Gratitude
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Focused on Writing
I’m in a weird place with this new work-in-progress. I like the story, I like the characters, but somehow I’m having a problem getting them to move along. I have more notes about this story, this new series, than I did starting out the Four Irish Brothers Winery series, mostly because I’m coming off those stories with this series, so character lists, place descriptions, etc. are already created, I’m just adding to them. But I also have more word notes, more conversation notes, more scene notes than any book I’ve ever written. It’s almost as if I’m writing the book in my notes, but when I get to the computer,…
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Annnd…It’s Monday, Friends
Wowzers, I can’t believe it is already the middle of August. Grandboy starts school today, online, the weather is pure Midwest summer–sultry with the occasional t-storm, and I’m still in book promotion. Meant to Be, book 2 in the Four Irish Brothers Winery series is free for a few days, so if you haven’t read it yet, here’s your chance. But hurry, it won’t stay free for very long! Today, my focus will be writing the new series. My amazing publisher has been doing workshops that have been incredibly inspiring, and now Ryker and Kitt’s story is bouncing around in my head like a tennis ball. It’s coming together, they’re…
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On Promotion…And Some News!
So…promotion…I’m not great at it. Some might even say I suck at it. I love writing, I love putting a new book out into the world, I love it when people read said book and leave glowing reviews. Heck, I don’t even mind not-so-glowing reviews–at least they read it, right? What I don’t love is promotion. I’m just not good at it–it doesn’t fit me. I’m uncomfortable in the Look-at-Me suit that you have to put on in order to market books. I’m fortunate that my publisher, Tule Publishing, is so great at helping out with promotion, otherwise I’d probably never sell a book. And they motivate me to get…
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Release Day Joy!
It is finally here, mes amies! Release day for THE BABY CONTRACT, book 4 in the Four Irish Brothers Winery series. I gotta tell you, I love this book, I love these characters! I hope you do too! She wants a baby…he wants a family Firefighter and paramedic Tierney Ashton has always been a bold adventurer, but at thirty-four she longs to embark on a new adventure—motherhood. But who will be the father? Although financially challenging, a sperm bank appears to be her best option. That is, until she shares her dream with her long-time pal, Brendan Flaherty. Government analyst and world traveler Brendan Flaherty returns home to River’s Edge…
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Fun Radio Interview!
I’m a radio star! Well, okay, maybe not a star, but I did have a fun interview with Patricia W. Fischer on Readers Entertainment Radio yesterday. She was delightful, asked great questions, and we chatted like old friends. Fastest 45 minutes I’ve spent in a long time. We talked books and reading and wine and writing and wine and new releases and wine… It was awesome! Take a listen and if you haven’t preordered The Baby Contract yet, now’s the time! She wants a baby…he wants a family Firefighter and paramedic Tierney Ashton has always been a bold adventurer, but at thirty-four she longs to embark on a new adventure—motherhood. But who…
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Happy Independence Day!
I considered writing a long post about July 4 and what it meant back when and what it means now, but someone else already did that. So go here and read Liz Flaherty’s message for July 4. I’ll wait. I’m simply going to share this photo from July 4 a couple of years ago–Son and Grandboy celebrating America’s independence exactly the way Husband and Son did more years ago than I care to mention. I love our lake life together and how much Son wants to share that world with his son. One of the blessed freedoms we have–to be able to share our history and our traditions with new…
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Book Blast Sign-Up Still Open!
I’m doing a Book Blast blog tour for the release of The Baby Contract, book 4 in the Four Irish Brothers Winery series, which releases on July 16 from Tule Publishing. I love this book and I hope everyone falls crazy in love with Brendan and Tierney! The Book Blast tour is from July 27 through July 31 with GoddessFish Promotions and will include lots of excerpts and reviews and an awesome giveaway for five lucky readers, so if you are a book blogger and want to join in the fun, please sign up here! Thanks everyone! Stay tuned for more book release fun! In the meantime, stay well, stay…
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Celebrating Mom’s Way
I was just in the kitchen putting baked beans together and it occurred to me how much of my Mom’s way of doing things I’ve brought to my own adulthood. Like, for instance, baked beans. Mother was always horrified at the idea of dumping a can of baked beans into a pot and warming it up right from the can. Instead, she drained the beans, put them in a casserole dish, added barbecue sauce, mustard, a chopped onion, and brown sugar. Then she placed two strips of bacon across the top in an X and put them in the oven. She baked them until they were dry enough that when…
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Brendan and Tierney–An Excerpt
Here’s a little sneak peak at a scene from The Baby Contract, Book 4 in the Four Irish Brothers Winery series releasing July 16, 2020 from Tule Publishing. You can preorder now and it will be waiting for you on your e-reader July 16! How fun! So, a little setup for this scene: Brendan Flaherty has just offered to father his friend Tierney Ashton’s baby. However, her idea of how it will all work is completely different from his! Enjoy the excerpt! Excerpt: The Baby Contract, Four Irish Brothers Winery, Book 4 She yanked a chair out and plopped down into it, tossing the damp crumpled paper towel on the…
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Happy New Year…
…and may 2020 bring all of you joy and peace and happiness. I know so many folks are doing a word for the year or making resolutions. I’m not. I’m simply going to make an effort to move forward and enjoy the journey. I am making some commitments. Not resolutions or huge lifestyle changes, but rather commitments to myself. One to take better care of me in all ways, but mostly by being more mindful each day. A commitment to finishing a book and getting a new series started. That means I need to step away from social media for a bit. I’m not going full-on hiatus, but I am…