A Story Rebirth

In January 2011, I signed my first publishing contract. Secret Cravings accepted my completed manuscript titled, Keeping Secrets. And in August 2011, Keeping Secrets was available for purchase. Unfortunately, three years later, Secret Cravings closed their doors. 

With the rights reverted back to me, I sought a new publisher. And in July 2014, I signed a contract with The Wild Rose Press with my book, now titled Twist of Faith. Twist of Faith was released in 2015, and had a great few years and even an extended contract. But at the end of the extension, and after ten years with that publisher, I claimed my rights back to Twist of Faith.

For two years, Twist of Faith sat in a file collecting dust, but I have good news to share! Twist of Faith is getting a rebirth. Edits to polish the story began yesterday! I'm excited to return to my first book publication from fifteen years ago. It's one of my favorite stories, and I can't wait to share it with readers again.

What Am I Missing?

I posted the above graphic on Instagram yesterday with the following text:

Hey Canadian Authors! Let's follow each other to connect and grow side by side. Comment where you're writing from. Tag a Canadian author friend who deserves a little spotlight. Let's make CanLit world feel a little cozier together. (And included a bunch of hashtags.)

This was my social media attempt to connect with Canadian authors/writers. Since posting that graphic, I received one new follower. And that one follower wasn't an author. It was a man who I'm assuming is looking to 'connect'. Well, that's NOT the connection I'm looking for. My bio on Instagram states 'Wife' therefore one should assume that I'm not single and looking to mingle. Needless to say, I did not follow him back.

I didn't post that graphic to increase my number of followers, however that would be nice. My goal was to connect with other writers from my country. I've seen other authors do this and it's worked for them. They had many people comment on their post. But mine...crickets. 

I sometimes wonder what I'm missing. What am I doing wrong? What's the secret to social media engagement? Would making a video of myself writing or talking about my books create interest? Is that the answer? Because if it is, then I give up right now. I'm not making videos of myself. I don't have time to record, edit, and upload videos everyday.

I'll leave that post up on Instagram for a few days, but if it doesn't receive any engagement, then I'll delete it. I don't have the social media magic potion. And you know what? That's okay. I don't want to be an influencer. I'm a writer who just wants to write books, and have readers enjoy them. Maybe, someday...when one of my books makes it really big on all the best sellers lists...the engagement will come looking for me, instead of me looking for it.

Writing a Synopsis

With my story complete, I'm hiding in my office today and working on writing a synopsis. For me, this is the worst part of the writing process. How do you sum up your story on one page? I thought a synopsis had to included details from chapter to chapter, but after doing a little research, it's not chapter by chapter, it's all about key elements in the story. I have an outline completed and need to fill in the blanks...unfortunately, it's those blanks that leave me blank. :-)

Saturdays - The End

I am so happy to share the news that last night, I reached The End of my manuscript!

I started 'Saturdays' in 2015 - eleven years ago. I created a note book with story details and characters. Then I got lost in Redford Falls, and didn't find my way back to Saturdays until the summer of 2025. But even then, another story grabbed my attention. Finally in April 2026, I picked up that notebook again and made new notes. I then opened the file on my computer and my fingers have been typing ever since. Last night, I finished the story!

I'm excited and sad...and even scared. 

I'm excited because I finally finished this project that has been screaming at me for eleven years. 

I'm also sad because I've spent the past four and a half months with these characters. How do I say goodbye? Or do I? <wink>

And I'm scared of what comes next. The writing is finished. The story needs a quick edit to cross all the Ts and dot all the Is, but now I need to decided on publication. What direction to I take with this manuscript?

Thankfully, I have plenty of time to be excited, sad, and scared. Right now, I'm just going to celebrate typing The End.

The Excitement is Building

I'm running a little late today...even though I was up early. We've been under a heatwave all week, and by mid-morning the temperature is stifling. I usually walk my dogs early anyway, but the past few days we've been out the door an hour earlier.

However, after our walk, I did some story research. I also fixed a scene that I thought about just as I fell asleep last night, because that's when most of my good ideas hit, lol. Then I had to read over the two chapters I wrote this week before sending them to my beta readers. I'm a perfectionist, so I like to send then my chapters as clean as possible.

This leads me to the explanation of the above graphic. I am so happy to share that I have reached my word count writing goal and have surpassed it! As well, I only have two chapters left to write and this story will be done. Yes, I said done! And as the graphic states, I am scared because writing this story has been a lot of work and I'm not sure what I'll do when it's done, but I'm more excited about finishing it, so that me - and my characters - can take a breath and a well-deserved break. The excitement is building as I reach The End.

