So Many Changes! By Susan Sands

Let me start by wishing everyone a very happy new year!! My life mirrors the old adage of "out with

Our Boudreaux

 the old and in with the new" like never before. I've complained incessantly on this blog as we've had three contracts on my house fall through over the last two years. We had so much hope and then excitement turned into bitter disappointment as the sales fell apart.

But, just before Christmas, we finally sold the old unique property we'd lived in for the past eighteen years. Hurray!! After two-and-a-half years on the market and a new realtor, the sale went the distance to closing. We lost our shirts as expected but the home is now a lovely memory as the place where our kids grew up. It was their childhood home and the place of many Christmases past, along with birthdays and other important milestones in our lives.  But we are thrilled to wave goodbye and move forward and embrace the next chapter.

Unfortunately, our sweet love, our family dog of eight years, Boudreaux, had been declining all the while we were packing and moving. We lost him the day after the move three days before Christmas. He was suffering from a neurological condition and a spinal tumor that affected his hind legs. I can hardly type this without tears.

Boudreaux's counterpart pup, Watson, has rolled with so much change in losing his sidekick and moving to a new place with amazing grace. I can tell he wonders and looks for Boudreaux and I wish I could explain it all to him puppy style.

There are still a few boxes left to unpack and moving from a giant house to a townhome has been a massive feat. I've donated so many things even after having an estate sale last year where I unloaded most of my furniture, rugs and art. I sold the baby grand piano just before I moved. So, I thought I was ready for the sizing down. Ha. Not so much.

Change has come to us in ways we've hoped and some we feared, but time moves forward and now we're embracing this new year in new surroundings with one less family member.

Again, Happy New Year to you and yours!! May it bring all the good and none of the bad.

Susan

Christmas is Coming! Post by Susan Sands

Christmas is coming to Ministry, Alabama!

I've been asked to write a Christmas story as a fourth installment in my Alabama book series for Tule Publishing. I'm so excited to finish out the year with this story following Forever, Alabama's release back in March.

I laughed just a little when I saw the idea suggestions for the tone of this title. The word that sprang out at me was fizzy-- as in, effervescent. When I think about the holidays, and how celebrating them might be with the Laroux family in Ministry, Alabama, fizzy might be a descriptive word one could use. A Southern, Christmas-set small town romance. Sounds fun.

But hey, we've got to have some complications here, don't we? Trust issues, family strife, drama, suspense. You're darn right. We can have it all--and we will, y'all. Christmas, Alabama is shaping up to be loads of fun. Handsome stranger, town photographer, and the whole town getting ready for the yearly Christmas festival.

So, as I lower my thermostat, listen to Christmas carols in the middle of summer, and rewatch some of my favorite recorded Hallmark holiday classics, I'll be working on capturing the Christmas spirit and creating another Alabama story for readers.

 

I love to connect with readers on social media!

Susan Sands: Cover Reveal

Dear Friends,

I'm so excited to share the new cover and blurb for my upcoming novel, Forever, Alabama! This

Forever, Alabama

book has been a tough one, I have to say. I've written it through busy and emotional times, so it's a victory just seeing it come to fruition.

I believe the story reflects some of the angst I've lived while writing it, so if it's slightly different, that might be the reason. Personal struggle shows up in an author's work, no matter how we try to maintain continuity. There's a little more independent character development, both with the hero and heroine. They've both got some stuff going on separate from the other. But they come together to help one another with the other's struggles and find something special together. Isn't that what we're supposed to do? Be there for each other? I hope you'll give Forever, Alabama a try. 

Oh, and isn't the cover fantastic? Lee Hyat, my cover designer did a fantastic job, as did the rest of the Tule team. I can't thank them enough for the time and effort they put into helping my work out into the world.

Blurb:

Everybody loves local attorney and favorite son, Ben Laroux.  Well, at least everybody of the female persuasion–until he meets Sabine O'Connor. She loathes him and makes no secret of her feelings, even when he pours on his famous charm hoping to thank her for helping his family. Ben has never been told no, and if there's one thing he's never walked away from, it's a challenge.    Sabine hopes she’s finally found peace and safety in the small town of Ministry. She’s changed her name to escape her painful past and her shameful family secrets. Ben Laroux is a gorgeous and sexy complication she can’t afford, but also can't resist. However, when her past threatens to derail her present and future, Ben might be the only man she can trust.

I would love to connect!!

Susan

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Susan Sands: So Long 2016!

I'm not one to bemoan a year its insults to my life, but the same as many of my friends, this one's been a challenge. It's not because talented celebrities passed, several far too young. No, it's because of the changes the year has wrought on my life and those I care about. Nothing is ever all bad, though it can certainly seem to lean that way sometimes.

