First Look

           

          Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

        Well, it’s Sunday morning as I write this (and it’s been a lovely weekend…a little hot, but what do I expect, living in Phoenix in July?!?!?). I have, so far, completed half of my Sunday chores, so I’m right on schedule (Sunday is my busy day where I do as much as I can to get ready for the work week ahead. I do them early because who wants to go out in the heat?).

        What else have I done in addition to half my chores? I got to read the first chapter of my critique partner’s new story! Would it be bad of me (or biased) to say that I love it!?!??! I don’t think so. Quite frankly, the woman amazes me. She can go from Sci-Fi/Fantasy to modern day cowboys to Regency England without batting an eyelash! She, on the other hand, has read the first chapter of my new story (the one I’ve been working and getting derailed on and I finally figured out why…I have hit the middle of the story where I always have trouble. Ugh!). I have not looked at her comments yet, but I think she enjoyed it (I write much differently than she…I write historical westerns as opposed to modern day cowboys and I would never venture into Sci-Fi/Fantasy or Regency—there are no cowboys in these genres—well, there could be. Hmmm, something to think about).

        Well, that’s it for me. Off to the grocery store for my weekly mini-heart attack. Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie

The Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie Wiseman

 The Philadelphia homes and streets are ravaged by the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918.  Pia Lange loves her home, family, and life before the autumn and the sickness prevails in everyone's life.

As a young teen, Pia lives in the countryside of Pennsylvania until her father moves the family to the city for new work.  He leaves for WWI in Europe and her mother and twin baby brothers are left to fight the flu and their German ancestry.

Flynn is the only friend Pia can rely on.  As a young man, he walks her to school and stands up for her when anti-German slurs are yelled.   

Many months pass and Pia is separated from Flynn.  Neither is aware of why, whether it's the flu, lack of home, food, or doings of police or orphan authorities.  

There is one suspicious person, Bernice Groves, who plays an integral part in the separation of Pia and Flynn.  Groves takes advantage of the weak during a crisis and focuses on babies and children.  She is unnoticed in her activities until odd pieces of information begin to collect in Pia's experiences.

I just hope the information can reunite Pia and Flynn after a scarring existence and endurance of family losses.  Love and happiness can be a great healer.

Happy reading, 

Dawn

Space Coast Book Lovers event is the best!

I just got home from Space Coast Book Lovers event in Cape Canaveral, Florida, and I have to say it was the best! This was my third year as a sponsoring author, and I think it is one of the best Reader events around. Why, you ask?

It is focused on readers and what they like. Thursday night was a nice Meet & Greet with whoever was there, readers and authors alike. Friday morning, I offered a Booknique. This is where an author or authors can host an activity for an hour. Some offer crafts, games, painting, etc. I taught line dancing. It was so fun! I had 25 people there, and we did a country line dance, one to a theme song for the event’s theme of Alice in Wonderland, and an island song. Everyone received a hat and a bunny because I called it Dancing Down the Rabbit Hole.

Then there was lunch with a few other authors and the readers who signed up to eat with us. I gave my lunchmates a cowboy teddy and a tumbler. Kris Michaels gave me puppy dog eyes and I caved and gave her a cowboy teddy too 😊 Next was an author panel filled with fellow Sci-fi and paranormal authors. The readers asked fantastic questions! Then that night, I treated my reader group members, Lexi’s Legends, to drinks at the bar.

Saturday morning, I got to participate in the Author Feud (variation on Family Feud). The room was packed with readers, and we all had a great time. My Blue Team lost in the end, but we made a good showing. In fact, we got every answer to the question – “Name a reason you might wear your lucky underwear.” That was hilarious. 

Then it was off to set up my table for the book signing, a quick lunch, and then the doors opened. What an amazing group of readers! After that, a number of people dressed up for the costume party at the Alice in Wonderland/Steampunk themed After Party. Winners were chosen, food was enjoyed, and dancing ensued (including a few line dances).

What I love about this event is that the people are so nice, and it is so well organized thanks to Teri Dees Edney, Robbie Cox, Charlene Cox, and Sarah Ahrens Mick. They are all about the attendees, readers and authors alike, having a great time. The schedule is perfectly paced with just enough downtime, the decorations at the After Party are always so amazing, and the pre-event communication is stellar.

If you are a reader or an author, I highly recommend this event. Check it out for 2023! https://www.spacecoastbooklovers.com/

Always, Lexi

www.lexipostbooks.com

Is it Time to Change What I Write

 

        Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

Oh my gosh! Can you believe it’s the end of June! Where has the time gone? Half of 2022 is behind us! Wow!

I know for me, the month of June went by so quickly. I did get to visit with my critique partner which was so wonderful and I’ve spent the time since then trying to catch up at the day job (I have one of those positions that never stops, never takes a breath, but it’s all good because I love what I do)!

