When the words get blurry…

23173416364_e8f8ee489e_s Good morning! Smile, we’re halfway to the weekend.

As I sit here, working on my manuscripts in process, I’m glad to have the words coming back into my head. For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been struggling with the words. Since I had the Norovirus, my head has been fuzzy, which made for a bad writing time. I actually went for a solid week and didn’t write not one word! Although the characters were in my head, screaming nicely, I couldn’t get my head wrapped around anything.

So, what do you do when the words get blurry? Well, for me, I stepped back. But, deep inside my heart, I was wanting to write. Several times I picked up my laptop and opened Scrivener, trying to get the words to come forward, but nothing came. My characters were just blurting out jumbled up words that made no sense. Now, I could’ve written what was coming into my head, but believe me when I tell you, it wouldn’t have made the bestseller’s list by no means.

But, as I sit here, I’m smiling because the words are back. Of course, since I’m an Accountant, this is my busy time, so my time is limited, but I’m grabbing every spare moment, trying to catch up on my word count. And you know how I am about getting my word count in.

So, with that being said, I’d better get back to writing because I only have another twenty minutes this morning before I need to get to the office and back to accounting. I do hope everyone stays healthy and safe during this flu season!

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Snow Day Today…

Good afternoon! It’s a cold, but beautiful day here in Georgia. We’re enjoying the snow,

which isn’t something we get to enjoy very much. I love to watch it snow, but it snowed while we slept, so I get to enjoy looking out at it.

Now, with a huge pot of chili simmering on the stove and a warm fire crackling in the fireplace, I’m sitting with my laptop, enjoying a rare mid-week writing time. At this time I’m normally elbow deep in accounting, but not today. It’s a rare treat which I’m getting to take part in.

So, what are you up to on this beautifully cold day?

As always, great writing and May God Bless You…

Happy New Year!

Wow, it’s 2018! As we say goodbye to the old year and hello to the new, remember to make this new year even better than the last year. Let’s strive to do something for ourselves and others every day.

The last year held some great times, but also many sad times. My writing evolved and I managed to publish 8 books in 2017. I’m excited about all the projects that I have coming up in 2018 and can’t wait to tell you about them, but that will come later.

So, here’s to wishing all of you a Happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Baking…Baking…Dieting!

Good Thursday morning! So, it’s that time of year when you just feel the need to bake. Since hubby is diabetic, I’m careful to do sugar-free goodies mixed in with the sugary confections.

Every year I have certain things I bake for all my family. Of course, everyone has their suggestions. So, I always have rice krispy treats, haystacks, sugar cookies, brownies, lemon pies (recipe is at the end of A Christmas to Remember) and cakes. Oh, did I mention that I’m also on a diet, soooooo, yep, this is hard.

Hunter, my son, usually helps with some of the baking, but once I finish his favorites, he leaves the kitchen with a plate of goodies and lets me finish the rest on my own. But he shows up in time to lick the spoon before I toss it in the sink.

So, what do you bake during Christmas? Do you have traditions?

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

A little Monday Motivation…

monday

Good morning all! Yeah, I know, it’s Monday… I’m not ready to start the day yet, but my office won’t run itself, so…

Ok, so, you need some Monday Motivation. Here goes… As a writer, you have a story to tell. It fills your head and makes you crazy. The story wreaks havoc on every other part of your day, but, I have good news. Even if you can’t figure out the whole story just yet, it helps to just go ahead and put it on paper. If you at least let the characters talk for a little while, they’ll leave you alone for a few minutes.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Christmas Memories…

Christmas memories are covering my tree. I have several ornaments that hold special meaning and decorations that have been passed down for generations. It’s those special tokens of a time past that make me smile as I lovingly hang them on the tree or place in a safe place on the mantel.

Take for instance this little bear. This was hung on the tree for our son’s first Christmas. Every year when I hang it, I can see his little eyes filling with wonder at all the lights and trying his best to reach the ornaments from his walker. Those were such special moments that I cherish.

