For many people, celebrating the holidays this year will be particularly festive. After the tragedy and turmoil of 2020, being able to gather with friends and loved ones, even while being cautious, has more meaning, and joy, than ever before. A sense of normalcy is slowly returning, even though the pandemic may not be completely in the past.When it comes to holiday traditions, it’s easy to take them for granted, until something unexpected, like the pandemic, takes them away. Sharing traditions with those we love becomes even more precious than any gifts we may give or get. That’s why there’s a collective level of excitement growing as we approach the end of this ...

If you ever write a romance novel, you will at some point experience the disdain and condescension of those who dislike the genre. Every seasoned Romance Author has had it happen, and unfortunately, this phenomenon will probably follow the genre forever.Again With the Stigma? Really?It could be as benign as an off the cuff remark from a friend or family member. “I read your book and it was great, and I don’t even like those types of books!”            Wow, thanks. Glad I could provide the exception to the rule for you.            Tip #1: If you like a book, say so, ...

 Unless you’ve been living under a rock or on a desert island, strong female leads are quite popular now in movies, television shows, and books. Women who can kick butt, both figuratively and literally, are everywhere these days. Think of Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, or Sarah Connor in the latest Terminator movie, Dark Fate, or the two sisters in Frozen 2. It’s a refreshing change from the guys always saving the day, and from what I’ve heard, many men also enjoy this trend of strong female characters in entertainment.In the book world, especially in the Romance genre, such strong female characters are often described as “feisty.” The definition ...

“Write to market”, they said. “Your books will sell better”, they said.Most of the time, that’s good advice. I took it to heart when writing my latest contemporary romance series, the Love Grows series. However, I did have some reservations. They were concerning, even though they were more rhetorical than factual.Would a story written to fit a certain genre feel contrived?Would “hitting the buttons” or the “checklist” of a genre or trend suck all the creativity out of the story?Did I risk targeting a trend that has already passed? Such are the burning questions which keep authors from sleeping.Despite my initial reservations with ...