Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts

Monday, May 22, 2023

Writing Bios for #Cat #Rescue ~ My New #Volunteer Job! #pets #adopt #adoptdontshop #cats #catlife #catsrule #love #catrescue #amwriting


My two rescue cats, Max and Jinx,
taking over my writing space
to alert me they're in need
of some treats!
I've been taking a break from writing novels, so I'm putting my creative writing energy into a cause I feel strongly about ~ pet adoption!  I found a position that is a great fit for me at Forever Fortunate Felines, through a site called Volunteer Match.  I'll be writing biographies for cats needing forever homes, and these bios feed to the FFF website as well as Petfinder and other rescue sites, along with pictures, videos, and medical info I'll be in charge of organizing and posting.


My 3 furbabies, Jinx, Max, & Otis
I'm thrilled that the bios make it to Petfinder, because I found my two cats - Max and Jinx - there, as well as a number of dogs over the years, including my current border collie mix, Otis.

Forever Fortunate Felines has rescued over 5,000 cats since its formation in 2019.  FFF rescues cats in urgent need (often from high-kill shelters) and brings them into foster care until they are healthy, socialized, and ready for adoption.  This amazing organization currently works with shelters in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky, and is a 501c3 not-for-profit that vaccinates, spays and neuters, and microchips each cat during their time in foster care. 

Please consider pet adoption, and if you'd like to learn more about Forever Fortunate Felines, click here.  There are links for volunteering and donating as well - any and all support is very much appreciated!  Each cat adopted from FFF makes room for another cat to transition from a cage in a shelter to foster care and a forever home!  




Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Two Acknowledgement Mentions! #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #amreading


Maybe a sequel to GHOST MOON will occur...
but if you haven't read Lark and Jesse's story,
and you enjoy Romantic Suspense
 and Ghost Mysteries,
I hope you'll check it out by clicking this image! 
On Audio too now!
This past month has been extra STRESSFUL (see here), but I'm excited to have hit a new milestone...twice! I received messages from two debut authors who mentioned me in their new novels' acknowledgements section.  What a fantastic honor!  One of the authors drove hours to meet me at a book signing back in 2013, and we've stayed in touch ever since.  The other was a student in one of my local writing classes, which I've been teaching for years now, having had so many people contact me to ask about the process and the industry.



With so much uncertainty and anxiety surrounding day-to-day life right now, it's a gift to have been recognized by two people who have made their dream a reality...it's no easy task!  I'm thrilled to have been a part of their writing journey.  Stay well everyone :)

Sunday, July 12, 2020

My #Author Interview at #Paranormal #Romance Guild #ghosts #supernatural #amwriting

A few months ago, I was honored to be interviewed at the Paranormal Romance Guild, right before quarantine hit and life suddenly became very different.  I'm sharing it today, and I'm thrilled to note that the pre-order I discuss in the interview, GHOST MOON, is now live...and the audiobook is coming soon!


In the interview, I delve into when I wanted to become a writer, how I came up with the idea for my debut novel, SILVER LAKE, and my experiences with ghosts (a main theme in my novels).


The Haunting of Hillwood Farm also recently won
The Reviewer's Choice Award
from Paranormal Romance Guild!
This great site reviews a lot of books, and I was so excited when my book THE HAUNTING OF HILLWOOD FARM won their 2019 Reviewer's Choice Award...such an honor!

Stop by their site and check out the entire interview here!


