“Use that fluff of yours you call a brain.” ― Agatha Christie Well, it looks like NaNoWriMo season is coming early for moi this year. Gemma has a story she wants to tell and has let me know she wants the writing to commence! One mustn't upset the muse, so I'm starting the seventh book in the My American Almost Royal Cousin Series. This time, we're back at Cherrywood Hall where the Maidenford village fete will be held (although we may have to include a London trip to Hillcrest

"Savannah is a lovely, gentle, sad old city. You can walk through the shadowy, cobbled streets of the town on a tranquil Sunday morning and feel the atmosphere heavy with the burden of lost greatness and relaxed by quiet decay..." Mills Lane This week I'm honored to have as my guest, #author Cathleen Maza. She's a multi-genre writer who certainly knows her way around a scary tale! Her #NewRelease, Savannah at Midnight, is an atmospheric collection of stories that whisks you a

What better way to celebrate #SummerReading season than an enchanting chat with a talented #writer who just happens to have a new #book releasing today (Blade of Truth)! Canadian author Lali Love's books #inspire and #entertain---without further adieu, let's chat with Lali: Q1. Lali, I have enjoyed reading your gorgeous, poetry/meditation book, The Joy of IT so much! I have it handy on my coffee table to open up and be inspired each day. The collection is awesome and the draw

"Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go..." E.L. Doctorow Words so true! I thought for this post I'd try to give a boost to my #writer friends and share a few #writing resources I (and others) have recently found useful to explore and utilize. I've seen quite a bit of frustration and gloom in tweets this past week on Twitter, ranging from the #Goodreads sudden deletion of #bookreviews (luckily it looks like most reviews have been restored) to pe

Well hello, June! With sun, sand and splashes in the pool, it's that most wonderful time of the year for book lovers...#SummerReading season! I'm particularly looking forward to jumping into my favorite genre, #cozymysteries with some beloved characters...a fav sleuth with fabulous heels, Agatha Raisin; divine attire with murder on the side, Phryne Fisher; a delightful, holiday, mystery sleuth, Lilly Carlsen; another crown-turning mystery with the debonair, Guy Harford; summe

This week I'm very excited to have as my guest, Canadian #author, Joanne Paulson! I've decided to feature fellow writers each month as we move into that all important and exciting, #SummerReading season. Joanne's mystery series rocks and I'm looking forward to hearing the exciting news on her latest, literary venture. Without further adieu, let's chat with Jo! Q1: Joanne, I'm a huge fan of your Adam and Grace mystery series. What was the inspiration for the characters and set

This week our escape from the family room #roadtrip takes us to the Sierra Mountains in northern California. We're headin' to the hills of Mammoth Mountain and the shores and mountain forests of Lake Tahoe. The good news is that there is still snow in 'them thar hills' making this #snowboot gal extremely happy! The feature pic ⏫ is of the Twin Lakes area in the Mammoth Mountain area. Unfortunately most of the lake view road was closed so this was the main water view to be had

What better way to close out #IndieApril than a chat with one of my favorite #Holiday mystery writers, the fabulous Amy Reade! I've read many of Amy's tales and am a huge fan of her Juniper Junction Holiday Mystery Series. Without further adieu, Ladies & Gents, #Author Amy Reade: Q1: Amy, I thoroughly enjoy reading your Juniper Junction Holiday Mystery Series--what inspired you to write it? Pssst..love the #Holiday theme! Thank you! I have grown to love these characters and t

💚“May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks. May your heart be as light as a song, may each day bring you bright, happy hours that stay with you all year long.” 💚Irish Proverb ☘🍀Top of the mornin' to ya and a very happy #StPatricksDay! ☘🍀 This is a day to celebrate your #Irish roots and perhaps tip a sip of Guinness, or in my case, Irish coffee. #Yummo The feature pic today is of the Blarney Castle, which is located near Cork, Ireland. We were lucky enough to have vis

"If not us, who? If not now, when?." ~ John F. Kennedy #HappyMarch! What better way to celebrate a new month than with a fav quote and new word to inspire you?! I think the Carpe Diem inspired questions of the former President are perfect for the je ne sais quoi of my post today. As for words, fecundity, is my choice for fav March lexeme (TYSM Brenda B., had to look this one up): The condition of being prolific; The use of imagination or original ideas to create something. I

Just four more days until the most #romantic, #chocolate overload day of the year! Since we're still pretty much in #lockdown limbo, I thought it would be fun to get a head start on the celebrating! #WhyNot In today's post, I thought I'd share some of my cherished memories from trips gone by that bring out the #amour in this #femme. 💖👑 #Paris In an unexpected, #writing twist for me--there is a trip to The City of Lights for a few of the characters in Twins in the City. I wo

Tick-tock...A short post this week--it's crunch time for me! I always have mixed emotions heading into the final stretch of a new book production. I really enjoy the time spent with my characters--figuring out what they're going to say and how they'll react to the situations I put them in. After the editing is completed and final changes made, I give them a final salute, until we meet again. I tend to get a bit teary eyed, but I know they're in good hands and hopefully provid

January has always been a fun month for us to travel--the #holidays are over, a #NewYear started, and it's a perfect time for me to enjoy a few weeks of cold weather. I thought I'd share some of our January pics from prior year travels since we're all kinda stuck in #lockdown mode these days. The feature picture⏫ is the Silfra Fissure in Iceland where I spent my 60th bday. We snorkeled in the 34 degree, ancient, iceberg waters that narrowly separate the North American and Eur

Happy Almost-New Year friends--welcome 2021! Counting down the final hours of 2020--this is one year I think the world will collectively give a 'BIG' kiss good-bye (Raspberries most likely)! It's time to move on in this new world order and I am determined to do it with gusto and a smile. My biggest lesson learned from this apocalyptical year is to not take anything for granted. We all witnessed life changes and diminished freedoms--our lives changed in a cosmic instant. I've

Happy almost Thanksgiving🦃! It's the day before the big eat-a-thon here in the U.S., a time to loosen those belts and enjoy the bounty of the kick-off of the holiday season with family and friends...OR NOT. Welcome to #Thanksgiving2020! Since lockdown/quarantine life began in March, I haven't worn a belt thanks to my constant wardrobe of fringed T-Party yoga pants as my go-to attire ( this girl from the 70s will never give up her fringe!). This year the big dinner will be a

Oh baby, it's a #bookcover reveal ⏫(turn up the sound)! It's that most wonderful time of year (to #promote and #sell those books) and what better way to celebrate for a #writer than a new title to reveal!? (plus I get to use an interrobang, how cool is that?!😁) I decided it was time to show the world my latest creation and give myself a #writing, um, incentive (ie if you #reveal it you must #write it🤪). Let's give Twins in the City: Playtime at Castlewood Manor a big #HearH

Happy Fall y'all, bring on the cool temps! Being back in the #writing zone for book 6 has had its ups and downs this past week. The good news is that I have loads of inspiring photographs to whisk me mentally to the streets and locales of London, the primary setting for my latest cozy mystery tale (BTW, does the scaffolding still surround Big Ben or are the repairs completed? Anyone, anyone?). I've been able to virtually traverse the locations with just enough detail as Gemma

It's that time of year once again--I'm back in the #writing zone with book 6 in the series: Twins in the City: Playtime at Castlewood Manor! We're hitting the shores of Bermuda and then heading to London, where Gemma and Kyle are on the hunt for a city abode. The feature pic this week is from Kensington Palace Gardens (surrounded by beautiful doorways--love the colors and architectural details!), one of the most exclusive streets in London, right behind Kensington Palace, and