The Little Things

Image by Kati from Pixabay

Last Saturday at the coffee shop I was craving something sweet, so instead of my usual black coffee I splurged on a soy latte with sugar-free syrup. “Any flavor, your pick,” I said. The barista nodded. I’ve been a regular for seven years, and in all that time this guy’s never smiled or said one more word than absolutely necessary.

When my drink was ready, I settled in at my favorite table, spread out my current manuscript, took a sip of coffee, and about fell out of my chair. The barista was crossing the shop and I jumped up and flagged him down. “Hey!” I said. “What did you put in my drink?”

He stopped and looked at me tonelessly. “Sugar-free dark chocolate and salted caramel.”

“That is the best cup of coffee I’ve ever had.”

He smiled.

It’s that time of year when gratitude is emphasized, when we’re all encouraged to pause a moment and reflect on the good things, big and small. In addition to the perfect cup of coffee, here are some of the little things I’ve been grateful for of late.

Image by the Book Bunnies

This review of Murder by Milkshake from Marshmallow the book bunny

I appreciated every review of my debut YA cozy mystery on the Murder by Milkshake blog tour, but this one was something special. It’s not every day your book gets critiqued by a super cute, fluffy white rabbit who happens to love literature. Check out the Book Bunnies website for thoughtful reviews and adorable photos from well-read bunnies Marshmallow, Caramel, and Sprinkles.

Morning writing time

Now that I’m in my second year of teaching middle school, I find I don’t have to go in an hour early anymore to prepare. I’m instead using that time to write, several mornings a week, before I head out for work. That slice of morning time is a treasure to me—it’s usually only a half hour, maybe forty-five minutes, but the house is calm and quiet, my mind unburdened by the demands of the day, and it often feels I accomplish more than I could in an entire evening.

Pencils

Every freshly sharpened pencil is a new beginning. I always draft in pencil—I love the feel of the lead scratching across paper, giving voice to my otherwise silent words with that satisfying and somehow authoritative sound. There have been many alluring lines uttered in romantic comedies tailor-made for the bookish heart, but “I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils” is the one that still warms me all the way to my toes.

Comfort Reads

I wouldn’t be much of a writer if I weren’t first and foremost a reader. And although I enjoy discovering new authors and staying up-to-date on the latest fiction releases, there’s just nothing like curling up with a book I’ve already fallen in love with. My current comfort read is The Lord of the Rings, and I’m probably not too far away from a Harry Potter reread as well. It’s almost winter, after all.

A Sweet Treat for the Spooky Season

The arrival of October is always a reason to celebrate. Fall break, Halloween decorations, and candle weather make for a perfect month. But this year, there’s something extra special about October first—it’s the publication day of the second Sweet … [Continue reading]

Murder by Milkshake is Officially on Tour!

The blog tour for Murder by Milkshake has officially begun! Launching today with an interview on WOW! Women on Writing, the tour will continue through October fourth and includes a whopping twenty-four stops featuring reviews, book spotlights, and … [Continue reading]

Why the World Needs a YA Cozy Mystery Series

When I first dreamed up the Sweet Dreams series, I was so excited to have discovered a truly unique idea. YA cozy mysteries! Brilliant! I knew it would be a hard sell doing it the way I wanted, namely, keeping the books short like the young adult … [Continue reading]

Subverting Tropes in YA Fiction

Tropes are recurring character types and plot devices often specific to a genre or readership. They can be an important part of the genre’s identity and as comforting as a well-worn blanket to devoted readers. Some are non-negotiable; for example, a … [Continue reading]

Sweet Surprise: Happy Book Birthday to My Debut Cozy Mystery!

Today I am THRILLED to announce the publication of my debut cozy mystery, Murder by Milkshake! If the title seems familiar, that’s because I first published it in installments years ago on Amazon’s serialized story platform, Kindle Vella. Murder by … [Continue reading]

Read My New Essay in Five Minute Lit

My children are much older now than when I started writing motherhood essays, but the milestones continue. Here's my latest for Five Minute Lit, on navigating the spaces left behind when a child leaves home. Also, congratulations to Allie, who won … [Continue reading]

Read the Reviews for What Was Never There, and Enter the Giveaway!

The reviews are in, and I couldn't be happier at the reader response to What Was Never There! I am so appreciative of each and every reviewer who took the time to read this collection and generously write about it. Check out the highlights on … [Continue reading]

The Fourth Wall—Ten Years Later

This month marks the ten-year anniversary of The Fourth Wall. In honor of the occasion, I reread my debut novel for the first time since 2018. It was an illuminating experience—so much time had passed, it felt like I was reading someone else’s book. … [Continue reading]

Launch Interview for What Was Never There!

Image courtesy of Women on Writing I’m over at The Muffin today, where my long-time tour manager, Crystal Casavant-Otto, is kicking off the reviews tour for my short story collection, What Was Never There.  You can sign up for the Reader Review … [Continue reading]