An extremely rainy summer in New England has given way to a pleasant autumn along the coast of Maine. What a wonderful time for writing and reading books! Crisp leaves stir underfoot, acorns drop from oak trees on sunny afternoons, and the apple harvest at my local pick-your-own orchard has been bountiful.
Apple-peelers are handy devicesCold storage is best for applesMaking Apple Crisp
Leaves, beautiful leaves
A small maple tree spreads its delicate branches in a local forest preserve
Most of the tall oaks still haven’t lost their golden leaves, but the first light snowflakes began to fall about a week ago. Usually the first flakes strike a bit of fear into my heart, because winters are very long in Maine.
But this time I enjoyed the brief wintery spell because it set the mood for the final touches on my upcoming book, a mystery novella that’s set in December: The Ruins of Reverie.
New Book!
Did you know that central France is home to forests, rugged terrain, and geothermal hot springs? Wildcats also live there, interestingly enough.
These are just some of the fascinating features I learned while researching the area for the fourth volume of the Stonehaven Mysteries.
For any of my readers who have been mystified by the origins of the winged Cat, check out this final installment in the series!
It’s June and lupines are blooming along the coast of Maine!
Rainstorms and lingering clouds have kept us relatively free of the wildfire smoke that’s been blanketing New York and other eastern cities with a thick orange haze. Here in Maine, our summer might have been cold and gray so far, but the skies seem to be clearing up at last.
Many species of wildflowers burst into bloom this month and right now the lupines are putting on a fine show.
Wild Strawberries and Rhubarb
Most of the coastline is heavily forested here, but wherever you find a grassy field or pasture, you’ll find wild strawberries too. Rhubarb patches are common around old homesteads.
Wild strawberries are tiny, soft, fragile fruits, so collecting a large quantity of them is impractical, but these little goodies ripen at the same time as rhubarb. Just a handful can pack a burst of flavor.
Wild Strawberries ripening in my back meadow – tiny but bursting with flavor
Rhubarb stalks in a shady patch next to my barn
Easy Recipe for Rhubarb Sauce with Strawberries
You can substitute stalks of purchased rhubarb and finely diced regular strawberries in this recipe.
Fresh rhubarb (enough to make about 2 cups of diced chunks).
Fresh wild strawberries (about 1/4 cup)
Sugar to taste
Rinse fruit. Dice the rhubarb stalks. Place rhubarb chunks and whole wild strawberries in saucepan with 1/4 cup water. Cover and bring to a boil, then quickly lower to a simmer.
Continue to simmer until the fruit is tender, about 5 minutes. Rhubarb is naturally very sour, so you’ll need to sweeten up this sauce with white or brown sugar. (Start with 2 TBS and add more if desired.)
Enjoy warm or chilled.
Recently I came across a great source of recipe ideas from the Maine Cooperative Extension. Many of the recipes feature produce and other staples of Maine. Here’s the link:
When I first started working on Hidden Cove, I never realized that artificial intelligence would spread so quickly and become such a big part of our lives. This summer I’ve been thinking a lot about AI as I draft the follow-up.
As Kiri’s story continues in the sequel to Hidden Cove, she’ll have to come to grips with envy… and with the ancient menace lurking in the waters. And DreamReader’s innovate airborne device won’t be the only technological threat on the horizon.
While I’ve been drafting the sequel, I’ve given a new look to Hidden Cove with a cover that reflects its remote location and suspenseful tone.
The Cat isn’t the only strange and unpredictable element in Stonehaven’s dense evergreen forest
A dangerous and vengeful Foe is lurking in the forest…
Book 3 in the Stonehaven Mysteries is here!
I love hiking in the evergreen forests where I live on the coast of Maine, and because of that, I just had to bring Marc and Laurel back from Bar Harbor, the scene of the previous volume in the series, and send them into the dark and dangerous spruce and pine forest of Stonehaven.
They don’t have much time to enjoy the smells and sights of nature, though. Time is ticking away and the police are becoming more and more certain that Laurel herself is a hardened criminal.
