The Next Yellow Line

Number of published words in 2.5 years: 469,030. Hours at my desk? Impossible to calculate, and if sitting truly is the new smoking, the breathable air in my writing room must be in short supply. I don’t know what made me add those numbers up. Perhaps the odd predicament of arriving at this desk with…

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How Far Will Readers Reach?

This post ponders how far readers are willing to go. I might not have touched this topic when Foretold was released last fall. But since then, with Echo Moon out one week from today, I have been scratching my head over a reader idiosyncrasy—one that came full circle with a couple of Facebook surveys. Recently, two…

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While We’re Waiting…

Okay, waiting is not my strong suit. In the novel-writing business, few things take longer than publishing a book. From the time an author puts pen to paper and pub-day arrives, nearly two years passes—maybe more. And people wonder why we keep our day jobs! ???? While we tick off these final days to ECHO MOON (On…

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Making it to the Moon

This is it, coming soon! The last “chapter” in the Ghost Gifts series! It’s been quite a ride, much of it unexpected. I’d like to share with readers ECHO MOON’s backstory. I very much wanted to do something different with this book, but at the same time I knew readers would be looking for Aubrey…

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Collecting Inspiration

  Dusty treasures…  With collections come inspiration. Objects of fascination are boundless: milk glass, bottle caps, depression glass, Golden books, grown-up books—signed copies and first editions—jadeite, rocks, stamps, coins, dolls, marbles, and… well, you get the idea. The endless need for shelf space and feather dusters. My mother-in-law collected salt & pepper shakers and tiny…

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This is the Reason Ghost Stories Are Subject to Interpretation

Reader Impressions

No two people interpret ghosts the same way. You have believers, people who embrace the concept of spiritual beings. Others, like my afternoon boss—an intellectual pragmatist, are convinced that earthly explanations account for ghostly perceptions. I also have a close friend with strong religious beliefs. She doesn’t discount a spirit populace, but she does question…

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Haunt on the Hill

What do you think? Is this the haunted house on the hill, the “I dare you” stop for trick-or-treaters? Will tiny costumed visitors venture up the darkened path, surrounded by ghostly pines? Trees that look as if they might bend and snatch. Is the reward at the door worth the risk? Well, I guess it…

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Foretold, It’s Why Psychics Get the Job

Foretold—a year ago, I didn’t know the pub date of my seventh novel. My publisher and I hadn’t even settled on a title. I was still ironing out the story’s whodunit. A year ago today, I could not have foretold October 25, 2016, making pub-day, October 24, 2017, surreal. Tomorrow is my birthday. It will…

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We’re On To October!

Welcome to my first October giveaway! Contests will feature a variety of book giveaways to celebrate the release of FORETOLD. The much-anticipated GHOST GIFTS sequel is an Amazon Editors’ pick for Best Books of the Month! Today I’m giving away THREE signed copies of FORETOLD, plus FIVE Kindle GHOST GIFTS! How to enter: Leave a…

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Publishing Peaks & Valleys

*Foretold ARC giveaway details at the end of this post. Like all authors, until it happened, I wondered if I’d ever sell a book. We think it’s the mountain peak, the zenith. Upon arrival, we’re stunned to discover it’s only a plateau. You simply can’t see the next spires and headwalls, hidden by puffy clouds of…

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