Friday, April 10, 2020

Choosing a #Book Title...or 7! #amwriting #writerslife #writingcommunity #amreading #FridayReads

I've been a reader my whole life, and long before I could search GoodReads or other online book recommendation sites for stories I might like (or even before those mail order clubs became a thing--I belonged to one of those for years), I spent tranquil hours walking through the stacks in libraries.  Often I would just start at the beginning--authors with the last name "A"--and go from there, taking time to linger over my favorite writers to see if there were new releases.  And then there were the titles along the spine that grabbed my attention.  Being a fan of all things spooky--especially Gothic romance (see Phyllis A. Whitney) and haunting mysteries--my heart beat a little faster when I caught sight of a book entitled Ghost Moon in the "R" section...a 2001 release by Karen Robards.  The cover was atmospheric, the blurb on the inside flap was intriguing, and the setting was one of my favorites...the bayous of Louisiana.  From what I remember, there really wasn't a ghost, or any other paranormal aspect, but there was romance, an old mystery, danger, and dark secrets...some of my favorite things in fiction.  I know I enjoyed the story, and I also remember clearly thinking that I loved the title, and my dream of someday writing a novel drifted through my mind again.  

A few years later, inspiration struck, and I had an idea!  Another year later, the complete story arc of my own Romantic Suspense/Ghost Mystery constantly played out in my imagination, and when I explained the plot to my husband, he encouraged me to start writing it.  And...I did. 


I had the premise for the novel,
the characters, the story arc, and an image
of the perfect cover...but no title
Oh, how I wanted to call it Ghost Moon.  I pictured a cover in my mind...an expanse of lake with a full moon hanging in the dark sky above.  But being completely new to the business, I thought a book title had to be unique.  I had no idea that different books often share identical titles, and that (most) book titles are not subject to copyright.

So as I was writing this reunion romance, about a group of estranged friends who reunite at a lake house in a last-ditch attempt to solve the mystery of their missing friend's disappearance, I decided on a different title:  The Lake House.  Then a hit movie with the same name came out in 2006.  (For some reason, I was sure this movie was also a Nicholas Sparks book...but in writing this post, I discovered it's not).  Anyway, that title became unavailable in my mind, and I was disappointed.  Back to the drawing board.

But I finally hit on a title I liked when I named the fictional lake where the house that played such a big part in the group's past was located...Silver Lake.  And that became the working title.  At the time, I couldn't find another book with that title on Amazon (that has changed in the 8 years since publication).

I was thrilled when the manuscript was contracted in 2011 by a publisher, and even more excited when my pub decided to kept the original title.  The eventual cover also captured the key elements I was looking for, thanks to my publisher's policy of allowing the author some input when the time for cover art arrives.  Silver Lake will always have a special place in my heart, and I do love the title.



Silver Lake went on to get acquired by a larger publisher
and became a #1 Amazon Bestseller!

I know this post is getting long--side effect of isolation--but I'll nutshell by saying that although I learned that titles are not copyrighted, I factored in an attempt to find something original in my next few books (along with a two-word theme I've stuck with aside from The Haunting of Hillwood Farm).  But as more and more books hit the market, nearly every title with just a few words gets used more than once.  



My first five books all had two-word titles:
Silver Lake ~ Gull Harbor ~ Divine Fall ~ Haunted Souls
(and Dangerous Currents, which came after this banner)

So, when I was trying to come up with a title for my seventh (!!!!) book, I returned to that love of Ghost Moon.  I checked Amazon, and there are several books now using that title.  Not so many that finding my book would be difficult for anyone looking, but enough (including some very well known authors) that made me decide it was okay for me to use it as well.  Also, it echoes that two-word theme I've had going for most of my books.

As you can see below, I went with my heart's desire.  I'm thrilled I have my own Ghost Moon now, and I wish I could tell my younger self that she'd realize that dream of writing a novel someday....seven times over.  And that eventually, she'd have a book titled Ghost Moon with her name on the cover.


And what a cover!  This might be my favorite one yet!
If you enjoy steamy romance and spooky suspense, I hope you'll give my books a try!  Thanks for coming by, stay safe, and happy reading.

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Guaranteed Happily Ever Afters! Lucky in Love #Romance #Book Fair! #amreading

Right now I think we could all use some Happily Ever After stories, and when writing Romance, that's a requirement of the genre.  I actually think this presents quite a challenge, especially to authors of Romantic Suspense like myself.  I have to work really hard to make readers fear for my characters when on some level, readers of romance know that at least the main characters will survive and be happy...if not "ever after", then at least "for now" (unless it's a series with a sequel to continue the story, but I write standalone novels). 

