I wanted to jump on today because Romanticon will be coming up soon and I wanted to remind everyone that I have a BOOK ORDER form for preorders for all my events. I’ll be 4 places in the summer, all listed below.
Now, I can’t bring hundreds of every book I’ve written with me, so it’s waaaaay easier for all of us * you and me!* if you preorder the book you want to get at the events.
Here’s the general link to the order form with all the instructions and books I’ll have available for purchase at the signings.
On Saturday, December 16, 2023, from 11 am until 1pm I will be at the TOADSTOOLBOOKSHOP in Keene, NH, discussing and signing my newest releases. Hope to see you there! And remember: Books make great gifts – for others and yourself, so why not treat yourself to a little romance this holiday season?!
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
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!
I will be at Books Books Books 2023 tomorrow in Lititz, PA, signing, selling, and talking about my books to wonderful readers of romance, and all genres of fiction.
Here are 5 reasons why I think you should come out and see me (LOL, such narcissism!!!)
You can not only meet me, you can meet over 70+ authors
I’ll have all these books available for purchase and signing.
3. Books make great gifts and the holidays are coming! Giving a reader a signed copy of their newest release is a great gift.
4. It’s a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon, especially since I heard it’s going to rain, hee hee.
Tomorrow, 9.18,2023, I’ll be taking over the Facebook Page of BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS 2023 at 7pm EST. I’m an attending author for this wonderful event, taking place on September 23rd, and this is my opportunity to introduce myself to readers who may not know me ( which, believe me – there are millions, LOL!)
If you’re free, come join me. I’ll be playing games, talking about my books – the new and the upcoming – and maybe even gifting a few prizes along the way!!!
here’s the link to the FB page – please join it so you can take advantage of all the fun: BBB
Toady’s #fridayfive is an exciting one for me. Tomorrow, I will be at the Boston Marriott Peabody for GETTING WITCHY WITH IT 2023 as an attending and book-signing author! I’ll be at table #44 in the Centennial Room
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, 9.16-17, 2023 THE BOSTON MARRIOT PEABODY NEAR SALEM, MA
So, here are 5 reasons why you should come on down:
300 authors – spread over two days, Saturday and Sunday. I’m a Saturday author, so I’ll see you tomorrow!
Models – many of the authors are bringing their cover models with them to take pictures with fans. How many people do you know who have their picture with a famous book cover model? It could be you!!
Yesterday, the Romanticon 2023 book signing occurred in Trumbull. This was my second time attending the event and I am so glad I did.
I got to meet a whole passel of new-to-me-readers, reconnected with some wonderful author-friends and did a hefty amount of book sales. All good things.
And now as I write this at 3:44 a.m. in my hotel room, I am bone-tired – physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Here’s what people ( readers) may not realize.
Attending an event like this for an author is exhausting! Schlepping all your books, paraphernalia, book racks, swag, giveaways, preorders, table settings, is a monumental task, especially for someone like me on the other side of 60 and with no help. I travel to these events solo and it falls on me to get everything together and set up. I’m not complaining – please don’t think that – but it is a lot of physical work. You want your table to appear welcoming, not cluttered, to draw the new-to-you-reader in, but not inundate them, and to appear professional yet approachable and fun all at the same time.
For an introverted hermit like me, that last part is anxiety-producing and exhausting! LOL
Then, there’s the actual event.
Four hours may not seem like a lot to someone, but believe me, when you are standing, trying to make small talk, trying to entice people to buy your book, all the while the noise level in the big room you are in is deafening around you, it feels more like 20! Again, not complaining, just stating the reality of the situation.
But…the positives far outweigh any perceived negatives.
Yesterday, I reconnected with several people, both authors, and readers, I haven’t seen since prior to our pandemic traveling shutdown. Some, it’s been 4 years. That’s a lot of time. Yes, we are all a little older, some of us are more tired ( that would be me!) but it was delightful to see old friends again. And it was glorious to meet new authors and readers. I feel like my friendship circle grew tenfold yesterday.
