The manuscript hit my inbox with an electronic thud that still rings in my ears. No joke. Secret Beach Boyfriend. What had I gotten myself into? Seriously! One of the best things about these Independence Islands Series books is that I'm the content editor. That means I get to read them Continue Reading
Giveaways
Announcing: The Top Foodie Items You Loved
Well, I think we've established that I am not part of the cool crowd. Everyone has their favorites... I'm just not one of them. Want me to prove it? Well, let's look at the foodie contest winners! I had seven chances to "win" the contest between the authors from our "Foodie release" and... Continue Reading
Time to Spice Up Your Life—and Your Reading!
Have I lost my ever-lovin' mind? Am I now writing "Christian erotica?" Excuse me while I laugh and hurl at the same time. Oops. One more. Just a second. Okay, now that I'm back down to chortles and snickers at the idea I could even manage it if I wanted to (anyone who knows me knows I'm Continue Reading
Excited to Share This Great New Service
I don't always recall how I met certain authors or publicity folks, but I remember when I met her. An author I didn't really know well reached out and invited me to be in a collection with her and a few others. We had a great run for a few months and by then I'd made a few new friends. Among those Continue Reading
What Happens When a Character Demands a Book?
“What other books is she in?” Do all authors get that question? I wonder. You see, it’s one I hear almost every time a reader and I chat about a character he or she likes. We’ll talk about flaws and annoyances—fun fact: most of the time I’m annoyed abot the same things my readers are—and Continue Reading
Only I Would Do Something So Stupid… and Fun!
Dishes clinked, silverware rattled, and 80s music that I didn’t like when it was popular pulsed through Denny’s. Clark sat across from me, ready to talk about The Agency Files. You know Clark. THIS GUY? I had a nebulous idea… fledgling. I wanted Flynne to be forced to play agent. Clark Continue Reading
How to Have a Jane Austen Valentine’s Day
Pretty in Print It was all quite incredible, really. A flowery Valentine card, filled with his eloquent poetry, had been sent to the wrong lady. And so charmed was she by this, that he was now her bridegroom. Well, a week from now he would be. At the moment Sir Walter Elliot sat gazing at a Continue Reading
3 Most Important Reasons You Should “Always” Leave a Review
Mortification, thy name is Chautona. That’s about how I felt when I saw the review. The 1-star review. For my children’s novel—Shadows & Secrets. I did not like the storyline - not quite believable. Too much juicy sex for my taste. Strike it out for me.” The storyline was fantasy. Um, Continue Reading
Have I Got a Birthday Gift for YOU!
The paper cutter sliced through another sheet of cardstock—another. One by one, I stacked sheets in piles. The base, the image layer, patterned paper, ribbons, tags… Once I’d gathered all the pieces, assembly began. Some needed coloring, others just layering. As much as I love to use ribbons and Continue Reading
How My Heart Attack Sent My Husband to the ER
Christmas Adam 2016. Balmy weather, palm trees, beautiful houses built into the side of a hill—every traditionalist’s Christmas dream, right? I’ll confess. I didn’t want to be there, and not just because I’m a natural homebody. Perhaps if it had been a Currier and Ives scene. A farmhouse, Continue Reading
How to Destroy Your Life in 3 Super-Easy Steps
I wanted this to be “Ella’s Best Tips for Creating an Exciting New Life.” And to be fair, when you have no memory of life at all, anything is exciting. I get that. Still, if anyone knows how to “reinvent” herself, it’s Ella. So, I sat down and talked to her. This was supposed to be an interview, but Continue Reading
How a Dear Friend Inspired an Interesting Minor Character
I met her on a homeschool message board—one of those old-school things where great long multi-nested threads went on and on about everything from math curricula to that oh, so annoying, “But what about socialization?” question. She was a quiltmaker. So was I. She loved dressmaking. So did I. Continue Reading
