50 FAVORITES list Top 10 movies: (not in order) Casablanca BBC’s Pride and Prejudice Empire Strikes Back BBC’s North and South (adaption of Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel) Schindler’s List Rocky Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Rings The Notebook Life Is Beautiful Ben Hur (1959) Top 20 novels: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Persuasion by Jane Austen North …
Did you Survive the Arctic Blast? And Win a Sneak Peek chapter from Book 2.
A five-minute read Despite residing in northern Michigan for most of my childhood, I’ve never acclimated to the frosty winters. I’d stand in front of the fireplace until my mom instructed me to get ready for school. It gets old when you’re standing in knee deep snow, waiting for the bus every morning. I vowed that one day, I’d move …
Dream Come True: Published and Launched my Fiction!
I’m currently reading the non-fiction book The Hidden Life of Trees* by Peter Wohlleben. Have you read this book? Peter’s a forester in Germany, and he explores how trees are like human families. He dives deep into their root systems to discover they work together to survive. Wohlleben discovers something profound when he strolled through the forest and came upon a “stone” near …
Book Signing Event!
I’m having a book signing event in my hometown in Gaylord, Michigan. And cool bonus, it’s on Small Business Saturday (November 25th). What better than to support small businesses throughout the city. My father is joining me! He’ll be signing his non-fiction book, Farmer D’s Love Letters to His Grandkids. If you’re in Northern Michigan, stop by. Win a gift …
November Releases! Big Announcements!
Moses wandered in the desert for 40 years. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years from the time he received the promise of a son until Isaac was born. I waited 20 years until I finally got my fiction published. I’m in good company, right? On a serious note, even though it’s …
We’re featured on Words for Writers Podcast
Ginny Yttrup, an award-winning author, writing coach, and developmental editor, featured us on her Words for Writers podcast. Her podcast features words of inspiration and instruction for writers from authors, coaches, editors, and herself. So, we dive into helpful topics for fellow authors, yet it’s enlightening for readers as well. Here’s the link: Enjoy!
France Exceeded Expectations
Personal Update: About an 8-minute read My France trip exceeded expectations! The French people were courteous and helpful, making the trip more enjoyable. And we discovered invaluable nuggets about the cultural and geographical landscape that enhanced my book research. (If you’re new to this newsletter, I’m working on a contemporary romance series called Mayo Love. In Book 3, my protagonist travels …
Travel to France! Joie de Vivre
Personal Update: Robert and I are headed to France! And we’re excited to experience France’s cultural motto: joie de vivre! We want to squeeze as much French culture: its natural and architectural beauty, food, history, and people as we can. And what better way than to experience it through planes, trains, and automobiles. We’re flying into Paris, catching a train …
Check Out My First Podcast
My fellow Lady Lits and I were featured on the Refuge Podcast hosted by Jennifer Elwood. Amazingly, this was pre-recorded in July, so it included Nancy Ness, the “founder” of our Lady Lits mastermind group. Sadly, Nancy passed away in July, so I’m grateful that through the podcast, others can get a snippet of this extraordinary woman. (You can read …
Sad News But an Inspiring Life
Tribute to Nancy Ness: This newsletter is about a five-minute read Before I give you an important writing update, in honor of my friend, I’m diving into the sad news first. There are friends who impact you profoundly in a short time that it’s hard to believe you didn’t know them longer. That’s how my dear friend and fellow Lady Lit, Nancy Ness, affected …