Romance Writers’ Weekly #lovechatwrite

This week for Romance writer’s weekly we have been asked to write a flash fiction autumn scene using the words water, leaf, and coffee 🙂 here’s mine:

Before she even got out of bed, she knew that Autumn was here. She could tell by the cool, crisp breeze that blew in the window of the small cabin she’d rented for the weekend. It smelled like autumn. She didn’t know how to describe the scent, but she knew it when she experienced it.

She yawned and climbed out of the cozy bed, slipping into a soft, oversized sweatshirt and a pair of yoga pants. She made her way down the narrow wooden staircase to the country kitchen and hit the start button on the small coffee pot. Next, she opened cupboard doors until she found a stash of various coffee mugs. One called to her. It was plain white with red, block letters reading “you can do it!” She needed that this morning.

When the machine stopped, she filled her mug with the dark, brown liquid, and breathed in the aroma of coffee beans. She grabbed her latest romance novel, opened the back door, and walked out onto the small, wooden deck. Sitting down on one of the two Adirondack chairs, she gazed out over the lake. The crystal clear water lapped against the sandy beach below.

As she sat, a small, red leaf flitted down from one of the maple trees overhanging the lake and landed in her lap. She picked it up and turned it over in her hand, examining its bright color and small veins. No doubt, a few weeks ago it had been bright green and clinging tightly to a branch above. It was different now. It had changed but not in a bad way.

How much she had in common with this leaf. All long, hot summer she’d tried desperately to hang onto her old life—a life that had run its course. Now, she’d changed, but she realized it wasn’t in a bad way. She was emerging to a new brighter self. Different in appearance from her old self, but still the same person, just a new and improved version.

She sipped her coffee and stuck the leaf between two pages of her book to preserve it—a reminder that we are all meant to change. It was the natural course of life, and she vowed to celebrate every day.

Before you go. let me know what you think and then hop on over to Leslie Hachtel’s blog and check out her scene. I did, and I loved it! https://lesliehachtelwriter.wordpress.com

Also, my new Christmas novella is available for pre-order now at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BDXYVTZP

September is here!

I don’t know about you, but I am ready for cooler weather. When September arrives, my mind starts to think about autumn–cool crisp nights, sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes, and colorful leaves. If you live somewhere like me, and chances are you do, September doesn’t always signal a cool down. It’s still in the 90’s here, but we know that fall is coming. Fall is my favorite time of year. I love football and the beginning of the holiday seasons. I’m ready to decorate and have some hot chocolate.

To celebrate the fall season, I have a couple of book coming out next week on the 7th. First is the third book in my Peaktop Dude Ranch Series, Peaktop Dude Ranch Aflame. You wont’ want to miss this one and see what happens when a wildfire descends on Peakview County. Of course, there may be a romance with a handsome firefighter thrown in 🙂 You can pre-order it now at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09D46R31N

Also coming on September 7th is the latest Chicken Soup for the Soul book, My Hilarious, Heroic, Human Dog. You will find my dog, Merlin’s own story on page 164. https://bit.ly/37mBaTX

Enjoy the beginning of Autumn wherever you are and sit back with a good book!

Wow! Where did the last six months go?

Today I came to this site to update my header to a fall scene (something I do about this time every year. What did I see? My last post was entitled “Spring?” and dated February 21st. I had no idea it had been that long since I posted! That was before most of us had even heard of coronavirus or Covid-19. If we had heard of it, it was something far, far away in China. It wouldn’t ever affect our lives here in the United States. If you read my last post, the heaviest thing on my mind was if the danger of frost was over so I could plant spring flowers. My, how our world had changed in the last six months! No matter where you fall on the political spectrum of all of this, I think we will all agree our lives have been changed in ways we never imagined. Quarantine, social distancing, mask mandates, schools closed, events cancelled–all concepts that were completely foreign to me six months ago, concepts that were completely foreign to me for the over sixty years I’ve been alive. And yet, here we are. Living day to day and trying to make the best decisions possible for ourselves, our loved ones, and all of society.

