3 Inspirations that Did Not Lead to a Sparkly Vampire

Don’t you wonder how Stephenie Meyer came up with the idea of a sparkly vampire? How did Diana Gabaldon decide on a portal in a standing stone that whisked Claire off to a Highlander hunk named Jamie? And Hobbits? Really? Where do authors get their ideas? Well, I can only speak to what’s worked for me with Love’s Courage: a word, a photo, and a visit. A Word Rich and I are word nerds. Okay, I’m a word nerd and Rich indulges me. Every morning at breakfast, we look up Merriam Webster’s Word of the Day. On Feb. 26, 2016, Read More

Showing Characters Who’s Boss (Hint: They Are)

Characters do not appear to me fully formed like Athena springing from the head of Zeus. Even characters that I’ve written into previous books can give me a bit of a go before they settle down. Take Jenny Sutton. We meet Jenny in Love’s Spirit, book two of The Brentwood Saga. She is feisty and courageous. When she learns that the hero, Jonathon Brentwood, has been captured by the British, she leaps on a horse to go save him alongside her love, Andrew Wentworth. She doesn’t blink twice, she just acts. When I started writing Jenny in the opening scene Read More

The Next Installment of Love’s Courage

This is the third installment of a Sneak Peek at Love’s Courage. If you missed the first two, you can read them here: First Excerpt and Second Excerpt.   “Shite!” Blurting out “Sorry,” and “Pardon me,” Andrew Wentworth pushed and shoved at the porters, sailors, and merchants who blocked his way as he sprinted along the wharf. Two riggers stretched lines across the pier, forcing him to leap over the ropes and race ahead. Blood pumped in his ears, muffling the curses that followed him. His heart pounded with the rhythm of his hurtling feet. He skidded to a stop, sliding to Read More

Another Sneak Peek at LOVE’S COURAGE

Here is the next installment of chapter one in Love’s Courage. It will be released on Jan. 9, but you can pre-order it on Amazon now. If you missed the opening section click here to read it. Chapter 1, continued… Lifting Jenny’s chin, Jonathon forced her to face him. His brows drew together as his eyes bored into hers. His mouth was pulled taut in a thin line. “You must understand the danger inherent in this voyage. The sea will always challenge those who sail her waters, and she is temperamental, changing from fair to foul in the blink of Read More