Well, I’d like to attribute my prolonged absence to saying I finished writing my latest book, but alas that’s (sadly) not the case. I am working on it (I’m almost finished with Part I) but the writing of it just hasn’t flowed as easily as it did with my last two books. And I think most people would agree that good books never came from forced writing. But I’m hoping to get back at it and move into the writing of Part II (which will be set in another time period).

My big news is that my second book The Dead Are Resting, has recently been republished under a new title and with a brand-new cover. It’s quite exciting to see the changes and the even better news is that it’s going to be available in audio soon. If you’re more inclined to listen to books and haven’t had the chance to read The Auschwitz Photograph yet, stay tuned!

I also marked the one year publication anniversary of my latest book, Red Clay Ashes.

If you're new to my site and my books in general, here's a synopsis for Red Clay Ashes:

Present-day: Who was Hazel Cerny? That’s the question her daughter Bee asks herself after her mother’s death upon discovering that Hazel was not the long-time recluse Bee had always thought her to be but actually an award-winning Vietnam War journalist. And that Bee’s earliest years were completely different from what she had believed them to be.

1967: Hazel Cerny has always wanted more in life, more than what her small Pennsylvania town and societal norms of 1960s America were willing to offer her. Following her graduation from college, she decides to throw caution to the wind and travels to Vietnam, determined to pursue her journalistic aspirations. Through grit and luck she becomes a war reporter, making her mark in a field predominantly male, breaking down the psychological barriers and mindsets that for too long had said, “you don’t belong here.” From the chaotic streets of Saigon, to the tunnels of Cu Chi, to the Tet Offensive, Hazel covers it all. She becomes the type of journalist most people only dream about becoming. And encounters a love that most people only dream about finding. But with love comes loss and everything else that war often brings.

Red Clay Ashes is available for purchase in both paperback and Kindle formats on Amazon (and remember, even if you don't own a Kindle, you can still buy the eBook version with the Kindle app for iPhones/iPads). If you purchase a copy, I thank you with all my heart in advance for your support. It means everything to me!

“When a woman comes to Vietnam to cover the war, she's called a 'girl reporter.' When a man comes here, he's just called a reporter. I want to change that."

Red Clay Ashes

Book Clubs  

If you've read any of my books and belong to a book club, I'd love to join your group sometime! I've been a guest at three book clubs in the past (one virtually, two locally to Pittsburgh) and would love to connect with new readers so please reach out!

Books I've Read 

I’ve read a ton of books since I sent my last newsletter out but Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash and The Postcard by Anne Berest were two that stood out and I really enjoyed them. Both are historical fiction set during World War II but with entirely different settings and circumstances.   

Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash

Beyond That, the Sea is a beautiful story about two families living through World War II on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean and the young woman who will call them both her own. One of the reasons I enjoyed it was its portrayal of life on the American homefront during the Second World War (helps me to imagine my own grandparents’ lives during this time) but also its simply beautiful story. It was one that tugged at your heartstrings but not in an overly melodramatic fashion like many books oft do.

The Postcard by Anne Berest

The Postcard, while historical fiction, is actually based on the author’s own family’s tragic experience in France during the Holocaust. It is equal parts a family mystery to be solved as it is a telling of a family history. Even though there have been many novels set in France during the Holocaust (the bestselling novel and its subsequent film adaptation Sarah’s Key started the craze), I think many people still don’t equate the City of Light with the Nazis in the same way they do countries like Germany and Poland even though France was equally and just as chillingly, complicit. I for one am always keen to read World War II/Holocaust books set in France.

And I know I say it every time, but if you have read any of my novels, The Tears of Yesteryear, The Dead Are Resting, and Red Clay Ashes, please leave a review for them on Amazon and Goodreads. It needn’t be long or eloquent, a sentence or two is perfect. But as someone who is independently published, reviews, not just ratings, are everything and help in spreading the word out about my books. So, if you enjoyed either or both of them, please let fellow bibliophiles know by writing a review.

Actual written words, not just clicking on a

star rating mean everything to me.

New book- work in progress

Setting: Three different periods in 20th century Egypt, including of course, "Tutmania."

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays!

Until next time!