I'm Officially an Indie Author!

Well, I have taken that first nerve-wracking, breathless step and become an indie author with my first self-published work. The best news for you? It's FREE! You can now download FINDING HOME through Smashwords, and soon, other outlets. Keep checking back as I add them to the book's page.

FINDING HOME is the story of Cecilia Marsh, who has come home after many years to the little town of Langley Mills, Wisconsin. There, she discovers the town hasn't forgotten her ... and it turns out, she hasn't forgotten it, either.

This story is close to my heart, as it is one of the first works I ever submitted to a writing contest, and it went on to win the 2008 Rebecca Eddy Memorial Writing Contest. I was so proud and honored to win this award, which celebrates a young woman to whom the written word was very special. I hope she'd be pleased at how the story turned out. I know I am, and I hope you will enjoy it, too.

Click here to get FINDING HOME for free!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads, uncles, stepdads, and father figures! I hope you have a fun, peaceful day doing what you love with the people you love. We spent yesterday with some old friends pitching horseshoes, and today, a family friend has put together a bowling party for all the dads in our circle. This evening, it's dinner with my stepdad. It's going to be a fun afternoon! Enjoy!

Learning from the Experts: Susan Gable and Holly Jacobs

A good writing workshop is informative.  A great workshop is informative and timely. Bestselling authors Susan Gable and Holly Jacobs presented the members of CNY Romance Writers today with a truly great workshop, covering not only how to infuse our writing with emotion, but a special presentation just for marketing and promotion.

The first portion of the workshop dealt with adding emotional resonance to characters, touching on the importance of delivering on our promises to the reader, whether it be solving a crime by the end of a mystery, or the happy ending that is a given for all true romance novels. Holly and Susan moved on to how to work with writing a series, including using a master character sheet or "book bible" which outlines all of a book's characters, plot points, and important details. This helps a writer keep everything in order when working on another book in the series.

Finally, they offered a detailed explanation of how to best market and promote our books in today's changing climate. Traditional publishers are no longer the only game in town. In fact, romance authors are leading the charge in indie publishing. We have more options than ever before, and it doesn't stop there. Holly and Susan gave us many possibilities, explaining that while there are multiple avenues, it isn't a "one size fits all" world out there. Use what's comfortable for us, they said. Facebook, Amazon, and BookBub are currently the big players, but new options are emerging all the time. I came home from this portion of the workshop with a few new tricks up my sleeve, and a better handle on the best marketing route for my writing career. I hope to be able to put this knowledge to work soon! If you get a chance to attend a workshop presented by these terrific speakers, I highly recommend taking it.