My dad has a very aggressive form of dementia that has become the major focus of mine and my mother's lives. I have no siblings to help, so I'm the one who helps with decisions and heavy lifting, both physical and emotional. Most of you have some experience with Alzheimer's or dementia--it's just a fact of our culture today. It touches everyone. I helped moved my parents from my childhood home in Louisiana to an independent living senior apartment near my home in Georgia. It's worked well for me because now I don't have to travel or worry nearly as much, but it's not without its learning curve for us all. I can't imagine being ripped away from everything and everyone I've known for over forty years, in addition to spending every waking moment caring for someone who was, until very recently, partner, support, and strong shoulder to lean on. My mother is grieving for all she's lost in the past year, as am I.

The writing has been

hard this year. The third book in my Alabama series took on a deeper tone, as books do when authors are in emotional turmoil. It manifests in the story. That's not a bad thing, unless you're trying to keep it light. Hopefully, by the time I finished the book, I managed to strike a balance between the newfound gravitas and what my readers enjoy about my humorous, hopeful, and Southern family fiction. Oh, and there's romance, of course. It's all still there.

So, while I'm sorry to hear about the uber-talented famous folks leaving the earth, I tend to look inward and grieve the loss of my own, and those whose losses are closer and more personal. My sweet friend lost her brand new husband and soulmate, and a writer friend has battled fires, floods, and mudslides. No, I don't blame the year, but I'm certainly looking on the bright side for the upcoming one for so many reasons.

My wish this year is that we all achieve our secret wishes and goals. The ones we are afraid to say out loud. The ones that might sound selfish because of all the bad things happening in the world. I wish for positive changes in our attitudes toward the future and one another. Have hope--about everything. Find a way to make someone's day better--every day. Treat the invisible as if they are the most important person you've met all day. Good things happen to good people. We are all we have, folks.

Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Susan Sands: Beautiful Book Covers

I'm working on my third book in the Alabama series for the Tule Publishing Group. Tule took a big chance on me by publishing my debut novel, and I'm forever grateful! I have to say that of all the things there are to obsess about when releasing one's first novel, one of my most anxiety-producing moments was laying eyes on the mock-ups of my very first cover. I was so worried I would hate every single one. I'd been sent a cover art fact sheet by the publisher to fill out, of course. There were questions about the hero and heroins' hair color, eye color, skin tone, and body type, etc. Also, they asked for specifics about the setting and tone of the story.

But I had ideas for my cover. Lots of fantastic ideas that would convey my story perfectly in a snapshot. It was my first book, and the beginning of my brand. A brand that would define me in a very specific way to readers. Was I a commercial romance author? Was I Southern lit? Was I women's fiction? Well, I was all three. I hoped and prayed my covers would set that tone. It was a tall order, I assure you. And I wanted to be welcomed in all the circles. To literary festivals in my area, to romance panels at conferences, and taken seriously as I move at times toward women's fiction issues. Book covers define your work to everyone.

I love and own all my genres, even though they are inside one book. I know we can't be all things to all people, and I was asking a lot of a cover designer: No faces, no embracing couples, nothing too contemporary, nothing too country. But Tule listened to me, and they had a secret weapon. They had Lee Hyatt.

She pulled it off, not once, but twice!! And let me tell you--it was perfection. I've had readers and other authors go on and on about how they love my covers. Have a look!

Again, Alabama

Love, Alabama

Small town, Southern, romantic women's fiction never had a prettier and more appropriate cover!! Thanks so much Lee for finding the right balance and setting the tone for my brand. I'm in your debt.

Susan Sands

Susan Sands:  Book Clubs

I've been meeting with book clubs and groups of women who love books over the past year since releasing my first two novels. The last one was called Wednesday Wine and Wisdom. I was to supply the wisdom.  I laughed about that and did my best. After visiting a couple dozen groups, I've discovered several common threads that I find interesting and amusing. 

Most members of the groups drink somewhat heavily day or night. I don't really drink much alcohol because I get instant migraines from it, so it's interesting to observe the deterioration of questions and discussion as the day/evening progresses. Questions regarding sex and money become more prevalent as the wine flows. I've never been overtly offended by either topic, only amused.

Reader groups often have at least two or more would-be writers in their midst. I love sniffing them out. They are intensely interested in how I started writing and all the nuts and bolts of the process.

There are most often two distinct types of readers represented within most book clubs:  Literary fiction readers and commercial fiction readers. The literary fiction readers tend to be "wordies" who immerse themselves in the passages, or the lovely words. They roll around in the beauty of them and tend to hi-light the parts they'd like to revisit later. They also adore memoirs and meandering books that may or may not have a satisfying ending. These readers often love the classics as well.  

The commercial fiction reader is thrilled by a killer plot and characters. They adore a fast-paced, plot-driven read. They are "story" lovers as opposed to "word" readers. Authors of commercial fiction write for the reader to look beyond the words as if watching a movie unfold. 

