Family Review

When the phone rang last night my heart gave a little 'thump'. Caller ID showed it was my cousin, a woman that I've always looked up to and admired. Perhaps it's a sign of my age, or more likely the aging of my family, that made my first thought "I hope nobody is sick." No, nobody was sick. My cousin was simply calling to tell me she just finished reading my novel, Signs of the South. She wanted to talk to me about it. My heart gave an even bigger thump. The thing is, I sort of expected her to say she hated it. I don't know why I expected that, but I closed my eyes and waited for the inevitable. "I loved it!" she said. "I can't wait to read the next one, because I know I'll love that, too!" Her enthusiasm and encouragement brought me to the edge of tears, and reminded me of how grateful I am for the continued support and love of my family. Family will tell you when they think you haven't done a good job, but they support you through everything because they love you. This is what makes the praise all the more meaningful. Thank you, cousin Lynne.

Signs of the South

A new job, a new home, and a ghost that won’t let her sleep until she solves a murder.

This is not what Ella Giancetti has in mind when she accepts a college teaching position and relocates. Moving from Connecticut to Virginia, Ella quickly learns of the many cultural differences separating the North from the South, from her first taste of sweet tea to the true meaning of ‘bless your heart’. Adjusting to all this while dealing with incessant phone calls from her sister Lisa and trying to figure out why someone is spray painting spiteful messages on her new house is a little overwhelming. At least there’s a handsome police officer hanging around.

When Ella wakes to find a ghost in her house she decides enough is enough. She’s going to need to find out how the ghost became a ghost if she ever wants to have a peaceful night in her new home. Unfortunately, finding out why is going to take more than a few Internet searches. Unearthing the mystery of this ghost means delving into a town’s long ago past where racial lines were sharply drawn and injustices were a way of life.

What I Will Do On My Summer Vacation

This summer, I will be...

...working on the final edits from the publisher for my debut novel, Signs of the South.

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!

The contract has been signed and we are ready to move forward. As all my friends in the writing world know, getting your first (or second, third or fifteenth) novel published is no easy feat. But I've managed to find a great publisher that I am very excited to work with that really loves what I've written.

Pulse Publishing is the traditional publishing division of Urban Echoes Entertainment, a multimedia company. The CEO, Marcus Harris, is friendly, approachable, and best summed up by the line in his bio that reads, "Marcus has become highly respected for his ability to relate universal truths that span the boundaries of race, color, creed, and gender and address the everyday lives interwoven throughout the global community." How could I not work with someone like that?

This summer we will be working on final edits, cover design, and an exciting contest that involves all of you.

More information regarding the contest and release dates will be posted as they become available.