Fiction Settings and their Stories

Fiction Settings and their Stories

As readers, we often choose a book by its setting. Certain places and historical periods intrigue us more than others.

As I thought about the settings of my novels, I realized some had stories or at least a connection of some kind to me and to my life. Several of my locations are fictitious, but there is still a personal link.

A Fresh Start

A Fresh Start

I love the New Year. Do you? Are you sad when Christmas ends (or are you glad to get back to normal?) I like the New Year because it feels like a fresh start. I take stock on the year that passed and come up with new goals and objectives for that start.

A Christmas Story that Makes Me Remember…

A Christmas Story that Makes Me Remember…

Is there a cold snap where you live? After a glorious Indian summer that lasted a long time, there’s one here. Piles of leaves on the ground, swish and crunch every time I leave the house. From now on, we’ll be at warp speed until January. Hold on tight! Do you enjoy the season? Or is it simply too hectic? As November closes, so does a promotion I did on One December. That book was the second one I’ve written, and the first one I published back in 2018. Over the years, I’ve edited it a few...
The Return of Brenner Falls . . . Book Two!

The Return of Brenner Falls . . . Book Two!

Custom Made is coming soon! Over halfway through summer, and I wonder where it all went. Is it just me, or does it feel like it just started? I hope yours has been fun and relaxing so far. Though I know not all summers are relaxing. That’s another story! During much of my summer (and spring) I focused on my biggest project of this year, Custom Made, the second book in the Brenner Falls Romance series. I’m nearly at the finish line and plan to launch it in August. I’m excited to share it...
Why and How to Write a Book Review

Why and How to Write a Book Review

Writing a Book Review: Why and How   You see a book that triggers your attention, but you don’t know the author. You might take a chance if the book’s on sale or free.   Why Reviews Are Important to Both Authors and Readers   Another influence is a review or taking note of the number of stars a book has. In the exponentially growing world of online book sales, reviews are important to both authors and readers. As a reader, I don’t need to tell you how useful it is when you look...
Falling Trees and Book News

Falling Trees and Book News

It’s been quite the year for trees. Last summer, I had to take 4 down. Then two more fell right after Christmas. What’s going on with the trees? I had to find out. I learned that the type of tree that kept falling, a beautiful type of cypress, also had shallow roots, even at physical maturity. Although they’d grown tall and lush with evergreen foliage, their roots didn’t go very deep. Once rains and winds came for a few days, down they went. (My long-suffering neighbor has had two of them fall...