Best Assistant…

kaleigh

Good Saturday morning everyone! Hope you’re having a good start to the weekend. Today’s post is about my writing and accounting assistant, Kaleigh.

Some of you, especially if you’re part of my street team, have met her through posts. She’s the person in the background that takes care of my website, my covers, my book designs and my sanity. It helps that she’s my niece, so she has a little of me running through her veins.

Kaleigh attends the University of Georgia and is finishing up her Poultry Science degree. I’ve had her with me again for the last three weeks, but sadly yesterday was the last day at the office for us for a while. But she takes care of me from afar, somebody has to.

She is the one that keeps me grounded, reminding me of release dates, word counts and such. A lot of times she has to get stern with me when it comes to my manuscripts. When she sees something that doesn’t work, she’ll tell me, but sometimes I push back. But in the end, we compromise and make the changes needed. Another issue will be sayings I use or names that make her laugh and shake her head, telling me no I can’t do that.

Everyone needs an assistant like her, because it makes things easier. I probably don’t tell her enough, but I appreciate everything she does to keep me on the right track.

Take the time this weekend to enjoy yourself. We’re not promised tomorrow.

As always, good writing and may God Bless You…

Setting of your book…

Good morning peeps! It’s finally Friday, yea! Hope all is well with you and yours…

Ok, so you’re beginning a new storyline and you have the main characters, the emotional pulls ready, the cover, but what about the setting, the background? Where is your book set? Is it in a small southern town, a wintery northern suburb, or maybe a foreign city?

Good question, huh? When I started writing Tuscany, well, it was a no-brainer. But some of my other books it wasn’t as easy. Here are some things I took into consideration before selecting where the book would be set.

First and foremost, I had to sit down and figure out my main character’s occupation. If they were a stock broker, well, I’d probably set it near a big, metropolitan city. What if they were a cowboy, then it would need to be a country setting, for the most part. Then of course, if it was a snow ski instructor, well, you get the picture.

A couple of my books don’t really tell where they are and there’s not a lot of detail about the surrounding area, only details regarding their immediate surroundings. As with Tuscany, since I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting, I had to delve into posts upon posts upon posts about the region, the food, and everything Tuscany. It was wonderful, like a mini vacation in my head. Hey, I’m a writer, I can take a vacation in my head and I don’t even need sunscreen 😉

So, do you know where your book is set? Is it an important part of the writing process? I think so, for the most part.

As always, Great writing and May God Bless You…

Just another reminder, my over 40 romance will be released on February 17th, but it’s available on pre-order now at these links:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/605289

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seaside-beginnings-stephanie-payne-hurt/1123226112?ean=2940152555912

Romancing the New Year…

Good Tuesday morning peeps! How’s your new year so far? Mine has been busy. Of course tax season starts this month, not to mention the end of the year reports, income statements, W-2’s and 1099’s are all due out. Oh, and did I mention my newest book is set to release February 17th.

Whew, yeah, it’s a little busy, but those that have been reading my blog for a while, you know this is when I’m in my element. My new book is coming along great and in line with the deadline. Let’s hope it stays that way. I just need a couple of more hours in the day, but don’t we all?

Have you added any romance into the new year yet? If you haven’t, then go to any of the book sites and you’ll find something in the romance genre you like. Just cuddle up with a blanket and get lost. Hopefully I’ll have a little time in the next couple of days to do that, but for now, I’m cuddled up in a blanket, by the fire, sipping coffee and writing. Then it’s off to the office for a day filled with cleaning, organizing and setting up appointments.

Hope you’re day is going well.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Just a little reminder, “Seaside Beginnings” is on preorder at Amazon and Smashwords. Go by and get your copy preordered so it will be delivered on the release date…

By the way, tomorrow I’ll be talking taxes and the author! So come back for a little tax advice…

Seaside Beginnings

Seaside Beginnings front cover

“The moment she stepped out of the SUV, she took a deep, cleansing breath. A smile spread across her face as the smell of sea air filled her to the core. She followed Dan up on the porch, noticing the splintered boards and wicker furniture that was falling apart. Once she walked inside the front door, a feeling came over her and it wasn’t a hot flash, it was the feeling of coming home.”