It's not as if one can't love both kinds of books. And hopefully, a skilled author strike a balance between effective words and a fantastic, gripping story. But, the truth is, most authors write to a specific type. 

I'm a commercial writer. I write Southern romantic women's fiction that always includes a romance. There's a satisfying ending. You can count on it. I've come across mostly lovely women who have been kind and welcoming. But I've noticed an edge from a few of the readers who enjoy a deeper, more serious type of literature. The bottom line is that I write my books to please my readers. They won't please everyone. I can't fight that or change it. I've established my identity as an author. I might write something different someday, but for now, I'm satisfied with my genre. And I charge everyone to read whatever they choose. There are enough authors and books out there to satisfy everyone. 

I read a variety of genres, mostly determined by my mood. I often read outside my genre when I'm in the middle of writing a new book.

Check out my two Alabama books from The Tule Publishing Group!

       

    

Again, Alabama                               Love, Alabama

"Full of Southern charm, warmth and humor, Love, Alabama is as sweet and satisfying as homemade pie." --Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author 

I hope everyone is enjoying the beginnings of a lovely summer!!

Susan Sands

Nothing Like a Small Town - Susan Sands

I've been back home in my tiny Louisiana hometown helping my parents move from a place they've lived for forty-one years.

You can imagine how entrenched one gets after such a stretch of time. I grew up on that piece of property--we moved there when I was eight years old. I can only imagine how my parents felt tearing it all apart and uprooting everything, even if they only moved a mile away to my grandmother's home.  We didn't hire a moving company, as I would have in Atlanta. Nope. We had pickup trucks (multiple) with trailers attached. We had neighbors and family. We cooked gumbo and picked up fried chicken. We caravanned and made many trips from the old house to the "new" one. People showed up to help without being asked, and it was heartwarming. They worked from early morning until after dark for two solid days, and it makes me tear up at the dedication to helping a fellow neighbor in need for no payment besides a true appreciation. It was back-breaking and there's still a ton of unpacking left to do, but what a testament to small-town life that others would give up their weekend in the service of my family. I'm incredibly humbled.

I write about such things in my books because it's where I'm from. But I've lived so far away for many years, and my life hardly resembles the one where I grew up. Coming home again was good. It's been hard work, but good. How nice to be reminded of such kindness up close and in person.

I write for the Southern Born line at the Tule Publishing Group, and yes, I am Southern born.

I hope everyone has an amazing week and feels as blessed as I have these past couple days, no matter where you're from.

Susan Sands

Check out my small town Southern romantic women's fiction novels, Again, Alabama, and Love, Alabama, (April 13, 2016)

e-mail snsands@gmail.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/susannsandsauthor

Twitter: @SusanNoelSands

Blog:  Sweet Home Alpharetta at: http://susansands.com

Tonya Kappes: Small Towns

I grew up in a small town, and like most I couldn't wait to get out and explore the vast world. Only....the vast world was only two hours from my small town to a city near Cincinnati, Ohio, still in Kentucky.

The older I got I became to appreciate the small town and what it meant to me. I realized moving to a larger city life has become very busy, hustle and bustle, smog, violence, you know.

When I decided to become a writer, I knew I wanted to base a series around a small town and the people in it.

Let's take a look at what you will find in a small town. First you will notice there isn't any traffic, only a few straggling cars. But people! The people are walking around the town with little fear of safety. So much so you can almost feel it. They say hello to you and give you eye contact. They ask about your family, and invite you over to pick some berries or tomatoes out of their garden.

And the buildings! How amazing are those old buildings. They are the core of the town. Generally small town buildings are compact, well organized and centered around the city building. It embraces you, giving you that welcome feel. There is a sense of belonging. And that feels good!

Did you take a big deep breath? No? Well do! How about that?

Fresh air! Clean fresh air. Free of smog!

Have you seen a small town school? Yes, there is no barbed wire around it, or metal detectors. Just kids all over the school yard, laughing, eating, and making jokes. Harmless. The building itself is small, with few teachers, but that's because there are fewer children in small towns. As you can read on the school's marque, the upcoming dances, PTA meetings, and other school spirit activities taking place.

Then there are the business. Local, homegrown doctor (who might be a vet too), locally owned grocery store, feed and seed, post office, and florist.

These are just a few reasons why small communities are being sought after. People are wanting the hometown, good salt of the earth life for their families. Most of these communities are only a hop, skip, and jump away from larger cities where most the families travel to work.

These communities offer charm, a sense of humanity. When someone is sick, the entire community jumps in and helps the family. No matter how hard I try to make this happen in my community, it just doesn't happen. Of course my kids are great, and we love our neighbors, school, and jobs, but there's something to be said about the love and warmth of a small town.

