I’m so excited to be joining a bunch of my author friends this Saturday at the Rutland Public LIbrary for a fun-filled day of Halloween activity, including an author book signing/sale!
Like the graphic above tells you, the event starts at 10 am and goes until 2 – no matter what the weather because we are inside the library!!!
I’ll be there – in costume – selling all my PNR books plus my Christmas romances. So, if you’ve got a romance book lover on your holiday list this year, why not start shopping early and gift them something they’ll love? I’ll have my branded book boxes available, too, for the Christmas books.
See you Saturday!! I’ll be the lady in the Mrs Claus outfit, lol!
Welcome to the Author Fair! Feel free to explore both floors – the children’s authors are on the upper level. Be on the lookout for ghouls, goblins, and ghosts as children and adults alike may be dressed in a Halloween costume!
Up for a treat? Take a brown bag to collect sweets, treats, and swag at the author tables.
Eager to win one of the tote bags filled with books and a Dunkins gift card? Grab one of the scavenger hunt cards and be sure to visit 7 authors, chat with them for a few, then ask them to put a sticker on your entry card. Fill out the back with your info and return it to the welcome table (lower level).
More about the Authors…
Andi Ramos is an author and travel agent from central Massachusetts where she lives with her family and her little Boston Terrier. Her love for reading grew into a passion for writing. She dabbled with pen and paper for a long time and eventually stopped pushing her amusements aside and started developing those stories into novels. One of her favorite things to do is to hop into her motorhome with her family and write while traveling down the road as they journey to various destinations. Website: www.andiramos.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andiramosauthor
A retired music teacher with the Worcester Public Schools, Andrew Noone holds graduate degrees in musicology and art history from Syracuse University. He has also done graduate study in English as a Second Language education, as well as American history. He has taught courses in ELL, music and art history at colleges throughout the state. This is his first book, which Jonathan Cohn of the Huffington Post has called “…meticulously researched, elegantly told…” He is married with two adult children, and enjoys piano, guitar and watercolor.
April Jones Prince is the author of 14 books for young readers, including the recently released You Are a Reader!/You Are a Writer!, as well as Twenty-One Elephants and Still Standing, Snowy Race, Goldenlocks and the Three Pirates, and two titles in Penguin’s popular “Who Was?” chapter-book series. A frequent presenter at schools and libraries, April works with writers of all ages to bring their stories, passions, and ideas to life. April believes everyone is a reader and a writer, whether they read novels or news alerts or type tall tales or text messages. That includes YOU! For more info and activities for kids and teachers visit: http://www.apriljonesprince.com.
Barbara Lamacchia is a retired high school teacher of English. After a long career teaching writing, Barbara decided to try her own hand at composing. Her first novel, Among The Missing, was published in the spring of 2023. When she’s not writing, she’s traveling or working in her yard. In addition, Barbara likes to cook and host holiday parties and summer family get-togethers. Church activities also take up a lot of her time, but Barbara always saves afternoons and evenings for spend dining out with friends. Barbara is also a Patriots fan and seldom misses a game on tv. Barbara is also an avid reader and a movie buff.
Calla Zae loves writing sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal romance novels. She is an artist and loves to create visuals to convey her stories. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband who keeps her grounded to Earth and two creative children who think she has her own secret planet. They’re on to something…Calla also has books under two other names:
Linh Nguyen-Ng loves the arts and writes children’s books. The creative process is something that makes her heart smile whether it is writing, sketching, painting, or finding unusual things to create her artwork. She loves to write children’s books because a child’s world is so magical that she never wants to leave it.
Nadia Han is a contemporary romance author. She’s a dreamer, a visionary, and a believer in karma and kindness. She lives in New England with her family and spends most of her time crafting stories. When she’s not writing, she practices yoga, reads, explores nature, and eats all kinds of foods.
Michele (or Chele for short) Pedersen Smith is a quirky author smitten with mystery, comedies, romance, spirituality, holidays, and time travel. Writing since 6th grade, her stories go wherever the muse inspires. Besides novels, her work has appeared in Guideposts magazine, three Quabbin Quills anthologies, Mount Wachusett Community College literary journals and the college newspaper, Mount Observer. When she isn’t plotting whimsical what-ifs and dialogue, Chele is a supermarket pharmacy technician. She loves attending live theater and thinks any day is taco Tuesday.
