Did I get your attention with that title? It's not my last post...it's just my last post for summer as we walk into the brrrrrr months next week. What better way to kick it off than with a full moon and eclipse last night? Did anyone see it? Or were you like me and comfortably asleep by that time? Some of the pictures I've seen are absolutely magnificent. This morning, I was not just awakened by Kyle to rooster crowing at my window, I heard something that is the sure-fire sig

As an indie author who is part owner of an independent bookstore, I realized something today. The "IF ONLY" list is an endless one! I'm curious how many others have this endless list of "if only" in the back of their minds. I know that I tell myself if only at least a dozen times a day, if not more. If only I could concentrate on one book at a time is my biggest if only problem, right now. Every time I get an idea, I have to run right over to my laptop and write the first cou

Indiana has been hit with a deluge of rain over the last few days. We have significant and catastrophic flooding going on in some of our towns around and along the White River. I don't think we've seen a full day of sunshine for over two weeks now. This is not normal for us. And it has been devastating. Our bookstore has decided to donate half of our sales from our Stories from the Orchard to the recovery efforts, so if you would like to help those who have lost their homes a

Today is yard sale day. The day when I hope all the clutter and unused things find new homes. This is so my lovely daughters aren't stuck with a houseful of stuff to clear out when I find my way to the gates of heaven where I can really get some peace. Right now, it's sunny and I'm praying that we don't get the "light showers" the weather lady mentioned on the radio last night. Next week, I am going to be flying to Phoenix with my beautiful sister-in-law to visit my other bea

I did manage to get another blog post in this month. Even though it is the last day of the month. In my defense, I have been diligently working on writing books instead of blog posts. How about I talk about that instead of defending myself? Imbolc is coming along really well. Set in Las Vegas, our heroine has inherited the voice of an angel and the magick of a witch. How many people will fall under her spell before she realizes what she is doing? You'll have to read and find

I was so stinking busy yesterday working at my part-time job that when I got home, all I wanted to do was sit in my recliner and catch my breath. Eat some food. Put the chickens and ducks up for the night. Listen to the thunderstorm roll through. Watch the drama queen find a hidey hole to get away from the thunder and the explosion of fireworks. Then wrap it all up with catching the final hour of the celebration in Washington D.C. In the midst, I missed posting my thoughts ab

It's been quite a while since I have been on here. Life has been very busy with the opening of the new bookstore, getting the garden planted for the summer, opening the pool and hot tub...and of course...writing. I'll start with the writing part...Reprisal which is book 5 of my vigilante vampire series set in New Orleans was sent to the editor night before last. The official release date is June 30th, but I am looking for ARC readers if they can make the commitment to get the

I finally got the time to sit down and work on my blog today. Finally. Our grand opening event was very successful on Independent Bookstore Day last Saturday! We couldn't have done it without our family jumping in with both feet and both hands and helping us bring it to reality. So, a very heartfelt thank you to all of them. Quite frankly, I'm still recovering from the event. We went non-stop for several days leading up to last Saturday so I haven't gotten a whole lot of anyt

Springtime...what can I say? So much is going on in my world these days and I'm afraid I've neglected everyone who watches for my blogs. We are counting down the last few days to our bookstore grand opening event. This Saturday, April 25th, is Independent Bookstore Day and we will be celebrating for three whole days! Thursday is the day people can bring a used book and exchange it for one of the select used books on our shelves. Friday is dress like your favorite author or bo

Our minds never shut off. It's the truth. Once one light bulb goes off, a bolt of lightning hits the ground with the power of a nuclear bomb. Other times, it's just a soft whisper on the breeze saying, "tell my story". I kid you not. It doesn't end there, either. We have a bottomless pit of curiosity that needs to be filled. Constantly, we are going down a rabbit hole, and a squirrel pops out and has us climbing a tree hunting for nuts. Sometimes, they are walnuts and sometim

