“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry If you’re a planner addict like me, then you know what I’m talking about when I say that each morning when I’m writing out my daily task list and decorating it (yep… I do that), one of the things I like to... Continue Reading →
New Release: Autumn in Arborwood
I am thrilled to announce that my first contemporary romance novel, Autumn in Arborwood, is officially available. The long, long months I've spent bringing to life the worlds of my main characters, Jake Hanley and Ryan Mitchell, have come to an end. Will she open Jake's eyes to a world where community and family are... Continue Reading →
Autumn in Arborwood Excerpt – Chapter Six
With only five chapters to go in my upcoming novel, Autumn in Arborwood, I am excited to share an excerpt from the manuscript. SPARKS WILL FLY WHEN TWO WORLDS COLLIDE There is absolutely nowhere on earth that Ryan Mitchell would rather be than at home, in the picturesque town of Arborwood. As General Manager of... Continue Reading →
An Update on My Writing Space
Five years ago, I purchased a three-bedroom, raised bungalow that was in dire need of cosmetic repairs. It was my little fixer-upper, and she and I were going to get to know one another while I made her beautiful once again, while learning how to play with power tools. Five years on, and my little... Continue Reading →
Autumn in Arborwood – Introducing: Ryan Mitchell
In my last blog post, I admitted to a secret. It’s one that I share with laughing chagrin… I imagine celebrities as my main characters so that I can keep straight what they look like when I write about them. When I describe Emmie Tunstall’s sunny smile or Ciaran Halloran’s intense gaze, it is easier... Continue Reading →
Mathing, Visualization and Celebrity Tricks (or: How My Brain Works When Writing)
Math. I am no good at it. Nay—I suck. I’ve slipped below suckage at math and generally stagnate at the point below which suckage can eke its slurpy, slimy function. My newly-minted teenager, my “wee man,” on the other hand, is scary brilliant with numbers. Last year, when his class performed timed math tests, the... Continue Reading →
Authors: Why Reading is Also Your Job
“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” — Stephen King I read voraciously as a kid. From an early age, I indulged in the joys of immersing myself in words and the worlds they create. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, The... Continue Reading →
Introducing My Newest Work in Progress: Autumn in Arborwood
Hot on the heels of my latest release, I am pleased to announce that my next manuscript is well underway. The last four of my novels - The Ghosts of Tullybrae House, Shadow, The Other Side of Dawn and The Haunting of Tess - explored difficult topics for each protagonist, and took them on a... Continue Reading →
Never a Villain – Why I Love Writing Loveable Characters as an Author
Every good story has a villain… or does it? Villains certainly have their place in our literary landscape. What would Cinderella be without her Wicked Step Mother, after all? Or what would Coronation Street be without the likes of Richard Hillman, Maya Sharma and Pat Phelan creeping the cobbles? (Wuzzup, fellow Corrie fans!) A villain... Continue Reading →
New Release: The Haunting of Tess
I am thrilled to announce that my latest book, The Haunting of Tess, is now available. Huge thanks to M. Minas for her lovely cover. Click on the cover image to view on Amazon.com SOMETIMES THE PAST WHISPERS ITS SECRETS… When Tess Radcliffe - a young woman suffering the long-term effects of a head injury... Continue Reading →