Without Mercy

Without Mercy is the first murder mystery I’ve written since grade four. I had forgotten how much fun they are to write.
I hope you will enjoy reading this series as much as I have enjoy writing it.
Why the 1920’s? It intrigues me because it was a time of such massive upheaval and social change.
When I was young I found this poster below in the basement of an old house I lived in with a group of friends. Okay it was a squat. We had it until the wreckers came and turned the glorious old Arts & Craft house in a featureless apartment building.

It’s from the Canadian Society for Social Hygiene 1926. My imagination soars at that name!

An interesting year.

I’m trying something new this year. For the first time ever I’ve planned a series of four books, well 1 novella and 3 novels, and won’t release any of them until all four are completed. The series name is Without Mercy. The books are:
Unbowed, novella prequel
Unseen, book 1
Unchosen, book 2
Untamed, book 3
Each book follows the romance of one couple as an entire community tries to solve the mystery of the murder of the powerful matriarch.
This is the first murder mystery I’ve written. It’s the first time I’ve pushed myself to complete a series in so quickly. I’m not one of those fast writers who can turn a book out every 1-2 months.
I had to book a slot with a brand new editor months in advance.
It’s the first time I’ve worked with cover artist Dani Rene at Raven Designs.
So many firsts! I’m definitely out of my comfort zone.

Thank you lovely readers!

With your amazing support, Alien Embrace hit the USA Today bestseller list that was released yesterday. It has been a long year as the many author who participated in this set came together to publish it.
Without the support of so many wonderful readers, this would never have happened - we send you a galaxy of gratitude!

Things change - thoughts on the Bad Girls, Grumpy Bosses boxset

Thanks to everyone who is reading or has read Bad Girls, Grumpy Bosses.
One note on the first book, Simon Says: it was my debut novel in this genre. Now, with the benefit of five years’ experience, I know it could have been much better.
I love Simon and Sadie, but I should have shown more of Simon's better side because he does have one. He just keeps it well hidden.
I only started to begin to understand Simon in book two, Winning Sadie..
At the start of my writing life, I was told it I’d have to commit myself to a lifetime of learning. I took that advice to heart and work on craft constantly.
I hope you will see the improvement between my first book in this collection, Simon Says, and Trusting Ingrid, which I wrote two years later.
I also hope people will remember that these books are fantasies. They shouldn’t be confused with instruction manuals, nor are they intended to be ‘how to’ lifestyle guides.

Exciting news! Bad Girls, Grumpy Bosses

My first six contemporary novels are being released in a single box set this coming Thursday.

When feisty women are seduced by charming, bossy men, they soon discover the pain and pleasure of tough love. Six steamy full-length novels. Four sexy couples.

Please note: these books were previously released under these same names. This is the first time they are offered as a package at this excellent price.

Books 1-3: With close friends, a lovely condo, and an amazing shoe collection, Sadie Donohue is happy with life. Just don’t ask about the unpaid balances on her credit cards. When billionaire Simon Jacobson moves in, she soon learns more than how to balance her check book. Yes, they are from different worlds, but Simon insists that doesn’t matter. She may want to fix the world, but he intends to rule it, starting with her.
Book 4: Celebrity blogger Ronnie Flynn wants something only Del Franklin can give her. Del says she can have it, but conditions apply. Ronnie agrees. The minute he is out of sight, she breaks her word. When he takes her home that night, Del gives her an old-fashioned lesson in honorable, ladylike behavior. Too bad for Ronnie that she is a slow learner.
Book 5: Recent retiree Cynthia Donohue has just moved to the west coast. Chronic fatigue and joint pain is making her antisocial. Even though she likes Antony Jacobson, her son-in-law’s wealthy uncle, she pushes him away. Or tries to. Antony intends to be the boss in their relationship. She balks at his domineering ways. A trip over his knee, followed by loving aftercare, challenges her long held feminist principles.
Book 6: Ingrid Nickel grew up lawless and streetwise. She trusts no one. Her mother was a grifter who shaped Ingrid’s hyper independence. When Ingrid meets Lachlan Morrison, a man who isn’t fooled by her bluster and bluff, it’s game on. He sees someone who is badly broken. All she needs is a firm and loving hand. Ingrid doesn’t want to be rescued. But she kind of likes the way Lachlan’s strict discipline is sweetened by masterful lovemaking.
Disclaimer: The books in this boxset are intended for adults only. They include power exchanges, spanking, and other sexual activities which are fantasies only.

What does writing a book look like?

The other night my husband came home to find me sitting in the living room in complete silence.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Writing," I said. You’d think he’d know by now. To be fair, sometimes the process is hard to spot.
I hadn’t heard the word ideating until I saw this image but it captures one part of the process.
I’ve had a new series building in my imagination for a while. Sitting quietly is one way of shuffling the pieces around before I put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.
Book one in this new series is shaping up now but I’m not ready to discuss particulars. I’m kind of superstitious that way. Let’s just say I’m moving between the researching, thinking, and writing stages at present.
When the books are more formed I’ll share this exciting new world with you.

Fun and games

Have you entered this competition? First prize is a $100 Amazon Gift Card plus a bundle of books. Ends May 31.
Take a chance here.

For those with a different type of mother

photo by Marcelo Moreira from Pexels

For many people like me, mother’s day isn’t a time of shared warm memories.
In fact it’s a good day to stay off social media to avoid the flood of sweet testimonials that are alien to our experiences.
My mother didn’t set out to be a bad mother. She was simply a poor candidate for the job.
Her choices were limited and she was never problem solver. Still isn’t.
When she was angry, frustrated, frightened, or sometimes just bored, she lashed out, verbally and physically.
As I learned to walk the tightrope of her moods, I didn’t know I was preparing for life as a writer.
She can’t hurt me like she once did but trusting others will always be an issue.
If you had a loving mother who supported and encouraged you, I hope you treasure her.
If your mother was like mine or worse, and many were much worse, I hope you have learned to leave the past behind and embrace your freedom from that tyranny.
If you are one of those marvelous women behind a generation who are growing up (or have grown up) with roots and wings - thank you.

World Poetry Day - March 21

I almost let this important day slip by unnoticed.
Over the years I’ve memorized many poems but a few that pop up regularly.
Loveliest of Trees written by AE Housman in 1896 always echoes in my head when I see the cherry blossoms in the spring. Right now our neighborhood is awash with petals so I think I’ll take a walk in the dying light of day to enjoy them one more time.
Do you have a favorite poem? Do you think of it often? Have you ever bought a book of poetry? I have an entire shelf.

The making of a series - 🎁 how it came together

It’s been a long time since I updated this blog. That’s because my newsletter is now doing a lot of what my blog used to do. I hope you have subscribed. It not, you can sign up here.
In the meantime, the fourth and final book in the Lighthouses of Devmaer series is almost finished. Well my part of it is almost finished anyway. After I complete my latest soup-to-nuts revision, it will be sent to beta readers before the editing process starts.
As I reach the end of the series, I’ve been looking back at the pin board that helped me visualize the fantasy world. It changed over time but currently looks like this:

Then there were times when I needed images just to keep track of the many characters in the series of books and novellas so I set up boards in Pinterest to help with visualization.
I also created an organization chart to clarify relationships of the main players from the continent country of Senne:

Writing this series has been a great adventure. I hope you have enjoyed the ride!