Introducing
Readers of the Month
Give-Away

Congratulations to Tina Taylor and Angel (email begins with jbrad). I did a random drawing of all 1844 of my author newsletter readers and these are the two names that came up. They each won a paperback copy (or e-book version) of my soul-stirring women's contemporary novel, Dragonflies at Night: More Than a Love Story.

Each month I'll use random.org to choose two more winners. You'll either receive Dragonflies at Night, or another soul-stirring novel that I highly recommend. So stay tuned... and keep on reading! I usually send these newsletters out on the second Tuesday of each month.

If YOU are Tina or Angel, one of the gift recipients this month, please email me or check your inbox for a personal email from me, so we can coordinate the receipt of your gift.
What I'm Writing Now

I'm so glad you mentioned this - LOL - because I'm eager to talk about it with anyone who loves to read (that's you)!

My current novel-in-process is titled—in my mind only—Feathers in the Sand. It's about Eva, an 11-year-old girl, and her mother, Tess, whose lives are uprooted when a member of their family unexpectedly joins the Army. The story takes place in Tess and Eva's new home: Seahaven, Maine.

One of their new neighbors is Jasper (see image above), who metaphorically wears many hats at Sands of Time, the popular regional theatre in Seahaven. I'm sharing his picture with you because this Friday (January 15) is National Hat Day and Jasper also literally likes to wear hats.

Jasper plays a very important part in Eva and Tess's story, and that's all I'm going to say about it for now! The storyline is still making itself known to me at this stage of my writing process.

P.S. I didn't really take a photo of Jasper! I am well aware that he's only in my imagination :) This image is from CanStockPhoto online, but it feels a lot like Jasper's character to me. I am still fleshing him (and the others) out.

P.P.S. Stay tuned... each month I'll share a little bit about one of the characters.
Recommended
Stories That Stir the Soul

Inheriting Edith, by Zoe Fishman. I loved this novel about Maggie, a house cleaner in NYC who inherits a beautiful house by the ocean in Maine. The only problem is that the house comes with Edith, an
80-something cranky woman who is in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. Maggie and her three-year-old daughter move in with Edith, and the story is told from alternating points of view- Maggie's and Edith's. It's a lovely story about memory, loss, aging, mothering, daughtering, the chosen families we create and more.
Wherever you are in the world, and wherever you are on your life journey, I wish you all good things (and more soul-stirring books to read) in 2021.

I appreciate the fact that you took the time to read this! In between newsletters, I'll be posting more often on Instagram, my blog, and/or my Facebook Author page, so I hope to see you there.

AND I'm always happy to hear from you via email (just click "reply" and say hello :) I reply to all questions and comments..

Please stay grounded, grateful, and healthy,