To say it’s been a wake-up call would be too simple. We’ve all had to examine our lives and what’s most important to us. Some things have fallen by the wayside, while others have become more important. Apparently, writing on this blog fell by the wayside for me. I’m not happy about that. I like to interact with all of you who read this, but it happened. Anyway, I’m back, still writing, and getting ready to make a long distance move back home. For the most part, my life has been thankfully untouched by all that is going on around me. My loved ones are all safe and healthy and learning to deal with our new normal. I try to make smart decisions each and every day. I hope all of you are doing the same.

I’d love to hear from you, if you want to leave a comment. Let me know how you’re doing. We’re all in this together. Much love to all.

It’s November 1st-Release day

Hi everyone. Are you ready for November? After weather in the 90’s for most of October here in Texas, we woke up to 28 degrees this morning, brrr! I spent a productive morning taking down my Halloween decorations and replacing them with Thanksgiving ones 🙂 I love decorating for all of the holidays. Let’s all remember this month to be thankful for all the good in our lives. I am thankful for all of my readers.

Thanks Decs

Aspen Ridge Ride into love

I have another reason to celebrate today. Book 5 in my Aspen Ridge series, Ride into Love, a story of hope and second chances is now available. You can buy it here.   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZN61C332 

Christmas Pre-orders

RC preorder

Christmas in P full two copy

Hi Everyone. Now that autumn is upon us my new Christmas Novella, Remember Christmas, is available for pre-order at Amazon. com. If you believe that it is never too late to fall in love, you will love this story about falling in love and Christmas miracles. Check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X4B95QF 

Also, I have bundled the three Christmas stories from my Peakview Series into a Christmas in Peakview Box Set at a significantly reduced price until Christmas. You can pre-order the box set at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X6GJXG8

New Release

The first book in my new Aspen Ridge series, Chalk it up to Love, is now available on Amazon. Get your copy now to https://www.amazon.com/dp/BO7KCN1L29

final front Chalk cover copy (519x800)

When a new school year begins, all fourth grade teacher, ERIN MIDNIGHT, wants is to establish a new normal for herself and her ten year old son, Mark. Recently divorced, she struggles to cope with being a single mom. Fortunately, her hometown of Aspen Ridge, Colorado, provides the perfect place for her to heal.

BOYD GARRETT’S life changed the day his wife was senselessly killed by a texting driver. No longer fulfilled by his life in the big city, he accepts a new teaching job in the tiny, mountain town of Aspen Ridge, hoping to find an escape from the memories that haunt him.

Can Peak Elementary School’s new, handsome instructor teach Erin to believe in herself again? Can Boyd find the happiness he thought he’d lost forever? Or are the walls they’ve built around their hearts too high? Two people who’ve learned that with love comes pain. But, sometimes—we get a second chance.

 

 

I love Autumn

Autumn 1

Fall is my favorite time of year. Changing leaves, cooler temperatures, football, the beginning of holiday season with Halloween and then Thanksgiving, and pumpkin spice (we can’t forget pumpkin spice), these are all things that make me love this time of year. I’ve lived in many different parts of the country during my life, and although Autumn presents itself somewhat differently in different regions, it’s still the best.

This is my first Autumn in East Texas. It’s warmer here than in my last home of Colorado. No frost yet. But it has cooled off from the constant stream of 90 degrees plus. It was 44 a couple of mornings ago! We’re in a drought this year, not much rain. Leaves are just starting to turn. The stifling humidity from the summer for the most part seems to be gone. Flowers are going strong in my yard in many vibrant colors. My lettuce and carrots are thriving. And there’s football. No major college football here, but high school football is huge. Really huge. And the festivals, each weekend is another festival or two. Looking forward to Yamboree this weekend. Who wouldn’t love a sweet potato festival complete with a barn dance?

I’ve spent a small fortune on pumpkin spice drinks, one of my favorite. My Halloween lights are up, and shine brightly in my yard each evening. It’s also the time of year when all of a sudden the days get shorter. Time to snuggle up on the couch in the evenings, and watch a new season of my favorite shows. Or even better snuggle up and find romance by reading my Peakview Series set in beautiful Peakview, Colorado where everyone has a chance at love. I’m busy working on book 8, Colorado Autumn Sunrise.

I hope you all enjoy Autumn as much as I do, if not, don’t fret, winter will be here soon.

Autumn 2