Bucket List… What’s on yours?

Wow, it’s already Thursday. Not to mention I turned 52 today. When did that happen? Since I’m talking about time flying, my bucket list is getting yellow and foggy. Let’s see what is left on that old list.

1: Go to Montana – Still working on that one. But one day I’ll make that dream come true…

2: Become a published author – I made this dream come true in 2012 and have never looked back!

3: Own a horse ranch – Look, a girl can dream. This may never happen, but it will stay on this list.

4: Own a Baby Grand piano – I spent 8 years learning classical piano, so yeah, it’s still on the list.

5: Own a business – Checked this one off in 1996! Started an accounting business and it’s been awesome.

6: Take a trip to Tuscany – Well, I haven’t physically been to Tuscany, but in my writing, I feel like I’ve been there. One day!

7: Marry the man of my dreams – I accomplished this in 1994 when I married my wonderful, handsome husband.

8: Have children – This came true in 1999 when I was blessed with an amazing son.

Well, I could go on and on, but my list is pretty long. I add to it every year. As you can see, I’ve made some come to life, and others will come one day. Or so I hope. But it never hurts to dream… Dreams can come true if you truly believe!

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

PS – Here’s how I went to Tuscany!

It’s Thursday, let’s Throwback!

Today I want to throw it back to 2015 I wrote a book that would change so many things in my writing adventure. Check out this nice little emblem I was honored with for Tuscany.

Tuscany then led me down the traditional publishing route with a great publisher, Solstice Publishing. I was so excited as I signed that contract and began that part of my publishing journey.

Then in 2019, I took the ownership of my manuscript back and started a new journey. As you can see, Tuscany has taken me so many places, not to mention to Italy in my writing. I discovered so much through writing this novel and added a strong item to my bucket list, a trip to Tuscany. One day… But for now, I’ll stay rooted to the ground.

Tuscany

***Tuscany made it to the top 55 of 985 books in the SYTYCW contest through Harlequin***

Sometimes life leads us on a different path… Fall in love with Tuscany as you follow Lana on the adventure of a lifetime… When Lana Daniels, a simple girl from Georgia inherits a large olive farm in Tuscany, her world is turned upside down. Then she meets Romeo Russo, the farm’s foreman, the most handsome and infuriating man she had ever met. Romeo loves the farm and is afraid that Lana will ruin everything if she stays. But as he gets to know her, he can’t imagine the place without her. Just when he thinks that they can have something together, she finds out that she has three months to decide whether to stay in Italy or sell her grandmother’s legacy.
As accidents start to happen on the farm, Romeo and Lana try to figure out who is behind it all. The more they work together, the closer they get. When a lie tears Lana and Romeo apart, Lana disappears leaving Romeo confused. Can she stay away or will she sell the farm and never look back?.
Tuscany made it to the Top 55 out of 905 of Harlequin’s 2015 So You Think You Can Write Contest…

So, I hope you fall in love with a bit of Tuscany in this novel. I know I did!

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

From Tuscany & Beyond…

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https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B01M0MIB72&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_yaM0yb322RCQ8

Good Wednesday morning! Sorry, it’s been a little while since my last post. As most of you know, I’m an accountant, so this is my busy busy busy season! Not to mention I have a couple of writing deadlines, yes, I’m a glutton for punishment.

With Tuscany, I stepped out and took a chance. This book pulled at me like no other. I could see it being destined to do well. First step, I entered it into the Harlequin ‘So You Think You Can Write’ contest, with fingers crossed and anything else that would cross. It made it to the Top 55 of over 950 books. Yes, I did a happy dance and screamed. Even though it didn’t get any further, I knew it could go the distance.

Then, I decided to pitch it to Solstice Publishing, hoping they’d see what I saw and within 48 hours I had a lovely email from the editor. I’d sold Tuscany to Solstice and they wanted it. As most of you know, I’ve published 30 books, but this is the only one with a publisher other than myself. I’ve loved everything about the experience and wouldn’t change a thing. Solstice took Tuscany to news heights.

My dream for Tuscany is to see it one day make it into the hands of Hallmark Channel, but what romance author doesn’t dream of that. So, for now, I’ll keep typing away and dreaming of the day that it happens…

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Tuscany is a reality, today!