The Magical Cures Mystery Series is  set in my fictitious small town of Whispering Falls, Kentucky. I've built a community around the lives of the residents there who happen to be a village of witches. They own cozy shops that is a "front" for their witchy gift. June Heal, the main character, is a potion maker and her shop A CHARMING CURE is a homeopathic cure shop. When a customer comes in for a homeopathic lotion, June's gift of intuition tells her what the real issue is with the customer. The customer might come in for a bad case of heartburn, but in reality the customer might be heartbroken. Throw in a couple of dead bodies and a charming mystery is created!

Do you live in a small town? Do you like to visit small towns in your reading?

Social Media Book Club

As an author, a life long dream was to be picked up by a book club and have them pick your book. I'm not talking Oprah level book club, though....that would be great. I'm talking just a girl's night out, having fun discussing books. The small town book clubs.

When I got my first novel got picked up by a book club, I was so excited. They were from Harvard and had emailed me through my website. I sent them book marks, a tote bag, and some signed book plates before they had met. A couple of weeks later, I had received a photo of the book club holding up the book and the bags. It was so exciting.

Book club requests were few and far between and I appreciated them so much.

When social media took off about six years ago, I knew this would open up a whole new world for readers. It was going to open up a whole new world for me to connect with my readers. I put it out on my website and newsletters that I'd love to Skype with their book clubs and send some goodies along.

WOW! Did that little newsletter open up the doors to more and more book clubs. It's been amazing.

What I've seen lately that has been even more fun, are groups of readers who have met on Facebook through their favorite authors or favorite genres and formed online book clubs. It's been so fun seeing my readers come together in their own club and reading.

Do you have a book club? Are you a member of an online book club? What are you reading now?

One lucky comment will be picked to win a new Tonya Kappes tote!

Susan Sands: Teen Girls. Need I Say More?

She is beautiful. She owns my whole heart. She used to think I was the most wonderful person on the planet and called me "Mommy."

Things have changed in my household since then. My daughter is sixteen. She is driving. She is dating a little. She doesn't think I'm nearly as smart or wonderful as she did when she was in diapers, or preschool, for that matter.  I'm the constant heavy. I'm wholly embarrassing to her in front of her friends. I question her choices, I warn her about everything from traffic safety to watching her cup at every possible social event. I'm infinitely less fun than I was when I planned her birthday parties at venues like Build-a-Bear and the pottery painting studio.

I love her to the moon and beyond. Oh, but I worry about her coming of age in this society where things are so much the same, and so very different than they were when I was her age. Boys are still highly motivated and will say anything to have sex with girls. That hasn't changed. Communicating that fact is still a challenge without taking all the excitement and thrill out of the first blush of young romance. Does it still exist for more than a date or two these days?

They text and snapchat rather than talk to one another now. Communication between the sexes seems to be dwindling. It's easier to hide behind devices rather than get to know someone's heart. Technology is etching away social skills and manners with its abbreviated form of conversation-making. The wall between people is building, one slow brick at a time because of it.

I wonder about this upcoming teen generation and the complexities of their lives. Life has always been complex, but this added component truly worries me, as it will affect these kids as nothing has before.

I teach my kids manners, respect, and to make good choices. They make mistakes, learn lessons and move forward with hope for the future. So far, so good. Tonight is her first homecoming dance and I'm having a day of excitement mixed with worry. What will happen at the party after the dance? Will the kids make good choices? Not just mine, but all of them. Some will, and some, not so much, I suppose.

I just received a text with an apology from her for leaving her things in a huge mess as she dashed out the door, my strong words ringing in her ears. It's a hard thing...apologizing, for both of us. Neither wants to admit we're wrong.

She's getting her nails done.  I'm heading out to pick up boutonnieres. There will be lots of pictures. Wish us both luck on this exciting and big "first."

I'll be the mom (one of many, most likely) waiting for the text saying she got there safely and that all is well.

Best to all the mommies and daddies! It's truly the hardest job I've ever loved!

Susan Sands
Author of AGAIN, ALABAMA
The Tule Publishing Group

Susan Sands grew up in a tiny town in North Louisiana and graduated with a degree in education from Northwestern State University.   She and her husband, Doug, an Alpharetta dentist, live in Johns Creek with their three nearly grown children. Her debut novel, AGAIN, ALABAMA is a Southern small-town coming home story filled with fun, nutty family, and lots of heart and humor. Grey and Cammie show us that it’s never too late for second chances and healing old wounds. 

"AGAIN, ALABAMA full of Southern charm and beauty pageants, coiffed hair and pecan pie competitions. The story keeps the reader turning pages.” ~Library Journal

Susan loves to connect with readers! She can be found at the following fun places:

snsands@gmail.com

Facebook Author Page:  https://www.facebook.com/susannsandsauthor

Twitter:  @SusanNoelSands

Blog:  Sweet Home Alpharetta at: http://susansands.com