I am ridiculously happy to have attained another milestone in my writing career...I am the "cover blurber" on another author's new novel! This happens fairly often for New York Times bestselling authors. They are inundated with requests to comment on someone else's book. But for the rest of us, the vast majority of authors, it's … Continue reading Free Short Story if You Like Tall, Dark, and Dark…
I write to you this month as a fellow reader more than an author. Call me late to the game, but I have finally discovered the joy of audiobooks, even though my friends who only do audiobooks have been on me about this for ages. I usually read hard copy or ebooks, and am not … Continue reading How I Finally Became An Audiobook Listener
Book Update: I met recently with my new publisher, Blydyn Square Books, to kick off the production phase for my next novel, Unraveling Caro Dunn, which is due to be published in January 2027. Things start happening pretty quickly now (or "quickly" by publishing standards, anyway!). The book's interior will be created and formatted, the … Continue reading 2 People Who Inspire Me
Today, I get to share information with you that isn't usually available to authors or readers. But I'm burying the lead... My contemporary novel Beautiful and Terrible Things has won it's eighth award! Eighth! I am overwhelmed and grateful. The Wishing Shelf Book Awards out of the United Kingdom gave my book a Bronze in … Continue reading An Inside Look at What Contest Judges Really Think
Two quick items before I share the results of last month's book cover voting, and offer my slapdash review of new murder mystery The Bone Nest: #1 - Those of you who are aspiring authors might enjoy this Q&A I did recently with Publication Coach. It's a two-minute read max, and covers how I write, … Continue reading Your Book Cover Votes Are In!
I would love your input on a potential re-design of one of my book covers. Please help me decide if the new direction I'm considering is the right one! (And keep reading for a very fun way to decide if a book is something you want to read or not, in The Book Hook.) Why … Continue reading Vote for a Book Cover, Win a Prize
I know you don't sit around waiting for my next newsletter to appear in your inbox. But still, you may have noticed it's been a minute - about two months actually - since we've talked. My hiatus was for 2 reasons. First, I've been eyeball-deep in my works-in-progress: getting advance "blurbs" for Unraveling Caro Dunn, … Continue reading Where the Heck Have I Been?
One humble brag, two new podcast interviews and one opportunity for avid readers to take part in developing the next great reading app, all coming to you today. Wallace House of Pain Recognized...Again Taking deleted scenes from the full-length novel Beautiful and Terrible Things and turning them into a novelette called The Wallace House of … Continue reading What’s Your BookDNA?
I've been keeping it under wraps but a while ago, I signed a contract with Blydyn Square Books for the publication of my next contemporary novel, which is called Unraveling Caro Dunn. Ever wonder how publishers and authors choose book titles? I explain, and share some of the funny titles that were rejected, below. But … Continue reading New Book Deal!
Newsflash: Amazon, literally yesterday, lowered the paperback price for my 7-time award-winning novel Beautiful and Terrible Things, to $14.50. They do this sometimes, and don't bother telling us authors how long the sale will last. But click here if you're interested in grabbing a copy at the low sale price. (And if you prefer to … Continue reading The Best Kiss, Holiday Gifts & Best Books of 2025