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Tuscany is up and running on Amazon. Here’s the link to the book preview. https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B01M0MIB72&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_H2M7xbPHRZJFN

Here’s a little snippet from Tuscany:

That night, after her soak in the tub, Lana stood in the French doors to Mama Leona’s old room, watching the moon rise over the fields. With all she’d learned over the last twenty-four hours her head was spinning. This place was beautiful and felt magical. Tomorrow, she’d bury her grandmother and start a new life. But what would that life hold? Leaning her head against the door she thought about Romeo and his change in attitude since their arrival. Maybe they could become friends. She pulled out the journal and opened it up, only to shut it quickly. Maybe after the funeral she’d be able to 13 • Tuscany grasp what this leather-bound book held, but not tonight. The past could wait another day. For now, she wanted to climb into the large four-poster bed, with cream sheer curtains and slip back into the dream from earlier. As she drifted off to sleep she wondered if she’d find true love in Tuscany or was that just her grandmother’s wishful, romantic way of thinking? Romeo stood under the tree just beyond the house, watching Lana. This woman was like nothing he’d ever seen. The moonlight glistened off her blond hair as she stood gazing out at the night sky. For some reason, his heart skipped a beat at just the sight. She made him feel out of sorts, and it wasn’t a feeling he liked. Growling in frustration, he turned and headed toward the stables. A moonlit ride was just what he needed.

As I said, just a little snippet. The link I’ve included above will give you more than this, but I can assure you, this story will pull you in and leave you wanting more!

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Foggy morning in Georgia…

It’s Monday… That’s enough to say about that! LOL! Monday is Monday, plain and simple.

Tuscany is coming in 12 days… The dream that was born in 2015 is finally becoming a reality. When I sat down to type the first word of this book, it was with a happy and excited heart. This story had pulled at me for years, but nothing fell together, until that morning that I woke with the story fully in my head.

This story fell into place like a well-known puzzle, one that had been put together several times and could be completed with little effort. It was like I was filled with the story from Tuscany. As I researched Tuscany, I could see the scenes playing out in the pictures of the beautiful places that I saw.

But now, that story gets to told over and over as readers eyes scanned the words and fall in love with Tuscany as I did. Each reader will fall in love with Romeo and Lana. They’ll fall in love with Olive Hill and want to go there. With each word they read, I hope they’ll see the love that fills every one of them. Love’s Legacy…

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Tuscany is coming…Official Release

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This is one happy author this morning! Tuscany which was contracted with Solstice publishing will officially release September 30th! To say I’m excited doesn’t even touch the pounding of my heart this morning.

Tuscany has been such a special book for me. It carried me to the top 55 of Harlequins So You Think You Can Write contest and now it’s about to be published by Solstice! Something happened to me as I wrote this book, I grew as a writer. I stepped out of my box and pushed the international envelope, carrying the writer to Tuscany, Italy in this sweet romance. I can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with Lana and Romeo!

I’ll be posting more as the links are available, but save the date, September 30th! To say I’ll be blowing social media up that day is an understatement.

So, here’s to good writing and May God bless You…

Covers…Edits…Excitement

It’s Friday! Plain and simple, I’m ready for the weekend. It’s been a busy week in the accounting office, along with the fact that I’ve had a summer cold which has made put me in slow motion, so my writing has suffered, but hopefully this weekend I’ll make it up.

As for my book Tuscany, which is in the hands of Solstice Publishing, is moving forward. I turned in the last of the heavy edits this week. I’ve learned a lot during these edits. My editor from Solstice has been wonderful. She actually made it a learning process. Her comments were inspiring and some were even comical, which made it a fun time, which is unusual for editing.

Yes, I’ve seen the cover that has been designed for Tuscany, but I can’t share it yet. As soon as I’m given the go ahead, I’ll be sharing it. Let’s just say, I’m excited. The book is beyond the first editing process and now will go on to the run through to make sure that everything was addressed before it goes to publication. So, hope to have some publishing news soon!

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

If I could go anywhere…

Good morning! It’s Saturday and sunny, but really cold here in Georgia. I was thinking about things on my bucket list. Do you have one? Come on, you know there’s something you’d like to do before you leave this place or maybe somewhere you’d like to go.

For me, I’ve always wanted to visit Switzerland. Even when I was young, I’d dream of the snow-capped alps and green meadows below. Once I wrote to the Swiss tourist bureau about a report I was doing on Switzerland. They sent me a whole package on the country. It was great as I went through all the pictures and pamphlets. I was in a dream world, for a while at least.

