Happy New Year all! I pray this year is filled with blessings for you that allow you to be a blessing to someone else. I think we all can use a little of that, don’t you?

On the writing front, I heard from my Harlequin editor. My October 2013 release has a name! It will be called Warning Signs. My heroine is deaf and uses sign language to speak. A little play on words. I like it! Shows the danger, too, I think. And as soon as I have the cover and can post it, I will do so.

I am starting a bunch of book signings around the country this year. As I make my plans for conferences, I’m checking out the bookstores to schedule visits at the same time…take advantage of the expense.

First on the list, though, is Teaberry Treasures in CT. Contact me for details!! I would love to see you at a signing!

Previous Posts 

December 15th

REAL VIRTUE is out in paperback!  You can purchase it at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. And be sure to check out the book trailer, too!  

Sept. 28, 2012

Thanks you for stopping by my website! You came at an exciting time for me. I received the most wonderful news from my Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense publisher. My next book, currently titled Forever Silenced will be released next October, 2013!

June 1, 2012

 For those who like to answer discussion questions after reading a book, here are the questions to REAL VIRTUE:

1)  Real Virtue has many themes woven throughout, from gaming to mental illness to low self-esteem to the aftermath of war to the many attributes of virtue. What were some of the themes that were important or interesting to you? Did you come away with additional thoughts and ideas about them? What were they?

2)  Did the characters seem real and believable? Could you relate to any of their predicaments? To what extent do they remind you of yourself or someone you know, and did this lead to a new understanding or awareness of some aspect of your life or someone else’s that you might not have thought about before?

3)  How do the characters change or evolve throughout the course of the story? What events trigger such changes? Think about how you felt about the characters in the beginning. As the story progressed, did your opinion of them change? If so, were you surprised by the change? Were you surprised by anything else in the story? What was it?

4)  In what ways do the events in Real Virtue reveal evidence of the author’s world view? Did the author seem to appear in the book? How? Why? Was the presence of the author disruptive? Or did it seem appropriate/fitting?

5)  Would you recommend Real Virtue to a friend or family member? Is there someone in your mind right now who you think might enjoy this read? What would you say to them to encourage them to pick it up?

May 1, 2012

The benefits of joining a book club far outweigh the costs. Here are a few of those benefits:

1. I am exposed to reading material that I might otherwise pass over, or never hear of—and that includes people hearing about my books, too! But also, if I keep my mind open, I can learn about others’ experiences and how they have opted to look at the world as a result of them.

2. A book club keeps me in touch with the world. That doesn’t solely mean reaching readers, but also reading different genres and literature that expose me to different viewpoints I may not have encountered otherwise. It can only better my writing, right?

3. It’s a safe place to exchange and challenge ideas. Many times I just don’t like a book, but in the discussions I am able to listen to others share what they did like, and it may help me understand my own thoughts.

4. Readers are bright, knowledgeable and articulate people, and they make great friends. Who doesn’t need friends?

5. It’s an opportunity to make lifetime connections with people that go beyond following you on Twitter or liking your Facebook Fan Page.

The fact is, book clubs can open a lot of doors, and with so many to choose from, you’re bound to find one that will fit your style and genre. And if you belong to one, PLEASE RECOMMEND REAL VIRTUE AS A TO-BE-READ! I will be very grateful, for sure!

And here is a blurb about Real Virtue:

In a virtual reality game where she can fly, someone’s aiming to take her down.

 Mel Mesini is a New York City restaurateur and an avid virtual reality world traveler. She’s risen above her misfit life and now bears a striking resemblance to her glamorous gaming avatar. But her successful life—both online and in reality—takes a swerve the night her father is seriously injured in a hit-and-run. Mel is careened back to her judgmental hometown, where being the daughter of the town’s crazy lady had made her the outcast she was. To make matters worse, Officer Jeremy Stiles, the man whose harsh, rejecting words had cut her the deepest, is heading the investigation.

Jeremy knows he hurt Mel and attempts to make amends by finding her father’s assailant. When he realizes she’s the actual target, his plan for reconciliation turns to one of protection—whether she wants his help or not. What he wants are answers, especially about this online game she plays. Is it a harmless pastime as she says? Or is she using it to cover something up? As a faceless predator destroys the things that matter to her, Jeremy knows he’s running out of time before she loses the one thing that matters most—her real life.

 November 20, 2011

Welcome to my web page! Being Thanksgiving week, my heart is filled to the brim with thankfulness. My blessings are overflowing and abundant, and I have an attitude of gratitude for the many supportive and loving people in my life. But this week, I am especially thankful to God, who not only has poured out these blessings, but who also gave me talents and gifts to pass on and share. And one of these gifts is the art of writing.

For me, the written word is more than just ink on a page. It brings knowledge and understanding; peace and healing—and not just for the reader. I have penned my way through many a dark moment. (And I don’t mean the 2011 NE blackout) Writing countless journals, stories, lectures and teachings, even writing lesson plans for my home-schooled children has taught me more about my world and my life, and the lives of my characters, than any of my college professors. My writing has taken me on an amazing journey of victory, and if that’s all it ever amounted to be, never going further than my own private pages, it would be enough. Even if secretly I had dreamed for it to be more.

Of course, nothing is a secret to God, right? Which leads me to why I am especially thankful this week. As of this week, my dream is set to become a reality. And not the virtual kind as my story Real Virtue might have you believe. It is official. The ink is dry. I have signed a contract to have Real Virtue published by Soul Mate Publishing.

Stay tuned for more details coming soon!