COVER REVEAL!!!!

I can't wait any longer. I just LOVE this new cover, designed once again by Mel at Melchelle Designs.

(look closely at the far left edge. :) )

This is the second book in my middle grade mystery series, (Samantha Wolf Mysteries). The first book, The Mystery of Hollow Inn, came out in January of this year. I wrote it while taking a 'break' in between the 1st and 2nd book of my trilogy, The Forgotten Origins.

I completed the trilogy a couple of months ago, and since then, created an audiobook for Hollow Inn and Bloodline, (book #1 in the trilogy). THAT was a huge undertaking, but a fun experience, and I so far, I think was worth the effort.

SO...I am now back to focusing on the mystery series! I hope to ultimately have a good number of books (at least 20), by the time it's done. In them, we follow the fun antics of two twelve-year-old best friends, Sam and Ally. They have a knack for solving crime and of getting in (and out) of trouble. It's been compared to Nancy Drew, and Scooby Doo. (both favorites of mine!)

I am currently busily writing away on this second book, titled:

The Secret of Camp Whispering Pines

Here is the 'back of the book blurb':

What could be better than hiking, swimming, and horseback riding? Having a mystery to solve, of course!

When Sam and Ally embark on their next quest together, they have no idea what secrets hide in the shadows at Camp Whispering Pines. Set in the beautiful, rugged mountains of the Pacific Northwest, the clues are slowly revealed, and it’s up to the two girls to figure it out.

New friendships are formed, while at the same time enemies lurk nearby. The closer they get to uncovering the truth behind the camp, the further they are pushed into danger and deceit. Can Sam and Alley put all of the pieces together before it’s too late? Follow them on another thrilling tale filled with excitement and adventure, along misty, high mountain trials and deep ravines, where the answers wait to be found!

I have an expected release date of February 1st, and I'll be doing my best to meet it. Meanwhile, if you haven't read the first book, you got time!! :)

December 27th, 2014

Another BIG sigh of relief! Not only did I survive Christmas, but another birthday! Yesterday I turned 43 years young. ;)

I also got my first review on the audiobook for Bloodline...five stars! *phew* It's always good to get that first one under your belt, plus it was from someone I DON'T know. (despite friends and family insisting they are being honest in reviews, you just never really know until a stranger writes one! :) )

I am getting back on track with my writing for the 2nd installment in my Samantha Wolf Mysteries series...and I'm really liking it! I have a cover prepared already (thank you mel!) and I will be doing a reveal in the next week or two.

Today I had the pleasure of writing a review for a newly released book from friend and author, Jim Bernheimer. He's one of those authors we Indies look up to: he's SUCCESSFUL! He's got numerous titles under his name, but his most popular is the D-List Supervillain series. It's not even my typical genre, but he's an exceptional storyteller. Please check out my review for 'Secrets of a D-List Supervillain' on the book review tab, but meanwhile, here is a Direct Link to his Amazon author page. You'll want to start with book #1 'Origins of a D-list Supervillain'. They are also available on audiobook, and 'Confessions' is a best seller! (narrated by the amazing Mr. Jeffrey Kafer)

I hope your holidays have been filled with the love of family and friends, and here is to a peaceful, happy 2015!

I'll leave you with a couple of photos I took near my home on Christmas Eve:

Oh! And don't forget to go VOTE FOR BLOODLINE for the Best Scifi Indie Book of 2014!

Merry Christmas!

A card for everyone! (taken from my backyard a few years back when we had SNOW! :) )

Bloodline on sale for 0.99!

In light of the Holidays and also since Bloodline is in the running for a contest (best Indie book of the year), I am putting it on sale for 0.99 until the first of the year!

Find it HERE on Amazon


On other fronts, I am finally able to relax a little and say, "Yes, I am ready for Christmas". ;)

I had the pleasure of watching my beautiful daughter dance in a Christmas recital last night and I get to go again tonight! Parents will understand when I say how special it is to watch your child participate in something that they work so hard for, and are rightfully proud of. Whether it be sports, a play, dancing or a science fair...they are those milestones in life that we tend to always remember!

Vote for Bloodline, best Indie scifi Book of the YEAR!!

I'm pretty excited about this, and I need YOUR help!

Read Freely is a decent sized site that helps to promote Indie books. In looking at last years competition, the top books seem to have had a good sales bounce, so winning this could really help me to get Bloodline (and the trilogy) out there to a larger audience.

PLEASE follow this link and vote for Bloodline. It is very fast, there is no registration required at all. It will give you the option of leaving an email address to enter a book drawing, but you don't have to!

Click here to vote for Bloodline!

Thank you all for your support!!!

Bloodline Audiobook is Out!!

It seemed like a long wait, but I hope that it was worth it!

Here it is: Audible site with sample

I'm excited to be taking this new road, and I hope that it leads somewhere!!! :)

December 18th, 2014

Christmas is fast approaching!

Do you ever get a little...weary of people always asking each other if they are "ready for Christmas"? Like it's a burden, rather than a time of joy and love. I feel that a lot of people have become a bit overburdened by the holidays, due to the commercialization. So in answer: no. I am not ready. I never am, because I'm not good at time management and therefore am always the one in line at the post office on the last day that a package can be shipped out priority to get there on time. :)  But I still love Christmas, because as I said, it isn't about the gifts. Right? Right.

I'm still waiting for the final production of the Bloodline audiobook to be released (drumming fingers)...should be anytime now! It's been over a week since it was approved. I am not a patient person. Have I mentioned that before?