As I write this, with my voice gone, my feet aching, and my back dreading the long drive – solo- home today, I am still thrilled I attended. This hasn’t been the best year for me so far, and I tend to isolate myself when I’m stuck in my feelings. Being out and about with people -people I consider extended family – truly helped reorient my brain back to a positive sphere.
So, a huge THANK YOU to organizer Kitty Berry and all her wonderful girl-pals who helped out on this glorious affair. It is a well-oiled and precision-practiced event that runs beautifully and gives all who attend the satisfaction of a day well spent.
I love titles with 3 things mentioned!!! Makes me think of the Wizard of OZ – lions and tigers and bears…oh my!. LOL
Anyhoo…
Today’s Tuesday tease is from my new (print) release of SABLE – ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID.The official release is May 17, but I had several author copies printed up because I’m going to a wonderful BOOKSIGNING this weekend in New Jersey Wine Country and wanted to have them available for purchase. Here’s the tease, first:
“Rough shift,” he said, sidling up to her as she buttoned her jacket.
“And it wasn’t even a full moon,” she quipped.
His grin shot out fast. “Can’t wait to see what that’s like in the ER.”
Her lids went to half-mast as she slid a glance at him. “Be careful what you wish for,” she said. “Full moons are nothing to make fun of around here.”
He shrugged and zipped up his jacket. “Can’t be any worse than trying to patch someone up with artillery fire exploding all around you.”
Her head whipped up and her unlined brow folded in on itself.
“Listen,” he said, “I’m starving and I imagine you are, too, since neither of us got a dinner break last night. Want to go grab something quick before heading home? The diner across the street makes the best waffles this side of the Mississippi.”
When a corner of her mouth lifted a bit, he felt ten feet tall. In the next instant it flattened again.
“I’m actually heading there for a breakfast meeting right now, so, sorry. I can’t.”
“Business meeting?”
When she rolled her eyes, he thought she looked all of sixteen years old again. Since he’d known her when she was that age, a familiar feeling of warmth moved within him.
Sable expelled a tortured groan. There was no other way to describe the sound that rumbled up from the back of her throat and blew past her lips.
“I wish it were a business meeting, but no.” When he cocked his head, she added, “I’m meeting with my cousin, Moira. She has something to”—she lifted her fingers in air quotes—“discuss with me, but I already know what it is and I really wish I had an excuse not to go.”
“Okay, now I’m seriously interested. What’s so horrible she wants to talk about?”
“Me.” Another eye roll.
“You?”
She nodded.
“What about you?”
“Not me specifically, I guess, but my unmarried, childless state.”
If he wasn’t mistaken there was a hint of bitterness in her tone, topped by a whole lot of embarrassment, solidified when her cheeks turned three different shades of crimson within a millisecond.
She closed her eyes and sighed. “I can’t believe I said that out loud. And to you, of all people,” she mumbled.
He’d think about the last part of her sentence later. For now, he said, “Let me take a guess here.”
She opened her eyes and – halleluiah – looked him in the eye.
“She wants to fix you up.”
Eyes closed again, she nodded.
“And you…what? Don’t want to be?”
Another nod.
“Because? You don’t like to be set up? Or you’re already seeing someone?”
He said a silent prayer it wasn’t the latter.
“The whole thing is ridiculously embarrassing, for starters,” she said. “I’m thirty years old and can get my own dates, thank you very much. But you’d think I was either twelve and knew nothing about the world the way my family acts, or pushing fifty and looking at a lonely later life with nothing for companionship but cats and Netflix movies.”
He wanted to laugh but kept the merriment inside him, understanding she was dead serious. She hadn’t said she was seeing someone, though, so that was telling.
I’ll be there both days!!! Come out and find some new romance authors to read, have some wine, bring some friends!! This promises to be a FUNFUNFUN event put on by the fabulous Roz Lee
And if you’re coming to the event and want to make sure you get a copy of thebooks I’ll be brining along, here’s a copy of the event preorder list for me: PREORDER
Peggy Jaeger, Author 