blog

Romance With Words

Or confessions of a Word Nerd When my son, Tristan, was in High School, he and some of his friends on his Lacrosse team had a “game.” They used a scale from 1 to 6 to rate each other’s word usage. If one of the boys used an unfamiliar or seldom used word, the other…
read more
Romance, And Anxiety

To be brutally honest And perhaps a little philosophical Is it possible to be passionately involved in an endeavor and also be calm? Can you challenge yourself to do something new, to strive, to improve, to learn, to risk, but also be tranquil in your soul? Should you expect that? Maybe if what you’re passionate…
read more
Letter Writing

A lost art? Since my latest book, Dear Lord Wycliffe is epistolary (all except the epilogue is written in the form of letters), I’ve been thinking a lot about letters. Letters have greatly influenced me over the course of my life. For two years, I wrote and received letters from the man I eventually married…
read more
Finally, New Romance Release

The best laid plans, and all that. I have experienced this in a real way for the last six months. In June, (in three weeks), I wrote a romance novella, a prequel for a new series. It is a romance, I promise. But it is set in a historical fantasy world. (Think Greece in 200-300…
read more
Romance Novels Meet Reality

The Saga of fall with Gigi-Lynn As you may already know, I have finished writing two historical romance novels. I have the cover photography. Either could be coming your way within weeks. Unfortunately, everything is taking longer than I planned. I usually take a few weeks off in July to spend with family. In August,…
read more
Writing To Avoid Writing

I could do laundry, but why when there is romance tumbling around in my brain? Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash You know how it feels when have to do something important or necessary? Sometimes that thing is difficult or distasteful. Not always though. Sometimes you actually want to do that thing, but you feel…
read more
Romantic Tropes?

Not at First. How do I write romance? First, I always start with a character (or two). I don’t decide on a trope up front. In fact tropes are never part of my planning process. While writing the Illusions historical romance series, I found myself wondering, what would have made Amelia’s mother marry Mr. Hatton?…
read more
Romance Writing Is Like a Romance

A metaphor My romance begins with hope and excitement. Everything about this new book seems brushed with a golden glow. My characters are delightful. Their story is engaging. Every day is a lovely adventure. And the first part of the book flies by in that romantic, giddy haze. Life is beautiful. I have found my…
read more
Quills Writer’s Conference

Constantly working to improve my writing I love writing. I love my characters and telling their stories. I even love the struggle, the days when I just hit a wall, the worry, the reworking. It is all part of the process. At least for me. I don’t think writing is something that you ever master.…
read more
The People Who Live In My Mind

If you have relationships, you live with thoughts of other people, always making their way through your brain. You think of your brother, your child, your friend. Photo by Duy Pham on Unsplash “I should call my dad today,” you think. Or, “how can I help or support this person?” I have all of that.…
read more