January News

I love beginnings. A new year is a fresh start, a chance to try new things, to experiment. In life and in writing. And that’s exactly what I’m doing as I work on writing my new suspense novel. It’s a standalone, separate from my mystery series, with a new cast of characters, a different setting and a plot that I hope will keep you on the edge of your seat. And, now that the holidays are coming to an end, it's back to business. I'm looking forward to having more time to work on my WIP (work in progress).  

But, sometimes, it feels as if there aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish all that I want to do. I work hard on prioritizing, focusing on what's most important and/or what needs to be done first. My writing is so important to me but so is my mother, other family members and my friends. I need to constantly remind myself not to get so caught up in my fictional world that I neglect my real world and the people in it. And vice versa. Because my writing needs to be a priority, I have to be careful that I don't let "life" get in the way of it. For a writer, it's a constant juggling act.

There’s so much to look forward to in the New Year. On the top of my list is the publication of my fifth Malone mystery, Marnie Malone, early this year. (I’ll keep you posted.) 

I’ll update “January News” throughout the month. In the meantime, if you’re a writer with a book coming out this month or a reader with a writing-related question, please leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you!

Happy New Year!

Update 1/26: "Phantom Baby" by Sharon Love Cook, although not technically a mystery, kept me turning the pages - in suspense - long past my bedtime.

Update 1/19: "Dead, Bath and Beyond" by Lorraine Bartlett is a fantastic edition to a fantastic series! If you haven't read the Victoria Square mysteries, I urge you to do so.

Update 1/12: "Hutchins Creek Cache" is the second book I've read and reviewed this month. I love the Paige Mackenzie mystery series by Deborah Garner and this book was another great one.

Update 1/7: I just finished reading (and reviewing) "The Tarkington Treasure" by Evelyn Cullet. If you enjoy spooky old houses, hidden treasure and murder, you'll love this book as much as I did.

Recapping 2016

Well, it’s been an “interesting” year.

We had an election. I don’t think anyone on the planet could’ve missed that fact. It felt like the longest campaign in history, to me. You couldn’t turn on the TV or the radio or visit Facebook without being inundated. I scrolled past all of the political posts online without commenting. You see, my Dad was a wise man and he taught me never to argue religion or politics.

On a more personal note, I finished my fifth Malone mystery, making the decision to end the series – at least for now. If everything goes according to plan, Marnie Malone will be released in the next couple of months. I’m in the process of writing a standalone romantic suspense novel, something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time. It’s exciting; a new adventure.

And I made another decision. I’ve posted weekly for well over five years now. I’ve written numerous posts, mostly about writing, and I’ve featured lots of authors and their books on my blog. But writing a weekly post takes time and I've decided I need to use that time to work on my new book.

So, starting January 1st, I’ll post a monthly newsletter instead. I’ll let readers know what’s going on in my life, personally as well as professionally, and I’ll post news about books I’ve read and enjoyed, new releases by other authors, etc. I’ll update the post regularly and I’ll encourage comments from writers who have books coming out and readers who have questions about any facet of writing.

My publisher has extended the 99 cent sale for the books in my Malone mystery series through the end of the year. (See left side of page.) So, if you haven't read one or all of them, here's your chance to catch up before the fifth novel is published.

Happy New Year!