? You couldn’t leave Anna and Mr. Bates alone for one freakin’ season? Please, fix this immediately and let’s get back to the charming banter and great story lines…
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New Year, Big News!
Happy New Year, Mes Amies! We had a wondrous start to 2014 with our dear lake pals, who spent New Year’s Eve with us here at home. They all stayed overnight to have a special New Year’s Day breakfast. Champagne and wine flowed, and a delicious supper and yummy breakfast filled our bellies with bliss. The house was full of laughter and love, and Husband and I were thrilled to host these lovely folks. My big news is that the first two books of my Women of Willow Bay series are now available on Nook, Kobo, and Smashwords platforms! I’m so excited to offer these romantic books to my readers…
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December Memos
Dear Snow, So you couldn’t hang around for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? What’s up with that? It’s 8 degrees outside, so a little of the white stuff wouldn’t be out of line here. Shiveringly, Nan **** Dear James Taylor, Thank you for your Christmas CD! It’s awesome and I’ve nearly worn it out this Christmas. I especially love your rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “River.” You are, as always, amazing. Caroling, Nan **** Dear Christmas Cookies and Fudge in the Freezer, Shut up! Resistingly, Nan **** Dear Grandboy, What a wonderful time Pops and I had watching you and Daddy baking this past weekend. Skype surely rocks! You’re such a…