One of my greatest frustrations as a parent is wondering if Emma knows she is loved. Does she? Is she secure, certain, confident that her parents love her?  After years of therapy, Emma can articulate most words, but that doesn’t mean we have conversations. She gets her point across, but abstract feelings and emotions? No.… [ read more ]

I got home from the gym the other day, and I felt great. Well, I didn’t feel great physically. It took me an hour to stop sweating enough so I could take a shower. But mentally? I felt great! Why? Because that workout was the kind of workout I wanted to skip.  Because burpees. Burpees are my nemesis . This… [ read more ]

Covert Justice Covert Justice  goes on sale in just six weeks! Members of Harlequin’s Readers Service have already received their copy, and Covert Justice is starting to get some love.  My dear friend and mentor, Lynette Eason , has given Covert Justice a fabulous endorsement. And Leslie R. McKee reviewed it for Romantic Times and gave Covert Justice 4 stars. Here’s what she had to say…… [ read more ]

MagnaTiles My kids love Magna-Tiles . Have you seen them? Each square and triangle is embedded with magnets, allowing the kids to build all sorts of creations.  A few weeks ago, my four-year-old came to me, beaming with pride as he showed me the “rocket ship” he’d built. He carried it around the house for a… [ read more ]

Writing Update I’m working away on a new novel. A secondary character from Covert Justice just showed up on the front porch and sent things in a very interesting direction. This guy is persistent! I looked at him and thought, “I’m so glad you’re here, but I wish you’d let me know you were coming!”… [ read more ]

Twelve Years Ago, I Was Afraid I’d given birth to our daughter at 5:22 p.m. The NICU team had gone to work immediately and rushed her away from me. I didn’t even get to hold her. A night that should have been filled with joy was tinged with fear. Knowing what I know now, I… [ read more ]

Happy Sunday Out of the Boat readers! Today, I’m starting a new weekend post. Let me know how you like it. 1st up – A writing update  (Because about three of you really want to know)! Covert Justice has a cover! Stop back by tomorrow for the big reveal! Book 2 is actually starting to… [ read more ]

I lay on my son’s bed, his little head on his pillow, his little hand clasping my bicep. His fresh from a bath scent filled the air. A more peaceful and idyllic scene you’d be hard pressed to imagine. Except … I was weary. Not sleepy. Weary. I lay there, berating myself for wanting to… [ read more ]

Hello! Hellooo! Anyone still here?! Please forgive my lengthy blog absence. Re-writing half of my book turned into a very lengthy process and there just haven’t been enough hours in the day. But the revisions were accepted and the book is headed out to a copy editor in the next week or so. For the… [ read more ]

The rising 3rd-5th grade kids in our church left for camp today. Look Up Lodge is a rite of passage and my Facebook feed is full of pictures of happy campers. I’m excited for all of them. I truly am. But a little part of me is crying. The little part that every now and… [ read more ]