Well, since I did the research for my book, Tuscany, I’ve added that to my bucket list. As I researched the places and food in Tuscany, my heart was lost to it. Maybe one day I’ll brave a plane trip over there, but I don’t know. It’s nice to dream about it. Since I’m a writer, I can live through my characters. When I wrote Tuscany, I imagined being there. It took me away to another place. Once the book was at the end, I felt sad. So, yes another book set in Tuscany will be on the horizon, but probably for next year.

So, if you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Switzerland Tuscany

As my finger hovered…

Well, it’s a little warmer this morning here in the south, but not by much. The trees outside are beginning to turn slightly, some a little more, which tells me my favorite time of year is upon us. I love the Fall.

But on to the post. Last night I did something that quite frankly scared me to death. No, I didn’t go to a haunted house, not one for those at all! I waited patiently, not exactly patiently, but somewhat, for the final notifications to stream in on the Top 25 for the SYTYCW15 contest. Deep down I knew my name wasn’t on the list, but I had to know for sure before I made a life changing decision. Let me just say this, I was so honored and totally humbled to have made the Top 55 among so many great authors, it was a little overwhelming if I’m to be totally honest.

So as I sat last night, playing with the decision at hand, I took a deep breath and jumped. Yes, I hit submit on Tuscany, meaning it’s in Harlequin’s hands now. To what end, I’m not sure, but we’ll just have to see. This book was totally different from my other ones, it was like a part of my soul went with it last night. Was this the right decision? I think so.

Recently I was on a discussion on Twitter with a couple of Harlequin editors and I asked about this type of book. Would it be something that they’d look at? Immediately a couple of them tagged other editors with Harlequin, stating it was what they were currently looking for. That intrigued me enough to hit the submit button last night.

As for Tuscany’s presence on Wattpad, I don’t know. I’ll probably pull it soon, but for now I’ll leave it there. I’ve received a couple of really great reviews. One said simply, but powerfully, “SWOON!”. This made me smile because I almost swooned as I typed the last paragraph of this book and if you have read it then you know why. Then this morning I received another review stating and I quote, “Wow! One of the best books I’ve ever read on Wattpad or anywhere else for that matter!!” With wonderful reviews like that, I just have this feeling. It’s the feeling I had the first time I hit the submit on Ghost Lover, my first published book. And I’ve never regretted that move, not even once 😉

So, with that said, I’ll keep you updated on what’s happening, but I know it will be a while before I hear anything, if I hear at all.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

The letter that started Tuscany’s story!

Just to get you up to speed on what’s happening, Tuscany, my newest manuscript has made it to the top 55 in Harlequin’s SYTYCW15 contest. I’m posting like a crazy woman trying to get to the top 25, but I have to get enough votes to do so. If you get a moment, please give a vote on Wattpad at https://www.wattpad.com/161892410-tuscany-sytycw15-pitch-part-1

So, in the last two posts I introduced you to Lana and Romeo, now let me give you an idea of what Lana’s up against. Here’s the letter she received from her grandmother at the time of her death. This would definitely be an eye opener.

My Dearest Lana Rose,

I know you have many questions for this old woman, but first things first… Don’t you dare shed any tears for me. I’m in a good place surrounded by my loved ones.

Now for the reason you’re on this plane…I want to be buried in Tuscany where I left my heart over forty years ago. I know I never told you about that part of my life, but there was a reason.

When you arrive in Tuscany, a wonderful couple will meet you at the airport. Roberto and Marianna have been my friends for many, many years. They will take you to my small olive farm, Olive Hill. Another secret I know, but that too will come to light soon.

I want you to try it for a year. If after a year you’re not happy, then Roberto is prepared to sell everything and send you back to Georgia. But please give it a year. I know you’ll love it there. It’s the most beautiful place on earth and the magic it holds is beyond anything you’ve ever seen.

You should have my journal safely with you. As instructed, I want you to wait until you’re at the house before you open it. Everything will be explained in the pages of my journal.

I’ve raised you to be independent and I expect you to pull your weight at the farm. And please give your heart a chance to love. If you can fall in love anywhere, it’s Tuscany. Your heart will guide you in the right direction, but first you have to open it up to the possibility of love.

Roberto has my burial instructions and will follow them exactly as I’ve specified. Marianna will help you with the house. She’s an angel and I wouldn’t have made it through my youth without her.

Now you take care of yourself and remember that I love you with everything I have. We’ll be together again one day, but until then please be happy.

Love Abounds,

Mama Leona

Are you a little intrigued, if so go by and vote. Let’s see Tuscany in a Harlequin cover!

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