Excerpt Tuesday: Meet Matt & Manni – Our Next Couple

Open book with space for saying, quotes, excerpts. Chat symbol. Outline.

In Windsinger, we met Manni, an Earthsinger who’s got a bad feeling about the state of the world. We also meet Matt, a trucker with a heart of gold and dog who’s one smart cookie.

We get to know them a bit better in Seasinger, and by the end of that book we set them up for book three: Earthsinger.

Here’s a little peek at the moment Manni and Matt come face-to-face…. Continue reading

What Goes Into Cover Design?

Quite a bit, actually. Take my pirate romance novel, Eight Nights At Sea, for instance. I originally had this cover on it:

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It was a pre-made cover I got off a website, and I thought it captured the steamy elements of my novel well. What it didn’t do, however, was tell you anything about the book. So I worked with my cover designer (the amazing Colleen Clarke at Mystique Book Designs) and the conversation went like this: Continue reading

Excerpt Tuesday: Some Auld Acquaintences Need To Be Forgotten

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In this chapter from Seasinger, we get to watch as Grad Student Shira Wen takes on an old nemesis – one who made her undergrad life a living hell. He’s back, and worse, he’s her new boss…


“Dr. Agostino.”
Shira stepped into the office late the following afternoon, pushing the door wider and refusing when he gestured to the chair. Robert let out a gust of air that was something like an exasperated sigh, then got to his feet to step around her and close the door. She stepped away as he passed, moving back after he resumed his spot behind the desk.
“Please,” he said, gesturing at the chair again. “Sit down.”
“That’s okay. I can’t stay long.”
“I realize it’s the end of the work day, but this won’t take long.”
“I have quizzes to grade, and I’m compiling my notes from yesterday’s dig.”
“I’m aware of that,” Robert said, smiling. “Sit.”
She stared at him, arms crossed and clearly not budging.
“Do I have to remind you that your funding – and your performance review – are in my hands now?” he said, with a placating sort of smile. “You can stare daggers at me just as easily from a seated position. And we have a lot to go over.” Continue reading

Book Excerpt Tuesday: When A Pirate Makes Amends, He Really Makes Amends…

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In this scene from Eight Nights At Sea, our intrepid Pirate Captain Zephyr has just arrived back at his cabin after an argument of epic proportions his beautiful stowaway Rina – one that ended with her knocking him on his behind with a sack of flour and several strategically launched apples.

Zeph knows he was behaving badly, and he’s ready to make amends… Continue reading

A Funny Thing Happens When You Give Away Books

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I don’t, as a rule, advocate doing all your work for free. Nothing chafes me more than people who reach out to me, asking me to guest blog for this or provide content for that, and for payment, they have this wonderful thing called “exposure” instead of cash.

‘Cause that buys a whole lot of groceries, let me tell you. I pay my mortgage in “exposure” all the time. Continue reading

Book Excerpt Tuesday: Take A Trip To Ireland!

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Since I’m going to be giving it away for free (yes, FREE!) on St. Paddy’s Day, I thought I’d give you another peek at Amy and Michael’s story, Someday In Dublin.

In this scene, Michael has agreed to drive Amy to Galway, saving her a train ticket and prolonging their time together. Along the way, they learn a little more about each other, and Amy learns all about scenic Irish back roads… Continue reading

This St. Patrick’s Day – Fall In Love For FREE!

Sea landscape with the eye of Ireland in Howth, Ireland.

That’s right – for one day, and one day only, Someday In Dublin is going to be absolutely FREE on Amazon.com (paperback and Kindle)!! Mark your calendars for this Thursday, St. Patrick’s Day!

Take a trip to Dublin with Amy as she tries to find her missing spirit of adventure and ends up finding Michael along with it. It’s a whirlwind tour of the Emerald Isle until a secret is revealed that changes everything, and reopens old wounds. Can Amy and Michael find the healing – and the love – they long for with each other?

Find out – someday in Dublin!