My Authorly Mascot

 I'm tired and needed something fun, so meet my author mascot, Pagewyn.

If you'd like one of your own, this is the prompt:

Give my personality a mascot using what you know about me and the uploaded photo for my appearance, invent a funny cartoon mascot that represents my personality. 

Feature a glamorous cartoon version of me posing beside the mascot as if we are an iconic duo. The mascot can be an animal, creature, object, or completely imaginary character.

Give it one small accessory or detail that connects it to me. Add its name and one short tagline explaining its energy. Keep everything else minimal. 

White background, clean composition, polished colorful cartoon artwork. Do not ask me what the mascot should be. You decide.

Thought for the Week

 

Thought for the Week

 

IWSG - August 2026

  

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the Aug 5th posting of the IWSG are

 Shannon Lawrence, Diedre Knight, Liza, and Pat Garcia!

Optional Question: As a writer/author what is something you regret? Or something that you wish you'd done differently in your writing process?

You mean that time I uploaded the wrong book's interior on Amazon because I was rushing as the preorder deadline quickly approached? And I didn't know until a reader contacted me?

Then when I asked Zon to notify people that the problem had been corrected, the Amazon support person told me they would only sent that notification for "catastrophic failure." I challenged them back and asked how the wrong book inside wasn't a catastrophic event.

They sent the notification, but the reader reported that it still took a week for the change to appear in her kindle.

To the Boy Who Lived

 

Happy Birthday, America!

250 years ago, ordinary people signed an extraordinary promise.

I'm proud to be related to one of them.

Arthur Middleton pledged his life, his fortune, and his sacred honor when he signed the Declaration of Independence. History remembers the signatures. It should also remember the courage behind them.

Insecure Writers Support Group - July 2026

  

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the Jul 1st posting of the IWSG are

 Rebecca Douglass, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Cathrina Constantine, and Jacqui Murray!

Optional Question: Is there anything you'd like to see changed, added, and/or rearranged
about the book publishing industry?

There are so many aspects about the publishing question. While I'm indie now, I was first trad published, but I remember how long everything took. There's a lot more work I have to do myself now and making sure I have the right team (editor, for example) is important. But it's also great to know I can decide who I want to work with.

How about you? What's your experience been?

I Had a Baby!

 A book baby, of course. And it completes another series. 

Christmas at Kellworth is officially live. I'm a finisher, so it's a rush to say the Twickenham Full-Moon Ball series is complete. As I promised in For the Magic, Reese and Jem finally get their Victorian Christmas.

"It's Christmas. That means grace applies extra." ~Jem

Christmas 1853.

Reese and Jem Taylor are exactly where they want to be, celebrating the season with the friends who feel like family. But the Twickenham magic has followed them to Kellworth — and Christmas has a way of bringing things to the surface. Hopes that have waited decades. Hearts that are finally ready. Gifts no one thought to ask for.

The magic isn't finished yet. And neither is love.

And, now it's time to go back to writing another book.

IWSG - June 2026

 

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the Jun 3rd posting of the IWSG are

Victoria Marie Lees, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and C. Lee McKenzie!

Optional Question: Do most of your story ideas come from one place

(the news, dreams, etc.) or do they hit from all over the place?

My story ideas comes from all over. I'm a discovery writer, so while I may know some of what I want to happen, other things are revealed to me as I tell myself the story.

There's something so fun about writing away and... boom! Oh, they knew each other in high school. I can work with that.

My first book started with a dream.

For another, one night, I was driving home from a late city council meeting not long after having LAZIK. The glow it created around lights got me thinking about what if there was something in the light. That morphed into a mirror and the idea of an alternate dimension. That turned into a portal fantasy. Which just got a new cover. 

What about you? Where do your ideas come from?

Thought for the Week

 

Happy Mother's Day!

 Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers and the motherers.

To the people who gave life, raised life, protected life, encouraged life, rescued life, and made room for others in their hearts. To the women celebrated today, and also to the men who quietly stepped in and filled a mother’s role when it was needed most.

To the grandmothers, stepmothers, foster parents, aunts, sisters, teachers, friends, mentors, neighbors, and pet moms.

Where would the world be without the people who step up, show up, love deeply, and make someone feel safe?

Today, we celebrate you. 💐

Insecure Writer's Support Group - May 2026

 

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the May 6th posting of the IWSG are Jenni Enzor, Jemima Pett, Jamie of Uniquely Maladjusted but Fun, and Kim Lajevardi!

Optional question - What was the most inspiring feedback
you received from readers, including agents, editors, and beta readers?

That I made them cry. Does that make me mean? I tend to write about hard things people experience in life, and if I do it right, the reader goes through that with them. I guess that's why I don't do romcom. I'm serious and if I'm ever funny, it's almost by accident. 🤷🏻It does happen sometimes.

I have a special folder where I put emails I've received. It's called Bummer Day. On a day when I'm feeling wear or beat-up by this writing life I've chosen, I can go to it to see what people have said. It uplifts me.

What about you? What inspiring feedback have you received?

Smile for the day.

 

Thought for the Week

 

Insecure Writer's Support Group - April 2026

 

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the April 1st posting of the IWSG are
 Melissa Maygrove, Cathrina Constantine, Kate Larkinsdale, and Rebecca Douglass!

Optional question:

April 1 question - If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?

I often like music that matches the characters. So, for example, while I'm not normally a metal fan (my sons are and taught me how broad a genre it really is), I would listen to Power Metal groups as I was writing a couple of characters in my Safe Harbors series. One of the characters doesn't survive the modern-day pirate attack on a cruise, so it's kind of bittersweet.

Or if I'm writing action, I like epic soundtrack music. Usually I prefer music without words when I'm drafting, but not always.

What about you?

Are you a "only in silence" writer?

Or do you have tunes that put you in the mood?

Thought for the Week

 

IWSG - March 2026

 

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the March 4th posting of the IWSG are
PJ Colando, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Natalie Aguirre!

Optional question:

March 4 question - What elements do you include in your book launch? Or what do you have in mind for your future book launch? Or what advice do you have to offer to others planning to launch a book?

I usually talk in my newsletter about the book and characters in the weeks leading up to the launch, and then I notify them when it's live. Mostly I send my newsletter and do book swaps with other authors.  

I'm kind of lousy with launches. I'm usually already working on another book.

Are you good at book launches?

Thought for the Week

 

From Strangers to Friends

I ❤ this video so much!

Years ago, we had a suicidal son in an adolescent treatment center that ran on the 12-Step Program. Placing him there was one of the hardest decisions we ever made.

I remember gathering before the first open meeting with the parents of the other kids. We felt so alone and isolated. It would take months before he was ready to come home.

But then we attended Parents' Weekend, where we experienced two days of the same things our kids were... right along with other parents.

At the next open meeting, we found a room filled with friends, not strangers.

It's important to reach out and share. We need to stop being strangers.

Happy Valentine's Day

For a few smiles