Blog
Reading habits
One of my Facebook friends, cozy mystery author Lena Gregory, recently posted a question about reading habits, asking "how many books do you read on average?" She also noted that while she "used to read between three and five books a week," these days, her reading...
Going on a road trip
When I think about summer (and especially during a long, cold Canadian winter), one of the first things to come to mind is the road trip. Growing up, summer road trips were a highlight of my year. With my parents and the family dog too, I crisscrossed Canada and...
“Me” time
Like most mid-life women (and undoubtedly men too), I don't get much time that’s solely for "me"—to recharge, reflect and "be" in myself. In the last week, though, I had that time and it reminded me of the importance of self-care in life as well as writing....
Going (to my second) home
If, like me, you've spent half your adult life living outside the country of your birth, "home" is flexible. Although "home" for me is wherever Tech Guy and English Rose are, beyond that, I often picture myself straddling a little island in the middle of the Atlantic...
Summertime…
With temperatures topping 30 Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Rideau Valley this week, it's indeed summertime in my small town. From the fishing spot off the town dock, to the outdoor swimming pool, and lines at local ice cream shops, everyone is savouring...
Celebrating fictional heroines: My top five
In each story I write, I aim to create strong, independent heroines who face real-life challenges that other women can relate to. I've realized, though, that the heroines and their journeys I create in my own books have much to do with my favourite fictional...
Driving English Rose
Some people like driving, and getting behind the wheel of a car and heading for the open road is one of their happy places. I'm not one of those people! As a sedentary writer, one of the things I like best about my small-town life is that I live within walking...
Important GDPR and blog subscription information
Dear readers, As some of you know, the European Union (EU) is introducing the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which comes into effect on 25 May 2018. I'm based in North America, but EU residents subscribe to my blog mailings. As such, and to ensure...
Advice for life after the happy ending
In romantic fiction, happy endings are a given. However, one of the reasons I enjoy writing (and reading) epilogues, as well as books in a series, is because I can dip into the lives of characters after the main story ends and they're living their happy ever after...
Photo by Robin Spencer, Spencer Studio