The Stag returns as guardian of Stonehaven’s forest
And Marc’s been battling his own anxieties, for there’s an unseen danger lurking deep within the forest that threatens to destroy his family estate.
Of course, the winged Cat might help Marc and Laurel with their dilemmas. He’s befriended them before.
Unfortunately, he’s got other things on his mind, for an elusive feline visitor has been hiding herself somewhere in the forest.
The second novella in the Stonehaven series is here, and to celebrate its recent publication, I’ll be offering it for FREE on Amazon this week, from February 25-27, 2021.
Another cozy paranormal mystery novella set on the rugged coast of Maine…
The autumn Festival of Music is about to begin on the stately grounds of the Golden Oaks estate near Bar Harbor. But when tragedy strikes, a rumor soon spreads that there’s a vengeful killer loose in the area, someone who’s trying to murder the owners of the grand estates.
Photojournalist Laurel Bachmann has just returned to Bar Harbor unexpectedly on assignment, and she’s determined to keep her distance from Marc Chevalier, the owner of the remote and mysterious Stonehaven estate – until Marc is attacked by an unseen visitor in his own workshop.
In case you missed the first book in the series…
It’s cold and snowy outside where I live on the coast of Maine, but I’m snug and warm indoors as I continue working on my series…
For fans of Threshold of Destiny and Every Note by Heart…
The Mysterium Secret Series, Book 3 is underway
I’ve been busily plotting Book 3 in the Mysterium Secret series and I can assure you the new heroine is about to face the biggest and most alarming challenges of her life.
For instance, she will personally encounter a few things she never knew about biorhythms, body clocks, cold temperatures and the human heartbeat.
I’ve had to read up on some scientific experiments for this, and believe me, there are some surprising facts that have been discovered about certain species!
The heroine of Book 3 will also have no choice but to join forces with the intellectually arrogant and self-assured Luke Newman to counter the malicious cunning of dark spirits like the diaboli in the Unseen World.
Check out this post if you’re looking for ways to survive a long winter!
Where I live on the coast of New England, it’s getting cold, and I know there’s no better way to face the coming chill than settling down with some new books, a hot drink, and a comfortable spot to read.
New! The STONEHAVEN Mysteries, Book 1
available November 14, 2020
If you enjoy the popular “cozy mystery” genre, check out my new series of novellas! Book 1, The Gargoyle’s Secret will be available Nov. 14, 2020on Amazon
Every Note by Heart is an immersive story of danger and romance set in a perilous dual world of light and dark spirits. Read more about it here.
Cozy up with a hot drink
What do you do when it’s cold and rainy outside? Curl up with books and a hot drink such as tea, of course. In Denmark they have a name for this notion of cozy fulfillment – it’s hygge (pronounced hoo-gah).
As a new author, I’m both thrilled and nervous in these early days as my baby- – oops! I mean my book! – slowly gains reviews. Half of the time I’m polishing the second volume in the series, and the other half I’m addictively checking on the status of Threshold of Destiny or writing more requests for those reader reviews that are so helpful and even essential to launching any book these days.
What it REALLY feels like to have finished a book
The following quotation says it better than I ever could….
Here’s part of the book’s description on Amazon:
Shrouded by the mists of an Unseen World, dark spirits lie in wait for the unwary traveler, while in the Earthly Realm, only heartache seems to be in the cards.
Clever, enigmatic, and dangerous: he’s a 200-year-old English vampire with a penchant for old poetry. Sensitive and psychic: she’s working for an undercover organization. And she knows his secret.
Old myths and legends must be given their due – even in the modern age of high-tech surveillance.
Curious about the story? Want to help me launch the series?
If you’re interested in reviewing this book, I’ll provide you with a free copyin your preferred ebook format. Read the story, then leave your thoughts in an honest review on Amazon or Goodreads.