Saturdays - Sneak Peek 3

My last Saturdays update was in May, so I'm overdue with sharing another sneak peek.

"Sometimes family finds its was back."

This is a fun teaser with photographs, memories, flowers, and hearts. The cute squirrel peaking from a tree isn't story related. He's just interested in what's going on with the story, too! :-) 

This is one of the longer books I've written. My word count goal is to reach 50k. I'm slowly reaching the end with 10k remaining. I have an idea where I want the story to end, but I don't know how many secrets I want to reveal in this particular book. I guess the characters will lead me in the right direction.

Throwback Thursday - The First Book

Today I'm reminiscing with a Throwback Thursday.

When I received my first publishing contract back in January 2011, I was over-the-moon. That day was a big moment for me as a writer, as I finally got my writing 'seen' as good enough to be published. The book was titled, Keeping Secrets, and was published by Secret Cravings Publishing. Keeping Secrets hit the eBook shelves in August 2011. Holding my first published paperback in my hands was the best feeling ever. Unfortunately, due to a family issue, Secret Cravings had to close their doors a few years later.

But that first publication was the start of something big. My next manuscript, One Sweet Christmas, was contracted by Escape Publishing in 2014, a digital imprint of Harlequin Australia, and they contracted another manuscript soon afterward.

Keeping Secrets didn't stay cold long. I edited the story and retitled it, Twist of Faith, and it was contracted by The Wild Rose Press, a New York publishing company in 2014.

I have a special place in my heart for that first book and not just because it was my first published manuscript. The story is one of my favorites as it takes place in Paris and Montreal. I now hold the rights to Twist of Faith and would like it to be republished on it's fifteenth birthday in August. Fingers crossed!

Saturdays - Sneak Peek 2

Here's another sneak peek at 'Saturdays'...

Thread...

Stitching...

A broken bond...

A final chance to heal.

Making good progress on this story. Started chapter nine.

Beta readers' comments are great :-)

Saturdays - Sneak Peek

When I finished edits on Derailed Hearts, I didn't know where to take my next writing step. Should I start edits on one of the three stories I received the rights back so they can return to the publishing world, or should I pick up one of several manuscripts already started?

Back in January, I had a reading done with Oracle cards and three of my manuscripts were highlighted. A family drama, a murder mystery, and a new story in my small-town series. While I'd love to return to Redford Falls...and to find out who the villain is in the mystery...the family drama won. The oracle cards claimed I would have a busy spring and it pointed to the family drama.

I blew the dust off the manuscript I started in 2015. I had a lot of new ideas about the story and opened a notebook to add the changes I wanted to make. My writing has progressed in the last eleven years, so I edited the prologued, and polished the first three chapters with tighter and new scenes. I then sent those pages to my beta readers and received wonderful feedback. They are both excited that I returned to this story and can't wait to read more.

This story is demanding to be finished, and I'm inspired to write it and to see it transform into a world of its own.

This is the first sneak peek. It has a new title, but I am only sharing it as 'Saturdays'. 

I'll share more sneak peeks as the story evolves

Disappointment Versus Triumph

Last week was a turmoil of emotions. I suffered a disappointment as well as a triumph.

Let's start with the disappointment...

I sent an email to a production company with a pitch for two of my screenplays - a holiday and a romcom. They responded that same day with a note saying they didn't have a need for those types of scripts at the moment, but if they receive requests in the next couple of months, they'd be happy to revisit them and include them in their pitch package. The email blew the wind out of my sails because I was hoping for a request to read. However, after sitting in my pool of disappointment for a few hours, I re-read the email and saw it as a positive response. Instead of ghosting my email, they at least responded. And, they didn't outright reject my pitch, so that's good news. And, there is the possibility that if they receive interest in those genres, that my screenplays could be revisited. Though while I won't hold my breath, I am staying hopeful.

Now on to the triumph...

The last Redford Falls book was republished last week. After receiving my rights back to six of the books in the series and wondering what to do with them, they each received new covers, a fresh round of edits (a couple went through full plot changes), and were republished. One Sweet Christmas, Winter's Kiss, Broken Branches, Secret Recipe, Legacy Lies Loyalty, and Derailed Hearts are all available on Amazon. They now join Trickster (book seven). To have this series once again available is a huge accomplishment.

So, while on Wednesday my sails were torn, they were repaired on Friday. Life has a way of lifting you up, dropping you, and then lifting you again. I guess this is what make us stronger.

Today, I found this quote...Stay inspired, never stop creating...and I'm making this my Spring inspiration. I have a few projects on my desk, and I just have to decide which one to start first, then I'm going to stay inspired and keep creating.

I'm waving goodbye to March and saying hello to a productive April.