Chuck Abdella teaches history St. John’s High School. His four-book fantasy series, The Outcasts has been enjoyed by readers on six continents. His new YA fantasy series, The Centerton High series, speaks to anyone who has ever wondered if their teachers were from another world! Chuck’s writing has appeared in the St. John’s Icon, the Boston College Stylus, Worcester Magazine, and The Boston Globe. When he’s not spending his time reminding adolescents that the Romans were much cooler than they thought, Chuck enjoys reading, coaching youth softball, playing basketball, and watching Boston sports. Find him at www.chuckabdella.com
Author Diane Kane’s short stories appear in several anthologies, including her award-winning short historical fiction piece, “Ernest Lived,” which was the basis for her novel I Never Called Him Pa. Kane is the publisher and co-author of Flash in the Can Number One and Number Two, short stories to read wherever you go. She also has two children’s books, Don Gateau the Three-Legged Cat of Seborga and Brayden the Brave Goes to the Hospital. Both won Purple Dragonfly awards. Kane lives in a small rural town in Western Massachusetts and spends her summers on the rocky shores of Maine. I Never Called Him Pa is Kane’s first novel, but hopefully not her last. She sits patiently by her keyboard, awaiting new characters to talk to her.
Rutland Author Diane Spindler has been practicing psychotherapy for over 30 years. When she first started as a therapist, she was disappointed there weren’t any techniques to help clients heal quickly. So she started on a quest to find that method. She discovered many techniques that solved some of her requirements, but none that did it all. Her answer was to cherry pick the parts of each one that contributed to her goal and put them together in a unique way to aide her clients in healing from trauma. The result of this quest became Gentle Reprocessing. Ms. Spindler has been training other clinicians how to help their trauma clients effectively for over 20 years. She has presented her work in the US, Canada and Paris. She also has taught in the Boston University PEP department consistently, as well as in private workshops and in clinics. She has continued to teach Gentle while having a private practice in Central Massachusetts. For more information go to GentleReprocessing.com
Dick Durland is a non-fiction writer whose work can best be described as “putting his passions to paper”. His initial book, “Halloween – Life of the Party” was featured in this year’s “Printers Row Lit Fest” in Chicago, IL. Due out next spring, Dick’s “Winning the Day – Saving Baseball”, chronicles his son’s improbable rise through the baseball ranks while ensuring readers are compelled to acknowledge the underlying reasons behind the current demise of ‘America’s favorite pastime’. His penchant for sharing his real-life experiences is further reflected in several Letters to the Editor over the years, winning numerous “Letter of the Week’ honors. Dick and his wife Sue have 3 children and are long-term residents of Paxton, MA. For more about Dick’s writings, go to dickdurland-author.com.
E.D. Hackett is a speech-language pathologist by day and a writer by night. She writes women’s fiction novels with one foot in romance. Common target themes include self-acceptance, family, friendship, and self-love. Her books always have a happy ever after because life is hard enough. She loves anything Ireland, books over movies, fall over spring, and ice cream over cake. She can be found at https://www.edhackettauthor.com and all over social media.
Eileen O’Finlan is a native New Englander who loves books, cats, and history. She writes historical fiction and cozy fantasy. She shares her home with an adorable calico Maine Coon mix cat named Autumn Amelia. When not working, writing, or reading, she can be found in her garden, going for a walk, or listening to music.
Award-winning author Janet Raye Stevens writes short stories and novel-length mysteries, time travel, and the occasional holiday romance with humor, heart, and a dash of suspense. A Derringer Award and Silver Falchion Award finalist and winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award for the WWII-set paranormal suspense A MOMENT AFTER DARK, Janet lives in central Massachusetts with her family.
Rutland AuthorJean M. Grant is a scientist by training and has a penchant for misunderstood creatures, be it sharks, microbes, or wounded characters. She writes historical and contemporary romance, women’s fiction, and commercial fiction. Three of her books have won awards. As a nature enthusiast, Jean also writes family-oriented travel articles. When not writing, she enjoys gardening and going on adventures near and far with her family. If she were stuck on a desert island, her three essentials (besides family, food, water) would be coffee, lip balm and pink post-its. Find her at www.jeanmgrant.com.
Jillian MacGregor writes spicy romance. She is married with two adult children and 2 extremely spoiled rescue dogs. When she isn’t working her day job, she is reading or writing romance, sometimes while traveling. She loves coffee and chocolate and loves to hear from her readers!
