What’s Your BookDNA?

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?

New Book Deal!

book wrapped in brown paper with a post it saying Unraveling Caro Dunn

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!

The Best Kiss, Holiday Gifts & Best Books of 2025

black and white dog holding Beautiful & Terrible Things, in front of a Christmas tree

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

True Crime Memoir Update & Book Deals

Blonde woman from the back, with the words "Stories from the Stage"

Work-in-Progress Update I've mentioned before that I am helping two friends write their true crime memoir. It's an incredibly compelling story -- so compelling that Michelle was asked to tell it on the PBS show "Stories from the Stage." Check out her 7-minute story here; it will whet your appetite for the full book, which … Continue reading True Crime Memoir Update & Book Deals

Win a Newly Released Novel, DARE

Iโ€™m excited to offer you the chance to win a free copy of the new novel DARE, a psychological thriller from Mimi Wahlfeldt, in either paperback or ebook format. I met Mimi through our publisher, and have read and loved both her books. Who is Mimi Wahlfeldt and What Does She Write? You know how … Continue reading Win a Newly Released Novel, DARE

Are There Only 2 Kinds of People in the World? / AI Reality Check

People seem to like this image, which had nearly a thousand likes on my TikTok, so I thought I'd share it with you. Buwan, or "Bu" as he's known to his friends, is the somewhat goofy guy in Beautiful & Terrible Things who nonetheless spouts nuggets of wisdom on important issues like coping with depression, … Continue reading Are There Only 2 Kinds of People in the World? / AI Reality Check

How to Watch Live Interview Tonight

promotional image showing interviewer Dr. Rhonda Lawson, author S.M. Stevens and audiobook narrator Nicole Cash

I'll be interviewed live on the Horizons Author Lounge podcast tonight (Monday, Aug. 4) at 7:00 PM EST. The interview will be 100% live, not "live to tape" like many interviews, or taped and then edited -- both of which allow the producer to edit out any really bad fumbles. So this should be fun! … Continue reading How to Watch Live Interview Tonight

New Trailer, and What’s in a Name?

book covers - horsehoes and hand grenades, and beautiful & terrible things

A heartfelt thank you to those who downloaded Beautiful & Terrible Things during the 2-day sale to celebrate the book's one-year anniversary! Would you believe that together we vaulted the novel into the #1 slot on Amazon's Romance Literary Fiction list for the day? Traditional romance novels follow a very specific formula that my book … Continue reading New Trailer, and What’s in a Name?

Beautiful and Terrible Things is FREE on July 18-19

large format poster of the Beautiful and Terrible Things book cover, in a park setting

If I may shout my excitement like a teenager, today's post brings super awesome, some might say epic, news: A huge sale, meaning FREE, in honor of the 1-year anniversary of Beautiful and Terrible Things Encouraging news about my next book Two major podcast interviews. Beautiful and Terrible Things is FREE for 2 Days Only … Continue reading Beautiful and Terrible Things is FREE on July 18-19

Book Excerpt: Why Does a Protest Become a Riot?

woman in a crowd on a city street, holding a sign with the cover of Beautiful & Terrible Things

When does a protest become a riot? More important, why does a protect become a riot? I dug deep into that topic before writing my extended protest scene for Beautiful and Terrible Things, to ensure its authenticity. (I have, thankfully, never been at a protest that turned violent.) As I suspected, a number of forces … Continue reading Book Excerpt: Why Does a Protest Become a Riot?