Category Archives: Books

Atlantic Coast Getaway

Before the virus hit, I tried to get away quarterly to write. In early September, I was lucky to get an Atlantic Coast condo along the Florida Atlantic Coast for a week. Like my earlier trip to Hilton Head, the resort required everyone wear masks and practice social distancing.

This photo was shot from my 6th floor balcony. There were days I didn’t go down to the beach, but wrote outside. With only one small elevator (allowing for only one customer at a time), some days it was easier just to hang out in my room and enjoy the ocean breeze from the balcony while I wrote.

For whatever reason, the Atlantic was Caribbean blue. The water was gorgeous!

I was amazed by the photo my iPhone took of the Atlantic at night. The ocean was relatively calm, with waves only breaking along the shore. I loved to sit on the balcony at night and stare at the wonder before me and be lulled to sleep by the waves.

My rental was only 45 minutes from S.E. Smith’s. On the way home, I had lunch with Susan and her husband. When we weren’t eating, we practiced social distancing…although the three of us ate outside at a table for 6.

Before we headed out for lunch, I spent quality time with Susan’s cat PIA.

Designated

Designated

The Zaratan Trilogy: Book 3

Release Date:  May 11th, 2018

Blurb:

A journey home…
New challenges to face…
An ultimate decision to be made…
Kara Howard faces her greatest fear when she returns to Earth. She is now the purple faced alien who is designated to represent her new world. All her work to reunite families will soon meet its final test.
No longer able to breathe her home planet’s air, her future must be made galaxies away. Her life is further complicated when the mission is jeopardized by betrayal. Once again, Kara must choose sides in the ambiguous allegiances between families.
She walks a tightrope of her own making between the two men in her life. But her ability to make a final decision is compromised by new challenges aboard the ship. The girl who liked to disappear into the shadows continues to standout, making her a target.
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The True Ruler

The True Ruler

The True Ruler

Worlds Apart: Book 5

Release Date:  December 20th, 2016

Blurb:

Cassie Jarlyn is a master at keeping secrets. One impulsive act threatens to expose what she had kept hidden for years. She must finally face what destiny has in store for her when she finds herself in the Troyk universe.
Darden Lours fears what will happen to Cassie in his world. He knows he is fighting a losing battle to prevent the growth of her telepathic powers. His desire to build his relationship with her is only tempered by his need to shelter her.
Will submitting to his desire for Cassie destroy everything Darden has fought to protect? Does Cassie have the will power to resist the power of her telepathic gifts?
Get absorbed in the final battle for the Troyk universe and its True Ruler.

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Blood Interwoven

Blood Interwoven

The Laurent Blood Legacy: Book 4

Release Date: July 28th, 2020

Blurb:

For centuries, Francois Laurent existed ignorant of the knowledge about the legacy created in his name. Magic that would transform vampire soul mates into day walkers. However, once he finds his own mate, she rejects him and the promise of eternity together in the light.

Jennifer Flynn wakes after a brutal attack to discover she’s a vampire. Her one concern focuses on protecting her daughter from what she’s become and another vampire who wishes to claim her child. To make matters worse, a boy places his future happiness in her lap.

Rather than accept their fates, Francois and Jennifer fight what others believe is inevitable. In Magic, New Mexico style, spells are cast that further complicate matters.

Download here:
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Apple Books | Kobo | Nook
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Communing with My Muse

I’m spending 5 days in Hilton Head sequestered in an ocean front room to write (a new series) and continue to prepare for the Worlds Apart Box Set. Since they were the first novels I wrote, I’m cleaning them up a bit (commas and a number of other rookie mistakes). It’s been incredible revisiting these books. Those girls hold a special place in my heart. August 2020 marks the 6th anniversary of the publication of ‘The Chameleon Soul Mate’. It’s still my plan to publish the box set on Amazon Kindle and Kindle Unlimited next month. Check out my August newsletter for links.

The Westin is on a private beach and has multiple pools, but I wasn’t comfortable with the social distancing. Most of the work I will be doing will be done from my balcony. I’ve got 2 12-packs of Diet Pepsi, protein drinks, peanut butter, and Wheat Thins and am ready to Rock ’n Roll.

To the north of the hotel are multi-million dollar homes with no beach access. A perfect place to take a long beach walk to stimulate my muse.

