August Newsletter

Vacation, updates, and more

My husband and I just got back from a two-week Maritime vacation. First we went to Cape Breton, where we toured the fort at Louisbourg, drove the Cabot Trail, hiked in Ingonish, and had lunch at the Rusty Anchor in Pleasant Bay. In New Brunswick, we visited Moncton, the Hopewell Rocks, and Shediac, before moving on to PEI.

I’d always heard that PEI is beautiful and had images in my head from watching Road to Avonlea, the Anne of Green Gables movies and series, and from reading the books. None of those did it justice. It was stunning. Gorgeous fields of red earth and a beautiful gently rolling landscape with potatoes in blossom, like white and purple snow on bed of green contrasting with the red soil.

I’ve always been an LM Montgomery fan, since I was nine probably when I first read Anne of Green Gables. I have special copies of Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island, given to my by my grandmother as they were her favorites. Her inscription inside is from 1983, when I was eleven.

As a life long fan, I’ve read all her books, with my favorites being Anne of Green Gables, Rilla of Ingleside (Anne Book 8), and The Blue Castle, the lone story set in Muskoka, Ontario, rather than PEI. I’ve read them dozens of times, so of course we went to Cavendish and the LM Montgomery Heritage site (Free this year with the Canada Strong Pass).

They’ve built a Green Gables house and have great information about LM Montgomery and her life. We also walked the Lover’s Lane and Haunted Wood trails. The latter ended up near LM Montgomery’s gravesite and at a dedicated LM Montgomery bookstore where I was able to purchase different editions of my favorites (those mentioned above).

What I didn’t expect was how emotional I felt being there. I spent the afternoon on the brink of tears, feeling like both Anne and Lucy Maud herself as authors and teachers were my kindred spirits and I was deeply moved to be close to them.

At university, many years ago, I took a Canadian History class and a lecture was about Canadian icons. The usual suspects were mentioned, Terry Fox, Tommy Douglas, Louis Riel, etc. Then, they asked for others. A correct answer was probably LM Montgomery, as a famous Canadian author, but even though I almost never spoke during class, I volunteered, “Anne of Green Gables.” We spent the rest of the class discussing this, as many others agreed. To me, though she is fictional, Anne is real.

My publisher recently accepted two book submissions as my 2028 releases, and Anne is in one of them, Cherry Blossoms and Pocketknives, which is the first book I’ve written entirely set in Canada. I find it fitting that there is a place for Anne in it.

Our last stop was Halifax, where we stayed at a fancy hotel, toured the Citadel, Public Gardens, and spent a day at Peggy’s Cove.

Sackville Bird Refuge, LM Montgomery Heritage site, us and Peggy's Cove, and Hopewell Rocks.

I didn’t do much writing while on vacation, but I managed to read about a dozen books. As usual, I will share my favorites below.

I also want to thank everyone who has already purchased, and or read, No Home Without You. This month saw my most successful book launch yet.

What I Read:

Through July and the first days of August, I enjoyed, The Falls Creek series by Maggie C. Gates, the Mustang River series by Maisy Yates. My favorite was written by Canadian romance author, Bailey Hannah and is her latest Wells Ranch novel, Love Wells Kept.

This book ripped my heart out and left it bleeding on the barn floor.
When her husband, Jackson is in an accident and loses his memory, Kate doesn't give up on him. This is a moving love story of two people who have to fall in love all over again as Jackson heals from a traumatic brain injury.
Some of the things that he couldn't remember, like his wedding, or when his children were born absolutely slayed me.

Job well done.

Indie Book alert:

One of my favorite ARCs from this spring is now available to pre-order from Black Rose Writing, or from Amazon in multiple formats. The publication date is in October this year. I’ve read and enjoyed three previous books from this author, but this is my favorite by Diane Hawley Nagatomo. Pre-order Chibi-Chibi Bookstore

When Sierra discovers she is part-Japanese, she reunites with her missing grandparents in California, then moves to Japan to teach, planning to learn about her long-lost family. In Japan, she takes a job teaching English at a women's college and locates her widowed great-great-uncle, who had no inkling of her existence until her arrival.

Her uncle, lonely until her appearance, embraces her as family, and she eases him out of his isolation. At work, she meets fellow American, Alex, and another female instructor, Hitomi. The three of them strike up a friendship, support each other's endeavors, and accept each other in this heartfelt story of love and found family. Though both her newfound friends harbor secrets, they learn to trust each other. Perfect for readers who embrace unconventional families, second chances, and romance.

What I’m Writing:

I’ve been using my editor’s notes to tighten up Cherry Blossoms and Pocketknives while I am drafting my return to asteroid day in Canada in End of Days With You. I’ve reached the day of the asteroid impact from a new perspective as my characters once again battle for love and survival.

I also completed the first round of line edits for my January 7, 2027 release, Racing Hearts Collide. I absolutely love the cover for this one and can’t wait to share it, and Vince and Cat’s story. Like Racing Towards Destiny, you don’t need to know anything about racing to enjoy the story. This one is about family dynamics, acceptance, and love, things we can all relate to.