Of course, then I have the many ornaments that our son made over the years. Each one is a treasure. I have a special box that holds those ornaments. Every year they grace our tree and bring on memories.

Now, this little reindeer is older than me, which we won’t discuss how old that it. This ornament was my grandmothers and every year she let me and my brother hang ornaments on her little tree. It was only about three foot tall and set on a round table by the window. This little reindeer was the ornament I always hung. Although it’s looking worn and if it wasn’t made of plastic, it would’ve fallen apart a long time ago, it still graces my tree.

These memories are what fill my many Christmas romances that I’ve published over the last couple of years. I always put a little of my experiences in each one. Like with A Christmas to Remember, I put some of our families favorite recipes in the back.

And one of my bucket list items is to go to Switzerland around Christmas, which is what happens with Lacey in Open the Heart…

And then there’s this years Christmas release, which offers a look into my world of reading and loving bookstores. Hideaway Lane has a quaint little bookstore that is all decked out for Christmas…

I’ve written several Christmas romances but this is just three of the memorable ones. So, what are your Christmas memories?

As always, good writing and May God Bless you…

Christmas romance…

Procrastinating…

Good morning! Yes, I’m sitting here, procrastinating by the Christmas tree. I blame it on the Christmas season and that’s all there is to it. Well, maybe not all there is… I’m working on the 3rd book of the Wishful Harbor series and my mind keeps drifting to the Hallmark movie that’s on, then the Christmas shopping I need to do, and oh, let’s don’t forget the work in my office that needs tending to.

But, the characters keep slipping into my daydreams, telling me to get to work so they can tell their story. Yeah, they are quite bossy. Of course, as I sit here, fingers hovered over the keyboard, the excitement of a new story fills my heart. In the coming weeks there will be a cover reveal, a snippet here and there, then when the time is right, I’ll reveal the release date.

So, on to the procrastinating, um, I mean writing 😉

As always, good writing, and May God Bless You…

Hideaway Lane is now available…

Good morning! It’s my favorite time of year when our tree is up, the fire is crackling and there’s a chill in the air. And of course, we’ve already gotten a little snow here in Georgia and on my birthday weekend, so that’s awesome.

My Wishful Harbor Series is something I’ve dreamed of doing for a long time and now the 2nd book in the series is out, which makes me so happy. This book is a sweet romance that is filled with mystery, old crushes, and the spirit of Christmas in a small town.

So, if you need something to read when you are sitting by your Christmas tree or even by a crackling fire, then grab a copy today. For the first-week release celebration, I’m keeping it at .99!

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Words on a page…

Good Saturday morning! I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving. Mine was wonderful. Now the Christmas season is officially in full swing, which excites me. This is my favorite time of year.

As for words, sometimes as a writer, the words are slow to come. It’s the dreaded ‘writer’s block’ that every writer fears. That happened this month with my Christmas book that’s being released in a very, very short time. The words were there, then I developed a horrible cold, needing medication which made my head go fuzzy. Well, the words came to a halt.

I sat with my fingers hovered over the keyboard, trying to form the story that was inside my head. I could see it, hear the characters screaming, but for some reason, the words wouldn’t come out of my fingers onto the screen. It can get frustrating when you’re up against a deadline and the words just seem to be within reach, but won’t come.

But then, as I lay awake, coughing like a crazy person, it all flowed in like a wave of a storm. The areas that I was unsure of, came rushing in. That’s when another problem reared its ugly head, I couldn’t type fast enough and my time became limited, with holiday preparations and life. But now, it’s on the page and almost ready for release day. Some stories come in like a lion, then others hold back, waiting until just the right moment to stream in.

The funny thing is, if I’d rushed the story, it wouldn’t be what it is. This story is such a sweet story and I know that taking the time to listen to my characters and taking a short break helped build the story.

As always, great writing and May God Bless You… Hideaway Lane Cover