Time for another theme from Pining for You! Okay, for this post I want to explore one of the very important side characters in Pining for You. I will get back to exploring another place in Jim Thorpe next time. But for now, let me introduce you to… Josh. Josh is fun-loving, honest, and loyal. He’s the best friend type—a man that every woman dreams of having in their life. The guy who watches movies with you with your feet propped in his lap, makes you laugh uncontrollably whe

Time for a Pining for You update. Since handing back my manuscript to my agent, I’ve had time to reflect once again on the setting of the book. I know you are all aware of my love for Jim Thorpe. My agent commented that she was excited to “go back to Jim Thorpe” for her second read of the manuscript with my changes. She’s told me one of my strengths in writing is world building. It’s funny because that was something I was always worried about when I first started writing nov

Yes, I'm Freddie for Halloween. Yes, I put a scary alien head next to the toilet to scare my guests for a Halloween party. And, yes, Zoe is adorable as a bat. Time for a Pining for You update. I have completed developmental edits and turned the manuscript back in to my agent. We are so in sync with our vision for this book. I’m always so grateful for her expertise. She’s an amazing partner on my publishing journey.  I’ve added another 10k words or so. There are some new chapt

Quick note on Pining for You… This was my view in one of the coffee shops this past Friday. I love the Alice in Wonderland theme, and there’s some really great privacy in this side room. I've also discovered Hill Rd. It's where my future house might be. The half-mile walk down is easy. The walk back is intense and difficult and I LOVE IT. Some of you know I'm a fitness nut and I never shy away from a challenge. it was definitely a work out. The burn was real and had me smilin

Hello all! Just wanted to drop an update. Things are happening for Fireflies, my young adult romance about alien symbiotes that takes place in the Appalachian Mountains. More on that soon as I know more… Now for another Pining For You update. This past Friday I spent time enjoying Jim Thorpe instead of working. I needed the break. I’ve been working so hard between teaching and the book, that I definitely needed to blow off some steam. So I had a mini-vaca with a friend who ha

Time for another update about PINING FOR YOU. This is train car 22. It plays a major role in Pining for You. I still haven't ridden in it yet, but hope to soon. In this post I'm talking about love. I mean, it’s a romance novel, it was bound to come up, right? Many romance novels, including my own, follow a similar pattern of how the main characters fall in love. Slow burns are popular and feel both authentic and filled with excitement and tension. I especially like an enemies

Time for another update! PINING FOR YOU is in draft form and currently with my agent and beta readers. I'm hearing good things so far.  I wanted to share another beautiful picture of Jim Thorpe that I took while pondering my recent writing journey. I had quite the view. It was near the Asa Packer Mansion, which I have yet to tour. The experience of writing this book has altered my mindset in ways I'm still comprehending. As my fellow writers and authors know, writing is a ful

Time for an update! I finished my newest novel last week. I did some edits and then spent the weekend decompressing. The first picture is me about to ride the scenic train in Jim Thorpe. It's my favorite, and there are multiple scenes that take place on the train in my new book. The second is me in the Dimmick Memorial Library in Jim Thorpe contemplating that I completed a draft in 2 1/2 weeks and I've never felt this excited about a book. Okay, I'm also in complete awe of th

I must give another quick update about the newest book I'm working on. As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm writing at breakneck speed. At this rate I believe I will be finished with a first draft next week. That will mean I wrote the novel in two and a half weeks. It's more than a record for me. It's unbelievable. I've never had a book pour out of me like this. It's truly been a wild ride. Now..more details. This book is a love story, yes, but it's also about personal gro

Writing update! I know, it's been a while. My life has been chaotic. My apologies.  I've started writing a new book, and I haven't felt like this since I wrote Season Tickets after my mom's death. This is a book straight from my heart and it's pouring out of me. It mostly takes place in the Poconos, including Jim Thorpe, PA. If you haven't been, go. It's a magical place. I would live there in a heartbeat. As many of you know, I have a love for the Appalachian trails. My very