Making the world more tolerable, one happily ever after at a time.
About April
2024 Stiletto Contest Winner!
Last spring, I entered my debut novel NEVER NOT YOURS in Contemporary Romance Writers' Stiletto Contest. And I won!
Unpublished writers submitted the first 5500 words. I submitted it as Contemporary Romance, but it ended up in the Women's Fiction category. My guess is that Contemporary Romance was full when I submitted, and it went into my second choice category.
It was such an honor and a boost my confidence sorely needed. After seven months of querying agents and only two full manuscript requests, I was doubting myself. Whether my novel gets published or not, I'll always have this!
My Work in Progress
In the fall of 2021, plagued with anxiety and depression, I had a dream. It was seemingly insignificant, but my brain kept building stories around it. One day, I started typing. My dream became a novel, then it became two novels. Then I realized that I could only put so many stories into a single novel, and I started others as the ideas came to me. I have ADHD, and until then, I never realized that the stories, imaginary arguments, romantic scenarios, and other daydreams my brain conjured could become something real.
I've learned a lot since I started, and after working with two amazing writing partners, I decided to step away from my first book to write Never Not Yours. I've completed five novels, including a complete rewrite of my first. Three novels need some work, and I'm currently working on a spin-off from NNY.
Neurodivergent Representation
All of my leading ladies have ADHD, depression, anxiety, or some combination of them. Through them (and therapy) I've processed a lot of my experience growing up with undiagnosed ADHD. I still struggle with rest, because I was labeled 'lazy' as a kid. I struggle to share my emotions because I was told I was 'too sensitive' (not by my family, mostly at school). I share my experience through writing knowing that many others, especially women, struggle with these same issues.
My Support System
The People
Since I started writing in 2021, my husband and kids have supported my writing career (I'm using 'career' loosely). I spent many weekends and evenings with my nose in my computer, and they got neglected sometimes. After teaching full-time for 16 years, my husband encouraged me to work part-time this year to dedicate time to writing and publishing my novel.
I also have two amazing women I met through Romance Writers of America. We get together online every two weeks to critique, edit, and brainstorm our current and future projects. I've grown so much as a writer because of their support and experience.
Of course, I wouldn't be able to keep going without the support of my family and friends who have read my books and continue to encourage me.
The Pup
Most of my main characters have dogs. Often, those dogs are pit bull mixes. I grew up with black labs, and I love them. But I've had two pit bull mixes, and they are the sweetest, cuddliest dogs I've ever met. This pit bull and boxer mix keeps me company when I'm home writing.