What can I say? It's been a long road back to my first love: writing books. Not that I ever stopped completely. It's just that while I've been busy editing magazines and other people's books, and writing articles and columns, the entire publishing world has gone to pieces. Sifting through them has been encouraging, discouraging, and downright exciting. I'm about to release a book that will mark my first foray into indie publishing . . . for a control freak that's epic. Editors have mostly been kind to me; they don't change my words much. But it's tough bleeding onto your laptop day after day for months only to end up with a cover that makes you cringe and to watch the royalties "roll in" ninety cents at a time. Indie publishing has made great strides in getting authors a bigger piece of the publishing pie, and for that I'm grateful. Authors have to eat, too.
If you're one of the three people who has been waiting anxiously for my next book, your wait is almost over. For one thing, my latest, traditionally published book, iChoose Life, will be available for purchase in August. That's, like, any day now. It's a devotional for youth, so if that's not up your alley, maybe you'll be more excited to hear about the books I am planning to indie publish. . .
The Shaking. I'm keeping this one on the qt for now, so I'll just say that I started it two years ago and then dropped it about six pages in. I was a little nervous about my protagonist. She showed up in my head one day and just started talking. I had a vague idea what I wanted to do with her, but she had ideas of her own. For now, let's just say that I have never had more fun writing a book than I have had writing this one. It practically writes itself. It's set in the future. Yes, I've written another apocalyptic book. Yes, this makes number four. But, you know, it's fun playing with end-time stuff. You get to make more up. Unless I run into major problems, this book should be out by November 1.
This book is a complete deviation from my usual fiction. It's so gritty and edgy that I'm creating a whole new genre to accommodate it. And no, this doesn't represent a major shift in my writing style. This may be a one-off. I have four (no, five) books up my sleeve that are completely unlike it in almost every way. They are . . .
Life And Death. This is the first book in a series I'm calling the "Toussaint, Vermont Series." It's almost finished . . . and it should be; I think I started it over ten years ago. This story brings us to a sort of made up, sort of real place that exists mostly in my imagination; it's where I grew up. Here's my back of the book blurb for this book:
"Peopled with quirky characters and peppered with colloquial language and customs, Life And Death explores what happens when you face death, your own or the death of someone you love. Ringing with strength and hope, the novel abounds with humor, craziness, traditional music, romance, and a little old mémère with a tongue like a buzz saw.
The novel is set in the fictional town of Toussaint, Vermont which lies so close to the shores of Lake Champlain and the border of Canada that if was closer to either it would fall in or need to change citizenship. The story centers on Emerson Giroux who still struggles to cope following the death of her husband several years earlier in a freak accident, her nearly grown daughter Adrienne, her eccentric, blind friend Marise, and a host of other likely and unlikely characters.
When a tall, handsome stranger returns home, Emerson is shocked out of her grief. But things are not as they seem. Or are they? Is it possible that the most important thing to remember about life is that no one comes out alive? In Toussaint, Vermont, you may just find out."
Now I See This is the second title in the" Toussaint, Vermont Series," but it's a stand-alone sequel. You'll get more out of it if you read Life And Death first because you'll be introduced to the characters in Now I See, but you can read it on its own as well. The story picks up where Life And Death leaves off only this time Marise is the main character. But don't worry; many of your favorite characters from Life And Death make their appearance . . . it's a small town, after all. I'll update this synopsis as I get further along in the book.
Fleabitten This is the third title in the "Toussaint, Vermont Series." It's a story I started ages ago, but I think it will find its home here. I'll post more as I have more details.
Christ's Child My first, though hopefully not only, historical novel. Christ's Child tells the true (though largely imagined) story of Margaret Wilson who lived during a period of history in Scotland that was so bloody it was called "The Killing Time." Told through the eyes of her sister, Agnes, Christ's Child draws a sharply outlined portrait of what it means to live - and die - for your beliefs. Bide a wee and ye'll receive further updates.
The Farmer's Daughter While I was away from writing books, I started a farm. Sometimes comical, sometimes poignant, The Farmer's Daughter * tells my story as I lived it . . . from llama spit to vicious rabbits . . . if you're never soaked a sheep's foot in epsom salt or dug maggots out of a bunny's bottom, or stuffed sugar into the abscess of a chicken who was attacked by a fox, then you don't know jack about farming. Get some tea, pull up a chair, and let me tell you all about it.
