Autumn is my absolute favourite time of year. It is the season for which I wait most eagerly, the change in weather and general atmosphere for which I long from the bottom of my soul. The treetops, so vibrant in the sunlight that they are nearly luminescent, never fail to render me awestruck, and dreams... Continue Reading →
Novel Update: Beneath the Surface Chapter 1 (Excerpt)
Good morning, my friends! I am so excited to share my progress with Beneath the Surface, my current work-in-progress (for a book blurb, click here). This is the second book in the Hanley series, and follows my recently released contemporary romance novel, Autumn in Arborwood. This one was a fun one to write. Not only... Continue Reading →
Pride and Prejudice A&E vs. Feature Film – Which One is Better?
Knock me sideways! Did you know there is an active debate amongst Jane Austin fans about which version of Pride and Prejudice is better? I certainly didn’t, but apparently the contenders in the arena are the A&E six-part miniseries starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, and the 2005 feature film starring Keira Knightley and Matthew... Continue Reading →
Writers: How to Use Psychology to Make Your Characters Memorable
How many times have you read a book and fallen head over heels in love with a character because something about them just resonated with you? On the flip side, how many times have you read a book and found you wanted to smack the main character upside the head because they were so irredeemably... 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 →
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 →