Diversity in Fiction: We’re badly in need of more good Clean Reads
Writing clean romance in today’s world – not easy, but worth it
These days, it seems like everything that was once shocking now routinely appears in the pages of fiction but – no surprise! – it’s not that shocking anymore. The old forbidden fruit seems worn-out and obviously commercial, now.
Needed: good stories. Diversity in characters. New and engaging viewpoints.
It can be hard to write romances that are different when so many other novels, novelettes and novellas follow the current fads or take advantage of lucrative trends.
But – in my opinion – since writing a novel takes so much time and personal effort – why use a cookie-cutter? Better to craft something by hand and make it unique. Bonus: more choices for readers.
Whether you’re actively seeking clean romance, or you’re browsing through a range of heat levels in search of a good read, you’ll find plenty of romance in this series.
If you’d like to keep in touch, sign up for my Newsletter below:
Gandalf struggles with self-isolation during a recent Pandemic in Middle Earth
Staying home during the Coronavirus epidemic is a sudden and unexpected challenge for all of us. Maybe we can learn a thing or two from the Hobbits, those lovers of coziness, safety and the Simple Life.
Staying Home and Making Everything Cozy and Comfortable
It’s time to think like a Hobbit: Make your home cozy with books, candles, and natural light
Do Hobbits have any unpleasant reminders of tasks and chores around their homes? No. They wouldn’t dream of it!
Maybe we should take a hint from them and put away our bills and busywork and modern day distractions somewhere out of sight. Then we can schedule one time each day to deal with them.
The rest of the time, let’s revel in the slower pace. Let’s make our homes comfortable havens that make us feel good.
One good thing about staying home and self-isolating during the Coronavirus pandemic: none of us needs to worry about impressing anybody with our housekeeping or decorating!
Bring Lots of Handcrafted Items into Your Daily Routine
Here I’m enjoying some chai tea in a pottery mug that was crafted by one of my daughters
Hobbits lived in a pre-industrial age – no factories, no big business. Everything handmade.
Handmade items have such a warm and personal touch. They’re not perfect in all the little details…
… but that’s exactly what makes them feel just right in some deeper way.
Around my home I have lots of yarn for knitting, felted critters like these friendly squirrels and some large pottery mugs that are perfect for soups and stews
Write Your own Record of Surviving the Pandemic, Hobbit-style
Courage can be found in unlikely places.
JRR Tolkein, The Lord of the Rings.
Why not make your own personal Record of Survival? Maybe you’ve seen some courage in unlikely people, places, or even yourself.
Pour out your thoughts while you’re staying home for the pandemic. What a wonderful antidote to the influx of media from around the globe!
Handmade Journals
As long as you’re writing, why not use something handmade? Try out one of the 35 handmade journals at this cool site. 35 DIY Journals for You to Make
Hobbits and the Art of Staying Home: time for reading and writing
More time to read? Maybe staying home is a cloud with a silver lining
More CHOICES for readers? Find out what some readers are saying about the state of the romance novel in my post: The Devil’s Advice
Hmmm… I think I’ll take a break and pour myself some homemade Kombucha
I always feel mentally refreshed after drinking my homemade Kombucha. Why not try making this popular health brew yourself?
Its stimulating effect must come from something other than it’s caffeine content, for the small amount in Kombucha is not enough to make me jittery. That makes it a great choice for those times of day when (sadly) coffee would be too much for me. Way too much. And while I’m working on the publication details of my upcoming novel, Threshold of Destiny, anything that gives me a mental boost is more than welcome.
If you haven’t tried Kombucha yet, I can testify that it’s delicious, fizzy and full of healthy probiotics. It’s also simple to make your own at home.
Good news for the waistline:Kombucha is LOWER IN CALORIES than soda and many other drinks. If you follow a standard recipe, your brew will have around 48 calories per 8 0z serving.
The Strange Mushroom Does All the Work
A very strange-looking but perfectly benign pad called a “mushroom” (or Scoby) floats at the top of a jar of sweetened black tea. This floating pad does the job of fermenting the tea into Kombucha.