*No animals were harmed during the creation of this book, but some were highly annoyed.
And that about wraps up my news for the time being. If you want to keep up with any updates about my progress or my titles, please consider following my Facebook page or this website. I'll be posting updates as I have them. But I'm too busy writing to post often, so you needn't worry about being inundated with posts. Thanks for your interest!
If you're one of the three people who has been waiting anxiously for my next book, your wait is almost over. For one thing, my latest, traditionally published book, iChoose Life, will be available for purchase in August. That's, like, any day now. It's a devotional for youth, so if that's not up your alley, maybe you'll be more excited to hear about the books I am planning to indie publish. . .
The Shaking. I'm keeping this one on the qt for now, so I'll just say that I started it two years ago and then dropped it about six pages in. I was a little nervous about my protagonist. She showed up in my head one day and just started talking. I had a vague idea what I wanted to do with her, but she had ideas of her own. For now, let's just say that I have never had more fun writing a book than I have had writing this one. It practically writes itself. It's set in the future. Yes, I've written another apocalyptic book. Yes, this makes number four. But, you know, it's fun playing with end-time stuff. You get to make more up. Unless I run into major problems, this book should be out by November 1.
This book is a complete deviation from my usual fiction. It's so gritty and edgy that I'm creating a whole new genre to accommodate it. And no, this doesn't represent a major shift in my writing style. This may be a one-off. I have four (no, five) books up my sleeve that are completely unlike it in almost every way. They are . . .
Life And Death. This is the first book in a series I'm calling the "Toussaint, Vermont Series." It's almost finished . . . and it should be; I think I started it over ten years ago. This story brings us to a sort of made up, sort of real place that exists mostly in my imagination; it's where I grew up. Here's my back of the book blurb for this book:
"Peopled with quirky characters and peppered with colloquial language and customs, Life And Death explores what happens when you face death, your own or the death of someone you love. Ringing with strength and hope, the novel abounds with humor, craziness, traditional music, romance, and a little old mémère with a tongue like a buzz saw.
The novel is set in the fictional town of Toussaint, Vermont which lies so close to the shores of Lake Champlain and the border of Canada that if was closer to either it would fall in or need to change citizenship. The story centers on Emerson Giroux who still struggles to cope following the death of her husband several years earlier in a freak accident, her nearly grown daughter Adrienne, her eccentric, blind friend Marise, and a host of other likely and unlikely characters.
When a tall, handsome stranger returns home, Emerson is shocked out of her grief. But things are not as they seem. Or are they? Is it possible that the most important thing to remember about life is that no one comes out alive? In Toussaint, Vermont, you may just find out."
Now I See This is the second title in the" Toussaint, Vermont Series," but it's a stand-alone sequel. You'll get more out of it if you read Life And Death first because you'll be introduced to the characters in Now I See, but you can read it on its own as well. The story picks up where Life And Death leaves off only this time Marise is the main character. But don't worry; many of your favorite characters from Life And Death make their appearance . . . it's a small town, after all. I'll update this synopsis as I get further along in the book.
Fleabitten This is the third title in the "Toussaint, Vermont Series." It's a story I started ages ago, but I think it will find its home here. I'll post more as I have more details.
Christ's Child My first, though hopefully not only, historical novel. Christ's Child tells the true (though largely imagined) story of Margaret Wilson who lived during a period of history in Scotland that was so bloody it was called "The Killing Time." Told through the eyes of her sister, Agnes, Christ's Child draws a sharply outlined portrait of what it means to live - and die - for your beliefs. Bide a wee and ye'll receive further updates.
The Farmer's Daughter While I was away from writing books, I started a farm. Sometimes comical, sometimes poignant, The Farmer's Daughter * tells my story as I lived it . . . from llama spit to vicious rabbits . . . if you're never soaked a sheep's foot in epsom salt or dug maggots out of a bunny's bottom, or stuffed sugar into the abscess of a chicken who was attacked by a fox, then you don't know jack about farming. Get some tea, pull up a chair, and let me tell you all about it.
*No animals were harmed during the creation of this book, but some were highly annoyed.
And that about wraps up my news for the time being. If you want to keep up with any updates about my progress or my titles, please consider following my Facebook page or this website. I'll be posting updates as I have them. But I'm too busy writing to post often, so you needn't worry about being inundated with posts. Thanks for your interest!
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