Getting real: ‘I got the call’ Q&A with Harlequin is live!
I was excited when my editor invited me to participate in the ‘I got the call’ Q&A series with my new publisher. But even though I’ve conducted interviews in the industry from the driver’s seat for years, the view from the passenger seat looked a bit scarier! So after drafting my responses, I asked my…
What you see is what you get: standing by your word
During the past year, I’ve encountered a startling number of people who say one thing to me, while their actions speak something entirely different. On a recent podcast, the presenter shared insights about what integrity means to her: being dependable, following through on promises, arriving on time, etc. Admittedly, throughout my own life, I’ve fallen…
Rootbound vs. adventure-bound: selecting your course
I’ve discovered I can’t sit still for long anymore. Oh, I’m able to stay put for 45-minute writing sprints that often morph into an hour and a half until I force myself to take a break. But when it comes to where I’m planted—whether in a particular home, vocation or season—my roots seem to need…
Work-life balance: streamlining our time
“Something’s going to give…” While that’s a line mined from my debut Harlequin Love Inspired novel releasing in 2024, it had been mirroring real-life. Although I can sit at my laptop for 8½ hours while on deadline, when I emerge from my fictional world, my task list is still begging for attention. This arrangement may…
When you’re ill-prepared: speaking of backups
Funny story: a couple weeks ago, my husband and I packed for an overnight trip to the “big city” for various appointments. I was rather proud of how quickly we were on the road. All went well, until the next day when we attempted to head home and the roads traveling back up to the…
Contingency mindset: backing up your best laid plans
When my husband and I moved to Northern Arizona’s Rim Country a year ago, we already had an unlimited data plan for our phones, so reliable Wi-Fi was our biggest concern for internet usage. We received provider suggestions from others who reside in our community (population 599) and settled on one that has kept us…
Books, books + more books: working through my TBR
Because I write romance, it might come as a surprise that I gravitate toward reading psychological thrillers. Lately, however, I’ve been devouring nonfiction (with a fictional romance thrown in). Here’s a shout out to the top five books in my (to be) read pile: If by Mark Batterson Trading our if-only regrets for God’s what-if…
Letting go: opportunities to grow
Let go of the old so you can completely take hold of the new. ~ Joyce Meyers As we welcome spring’s official appearance in Northern Arizona’s Rim Country, the possibility of a new season breathes fresh life into me. But without the end of one season, we can’t welcome a new season—which holds true in…
Answering the call: stepping into a new season
Although March came in like a lion and snow still lingers on the ground in my slice of the forest, I recently spotted a robin—a hopeful sign that spring is just around the corner. And while it was fun to experience a “real” winter after 22 years, I’m looking forward to the promise of a…
Doing it all over again: if I knew then what I know now
A year ago, my husband and I set in motion a series of leaps (of faith) that turned our well-laid retirement planning into a buckle-up-for-the-ride-of-a-lifetime adventure. But to say we were unprepared would be an understatement. For example, what if we’d known our small town would receive a record snowfall (with only front-wheel drive vehicles…
Mining everyday moments: stories waiting to be told
I’ve always enjoyed learning how other writers develop their story ideas. Which inspired me to start paying closer attention to the random snippets of conversation and everyday moments I encounter on any given day. For instance, a couple months ago, while standing in the middle of a caulk aisle at the hardware store as my…
Compound interest: accruing momentum for the climb
It’s hard to believe the end of February is right around the corner. On the creative front, the year began with a big bang. Within the first two weeks, I received green lights on a few of my submissions to smaller publications. I don’t know about you, but when things get off to a stellar…