Meanwhile, I have decided to run a Kindle Countdown on The Mystery of Hollow Inn, since sales have most definitely stalled. If I thought it was hard to find an audience for my Young Adult books, that's not near as hard as the Middle Grade genre! I guess I need to target the moms...or something. I don't know, I haven't figured it out yet! Anyway, here is the link. Only 0.99 for the firs three days of the promo. So if you haven't read it, now is a good time to pick it up, or give it as a gift! You don't have to be a middle grader to read or enjoy it. I know I have gone back and re-read my Trixie Beldon and Nancy Drews many times as an adult!

Amazon link to the Mystery of Hollow Inn .99!

I will post again before Christmas...but keep your chin up! Throw out some lights, don't spend too much on needless trinkets, and maybe donate instead to your local charity, or go give out some gift cards at your local grocery store. (I've done that a couple years in a row now...it's a great experience!)

I will leave you with a picture of our family project this year. It was a group effort, but I think I chose the worst part: painting! About 20 hrs later, after lots of tracing/cutting/nailing/painting and planning:

December 9th, 2014

Our weather continues to be undecided as to if it's winter or spring! Here it is, fast approaching mid-December and it's over 60 degrees. The bad news, is that it's accompanied by rain and this equates to lots of melting snow up in the mountains, and more flooding down here on the Skagit. I posted about our local flooding less than two weeks ago, and the river predictions are looking like it's going to be the same scenario by Thursday. Praying that the rain eases up, and we get by without any local damage.

This past weekend was an exciting one for our small town of Sedro Woolley! Our local high school football team took the 2A state title! This is the first time in the history of our school, so it's pretty amazing! My son played Woolley football for six years and was a first-pick conference offensive line and 2nd pick defensive line his senior year (2 years ago), so I spent plenty of time under the 'Friday night lights'! I'm so happy for these kids and I hope it ends up creating college career opportunities that they might not have had otherwise. It's hard to get noticed in football, no matter how good you are, when you're on a 2A team...unless you make it to a state game! Way to go CUBS!

Last night I played around with a unique site called, The Imagine Film List. It gives people the opportunity to make movie suggestions based on books, etc, and even match up actors to characters. Take a look at what I have going for Bloodline, and maybe give it a bump if you agree with me that it'd make a great movie!  IF List

I haven't done this on my blog yet, but I know a fellow Indie Author who is running a 0.99 cent promo on her book, Dangerous Liaisons, and I'd like to give her a mention:

******

DANGEROUS LIAISONS by SARAH STUART

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M9CU1Z6 

eBook & Paperback

Lizzie, daughter of a wealthy Scottish laird, inherits a Book of Hours passed down the illegitimate female line from a 16th century queen. It carries a Royal Command: find love. Lizzie, and Michael, a backstreet boy determined to escape the poverty trap with a successful career in the theater, develop a passionate relationship. Sparks, ignited by decoded secrets recorded by the queen’s unscrupulous, vengeful, granddaughter, break the bounds of marriage, the law, and the church.

19 4 & 5 star reviews on Amazon

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I have to admit that I haven't read it yet (now that I'm working on writing The Secret of Camp Whispering Pines), I am back to my reading hiatus. I just can't mix others words around in my head while I am writing, but I have added it to my TBR pile and I plan on getting to it soon. It looks like a good story, so check it out!

Speaking of Whispering Pines, I will be doing a cover reveal soon, so be on the lookout for that!

I FINALLY finished the audio book for Bloodline!!!!!  I'm just waiting for it to be approved and then processed for distribution. I am pretty excited about this. The editing process just about kicked my butt, but I learned a lot from it. (mainly that I am WAY too picky and need to lighten up if I also do Heritage and Descent)

I will let you all know when it is out, and offer up some free codes for it!

On the photography front, I still have my work up on display at out local hospital, United General, and I'm still averaging several sales a month. I've created a couple of new images for Christmas cards, so I will leave you with one of them!

December 1st, 2014

Oh my gosh, where did November go?!

I can't believe it is already December, and I sit here looking at the naked Christmas tree, waiting to be decorated.

I like the holidays, but I think that I am not alone in that there is also a certain amount of stress and pressure to get things done that come along with them. It is always this time of year that I try and slow things down and remember what the season is really all about. NOT giving and giving gifts, but LOVE.

So take a deep breath and hug someone. :)

I am STILL working on finishing up the audiobook for Bloodline,  but I can see the finish line. I will cross it this week and then it should be available the following week. I'm excited to get it out there!

I am also excited about my next book: The Secret of Camp Whispering Pine (Book #2 in the Samantha Wolf Mysteries) I just got the proof for the book cover and I LOVE it! I will be planning a reveal for it in a week or so.  I'm still hoping to get the book out by the end of the year, but we'll see. While I always try and keep the deadlines that I set for myself, it will never be at the cost of the story quality. I'm behind on it as of now, due to the audiobooks taking me longer than anticipated, but it will just depend on how fast the writing goes these next few weeks. Either way, it will be soon and I think readers will like this next installment!

I've had a blast doing senior pictures these past couple of months and I just completed a really fun shoot yesterday. It flooded this past week on our street, and then froze. So we took advantage of this unique setting and literally went out on the ice! The pictures turned out great, and I always feel privileged to be a part of such an important time in their lives. I continue to charge just $50 for everything (including copies of all the pictures), because I can't stand to take more. My son just graduated two  years ago, and I know that the going rate for a professional photographer starts at around $250. These kids already have so many expenses, and there are a lot that can't afford the pictures. (I also do some free ones each year)  I will end up doing about eight senior portraits this year, and I hope to continue it!

Happy Holidays to everyone!