What else have I been doing? Well, writing. Not as much as I want to or as much as I need to, but I’m plodding along. I’m a slow but steady writer with occasional bursts of mania thrown in for excitement (which has yet to show up with my current story).

And I’m submitting two of my finished manuscripts and yes, they are historical westerns, which, if I’m being totally honest, are a hard sell to the traditional (and not so traditional) publishers out there. I admit to wracking up my fair shares of “Thank You But No Thank You”s (and yes, I had forgotten how that feels). I was fortunate enough to have the same publisher for my last five books and I loved them, but as so often happens in this business, they were bought by someone bigger. But I digress…

Considering all the rejections I’ve been receiving, I’ve wondered if I should be writing something else (like Regencies, but seriously, where would I begin?). As yet, I haven’t come up with a single idea, but I really do believe that’s because I love my westerns! I love the cowboys, the lawmen with the shiny stars pinned to their chests who have a definite sense of right and wrong, the sassy saloon girls with their hearts of gold, the ranch owners who have sacrificed to keep what they love and all the rest. It’s a love affair between me and my westerns, but maybe….just maybe….there’s room for something different…

Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie

Not You, It's Me by Julie Johnson

 It's great when you hear a woman using the line "It's not you, it's me" instead of the man.  Gemma Sommers is well acquainted with saying that.  She doesn't believe love is a real emotion that she can attain after many pathetic dating experiences.

Such as at the beginning of her story, she's dating her apartment neighbor who can barely pay attention to her.

This is evident when Mr. Gorgeous, Chase Croft, saves her on screen with a smothering, in a good way, kiss.  Her boyfriend is standing right next to her and doesn't even notice, by the way.  The rest of Boston sees it.

Gemma has a creative job at an art gallery where she sells exclusive art.  Her apartment is small and full of color just as she wants it.  Her funds are low, but she's pleased with her lifestyle.

Chase has a different type of problem.  His bank account is exploding, woman love him, and his penthouse is spacious.  He thinks he doesn't have room for the right woman, yet he seeks out Gemma as his art consultant.

Sounds easy for them to fall in love, but Gemma is short on the trust theory and Chase has a meddling family and doubts of his own ability to run his business and treat Gemma in the way she deserves.

It's a fun read as the insecurities of each are hashed out, thrown against the wall, and hope to reach the finish line in a compatible manner!

Happy reading,

Dawn

A Wonderful Visit

 

        Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

Oh my gosh! I had such a wonderful visit with my critique partner and her DH. I was pampered and allowed to relax (such a difference from my day-to- day life, where relaxing is done at the end of the when I just can’t do anymore).

As I suspected, there wasn’t much writing getting done, but that’s okay. It was a wonderful opportunity to just sit and chat (about books, our current stories, and those that will be written in the near future, and so many other things. There was never a lack of something to talk about). Although we Zoom chat every week, there’s just something so special about seeing someone you absolutely adore across the table from you.

We did have some adventures and that was great. We went to the beach and I swam in the Gulf of Mexico (first time ever). It was a little different than swimming in the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean. There were no waves (like I kinda expected), but the water was warm and about as perfect as it could be.

We saw a pod of dolphins (there were about twelve of them) playing in the near distance when we went to Cedar Key. To me, a desert dweller, that was a bit other-worldly. Seeing something like that on television is so much different than seeing it in person. I was thrilled!  

We watched a couple movies and preceded to critique them as well as try to figure out the Big Black Moment and the resolution. That was fun and kept us in practice even if we didn’t write very much (I did try, but it was a dismal failure).

I even made friends with her cats (well, one of them at least—the other wasn’t quite sure of me) which is saying something. Yes, I am fond of cats, but I am a devoted dog mom.

I’m home now. Back to the nitty-gritty of the day job and keeping house and all the rest of it, but it was so lovely to take a few days and just…relax and enjoy myself with excellent company! Thanks so much for having me!

Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie

The Duchess and the Highwayman by Beverley Oakley

 The early eighteen hundreds in Norfolk, England is rough on the young ladies.

Phoebe may be known as Lady Drummond, but she isn't treated like a lady.  Her ailing husband, Ulrick, has abused her and left her for his cousin, Wentworth, to create an heir before Ulrick dies.

Ulrick's death is surprisingly fast and gruesome leaving Pheobe to run from an upcoming accusation.  She acts as a maid and runs without money, direction, or any hope of survival.

An alleged highway man, Hugh Redding, saves her from Wentworth who is pounding down on his horse within a stone's throw.

No one can know she's really Lady Drummond.  Not even the man with crystal blues eyes who takes her to his rented cabin.

Hugh and Phoebe are honest about their ambitions in taking Wentworth down, each for strong reasons.  Their true identities are kept deep in their pockets even as their hands begin to roam over each other.

A few details may make it hard for Hugh and Phoebe to keep their idyllic dreams a part of the future.  Let's see if they can make their way past the hidden truths and the law chasing Phoebe and make the rest of their lives a happily-ever-after.

Happy reading,

Dawn