Paperbacks Arrived

My paperbacks arrived yesterday!

As an author, there is nothing quite like receiving the print copies of your books in the mail AND to holding them in your hands.

I ordered a new copy of Cherry Red, my award-winning novel (I will never get tired of typing those words, lol) with a glossy cover. I had a matte copy, but the glossy cover is much better.

I was going to wait until all seven book were published in my Redford Falls series before ordering the paperbacks, but I couldn't wait. I had to see what they looked like. They are beautiful! The series looks cohesive and each cover is stunning. I designed these covers, so to see them 'in person' was the greatest feeling.

All the hard work a writer puts into a story is definitely rewarded when the paperback arrives and you get to flip through the pages. Sigh...

Why I'm A Writer #3

This week's 'why I'm a writer' is a fun one!

Yes, writers have imaginary friends, and with every new story, our imaginary circle of friends grows. Do they become real as they enter the pages within the book? Some might say they don't, but I disagree. Those imaginary friends, begin to evolve. They have real personalities, real problems, and their lives become real. And not just to the writer. They make friends with the reader.

I have to write a new scene, so if you have any questions about this post, please direct them to my imaginary friends.

January Wrap-Up

The snow and cold dominated most of January. Way below normal temperatures and a polar vortex, and snowstorms three weeks in a row. I spent a lot of time shoveling and plowing snow, and once that was done, I let the dogs have fun running through mountains of snow.

I celebrated a milestone birthday, which came and went. After clearing all that snow, I felt even older than the candles on my cake claimed I am.

I created a couple new art designs. I thought my artistic muse was hibernating for the winter, but I'm glad to have my creativity back.

Secret Recipe was published and now available on Amazon. I 'm so happy with the changes the plot went through. It's a much stronger story, and it has already received rave reviews.

I also edited a screenplay, which like Secret Recipe, is much stronger than its original work. Now I need to find a home for it.

I even managed to begin edits on Legacy Lies Loyalty. Stay tuned for more on that project.

Overall, I think it was a productive January...even if the weather dominated most of it.

Why I'm A Writer #2

This week's "Why I'm a Writer" statement is very true.

As an introvert, socializing is not at the top of my must-do list. Now, don't get me wrong, I do enjoy hanging out with my family, having lunch with a friend, or even talking to someone at the grocery store. But socializing isn't something I fee I 'have' to do. And being a writer allows me to hide in my writing cave where my only form of communication is through words...or with my dogs....who are great listeners.

As for my fully charged imagination, that's always running. The story ideas I have will keep me writing for years. Now, if I could just find the plug that goes from my imagination to my laptop.

Why I'm a Writer #1

Every Wednesday I'll post a new reason to explain why I'm a writer.

I thought this quote was a good start because how many writers just stare into space for minutes. And what are we thinking about as we stare into empty space?

Maybe we're thinking about a new plot twist. Or how to make a character more witty, emotional, or even villainous. Or how to make a setting more romantic or eerie. 

Or depending on where we're writing, maybe we're thinking about how to write something we've just witnessed into a scene. Or to add someone we've just seen into a chapter.

OR...maybe we're thinking about what to cook for supper. Or what we might wear tomorrow. Or if the weather will be warm enough to walk the dogs later.

Whatever a writer is thinking as we stare into space, we definitely have an excuse to call it working.

Am Writing - Winter 2026

This is my winter writing to-do list. The remaining books in my Redford Falls series will return!

Two have new titles. Secret Recipe replaces A Recipe For Forever (which replaced Nothing To Lose) and has a new plot. Legacy Lies and Loyalty replaces Finding Home Again.

Secret Recipe will hopefully be available within the next two weeks. Then edits start for Legacy Lies and Loyalty, which I'm hoping will only take a few weeks. And then a quick edit for Derailed Hearts.

I can't wait to have these books once again available for readers.

#amwriting #writer #writerlife #thewritelife

This Happened!

Cherry Red is now an award winning book!

Cherry Red was listed as a finalist in N.N. Light's 2025 Book Awards under their steamy romance category, and then went on to win the category!

I wouldn't classify Cherry Red as steamy. But maybe it's because Noah is a firefighter. Or maybe it's because Noah has two scenes in the book where he is bare chest and looking hot...and that's not firefighter pun, lol. So, I understand why a reader might consider Cherry Red steamy. Whether I think Cherry Red is steamy or not, doesn't matter. I'm beyond thrilled and honored to have Cherry Red win.

N.N. Light's Book Heaven reads hundreds of books a year, so to have Cherry Red be chosen as a finalist and then to win its category is an exciting accomplishment.

I can now add 'Award Winning Author' to my biography! :)