Just popping in for a quick hello as we enter the holiday weekend, plus sharing a special cover reveal. Our family recently returned from a trip to Japan. The above photo is from the beautiful gardens at the Kyoto Imperial Palace. As many of you know, I love photography. I love capturing nature, greenery, and just the right angle. In that regard, Japan did not disappoint. But in the interest of full disclosure, Japan was a bit of a challenge for me. 

 

I don't eat fish. There. I said it. Imagine being in the city of sushi and fresh fish markets without access to pizza or a plate of nachos? Have you not seen my Instagram stories? Don't misunderstand, I loved our trip. I loved traveling with our grown children and experiencing another culture. We laughed, We made sushi (mine was vegetarian), and I had the utmost respect and admiration for the customs, the cleanliness, the Toto toilets on every block, but nothing said home quite like diving into that plate of spaghetti Bolognese that had eluded me. Has this ever happened to you on a trip? Did your expectations meet reality? I think I should have listened to my friend who recommending packing plenty of granola bars!   

 

Debra Slonek from Illinois is our winner of the five Friends & Fiction books. Congratulations, Debra. Debra was one of hundreds who shared interesting tidbits about herself that most people wouldn't know. It was wonderful to learn more about all of you, and I appreciated every single response. Thank you for having the willingness to write in.

 

This month's giveaway is a cool box of treats from my friend and fellow author Corie Adjmi. I had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of Corie's latest book THE MARRIAGE BOX, and readers will love this story which Midwest Book Review calls “original, entertaining, and thought-provoking." The box also includes Corie's earlier book, LIFE AND OTHER SHORTCOMINGS. And the best part is that Corie has offered TWO copies of each book--one for you and and one for a friend. Just tell me who you'd like to take on your next vacation and where you'd like to go (expectations and all)!

Please join me in congratulating Anju Gattani on the latest, gorgeous cover in the Winds of Fire series. ONCE AND FOR ALL releases 1/9/24 and is already an International Book Of The Month Pick by the International Pulpwood Queen and Timber Guys Book Club Reading Nation. “Downtown Abbey-style saga but set in India!” 

You can't go wrong with that.

Pre-order here.

The love song which inspired WHAT YOU DO TO ME is “Hey There Delilah” by the Plain White T's. I am beyond honored and thrilled that Tom Higgenson from the T's wrote the Foreword for the book. Here's a sneak of what he had to say….

 

 

 

To read more, you'll have to pre-order the book here! And if you want to know more about the song or listen in, click here.

Please excuse any typos. Sometimes I make mistakes!