Joanne Roach-Evans attended The School of the Worcester Art Museum, Worcester State University and Quinsigamond Community College majoring in Art, English, and Graphic Design. She has a Masters in Education from Worcester State University. Her first children’s book “Seashells: Treasures from the Northeast Coast” was published in 2013 by Islandport Press. “Seaweed: Marine Algae from the Northeast Coast” was published in July of 2019, “Marine Animals from the Northeast Coast” was published in February of 2020, “Marine Birds from the Northeast Coast” was published in May of 2021, and in May of 2022 she published “Little Piping Plover.” jroachevans.com
Rutland Author Karen Elizabeth Sharpe is a poetry editor at the Worcester Review, and her poems have appeared in Columbia Journal, West Trade Review, Mom Egg Review, Catalyst, Mason Street Review and other magazines and anthologies. She is the author of Prayer Can Be Anything (Finishing Line Press, 2023) and This Late Afternoon (Dunn & Co. 2004). She has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. Karen has been a member of Marge Piercy’s juried poets group and a member of the PoemWorks community in the greater Boston area. She has been a coffee-cart clerk, a babysitter, a journalist and editor, a caterer, a funeral ceremonialist, a professional fundraiser, and an assistant vice president at two universities. She celebrates the healing power of forgiveness in relationships.
Kristy Kielbasinski loved to laugh as a child, so naturally her favorite book was “The Monster at the End of this Book.” Now as an adult she is a stand-up comedian and gets to have strangers laugh at her crazy life. When she is not performing comedy, she is busy writing. Her greatest joy is creating funny stories and games with her kids. Kristy lives in Massachusetts with her husband, three boys, and a spoiled dog named Lego.
LJ Cohen is a novelist, poet, fiber artist, potter, and relentless optimist. After 25 years as a physical therapist, LJ uses her knowledge and skills to injure characters in her science fiction and fantasy novels. Her most recent book, A STAR IN THE VOID, (book 5 of the Halcyone Space series) is her eighth novel. DERELICT, the 1st book in the series, was named a Library Journal self-e select title and book of the year in 2014. LJ is active in SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America) and Broad Universe and lives on a homestead farm in Central Massachusetts with her spouse and their two dogs. http://ljcohen.net
Lois McAuliffe has been a children’s librarian for 45 years and the Director of Children’s Services at the Ashland (MA) Public Library for 23 years. She is the author and illustrator of three picture books about wild animals. Two of her books feature hippopotamuses, and all the kids at the library know that Miss Lois loves hippos! She doesn’t have a pet hippo (much to her disappointment), but she currently shares her home with a cat named Mistletoe and two guinea pigs named Doodles and Hazel.
Paulette Stout is the fearless author of fast paced contemporary women’s fiction tackling social issues often ignored. With Paulette’s books, readers get bingeable prose, relatable characters and compelling stories that keep pages turning. Her 10 book award recognitions span both of her titles—Love, Only Better and What We Never Say—adding to her three media industry awards, including a MediaWeek All-Star. You can usually find Paulette rearranging words into pleasing patterns while wearing grammar t-shirts at her home in Acton, Massachusetts. Connect with Paulette on her website at http://www.paulettestout.com, on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok @paulettestoutauthor or on Twitter @StoutContent
Peggy Jaeger writes romantic stories about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them. Her books make you believe in happily ever afters. Visit her at www.peggyjaeger.comwhere she blogs daily about things that make her say, “WHAT??!”
Rebecca Southwick writes historical fiction and lives in Massachusetts with her life partner and their four cats. This is her debut novel.
Ronald C. McGilvray is a Kathleen Downey Short Fiction Award winner and has also been writing poetry for much of his life. He has eleven self-published volumes of poetry, the first of which was Secrets, Scrawls and Strays – And Other Virgin Verses. His poetry has also appeared in collections and publications such as Lad O’ Pairts Vol. 1 – Hope Over Fear and the Worcester Magazine. Among many of his life diversions, his most enjoyable was as a newspaper reporter and editor. He has lived all over New England and now resides in Spencer, MA with his wife Sandra.
Sarah Zane is an author of happy endings for traumatized queers. She is a bisexual feminist and a licensed therapist. Her books deal with themes of feminism, trauma, sexuality, and mental health. She lives in New England with her husband and 2 black cats named Gatsby and Mr. Darcy. When she isn’t writing, she can be found perusing a book in her home library, taking forest walks, visiting castles, or planning exotic trips she can’t afford. She can be found at thelibraryofsarahzane.com.
