Hello, Autumn!

Hello, Autumn!

Are you like me? Having a hard time believing it is already September? But what a year it has been up until now! And, even though time has almost slowed down to a standstill, at the same time, it feels as though the days and months have flown by.

Go figure...

All and all, it has been quite a change for all of us.

But I like to think things can only get better. Seriously, how could it get much worse, right?

But I bring you tidings of great news! September's Moonlight Serenade, the 7th book of the season - yes, the 7th - is now available!

I love the cover Tracey and I collaborated on. It turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. When you spend so much time with your main characters as you write, you begin to picture them in your mind. And this is how I envisioned both Darcey and Jason.

Amazon - paperback and ebook

https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B0798SF1WG?

Universal Book link - both paperback and ebook

https://www.draft2digital.com/book/609150

I had started on this book sometime back in January. Just minding my own business... a story in mind, writing away and things going pretty well, pretty normal. But then our world as we know it went crazy. Leaving all of us in some kind of limbo.

You'd think with all the extra time available and tucked away in the house, this would be the perfect scenario for a writer, right?

Wrong...

I think this was because like everyone else, I was suddenly so focused on not only what was happening everywhere around us but also worrying about what this meant for the future. I certainly didn't have that romance/happy ending vibe going on inside. And I definitely didn't want to carry any doom and gloom over into the book.

So, it was touch and go for a while. I was all over the place, chapters started with nowhere to go and not a clue of how to tie them all together.

But eventually, as I've found in my past writing, everything began to flow into place and September's Moonlight Surrender was born.

A little secret here... I almost broke down and changed the month to October, if only to gain more time, but since I already had a storyline tucked in the back of my mind for that month, I held strong.

In the end, I do believe the book - beginning with the chemistry between Jason and Darcey, their storyline, and my style of writing - is the best I've done so far. Maybe it takes seven books to have this happen? Or maybe I actually wrote it in the right place and at the right time.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading Darcey and Jason's story. It's a sweet one.

And of course, always with the promise of a happy ending.

Also, for those of you who may not have seen this, I'd like to share. The cover of - An Unexpected June - came in third place in a British sponsored book cover contest! I'm thrilled because I really like my cover designer, Tracey of Soxsational Covers. She is located in Australia, which can be a little bit of a hassle at times with the fourteen-hour time difference. But we make it work. After seven covers, we sort of get each other.

Take care and as always, happy reading!

Linda

Any writers out there? If so, please feel free to contact me or leave comments. I'd love to hear how you're doing.

And to everyone else? This invitation goes out to you, too!

An Unexpected June...

https://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-June-Twelve-Months-Stories/dp/0960031189

Hi!

I'm back! I know it's been a long time, but is it just me, or is time flying by? Mid-July? How did this happen?

But I guess I've been sort of busy... finishing up Book #5. And, I did it. It's finished. Done. Hasta la vista, baby!!

Be honest here... don't you just love the cover? If you've already read the book, you have to agree it fits the story to a tee.

But don't worry, it's not the end. I am working on Book #6 as I write this.

I think you may become hooked on this series after you read An Unexpected June. Why? Because I have definitely left you hanging with this latest installment in the series. I'm just sayin'... you're really going to want me to hurry up and finish #6 so that you can find out what was only hinted at in #5.

I have to confide in you... when I was about halfway through An Unexpected June, my mind just quit on me. I can't tell you how many times I sat in front of the computer, staring at the screen, writing absolutely nothing. I got to the point that I didn't know if I was going to be able to finish the book.

I know, sad, huh?

But then, on one of those sitting-there-writing-nothing-and-wondering-why-I-ever-started-this-in-the-first-place kind of days, I decided to go against the rules and write the ending. This was because I had already decided how I wanted the book to end. I could see it all in my mind, the words just waiting to be written.

If you read all of the advice and rules about writing a book, they (here's that infamous 'they' again) tell you to come up with a plan. Outline the book from beginning to end.. Line up your cast of characters, decide when they will become a part of the story, set up a plan of how the story is going to unfold and then finally, come in with the ending. All in this order.

