Lyrics

And I know
The scariest part is letting go
'Cause love is a ghost you can't control
I promise you the truth can't hurt us now
So let the words slip out of your mouth

While writing, I normally have the TV on or music playing in the background. Sometimes lyrics stick while working on scenes. This song inspired a heartbreaking scene in my new book.
 

Book 8

Blending the flashback scenes with the present day is easy and hard. I love the result right now. The contrast with the characters is interesting. I can't wait to share Amelia and Beau's story with everyone.

Book 4

As a reader and writer, I love the small moments between my main characters. This scene is from Lily.

“So are the stars perfect?” he asked once it was completely dark. The millions of stars were sprinkled throughout the midnight blue sky.
“Yes,” she whispered. “You know my mom used to tell me the stars were our only comfort in the darkest of nights. They know our deepest secrets and darkest fears.”
“What about the moon?” he asked, turning his head to look at her. ...
“She said the moon was too finicky,” she replied. “The moon always changed, but the stars stayed the same.”
“Why do they know the deepest secrets and darkest fears?”
“Because only under the cover of night are the secrets and fears revealed,” she answered.
“What about hope?”
“Well, hope shines brightest in the dark, or at least it’s what all the poems and books say,” she remarked.

 

Scene from Savannah

Since I'm keeping my current book underwraps, I'll share a scene from one of my published books. This scene is from Savannah. It is available on all platforms including paperback.

“Girlie, you didn’t rush this old man. I’m a man who likes his food,” Mr. Wilkerson said leaning back in his chair. “I heard you have someone staying at your house.”
Rachel sighed. She wondered when talk would start around town. Actually, she was surprised she hadn’t heard too much talk about Phil...lip at her house. She suspected her parents kept the talk down as much as they could.
“Yes, his name is Phillip Anderson and he is fixing the place up,” Rachel supplied. “He was a Confederate soldier and he is on his way to St. Louis.”
“Why are you telling me?” he asked slowly.
“I don’t want you to be upset when you see him in town,” she said as she washed their plates before drying them. “Assuming he does come into town.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Mr. Wilkerson, I know how the sight of a soldier affects you,” she said slowly without turning to face him. She put their plates away before making her way back towards him. “I don’t want the sight of Phillip to cause you grief. You have suffered more than enough in the past few months.”
“Girlie, it’s not the sight of the soldiers,” he whispered. “It’s the dead expressions in their eyes.”
“Oh,” she said as she sat down.
“If my Charles had lived, I know he would have the same look. It breaks my heart that those boys fought for what they believed in while the war killed their spirit,” he explained. “None of them are happy to be home. They lost themselves out on those battlefields.”
She thought about what he said and wondered if Colton would be the same way had he lived. She’d seen many soldiers wander into town. They were all different shapes and sizes but they all had the same look in their eyes. It was as if they lost their hope. Stephen, Abagail’s husband, was the same way. He had that lost look in his eyes when he first arrived back in town. Of course, he didn’t have that same look anymore.
“What are you thinking about so hard?” he asked bringing her back to their conversation.
“You’re right, the war killed their spirit,” she said standing back up.

 

Cover Image

Looking at possible cover images and trying to decide on a title. This is what I get for taking a break from writing. The good news is I think I have my cover image!

Book 8

Oh look I'm half way through Chapter 2! As you can tell it's one of the flashback chapters. It's also the first meeting between Amelia and Beau. I definitely had some fun with this meeting.

Book 8

At 16, you were my first love
At 18, my heartbreak
At 21, my true love
At 22, my fiancee
At 24, my wife
At 26, the mother of my son
At 32, my sorrow
At 33, my fighter

 

Book 8

Working on some harder scenes for Amelia and Beau which is putting their love to the test. Oh the heartbreak, bleeding through.