Sharon A. Harmon is the author of the children’s book Horatio Mortimer Loved Music. It isa book that brings the world of sound to life. Young children will delight in following Horatio on his adventure of finding musical notes everywhere he goes and storing them in his large brownsack. Francois Christmas Crossing is based on a true story, about an owl that left Canada in a tree that traveled to Georgia where it was sold as a Christmas tree. Many years ago she found a tiny sawhet owl in the road and she took it home for two weeks until it was strong enough to be released into the woods again. This is the first time that she illustrated a book. Her books are on Amazon and sold in many stores. She is a freelance writer and poet. She has been published in Highlights for Children, Ranger Rick, and The Caterpillar in Ireland., She lives deep in the woods of Central Massachusetts with her husband, many fir trees, and owls.
Sharon Healy-Yang writes smart and sassy mysteries that evoke the wit and suspense of her beloved 1940s films. Her Jessica Minton mystery series (Bait and Switch, Letter from a Dead Man, and Always Play the Dark Horse) features a sharp female lead who faces espionage, murder, Nazis, a femme fatale with henchmen, and even horse thieves, aided by her madcap sister, wise alec cat Dusty, and a dashing, mysterious man. The forthcoming Shadows of a Dark Past tips its hat to the ghostly noir of Val Lewton and other 1940s forays into the supernatural.
Suzanne Eglington resides in North Central Massachusetts with her New Adult kiddos and lots of fur babies. She started out in the contemporary spicy romance genre and during 2020 while the world was in lockdown she found her voice in action/adventure and young adult fantasy fiction. In her down time she runs an annual event mingling romance authors and romance readers in October – Fall in Love New England. You can find her at http://www.suzeglington.com or http://www.suzanneeglington.onlineor http://www.fallinlovenewengland.com
Tom Ingrassia is an award-winning author, radio personality, Motown historian and motivational speaker. His first book–One Door Closes: Overcoming Adversity By Following Your Dreams–is currently being adapted as a documentary film, premiering in October, 2023. Tom’s second book–Reflections Of A Love Supreme: Motown Through The Eyes Of Fans–was named Best Music History Book by both the National Indie Excellence Awards and the NABE Pinnacle Awards. Every Wednesday, from 9 am to 1 pm, you can hear The Motown Jukebox with “Motown Tom” on WCUW 91.3FM. http://www.ingrassiaproductions.com
I know I’ve kinda been obnoxious with posting about the release date for this one, but I just love this book so so so much and I want as many people as possible to get to enjoy it, too!
This is the first book I’ve ever written that’s entirely from the hero’s Point of View. Yup. All you hear are the thoughts from Michael’s mind. His interpretations, his feelings, and the way he thinks things through.
Writing this book was a heavy exercise in thinking and doing outside my comfortable box and level, and I am so happy with the way Michael’s story unfolded. While I may not write solely from the male perspective again – or at least for a while – I think being in his head for the entire book gave me a good indication on male thought patterns and how they process information.
Or at least I hope it did!! The readers will be the judge of that, I guess.
If you haven’t preordered yet, now’s your chance: DMWTM
And add it to your Goodreads want-to-read list here: WantToRead
Oh, and did you know I’m having A GoodReads Giveaway as well? Enter here: Goodreads
It’s the holiday season in the tiny town of Dickens and pilot Michael Charles is home for his annual visit. His wanderlust has him itching to get back up in the skies as soon as possible, especially since he’s got a full schedule of rich and famous clients waiting to be transported to warm, exotic locales for the winter.
When his heavily pregnant sisters present him with a plan to give their workaholic mother some time off from managing the family diner, he balks. But one look at how tired the woman who took him into her home and heart is, and Michael agrees to run Dorrit’s Diner for a month so Amy Charles can get some well-deserved rest.
He’ll be back in the skies by the New Year.
The diner staff functions like a well-oiled machine, most of them long-term employees. The exception is new waitress Julia Maryland. The beautiful blonde has a past filled with heartache, a charming six-year-old daughter, and a smile Michael could spend the day getting lost in. But starting a relationship with her wouldn’t be wise because his visit is temporary and Julia seems like a permanent kind of girl.
When a family emergency requires him to rethink and reassess his life, Michael wonders if it’s time he becomes a permanent kind of man.
So today’s Tuesday tease is a little different. I’m not going to intrigue you with a little snippet of an upcoming book. Rather, I’m going to try and whet your reading appetite by showing you my covers for my upcoming additions to the HEAVEN’S MATCHMAKER series that will be released in 2024.
