Spring has sprung & Easter is early this year. I’ve just returned from traveling down south, my forever home & happy place. I’m about to become a Gigi x2 any day now. Here’s a recent pic of my lil namesake, Sophie Louise, on the left with her bookish bestie on the right. Never too young to love books – or …
Patriots, Ancestry, & Books
Rarely do I speak but the DAR – Daughters of the American Revolution – is dear to my heart. The ladies of Franklin – and a few gentlemen! – welcomed me warmly in a special meeting for their Old Glory Chapter. I’m blessed several of them have taken time for my books. I gave a brief talk which was followed …
Novel news!
Time for a writing update! Good news should be shared! ✍️ I signed a new contract yesterday! The plan is to bring you a winter novel & a summer novella in future. Two books a year for several years to come! 🏴 Cover art & titling are underway for this finished January 2025 novel about a 1774 colonial American heiress …
My Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipe
KENTUCKY SUGAR COOKIES Cream together: 1 cup butter and 2/3 cup sugar Beat in: 1 egg Add: 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2-1/2 cups sifted, all-purpose flour Mix all ingredients until well blended. Chill dough 3-4 hours before rolling. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out 1/4 inch thick and cut with cookie cutters. Bake 8-10 minutes or until …
Christy Award
Theres’s nothing like a little encouragement on the publishing path, or in this case, tremendous encouragement! The Christy Award is an unparalleled honor in the industry & to me personally. Inspired by Catherine Marshall’s novel by the same name, this literary recognition of excellent fiction has several categories. I’m thrilled & thankful my publisher, Revell, thought enough of The Rose …
Gorgeous Georgians
Recently it came to my attention that the best way for an author to connect with reading friends is through a private group… So, Gorgeous Georgians it is! Isn’t the image lovely? I have the amazingly gifted Hannah Linder to thank who is a fellow author as well as a stellar designer! Here’s both her lovely sites: Hannah Linder Designs …
Tea & Quill Tour!
Books, Tea, & England? Is there a better combination? This journal entry is for those who are interested in traveling on the Tea and Quill Tour with authors Laura Frantz & Pepper Basham. We will be savoring a small slice of England with our tour focusing particularly on literary places while drinking great tea along the way! If you’d like …
Next stop – Chicago!
I haven’t been to Chicago in many years so am especially excited to attend Jocelyn Green’s A Novel-Tea at the historic Palmer House. This is an elegant event with reading friends & authors in a beautiful setting. I’ll also be joining Jocelyn & readers for her Chicago tour on Saturday before the event. Jocelyn’s novels are excellent & she’s a …
Return from Mississippi River Readers Retreat
Last month I made a whirlwind trip to Minnesota, my first visit to the Land of 10,000 Lakes! I was just one of many authors attending the Mississippi River Readers Retreat hosted by author Gabrielle Meyer who writes wonderful books. She has a dream team of organizers/planners in the Heffron family who also live in the storybook, historic town of …









