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, which comes out in early 2027; getting beta reader feedback for the true crime memoir I’m co-writing; and finishing up the first draft of my newest novel, tentatively called Discord. (And reading…always reading. See the bottom half of this email for what that means to you.)
Newsflash: Beautiful and Terrible Things won its 8th award – a Bronze from The Wishing Shelf Book Awards out of the U.K.
Second, I was enjoying quality time with my two kids in Fiji. Cross that location off the bucket list! If you hate jealousy-inducing vacation photos, please cover your eyes and skip these photos because it was fabulous…
What to Read?
I read so much in all genres – for fun, for research and to support fellow authors – that it’s a shame not to share some of my finds, since you obviously love to read too! And, with 4 million books released in 2025, we all need help deciding which ones to read. So, today I introduce what will be a semi-occasional feature — mini-reviews in an easy-to-digest format, of books I loved and wholeheartedly recommend. And, because I often get to read advance copies, many of the books will be new releases!
Book: Peg, Unhinged by Teri M. Brown, new release (April 21, 2026)
Genre: Cozy women’s fiction and beach read – literally, it takes place on the beach
Main Character: Peg, a woman of a certain age, successful real estate agent, less successful wife and mother – an imbalance that goes off the rails when menopausal hormones mess with her body chemistry and her common sense.
Why I Liked It: Laugh-out-loud scenes, groan-inducing bad choices and, ultimately, a sympathetic protagonist. I especially liked Peg’s honest chats with God, which become the sounding board she needs to probe her actions, face up to reality, and find the backbone to make a fresh start.
Who Else Might Like It: (1) People who like humorous stories about coming to terms with life’s vagaries and finding grace in the end. (2) Menopausal women who want to see themselves validated on the page. (3) Fans of Chick Lit or light Women’s Fiction.
Memorable Lines: “I haven’t felt this gawky since my first job interview in high school. Menopause and teenage hormones have a lot more in common than people think.”
Order it Here: Amazon or directly from the author’s website.