Intrigued yet? LOL
You’ve already been introduced to MIX AND MATCH, Jasmine and Donovan’s story.
Next in line is Layla and Cody’s love story, LOVE MATCH
Then, book 3, PERFECT MATCH, featuring Olivia and Hunter.
Book 4 features Charity and Kolby from Dearly Beloved fame, YOU’RE MY MATCH
When you see them all lined up they look so pretty!
And if you haven’t clued into it yet, the covers are all seasonal. Book 1 was released in the fall, book 2 will be a Valentine’s Day release ( here’s hoping!) book 3 summer 2023, and hopefully book 4 late fall 2023.
I have my work cut out for me. The books are plotted ( you know me!!!). I just need to put my butt in the chair and type them all up.
“Any updates on the baby?” she asked, moving to the stove, teakettle in hand.
He told her about the diagnosis and the treatment his niece would need while she filled the kettle and then placed it on the stove to heat. When she turned around to him, her face had gone quite pale and a soft curl of moisture shone in her eyes.
“You saved the baby’s life. You know that, right?”
“What?”
“You got her to a place where they could diagnose her and put a plan together to get her better. If you hadn’t been available to fly her to Concord…” she let the rest of the sentence dangle and shook her head again.
“I can’t begin to imagine what your sister is going through.” She wrapped her arms around herself and shook her head. “Her hormones are gonna be going nuts to begin with and now her tiny baby needs heart surgery.”
A single tear snuck down each cheek and when she swiped at them his heart melted.
“I’m sorry for blubbering, but I keep thinking if this had been Blake I don’t know how I would have survived, how I would have handled it. Or what I would have done. I’m upset for your sister. As a new mother, she must be terrified.”
“One thing you need to know about Sasha,” he said. “She’s nothing if not a fighter and survivor. I bet she’s gonna sign herself out of the hospital in the morning if they don’t discharge her and head right up to Concord to be with her baby. Hell, she’ll probably order me to fly her to save time.”
“And you will, without any thought not to, because she’s your sister. Your family.” Her sigh pulled at him.
She was right. He’d do anything for his sisters, for his parents. The very fact he’d given up a month of his life so his mom could take a well-earned rest was all the proof anyone needed.
They were silent as the teakettle whistled and she went about preparing her nightly brew.
“So,” he said as she took her fist sip, “Everything good around here while I was gone?”
“RayLynn and Winston kept things moving smoothly.”
“Good. Thank goodness for the old-timers. They’ve been around long enough to know what’s what. I know my mom trusts and relies on them. I do, too.”
She sipped her tea, the steam rising, drifting around, and touching her face. His fingers tingled because they wanted to do the same.
Good Lord. Jealous of a wisp of air that got to touch her.
“Julia—”
“Michael—”
Her blush charmed him.
“Sorry,” he said. “You first.”
She sipped her tea then placed the mug down on the table. “I, well. I just wanted you to know how much I…admire you. Your whole family. You’re always there for one another. My parents,” she lifted a shoulder and cast her eyes downward, “have always been a little distant with me, now more than ever since the Jeff incident. I’d love if I had a family like yours. I’d hoped to have one like that for Blake, but, well, life intervened and my husband got sick. Then I went off the deep end with Jeff.” Another head shake. “Your family is the kind I’ve always aspired to have.”
Michael rose from the table and slid his fork and plate into the sink, ran the water to rinse them, and then let them sit.
“You know we’re all adopted, right? Abra, Sasha, and me?”
She nodded. “Someone mentioned it. I can’t remember who. But I think it’s wonderful Amy and Andy wanted to share their home and their hearts.”
He leaned against the sink ledge and crossed his arms over his chest. “I told you to make a point.”
She lifted her gaze, the mug warming in her hands.
“You can have a biological family and hope it’s the dream family everyone wants. Most of the time, though, it isn’t. The perfect family is almost always a fantasy. Or you can make a family with the people you open your heart to, like you said. The people you choose to be your family. Amy chose us. And I thank whoever’s in charge,” he pointed upward, “every single day she did. I truthfully don’t think I’d be alive today if she hadn’t.”
Immediately he regretted saying it. For the second time, with her, he’d divulged a little bit of what he’d always kept hidden, what he’d always considered too much to share. Why did it feel so easy, though, to say things to her he’d never given breath to with any other woman?
“That’s…awful to even consider.”
He shrugged. “Like I said, the perfect family dream is just that. A dream.”
