Happy Spring, my lovelies! It's time to shake off the snow and ice (at least here in the south) and dance into days that grow ever longer and warmer. Very little pleases me more than to look upon a bright blue sky filled with giant, puffy white clouds and the trees bursting with buds. Though I have to say, right now in Kentucky, spring is taking its sweet time getting here. The wind gusts, whipping ribbons of icy air, continuing to force me into my winter coat for walks with my pup. Still, unconcerned, the buds and blooms forge ahead, peeking out in vibrant colors. My nose and sinuses are less thrilled with the season, but I just load up on Xyzal and Flonase and march on! Spring is going to be especially exciting for me this year because my first book will be released in May! This quarter's newsletter will offer a fun recipe for Easter, a look at what I'm reading and what I'm working on and more! |
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I'm a sucker for fresh, warm scones straight from the oven. In fact, I'm kind of obsessed with them and often love to try my hand at baking new flavors. I can't think of a better way to celebrate Easter than with a brunch or afternoon tea including Carrot Cake scones. And since April 21 is National Tea Day (in the U.K., but there's no reason the U.S. can't celebrate, too!) these scones would pair beautifully with the citrus bergamot in a cuppa Earl Grey. Or, if bergamot isn't your, um, cup of tea, a simple English Breakfast tea would be equally tasty. I'm seriously excited about trying these scones! Check out this recipe from Food Network: | | |
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My goal is to read at least one book a month, which might not sound like much, but between work and writing, it's all I can manage. Each book I read, I try to review those books either on my blog or my YouTube channel (or both). One book I want to highlight here is Holly Tucker's City of Lights, City of Poison: Murder, Magic, and the First Police Chief of Paris. This is one of the best non-fiction history books I've ever read. Her beautiful writing makes this non-fiction book about La Reynie, the first police chief in 17th century Paris read like a novel. |
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I'm always working on something! Right now I'm gearing up for a book release (more about that in a bit), revising, and learning about self-publishing. I have one book, a historical mystery currently titled Widow's Blush, making rounds in the query trenches. I'm not sure what will happen with it. I might even end up self-publishing it. I have another book, a historical fiction set in the Victorian Era, in desperate need of a rewrite for what seems the hundredth time. I have another manuscript in the hands of a beta reader. I'm definitely going to self-publish that one. It's a cozy mystery with a Southern Gothic twist about a hoarder who lives with a ghost; it may be a little too "out there" for the traditional publishing track. And then I have a couple stories in various staging of drafting. I most excited about the historical I have planned. But I'm really superstitious regarding books I haven't written yet, so I'm going to button my lip on that one. Nevertheless, I'm always learning something new and working hard to produce books that I hope people will enjoy! |
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I like to keep busy and enjoy learning new things, so I have a host of hobbies I enjoy. One of my indulgences is Raks Sharqi, or as commonly known in the U.S., belly dance. It's a great activity for all sizes and shapes, gentle on the joints, and great for mental and physical agility. For the past 11 years, a group known as Shimmy Mob has held a belly dance flash mob every May to raise awareness and funds for local charities focused on domestic violence. This dance event takes place in 61 countries worldwide with 175 teams and over 16,000 participants. I've participated in this event several times myself and have always enjoyed dancing, socializing, and knowing I'm raising funds for important charities that assist victims of domestic violence. Click here to learn more about this amazing event. You might have a team in your area! | | |
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My first book, Devil's Kiss, the first in the Small-Batch series, drops this year from Level Best Books. I just turned in my final edits to my editor a few days ago and will soon start working on the next steps in the process. Devil's Kiss is set in a fictional small town Kentucky where Rook Campbell lands a job at a distillery. When someone dies and a shipment of expensive, small-batch Devil's Kiss bourbon is stolen, Rook must discover who committed the crimes--or she may be the next to die. Pre-Orders week of April 14. Release date May 31, 2022. I will definitely keep everyone posted on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and my website so connect with me there for the latest updates. |
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Y'all come on over to GoodReads, too! |
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