Here in Indiana, we are suffering from Mother Nature who is off her meds. We have had everything from 70 degrees and sunny to buckets of rain to today's 85MPH wind gusts. The big goats got trapped in the back pasture when the wind blew the gate closed while the babies were all by themselves in the front. There's a calf hut laying on its side in the yard and awe came home to the hens all running loose because their gate blew open. I have insulation board from who knows where i

Now I'm hearing the tune in my head...seriously, though, I haven't posted for quite a while because I have been so busy with the bookstore, writing, planning the garden, spring cleaning and spending time with two of my brothers and my beautiful sisters in law in Arizona. Now, I'm back in Indiana and sort of missing the 85-degree sunshine and the flowers that are in full bloom out there. Nobody told me I'd be busier in retirement than I was while working full time. The differe

We did it! We opened the bookstore yesterday and were absolutely thrilled with the outcome!! The Bookworm Orchard Books and Gifts is off and running! Even though it's a soft opening with limited hours, we are gearing up for our GRAND OPENING EVENT on April 25, 2026 with over 25 authors coming onsite to talk about and sign their books for all you readers out there!! You can find everything you need to find us on our website bookwormorchard.com Next on our agenda is our very fi

Nine inches of the white stuff and it's still coming down. Honestly, it is really pretty outside, and we are all inside with a fire going in the stove and our little electric throw blankets across our laps and legs. I have scalloped potatoes and ham in the oven as a nice comfort meal for this afternoon's meal. Just a normal Hoosier winter storm. The dogs are vying for my attention...or else they are trying to see who can snag a piece of heated blanket. The little dog won out

Happy snowy Thursday from rural Indiana!! I am on day four of my retirement from my former HR career and am finding so much to do! With the bookstore coming along, four works in progress, planning for the garden and farm stand, my spiritual/mediumship business and catching up on household projects...I am super busy!! In my last blog, I believe I promised a sneak peek into what I am working on...well...I'm going to give you a bonus today and share two different book excerpts..

It's a sunny winter day here in Indiana...key words...winter and Indiana. Whereas the sunshine coming in the window is cheery and warm, I'm still wrapped up in my thick sweats, socks and a blanket as I sit here and write this week's blog. So, many of you may already know this...but I have a dog who I have nicknamed Queen Kate of the Starving Dog Clan. She either has her mealtimes mixed up, or she just doesn't adhere to mealtimes. This morning, that mealtime came at 3:00 am ES

Good morning, all you wonderful book lovers!! Welcome to 2026!! I don't do resolutions. I do goals. Goals that are reasonable and achievable. Why start the year off saying you are going to do all these resolutions when you know half of them will be forgotten by February 1st. 2026 is going to be an exciting year for me! Me and my two partners in crime and books are going to pick up the keys to our new shop today. Our dream is becoming a reality! The Bookworm Orchard will be co

It's Christmas Eve and I just wanted to take a few minutes to thank everyone who has taken the time to stop by and read my blog, visit with me at signing events over the last year, and read my books. But most of all, I want to send out waves of gratitude for my family who have been supportive through my ups and downs as a self-published author. Without their support and encouragement, the first book would have never happened. This holiday season is a time to cherish all the m

My kitchen has officially been turned into Santa's workshop, and it will likely remain that way for the foreseeable future. I think the Yuletide season unleashes my creative spirit. Or maybe it's all the awesome ideas I've seen on TikTok for making it a homemade holiday. Yesterday, it was baking. Several loaves of banana bread and cranberry bread. This evening, I think I'm going to give making candied orange slices a try. I'm also on the hunt for some good diabetic friendly b

We got hit with our first substantial snow yesterday here in Indiana. It snowed almost all day yesterday then the wind hit us last night. None of the farm animals were out this morning, and even the yard rooster was tucked away in the calf hut outside my bedroom window where he didn't miss his morning crowing. Kate, the Queen of the Starving Dog Clan managed to sleep in until 7:00 am which is unusual for her since she usually starts her bellowing around 3:30 am. I'll be grate