He pushed off the ledge and turned around to wash the dishes he’d had rinsing. Before he could turn the water on, Julia’s hand wound around his bicep.
His gaze flicked to it. Her fingers didn’t even meet halfway around the muscle. Had he noticed how small her hands were before now? How long and slender her fingers were, the nails naked and buffed to a natural shine? Heat, flaming heat, singed through his shirt at her touch. It was a wonder smoke wasn’t billowing up from his arm from where she gripped it.
A worry line dragged her brows together.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, staying still, fearful if he moved he’d give in to temptation and rub his thumb along that thin line to soothe it away.
“The time before you came to Amy?” A nervous flick of her tongue wet her lips.
Michael swallowed and tried to ignore how much the little move made parts of his anatomy twitch. “What about it?”
“Can you…will you…tell me about it?”
His breath hissed like a steam valve opening.
The line disappeared as her eyes opened wide, her gaze mating with his as she waited for him to speak.
“I don’t talk about that time.” His throat was raw and dry like sandpaper. “It’s too…” He dropped his gazed to the sink, fisted his hands on the ledge. “I don’t even remember all that much.”
An outright lie. If pressed, Michael could recall every minute he’d spent in that closet, every cigarette the mean mad had put out on his flesh, every slap he’d suffered across his face and back.
Disappointment shadowed her gaze. Julia dropped her hand from his arm and nodded.
Backing away from him she said in a shaky voice, “Of course. I understand. I’m…sorry. Never mind. Sorry.”
When she dropped her gaze to the floor, a bullet of regret tore through him. He pulled in another bracing breath before forgetting all about the dishes and turning around to face her.
“I was four when I came to Amy,” he said.
She lifted her head, zeroed in on his face.
“Five when she and Andy petitioned to adopt me.”
“So young,” she mumbled. “Barely more than a baby.”
Had he ever been young? Some days, when he thought about that time, he felt as if he’d been born old and jaded.
Every November, from the first to the thirtieth, hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, attempt the National Novel Writing Contest ( NANOWRIMO) challenge of penning a 50,000+ word novel in those 30 days.
I have participated in the event for the past 9 years and will again this year.
The goal is to write at least 1700 words daily to reach the minimum 50,000-word count set up by the challenge. The exercise helps build momentum for your writing ( you have to write every single day!), makes writing every day a goal and a challenge, and forces you ( gently) to sit your butt down and get that word count done without distractions.
As a writer, I know that life intervenes on my writing time almost daily. This challenge makes you push everything else to the side and do the work first. Love that.
If you’ve been trying to get your manuscript finished, or attempting to begin a new one, consider this NANOWRIMO challenge. If nothing else, it will help you remember that the only way to get a book written is to…write it!
authors. There are 60+ authors signed up for the event – see the list below.
2. panels/workshops. For two days you can come and visit your fav authors – and find some new favs – at all the panels and workshops they are hosting. Learn about their books, what they write, their writing process and loads more! I’m on 4 of them and I promise they are going to be funny and entertaining! Here’s the schedule and all the deets: FILNE
3. Halloween costume party. Who doesn’t love to dress up?? Halloween costumes aren’t just for kids, ya know.
4. adult trick or treating. I have it on good authority that more than candy will be distributed!
5. books books books. The event ends with a book signing featuring all the present authors. Bring your checkbook, credit cards, and some cash because you’re gonna be spending a bundle!!! And remember – books make great gifts and the holidays are coming fast!
Two days of total immersion with romance authors and romance book readers. This is one of the most fun events I go to every year because I get to meet, talk with, and have a blast with romance readers – the most wonderful readers and fans on the planet!
You can click on the above link to get the details, but the panels, workshops, the costume party…they are all perfection.
On TikTok the other day I saw a video and had to stop and watch it. After I did, I saved it because it spoke to me on so many levels.
The video was the 7 questions you should ask your mother before she…dies. I still have trouble saying, writing, and thinking that word in relation to my mother.
These are the questions:
What is your happiest memory of us ( either you and your mother, or the family as a whole)?
What is the nicest thing I have ever done for you?
What is the one thing you always want me to remember after you are gone?
What was the first year of motherhood like for you?
What do you wish most for me?
Is there anything in our family that is a secret?
What are the best and worst things about getting older?
Here is the saddest part of this entire exercise: I only know the answer to one of these questions. And truthfully? I wish I didn’t.
I can certainly speculate on the rest of them, but I’ll never have a definitive answer, which, for the control freak in me, is just devastating.
Peggy Jaeger, Author 