When Maddy loses her husband, she has to start her life over at 45. She decides to follow her dream of buying a Bed and Breakfast, and quickly learns its more work than she thought. The infuriating contractor she hires to help out is stubborn and hard headed, and they quickly become best friends. But will Seaside Beginnings bring them closer or tear them apart?

Now available for preorder at Amazon.com

Happy New Year!

Ok, so how many of you have made a New Year’s resolution? I’ve made a couple of the normal ones, better health, lose weight, better organization. We’ll see how that goes. Also, I’ve made a couple of writing resolutions. I have a list of books and release dates that I plan to keep to the date.

Tonight I’ll celebrate the New Year with my Church family. We always have finger foods around 9, then music until close to midnight. Then we’ll all join around the altar, holding hands and praying in the new year. It’s such a special way to bring in each new year.

How do you celebrate? What are your resolutions? Hope I bring more romance to the world, one book at a time 😉

Happy New Year to all my friends and family! Wish all of you a prosperous and healthy new year!

As always, great writing and May God Bless You… See you next year…

Still in holiday mode…

Are you still in holiday mode? I’m heading back to the office for two more days, then off for the rest of the year. My brain is in holiday mode and working today and tomorrow will be difficult.

With tax season coming on in a couple of weeks, my life will get busy, really busy. So I’ve been enjoying a little time off. My writing has been put on hold too, although my writer’s mind is totally not agreeing with that. But I’ve been finishing my IRS testing and it takes a lot of my time. Hopefully, I’ll have that done today.

This has been the best Christmas in a long time and I’m smiling as I think about it. I feel like 2016 will be an amazing year.

As always, great writing and May God Bless you…

Feeling Christmas…

My view as I write this morning. As Christmas draws near, I feel all smiley. I love Christmas, all the elements, the tree, the decorations, the lights, etc. I enjoy getting into the Christmas frame of mind. It would help if it wasn’t unseasonably warm here in Georgia.

Of course, as I sit here, writing this post, I’m thinking of the Savior’s birthday. That’s why I love to decorate and brighten up the whole house with the signs of Christmas because it’s a celebration.

Well, back to my writing. I’ve got a couple of projects in the making and hope to have them ready soon.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

A Christmas to Remember…

A Christmas To Remember Front

Well, with a happy heart, I release A Christmas to Remember today! It’s been a crazy year, writing 6 books to complete the series. Funny thing is, it was originally only 5, but the characters pushed for this last, sweet book of memories, recipes and little surprises. This book brought me to happy tears and it’s straight from my heart to yours. So I hope you enjoy it!

I’ll be offering bundles soon of the whole Five Oaks Ranch series books! Thanks to the fans of the Five Oaks Ranch for believing in the story and characters. The comments I’ve received have been so sweet and make me smile. Ridge was even honored with a nice gold 5-star review from Readers Favorite! His cover wears the honor proudly!

As we begin to say goodbye to 2015, I’m planning the release dates for 2016 books. I have several in the outline stage ready to come alive. A couple are already in the works, so keep watching out for upcoming releases.

As always, great writing and May God Bless You…

Maggie’s Release!

Maggie front cover

Maggie will be available by tomorrow morning! I can’t wait for you to meet the last Cauthen sibling. She’s sassy, loving, adored by her brothers and has a secret…

You’ll fall in love with her story. It’s a story of secrets, love, and family.

So, have a happy Monday and remember, get Maggie before the Christmas edition comes out the end of this week.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Throwback Thursday Cowboy!

Ghost Lover Advertising

This is the cowboy that started it all, my writing career that is. It’s hard to believe how long it’s been since Ghost Lover was published. 2012 was an exciting year, I took the leap into publishing my writing.

Let’s take a look at the book that led me down this wonderful road as an author.

Ghost Lover letter

I know, this was a sneaky thing to do, but this is one of my many favorite parts of this book. The letter that took them to a whole new world. Go by and check out Ghost Lover. I know you’ll fall in love with the love story of Jessie and Jared, I did!

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…