Ha... seriously? Do people really do this? I'm told they do.

Well, I can't. My mind doesn't work this way. I skip from chapter to chapter - an idea comes in my head and I start writing. Because I've found, even if I write it down, when I come back to what I've written, I've lost all of the little details.

For those of you who aren't aware, I'm also an artist. I paint my original designs on glass Christmas ornaments. In fact, I have been designing and selling Christmas ornaments for almost forty years. I've worked with all kinds of materials - fabric, wood, polymer clay and so on. About ten years ago, I began to feel like a machine, making the same ornament over and over. Turning them out assembly line style. So, I started painting on glass, each design whatever popped up in my mind. No exact duplicates and I don't do special orders.

I've found by doing this, I've become more creative. And this is how I go about my writing. Whatever and whenever something pops up in my mind, it goes right down on paper (or should I say, the computer screen). A little crazy, I know. But it works for me.

Now... back to book #5 - for those of you who read it, what did you think? I really like how this book turned out. I think the story is starting to come together. The characters are all turning out to be the best of friends, developing into the type of friendships that will last a lifetime. Let's just say everyone is watching out for everyone else, it's a small town kind of atmosphere.

Not that Cleveland can be classified as a small town kind of place. But it really does give off those vibes. Maybe this is the Midwest influence. And they really do have the best fans when it comes to their hometown teams, no matter what sport it is. This is why I've brought baseball into the mix.

My hope is you were feeling a little sad when you came to the end of the book. Only because you didn't want it to end.

Here are a couple of quotes from An Unexpected June ~

If you have any comments, questions, etc. etc. please, please do. Also, if you have any spare time and you're just hanging around, looking for something to do, you can also go over to FB and check out my author page @lbjoyceauthor or my ornaments/Christmas page @LBGlitterGirl

If you've made it this far, thanks for reading, and have a great week!

Linda

Cinderelly, Cinderelly...do you have time for love?

Hi!

For those of you who are devoted fans of the Hallmark Movie Channel, have you noticed a reoccurring theme in their movies over the past few years?

These women are not just sitting at home, twiddling their thumbs while they wait for their Prince Charming. Oh no... they are out there, ready to save the world.

Nope... they are are there, everywhere... getting their degree, holding top positions in major

companies and solving even the most complex small town problems with their brilliant ideas.

And what about the man they fall in love with? They seem to have drifted off in a whole new direction A good number of them appeared to have left their high profile jobs and the corporate world, to instead settle in a small town. Where they have become the town handyman or maybe carving nutcrackers in their little workshop in the barn out back.

Okay, okay... this is a bit of an exaggerating on my part. Some do have rewarding careers. But, really? And a little shout out to Hallmark, if you're going go nation-wide, selling these nutcrackers for hundreds of dollars, at least make them look like they're worth the cost. (Maybe as an artist, I'm one of the few who noticed this, but come on... those nutcrackers looked like a first grader painted them.)

I'm glad Hallmark is showing women as independent and successful. Because it's obvious someone needs to know what they're doing when, say, the Inn is on the verge of going out of business because of a bad cash flow... the festival has to go on, even if the sleigh or Santa is nowhere to be found... or the local restaurant, cookie factory or the whole town is about to be taken over by a huge conglomerate, who doesn't give a you know what about the town. Evidently, it's all about money.

Sigh... and unfortunately, in the real world, it sometimes feels this way.

But in Hallmark land? Everyone is happy. Love is in the air. Smiles, too. Which is a good thing.

And this is why we love Hallmark. For an hour and a half, or however long each movie is after commercials, we can pretend there really is such a perfect little town. Where everyone lives in harmony, always ready to help when a problem arises. And of course, there is an abundance of love floating around, where you know the ending is a perfect love story to boot..

Just out of curiosity, I wonder if Hallmark has ever considered making a movie here in my home town of Chagrin Falls, Ohio? It would be the perfect festival type of town.

Until next time, take care!

Linda

P.S. Is anyone else out there wondering what's going to happen to the popular Hallmark series, When Calls the Heart? What changes Hallmark will be making? It will be interesting to see what they will decide to do.