Wealth Whispers is Book III in my shapeshifter series. It will be out in December. In the meantime I want to share with you some of the fun I had putting the story together. I begin with my Yakuza research. First, what’s yakuza? They are Japanese gangsters. The word refers... read more
Your first question might well be: “Rocky Mount, why?” It’s a good one. Eastern North Carolina is not typically on a tourist’s radar. A Carolina beach town, sure. But Nowheresville in the middle of Nowhere? Title image: the old cotton mill campus. You can just make out from the writing... read more
For my first foray out in the world since the start of the pandemic I chose Medellín, Colombia. I am very happy with my choice. Medellín is the capital of the Colombian state of Antioquia. If nothing else, it is known for its mountainous beauty: And has the reputation of... read more
Medellín, Colombia’s favorite son is the painter/sculptor Fernando Botero Angulo (b. 1932). How do I know? When I visited the city last week, his prominence was obvious. The name of the central square is Plaza Botero. And it’s chock full of his statues. I’m tempted to say “chunk full.” The... read more
Comuna 13 is a neighborhood in Medellín, Colombia that I visited last week. Does mention of Medellín and/or Colombia bring any quick thoughts to mind? If you thought of the drug trade, the Medellín Cartel or Pablo Escobar, then you are not alone. As a traveler I have to remember... read more
This week marks my first foray into international travel in a year and a half. That is, since the beginning of the pandemic. I am currently in Medellín, Colombia. I will start my exploration of this beautiful country by identifying ten famous Colombians. Famous Colombians: Number One Singer Shakira Isabel... read more
Today I discovered that I suffer from a condition I didn’t even know existed: crossword clue envy. Would I like to see my name on the NY Times bestseller list? Sure. Would I be happy if Netflix knocked on my door? Of course. But when I came to 50 Down... read more
Today I’m delighted to share with you a guest post “Spices and Stern Lords” by Rose Vane. She’s here to tell us about her new release, A Stern Lord for My Lady, published by Blushing Books. She has written it under the pen name R. R. Vane. The story is... read more
“The only thing more fun than creating a character is killing one off.” I’ve said this more than once. But since I identify as a romance writer – rather than, say, a crime novelist – I’m more devoted to keeping characters alive and together. However, this week it occurred to... read more
I’m re-reposting a 2017 repost of my Goodreads blog from 2014: On the term Bodice Ripper. It is my response to Ross Douthat’s op-ed in the New York Times today. He uses the term to describe a wildly popular Netflix series based on a series of novels understood by their... read more
