I bet this photo doesn't look very exciting to you. BUT... to me, it's the best picture in the world! Because it symbolizes the fact that after four weeks of tucking this manuscript away, I got very brave and actually READ the very first draft of my new novel. That's it, spread out over our kitchen table, shaded by tulips and my favorite Story Teller mug.

Phew! It took me two entire afternoons to read it because I kept making notes and changes. According to Jessica Brody, my writing teacher, I was supposed to read it from start to finish without writing a thing. But I just couldn't do that!

The intention behind reading the first (very, very rough) draft quickly without changing anything is to get a bird's eye view of the whole story, and I'm happy to report that I DID get that from my reading. I am more in love with Tess, Eva, Micah, Aunt Kit, both Jaspers, Luca, Poppy and Teo than I was when I was writing the first draft! And I'm looking forward to the next steps where I'll be tightening up the story and picking up loose ends... in other words, REVISING!

Perhaps I will be able to get it into the hands of some beta readers this fall sometimes. If you're interested in giving me thoughts and opinions then, let me know now and I'll add you to the list.

🏆 June Give-Away Winners 🏆

a signed copy of Sandra Hutchison's The Awful Mess

This month I'm giving away two paperback copies of The Story of Arthur Truluv by one of my MOST favorite authors of all time, Elizabeth Berg.

Believe me, Elizabeth Berg truly knows how to write STSTS (Stories That Stir the Soul)!

An emotionally powerful novel about three lonely people (Arthur, a widower, Maddie a teen, and Lucille, Arthur's neighbor) who each lose the one they love most, only to find second chances where they least expect them. A heartwarming story about the power of community, compassion, forgiveness, small kindnesses, and growing up.

If you want a copy, just fill out the short form here and I'll do a random drawing THIS SUNDAY July 18. I'll send you an email notice that you've won, and I'll just ask for your snail mail address after that!

The Year of Pleasures, by Elizabeth Berg. This is one of my favorite novels. When Betta Nolan's husband dies, she honors a promise she made to him to move to a small town and start a new life. Without minimizing her great sorrow, she nevertheless attempts to find pleasure on a daily basis.

This soothing novel is about deliberately acknowledging the solace found in ordinary things: a warm bath, good food, the beauty of nature, music, art found in museums and in gardens. Above all, it is about the various kindnesses people can and do offer one another. Betta's journey from grief to joy is an inspiring reminder of what is available to us all, regardless of our life circumstances. It suggests that no matter who we lose, life can still give bountifully to those who will receive.  Highly recommend.

In between newsletters, I'll be posting more often on Instagram, my blog, and/or my Facebook Author page, so please visit me there too.