Well, hello there, my friends! Come on in, relax, get comfy, grab a drink and a snack! Welcome to my new blog! Don’t you love it? I seriously can’t stop staring at the adorable couple kissing on the bike, yet I can’t help but wonder how uncomfortable that girl must be sitting on the handlebar. I mean, bike seats aren’t even comfortable. Imagine a metal bar jammed against your posterior. Yes, I’ve probably thought about this too much.
Ahem. I hope you’ve taken a little tour of my new blog. If not, I encourage you to do so after reading this. My contact form actually works and everything! Special thanks to Mags, Laurie, and Christine for testing that sucker out for me. Your patience with the technologically illiterate girl is greatly appreciated. I would be remiss if I didn’t thank my big bro, Jeff, as well. This blog wouldn’t exist without him. He’s the tech guru of the family and managed to give me the building blocks (and the confidence) I needed to make this happen. It really does take a village with me. Lastly, I’d like to thank YOU! Thank you for being here, thank you for supporting me, and thank you in advance for buying my books. 😉
Speaking of books, let’s talk about why I’M here. Why I’m writing under my own name. Why I think more people should wear socks in their Birkenstocks. In 2012, a few months before my 30th birthday, I became published for the first time. Insanely cool. I chose to use a pen name instead of my actual name, and I went on to publish eight more stories under that name. By the seventh, something just wasn’t feeling right anymore. I loved my stories and I was proud of them and what I’d accomplished, and my readers enjoyed them, too, but I kept wishing that it could be my name on the books, my face on the back covers. A cartoon image was getting all the glory, and I felt…well, invisible. Those of you who know me are aware of how ‘visible’ I like to be. Attention! Gimme!
There were several other factors that weighed into my decision to make a change. The biggest was my mother. She always wanted me to write something special, something I could call my own and share with the whole world. She wanted me to be myself. I lost my dear mom in February, before I had a chance to surprise her with my reinvention, but I know she’s reading over my shoulder, inspiring me, and giving me a kick in the butt when I need it. Thank you, Mommy, for everything.
Another factor in my decision was the publishing industry itself and the virtual extinction of small presses. That’s how I got my big start, via small press, but when my primary publisher could no longer stay afloat, and my rights were reverted, nothing was holding me back from rebranding myself. I had nothing to lose. I began writing the story I wanted to debut under my name–my actual name–and called it Steeped in Love. It’s an unconventional romance that brews between a woman looking for love in tea leaves, and a struggling novelist who’s lost his be-leaf in love. Cute, eh? 😀 Let me tell you something: I LOVE THIS BOOK! I truly do, more than I’ve loved anything I’ve ever written, and I’m so proud of it. Now, I’m just waiting and hoping and wishing one of the publishers I’ve submitted it to will say those magic words.
In the meantime, I’m busy working on another exciting project called Nutcases. It’s a dystopian romantic comedy set in the year 2040, in a world where peanut butter has been banned by the government *gasp*. My hero and heroine start an underground peanut butter bootlegging operation, of course. Hijinx and hilarity ensue. I’ll be pitching the hell out of this story at the Connecticut Fiction Fest in September! 🙂
So that’s what’s happening in my life in a nutshell. I’ll be posting every Wednesday, sharing my thoughts, talking about those Birkenstocks and socks I never quite got around to, and bringing lots of positivity into your world because I think we’re running short on that. Do something spectacular today–for yourself or someone else! xoxo
Love ❤️ Love ❤️ Love ❤️ Your new site.
Yay! Thank you so much, Sue! Your beautiful new site helped to inspire me to make the change, too! 🙂
So excited! Love the new blog, the new books, and the new Jewels!
😀 And I love you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Looking good my friend. I love the balloons on the left when you click to continue reading. This site is 100% YOU. Much success with the blog and all your writing projects. Oh, and bookmarked. 😉
Thanks, Mamalu! This is my face: 😀 xoxo
Congrats! Love the new blog! Best of luck to you. I know your mom would love it!
Aww, thank you, my Canadian sistah! That means a lot! xoxo
My tea leaves say that you’re about to enjoy huge success! I agree, it’s time to retire that alias and let the world see your pretty face. You should get all of the credit for your marvelous stories – all of which I can’t wait to read! Congrats on the fresh site and new start!
Aww, A-M! I heart you so hard. Thank you so much for your unfailing support. You’re always there when I need you. Can’t wait to share my stories with you–and the world! 🙂
Dear friend, I’m so proud of you. Change is difficult but here you are all changed and gorgeous. Best in everything you do.
Aww, Charmaine! You are such a wonderful friend and I’m so glad to know you! Thank you for all the support you’ve given me for as long as I’ve known you, but particularly this past year. Don’t know how I would have gotten through it without you. xoxo