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Dear Reader,
I suspect you’re equally excited to begin this fresh new year. I'm quite thankful that those I'm closest to haven't been too adversely affected by the pandemic and were able to spend some of last year exploring new hobbies and knocking out house projects. As a writer, I’m naturally introverted, and many of my favorite pastimes like hiking, gardening, and cooking were there to fall back on when I needed solace from the weighty news rocking the world in so many different ways. So, too, were the stories I was working on. Last spring, as I completed revisions on Summer by the River (releasing March 2), I was immersed in the fictional world set in a midwestern tea garden in the historic town of Galena, Illinois. In addition to taking twenty-five-year-old Josie Waterhill, the lead character, through her journey as she makes peace with her past and learns to embrace the life she’s created for herself, my thoughts were filled with Galena history, calming tea blends, mouth-watering quiche, and dense, salty scones that helped make the story’s setting come to life. It probably goes without saying I found it necessary to bake my share of quiches and scones while writing this book. As a happy consequence, I have a few favorite new recipes. If you like to bake, be sure to sign up for my newsletter as I’ll be sharing some of the ones mentioned in the book as we near the March 2nd release date. If you’ve never been, Galena is a quaint midwestern town tucked into the hillsides and bluffs along the Galena River. I highly recommend adding it to your list of places to visit as it becomes time to make travel plans again. One thing I love about Galena is that eighty-five percent of the buildings are on the historic register. You’re surrounded by Victorian mansions, cobblestone streets, and old red brick shops, restaurants, and homes. While walking through the town, it was if I was stepping back into history. Swept away as I was, I was inspired to work a bit of fictional Galena history into Summer by the River. Carter O’Brien, a freelance journalist from New York, arrives in Galena in hopes of learning the reason behind his grandfather’s disappearance in the town in 1940. While researching an unsolved murder which occurred that same year, he’s directed to speak with Myra Moore, the elderly owner of the tea garden where Josie works. Once there, not only does he unearth some unexpected history, but he also falls quite heavily for Josie, and an unlikely chain of events ensue. I hope you love this story as much as I do. I’m pleased to share that Main Street Books (a charming independent bookstore in St. Charles, Missouri, another historic town I adore) is taking orders for signed copies now through February 20th. If you haven't already done so, sign up for my newsletter (link at bottom of page) for a free short story, Food Truck Flirtation...with a Side of Naan. Subscribers can look forward to bimonthly newsletters that include release updates, giveaways, recipes, and--more than likely--a few cute dog and cats pictures as well.
Once subscribed, be sure to add to your "safe senders" list or to move to "Primary" if you have Gmail. Thanks readers for ALL your encouragement to keep this series coming! I'm SUPER excited to share that not only has the Rescue Me series been extended to a full 8 books, I've also signed with Sourcebooks for two single-titled works of Women's Fiction that will be interspersed between Rescue Me releases. And never fear, these new titles will have happy endings for both the two and four-legged kind, just like in Rescue Me series books.
Look out for Head Over Paws (Rescue Me book 5) to be released April 28, 2020, and check back here for future release information. Until then, I hope you love my newest release, Love at First Bark (Rescue Me book 4), as much as I loved writing it!
 Midwest readers, I'll be signing Sit, Stay, Love in Cincinnati at Books by the Banks.
If you live in the area, stop by! I'd love to meet you! Big news! To celebrate the release of Sit, Stay, Love, I'll be at The Ripped Bodice on Saturday, April 7th for a "Rescue Dogs and Romance" event. Adoptable dogs from A Purposeful Rescue will be on site, and I'll be there signing Sit, Stay, Love, Book 2 in the Rescue Me series. If you are in the LA area, please join us! If not, you can still order your own signed copy to be shipped April 10th.
I'm SO happy to announce that my Rescue Me series has been extended by Sourcebooks Casablanca for a full six books! The series will stay true to the first book, creating two-legged love connections for the staff and volunteers of the High Grove Animal Shelter, and finding forever homes for their four-legged friends. Future books will feature animals from a variety of circumstances that real life dogs and cats experience every day.
The second book in the series, Sit, Stay, Love, will be released April 3, 2018. |
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