The Kombucha mushroom looks outlandish as it floats at the top of a brewing jar, but it works.
Supplies for Making Homemade Kombucha
You’ll need black tea leaves or bags, white sugar and a Kombucha mushroom.
You’ll need a gallon glass jar, black tea, white sugar and a Kombucha mushroom, along with a piece of fabric and rubber band to cover the jar
I ordered my “mushroom” online from Poseymom and I’ve been happily brewing with it for 3 years now.
As for the gallon glass jar, you can order one from many sites online, or you can use this thrifty tip I came across – Walmart carries a brand of dill pickles in an identical large gallon jar for about $5. Buy one of these jars, store the pickles in another container in your fridge, and “repurpose” the jar for Kombucha. I tried this tip myself and it worked.
Money-saving bonus: you’ll be able to reuse your “mushroom” and jar for all your batches. Set up your supplies and start production!
Have Fun with Your Kombucha: Try Some Flavor Infusions
My family loves Kombucha as much as I do, especially when I
bottle it for a second ferment. Sometimes I add a small amount of grape or
apple juice at this point, or an infusion of fresh ginger root.
Want to know more about fermenting and infusing?
All the Steps and More are Explained in This Great Resource
Instructions on making Kombucha are easy to find on the Internet. I personally got started with the tips that came with the mushroom I ordered online from Posymom.
A super-helpful book with a good chapter on Kombucha
Here’s a great book I eventually bought and can heartily recommend: True Brews by Emma Christiansen. In it you’ll find all you need to know about making Kombucha, adding flavors, doing a second ferment, etc. The author is both experienced and witty.
Stones of Stenness in the Orkneys, Scotland’s prehistoric wonderland (image: britainexpress)
I’m always on the lookout for mysterious places around the world as I work on my upcoming 4-book series. Why place a dramatic scene on a bland, everyday street corner when you can find inspiration from one of the world’s many ancient ruins, remote landscapes and historic cities?
So when I came across some accounts
of an amazing cluster of Neolithic sites on the main isle of Orkney in northern
Scotland, I sat up and started to dig deeper. Here’s what I learned about this
fascinating part of the world.
Still standing after 5000 years, these huge stones are the survivors of an Orkney henge (image: cc)
These are the Standing Stones of Stenness… tall,
thin megaliths that shoot up from the ground like an array of giant stone
spears.
Erected some 5000 years ago, the site is older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Egypt. Only four of these huge stones remain, but clues within the landscape reveal that they were once part of a larger circle and henge.
Three other fascinating Stone Age sites lie nearby, and together with the Stenness Stones they form a World Heritage Site, The Heart of Neolithic Orkney
Ancient Stone Circles Abound in This Region
A nearby site: The Ring of Brodgar – a spectacular Stone Age circle, third largest in Britain (image:cc)
Nearby there’s another Stone Age circle, the Ring of Brodgar. (I love these names.) Why were so many ancient sites built close to each other on the island of Orkney? It’s another one of those mysteries that captures our imagination.
In the long-ago past, 60 stones stood around the perimeter of the Ring. Now only 36 stones remain, but they give ample testimony to the impressive nature of the site.
Framed by a huge circular ditch that was carved by stone-age peoples from solid sandstone bedrock (how did they do it?), these stones were erected perhaps 500-1000 years after the Stenness Stones, but a firm date is still pending as archeologists continue to investigate the matter.
What a setting! The Ring of Brodgar lies between two lochs, with the blueness of sea and sky all around (image: cc)
The Winter Solstice: a Special Time for this Ancient Tomb
The famous Maeshowe chambered tomb, constructed by Neolithic peoples thousands of year ago
This is Maeshowe, an amazing chambered tomb that was carefully aligned by its ancient builders so that a shaft of sunlight may enter the small entrance at sunset on the winter solstice and shine deep within the tomb.
