A free digital jigsaw or two by Michelle Styles

One thing I enjoy doing is jigsaw puzzles and so when I saw that I could create digital puzzles from my covers, I just had to give it a try. I suspect you all are better at jigsaws than I am. But I do enjoy jigsaw puzzles. They can help me to think or to plot because while one part of my mind is working on the puzzle, another part is puzzling out the answer to the tricky plot problem.  And sometimes it can just be good to focus on something else for a change.

The first one is I did was of my latest cover Conveniently Wed to the Viking:

And the next one was one of latest shareable for the five book series: Sons of Sigurd.

I am very excited that my book is out and the other two books Redeeming Her Viking Warrior by Jenni Fletcher (Sept 2020) and Tempted by Her Viking Enemy by Terri Brisbin (November 2020) continue the story in such an exciting way.

Currently you can read the prequel by Michelle Willinghamfor free and the first book Tempted by the Viking  Warrior by Michelle Willingham is at the special price of $1.99 wherever ebooks are sold.

Here I have just handed in my revisions for the 2^nd part in my trilogy about 3 Anglo Saxon  high born women who have to negotiate the changed landscape of war torn middle England and find love in unexpected places. A Deal with Her Rebel Viking was the first part (but I came involved with the Sons of Sigurd…). I am about to start the final part as well. It can be strange to go back into a world after creating another world.

Michelle Styles writes warm, witty and intimate historical romances in a wide range of time periods from Ancient Rome to Victorian. Her latest Conveniently Wed to the Viking is now out. You can learn more about Michell and her books on www.mcihellestyles.co.uk

Connections

 I've been making trees of life, first in bowls and now with these tiles. I'll confess, when I find a new ceramic project or idea I tend to do a bunch of them. I like to figure out how I want to make them and what works best. But I think what I like about making the trees right now is they really speak to today's environment. The world is so divisive right now. And the trees sort of remind me that we're all connected. We all have our roots in this country and we branch out and add our own uniqueness to it. Those differences make for a much richer tapestry.

It's sort of the same thing that attracts me to writing...the uniqueness of each story and each character. Each story allows me to explore something new.

They say that most people live one life, but a reader lives a thousand lives. That applies to writers as well. Each book I read and write allows me to inhabit someone else's life for a while. In Hometown Hearts each character goes through something different and approaches the idea of family in a different way. And yet, like my trees of life, they all have their roots firmly planted in a universal sameness...in family, friendship and love.

I'm finding that my art connects to my writing which connects to my life. Yes it's all intertwined...just like we're all intertwined. Sometimes we spend so long looking at our differences that we forget our connection. I think readers and writers are better at recognizing that our differences are a gift...that we're all rooted in the same soil.

If you haven't read the first three books in my Hometown Hearts series, I hope you pick them up so that you're ready for the fourth book which comes out in September!

I'm heading out to the studio today...so much clay to play with, so little time!

Holly

PS This is Herman. He's the first piece I made in my new HollysWood Studio. That's one of the ash glazes I've made!

PPS Check out Hometown Hearts

Crib Notes: Hometown Hearts #1

Kindle, Nook, Kobo, iBook

A Special Kind of Different: Hometown Hearts #2

Kindle, iBook, Kobo, Nook

Homecoming: Hometown Hearts #3

Kindle, Kobo, IBooks, Nook

PREORDER  Suddenly a Father: Hometown Hearts #4

Available in September

Kindle, Kobo, Nook, iBooks: 

Cover Reveal for Noel, Alabama! By Susan Sands

I'm thrilled to reveal my gorgeous new cover for my upcoming novel, Noel, Alabama. I love the red theme and the happy, holiday feel!! Lee Hyat worked hard and performed her magic once again!

It's amazing what goes into the development of a book cover. Not just the pulling together of a photo and fonts. I'm talking about the thought that goes into marketing and sales. I had what I thought was a fantastic idea for this one. Behind the scenes, a cover was put together utilizing my grand idea, then compared with a couple others, then shown to a group of potential readers. Mine tanked hard. The marketing team was kind enough to give my idea a shot.

The warm lights and the open door is welcoming and readers loved it! Hopefully, they will love the story equally as much!

I'm completed developmental edits, copy edits, and proofreads. Now, it's off to formatting! Each step gets us one step closer to the advanced reading copies and reviews. Every aspect of development is exciting and helps the time pass until publication!

This book was plotted and written during the onset of the COVID-19 quarantine. I tried hard to focus on my story and not on the news. I'm glad I had something to think about besides politics and viruses during such stressful times. Obviously, things have only gotten more stressful. I'm determined to get this story through all its steps while the summer rages, hopefully toward a more peaceful and healthier climax.

I hope you all are safe and healthy out there.

Best,

Susan