FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER

Posted April 3, 2024

Dear Reader,

Recently, I invited readers on Facebook to ask their most interesting questions, which I’ll answer in this newsletter. Some of the questions really surprised me. . . and I think the answers will surprise you!

Before I get to that, I want to let you know quickly that two of my older books are being reissued in ebook format with new covers and new titles. My publisher doesn’t do this to try to trick readers into buying the same book twice. They do it because trends change, and they know that these stories will appeal to today’s readers, even if the old titles don’t. This is why it’s such a good idea to be on my mailing list, so I can let you know when a book is new, and when it’s a reissue.

If you haven’t read these stories yet, I do think you’ll love them. They are super romantic and heartwarming. They’re also quick reads, with a tighter focus on the love story.

HOME WITH YOU, originally published as Expecting! Available Now

FOREVER, FINALLY, originally published as Lily’s Expecting Coming April 29

INFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

“Tell us about your family. I know you’re married. Do you have any children or stepchildren? Do you have siblings?” – Nancy J

I am married. Our first date was in the romance section at Barnes & Noble. I was instantly smitten, and all these years later, my heart still lifts when I hear his voice. I don’t have any children of my own, but I do have a stepson. I’m an only child, which I think is why I write so many books with big families—it’s wish fulfillment, of a sort. When I was a kid, one of my friends had a large family, and I loved visiting her house because there was always someone to play with.

“When you write a book do you ever see yourself as one of the characters?” – Jane T

Each character is her or his own person, with their own thoughts and opinions that are sometimes very different from my own. But as I write, I do immerse myself in the point-of-view character, so that I can feel every emotion that they feel. If I don’t feel what they’re feeling, I can’t convey that emotion to you, so it’s very important for me to feel deeply connected.

While I never base a character on myself, there are some characters with whom I have more in common than others. Erica in my upcoming book For the Love of Summer, for example. I think she and I are a lot alike, although she has a much better wardrobe and sense of style than I do. But the way we care about the people we love, and our insecurities, are similar.

“Do you give your cats treats? What kinds?” – Vickie W

Alex is a delicate flower, on a very restricted diet on vet’s advice, so much to his dismay, I can’t give him treats. He is very vocal in his displeasure, believe me. Often at around 1:30 am.

“Do you ever take a vacation-vacation or is it a vacation with one of those moments where you are thinking about your next book? In other words , do you turn your writer mind off when you take a vacation or is it on 24/7 ?” – Mildred R

My husband and I travel a fair amount, so I’m not always 100% on vacation when we’re away. The amount and type of work that I do depends on where I am in a book. It’s really, really hard for me to get back into writing a book after a couple weeks of being completely disconnected from it, so I find it helpful to write an hour or so every morning to keep myself immersed in the story. Then I can hit the ground running when we get home.

If I happen to be between books, I can more easily take time off, and I do. That said, I’m always excited to get started on the next book, which I will have been brainstorming for at least a few months by then. So even when I’m not working, sometimes my brain rebels and gives me ideas that are just too fabulous to ignore. In that case, I spend as little time as possible writing up my thoughts before they dissipate into the ether.

I also try to keep my brain and heart open for new story ideas. So if I’m having a conversation with someone, and they say something that sparks something inside me, I make note of it. It doesn’t feel like working, though, in the sense that it disrupts the vacation. It’s a joy when this happens and only makes me feel happier and more relaxed.

“Do you have a favorite author and have you met them?” – Chris F

This question has gotten me in trouble in the past. Many of my friends are writers, and I accidentally hurt a friend’s feelings when I forgot to mention her. (And she truly was and is a writer whose books I adore!) So I won’t name a favorite, but I will share a story. . . 

When I was a fairly new author, only published a few years, I went to a writing conference. It was thrilling to be there, and I was very much aware of my low position on the totem pole. I was standing in the hotel lobby and felt this wave of excitement, energy, and murmurs sweeping across the room. Coming down the escalator was Linda Howard! I loved her! It was such a thrill to see her in person. Later in the conference, she led a workshop I attended, and I was almost giddy with excitement.

That’s why, when I wrote The Summer Book Club, one of the books that the characters read was Mackenzie’s Mountain by Linda Howard. It was my tribute to a writer who inspired me, and whose work helped shape my storytelling.

“What would you do for work/career if you weren’t a writer?” – Samantha D

I genuinely have no other skills. I would be in trouble if I ever had to get a job because I have no experience outside of writing books. I majored in accounting because I’m a practical person and that seemed like a way that I could support myself, but once I realized that regular people like me could be professional writers, that was it. I took the leap and followed my dream.

“Would you ever think about writing another book on Fool’s Gold?” – June T

I loved writing the Fool’s Gold books! They were such a joy. I never say never, but I don’t have any more Fool’s Gold books planned at this time.

However, I did publish a Fool’s Gold novella titled A Fool’s Gold Wedding as a 10th anniversary celebration in 2020. It was the perfect vehicle to catch up with a lot of the prior characters, because Abby Hendrix asked many of the earlier couples for advice on a long, happy marriage, as a wedding gift for her sister. If you missed it, you can learn more about it here.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

On my website, you’ll find answers to more frequently asked questions, such as where I get ideas, how I got started writing, how long it takes me to write a book, and more.

 

COMING SOON

Hope you enjoyed this sneak peek into my life!

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