The interior of the Maeshowe chambered tomb
Was the shaft of solstice light meant to fall on the body buried within the tomb – a chieftain, perhaps? It makes me wonder if the ancient builders believed in an afterlife of the spirit.
Ancient Mysteries of Village Life Exposed by a Storm
Stone Age Skara Brae
Here’s the fourth site, just as amazing as the others: the miraculously preserved village of Skara Brae.
When a storm washed away some dunes in 1850, the stone foundations of a long-buried Neolithic village were exposed to view, showing beds, fireplaces and shelves. It’s an archaeological wonder, giving insight into daily life of Stone Age island-dwellers 5000 years ago.
It’s not hard to imagine living here. With a warm fire, it’d be almost cozy!
And Now for Some Local Lore: The Story of the Odin Stone
The Viking God of War
From my April newsletter…
Until about two hundred years ago, a large, lumpy
megalith known as the Odin Stone stood
in a field just north of the Stenness Stones.
Interestingly, the Odin
Stone was pierced through with a hole.
Because of the hole, it’s not surprising that it
featured in various rituals of recent centuries. For instance, it’s said that couples
used to hold hands through the hole to plight their troth.
Note to self – good idea for a scene in a paranormal romance novel
But if Odin himself had any connection to this stone,
the Viking god of war must have been really mad in 1814.
That’s when a local landowner had the Odin Stone smashed to prevent further trespassing on his land.
Not to be toyed with
I can’t help wondering – with a bit of a shudder- what
happened to the landowner. Did he live to regret his decision?
Note to self – good idea for a reckless hero or heartless villain
My very own ancient stone circle
Can’t afford an overseas trip at the moment? No problem, when
you’re a writer!
Inspired by Britain’s stone-age circles, I decided to send my
characters into danger at a fictional stone circle in Somerset England, not far
from the real-life city of Bath.
The Devil’s Dance appears near the end of my novel, Threshold of Destiny
When my protagonists in Threshold of Destiny arrive at The Devil’s Dance, they know that a number of enemies – both human and vampire – are already present within the shadows.
But no one, friend or foe, can see the malevolent being from
another world who’s also there, waiting
inside the circle that night.
Is It Spring Yet? Living and Writing in New England
It’s April – and it’s snowing again in my New England meadow
The Calendar Says It’s Spring
I can hear the sounds of spring. Birds are chirping and warbling somewhere outside. But what I see is SNOW.
Yes – it’s snowing again! And there are still no leaves on the trees.
This is New England, where it snows even in April. At least the snow melts quickly in this season. On the other hand, when the snow melts there’s LOTS of mud.
The snow melts quickly in April! Downside: then there’s LOTS of mud!
Do I Have Any Choice in Footwear?
The other day I chanced to be in a store where I saw some good-looking footwear on sale. To buy or not to buy? The styles were attractive and the sale prices were tempting. For a moment I wavered – and then I remembered all the mud.
There’s only one real choice in footwear in this season
My practical pair of boots can handle all the mud around these parts. Not very fashionable, but they do the job.
Evergreens and Pink Skies
Without any spring flowers or new leaves there’s not much color. But there’s still some – the needles of evergreens provide a muted green and the sky is often pink with color at sunrise and sunset. Do you like the smell of evergreens? Their scent is supposed to be especially energizing. If you’d like to try an aromatherapy essential oil, check out this link to the folks at PlantTherapy. They carry a wide range of oils including spruce and balsam fir. I’ve used their spruce and fir holiday blend and can vouch for an authentic scent.
Color, fabulous color! The trees don’t have any leaves, but the eastern sky can be a luminous pink at sunrise
More plusses to counter the mud: Around here, the air is always fresh. Your drinking water comes from a well that pumps from a subterranean reserve under your own property.
The coast of New England is also a quiet place to write and think. It’s far away from traffic and the bustle of cities. OK, so the internet’s a little sketchy here – I don’t have any internet service at home, in fact. But that makes it easy to spend time imagining story dialogues and scenes.
Or to imagine the coming of spring leaves and flowers at last!