Out & About with Tennis and Orchids

Although the stay at home order was lifted on May 1st, my routine hasn’t changed that much with the exception of playing tennis 6-days a week. I play with the same group of ladies and when the club’s restaurant reopened on May 5th, we enjoy lunches twice a week. We try to keep six feet apart on the tennis court, but can sit at a table for 4 (and now 6). Since we don’t leave the community, we feel very safe lunching together. This picture was taken at one of our friend’s 78th birthday celebration. She may be 78, but she moves like a teenager on the tennis court. Yes, I’m off to the side… The birthday girl is the 2nd from the left.

Fortunately, my community has only had 2 cases of the CoronaVirus since testing began. There has been a lot of news about Florida in the news recently, but we are doing well in Bonita Springs. We haven’t been hitting the bars being careless or not social distancing at the beaches. When I do my weekly grocery shopping I wear a mask. I’ve collected a whole assortment of masks by now…many having been given to me as gifts.

Since I’m playing tennis, I’m not taking the afternoon walks that became part of my routine. Most people took their walks in the morning, but I waited for the paths to thin out. I’d taken walks in the community before, but never had noticed all the beautiful orchids that people placed in boxes or hung on trees. I thought I’d share them one more time since they are so beautiful. I have a black thumb, but I do appreciate the results of people who possess green thumbs.

Blood Interwoven available for Pre-Order

Pre-Order your copy of ‘Blood Interwoven’ through Amazon now. Other formats will be available by the July 28th release date.

FROM THE JOURNAL OF TOPPER’S ANCESTOR WHO CAST THE SPELL THAT CREATE THE LAURENT BLOOD LEGACY:

No matter what I do, I cannot bring down Camille’s fever. She drank the bone broth soup I prepared, but there has been no change. I will go into town tomorrow to buy more turmeric.

Camille continues to cry out for the boy vampire. I can no longer dismiss the fantasy she has created in her mind. Her obsession with him seems to be the only thing keeping her alive. Each evening I search for the pale boy Camille described. Every time I leave the house, I fear upon my return, Camille passed in my absence. But I must find the boy.

My child wears the pallor of death. Her breathing shallow, not providing life affirming air. The doctor has bled her for the last time.

Camille cried out for a withered yellow rose. When I handed her the dead flower, I noted dried blood on a thorn. She told me it was his blood. Camille purposely punctured her skin to allow her blood to be interwoven with his. For the first time she muttered his name. They were her last words. Francois Laurent.

I buried my daughter this morning. It seemed fitting the rose be buried with her. I kept the thorn that contained both their bloods. If they could not be together in this life, I’ll find a way to bring them together in a future one.

Pre-order your Kindle copy today! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0895JK7KH

I’m Back on the Courts!

As many of you know, I’m an avid tennis player. I’ve always loved sports, just was never very good at them. Then I discovered tennis! Although I have very little upper body muscle mass, I can pound on a tennis ball… particularly my cross court forehand. Weekly tennis lessons and lots of practice have made me a tennis maven.

On April 1st, our community club ceased all racquet sports, as Florida shutdown. For 30 days, I got my exercise taking walks and exploring different parts of my community. I didn’t know there was a bird estuary behind the sub-division a ten minute walk from me. During the 30-days, Facebook friends were treated to my bird videos and pictures of the incredible flowers in Bonita Bay.

Life began again on May 1st when racquet sports could again be played. However, we only play on every other court, allowing the shelters to only hold 4 players at a time, spread out. We kept our 6 feet distance…whether getting water, during our crossovers, or washing our shoes after playing.

We were so happy to see each other again. Here I am with Patty, keeping our 6 feet separation and not touching.

I hope you are all well as we crawl our way to a new normal.

Blood Interwoven PRE-ORDER through Amazon

I’m excited to share the next new releases for Magic, New Mexico fans is July 28th!

You can pre-order ‘Blood Interwoven’ now!

For centuries, Francois Laurent existed ignorant of the knowledge about the legacy created in his name. Magic that would transform vampire soul mates into day walkers. However, once he finds his own mate, she rejects him and the promise of eternity together in the light.

Jennifer Flynn wakes after a brutal attack to discover she’s a vampire. Her one concern focuses on protecting her daughter from what she’s become and another vampire who wishes to claim her child. To make matters worse, a boy places his future happiness in her lap.

Rather than accept their fates, Francois and Jennifer fight what others believe is inevitable. In Magic, New Mexico style, spells are cast that further complicate matters.

Preorder on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0895JK7KH

The novella will be available on a variety of other platforms closer to the release date.