So in addition to vengeful ghosts, murderous villains, and other external dangers, I also throw all sorts of internal conflicts at my characters (for example, emotional obstacles or dark secrets) that they are forced to overcome.  But despite the struggle, the hero and the heroine will get their happy ending!

The Haunting of Hillwood Farm is free with a Kindle Unlimited
subscription! Also available as an audiobook

My latest ghost mystery/romantic suspense has won multiple awards, so I'm thrilled it is resonating with readers and reviewers.  If you like spooky suspense and romance, check out The Haunting of Hillwood Farm.  It's also part of the Lucky in Love Book Fair, and the link to that landing page will showcase some additional Romance novels, from sweet to steamy, in a variety of subgenres (historical, paranormal, contemporary, fantasy, etc.), and many are on sale.  Check out the fair and settle in for some HEAs!




Sunday, March 22, 2020

Trying to Keep My Sanity during #SocialDistancing #writerslife #amwriting #amblogging #fitness

As an author, I'm somewhat used to isolating myself...it's impossible to get a novel written, edited, and proofed otherwise.  But there's a very different feeling about it when the choice to go out is no longer available.  Especially since my other job--teaching classes at a gym--is often the thing that gets me away from the keyboard for a while every day.  Teaching group exercise doesn't just help keep me fit...it helps keep my mind healthy.  I teach a lot of different classes, and most involve my full concentration throughout the hour, which means I am forced to tune everything else out.  I literally cannot think about to-do lists, plot issues, or even big--sometimes devastating--problems that may be going on in my life.  If I let my mind wander, I forget to cue the intricate moves of step aerobics or lose the next part of a dance.  It's almost like therapy for me, and I always come out feeling better.  Before and after classes, I get to socialize with the members, many of whom are now good friends.  I've been teaching now for almost 30 years, and at the same gym the last 20 (!!!!), so my routine is firmly ingrained.  The longest I have taken off is a few weeks after having my kids.


Yoga by the bay last summer...
if only the sun would come out!
And now things have changed drastically, for me and our members.  I'm working hard to adjust and to do what I can to keep our fitness community active and connected.  So far what that includes is teaching classes in an empty room in front of a computer, using the Zoom app to allow members to join in remotely.  It's not ideal, but it's something.  

I do wish I was in the middle of writing a novel right now, but for me, writing a novel takes about a year, and I just finished Ghost Moon recently.  I've been kept busy proofing and line-editing, but now that I've signed off on the galley copy, it's just a waiting period until the book releases on April 15th (if you like steamy romance mixed with ghost mysteries, you can pre-order a Kindle copy now...and I have six other titles that are currently available to help keep readers entertained...my Amazon author page is here).  Usually I give myself a few months before diving back in, and I don't have an idea right now anyway...so at least I can write here on my blog, and do promotional work from home.

Speaking of promotion, I did organize an event that's coming up soon, and it might end up helping people pass time during this quarantine period.  On April 1st, I'll be sharing links to an audiobook "listen to review" event, where people can choose from over 30 titles in the Romance, Suspense, Paranormal, and Thriller categories and request a code to listen for FREE!  If you haven't tried audiobooks, now might be a good time.  I listen while I garden, fold laundry, clean, take walks, etc. - all things most of us may be doing a lot of in the next month.  This is an event through Story Origin, a free site that just requires an (also free) account to get started...find it here.  If you want to get my newsletter on April 1st with the audio promo details and link, you can sign up here or check back on my blog! 

Beyond trying to keep a fragile tether to my old schedule, I'm also trying to navigate having everyone home all day, when usually that's my time to write in solitude.  My high school son is home with no actual graded work assigned, and my college son is home for the remainder of the semester, due to begin online classes.  It's a lot of together time, but we've been taking turns selecting movies or shows to watch together.  I ordered a bunch of puzzles today, and most importantly, a puzzle board, so that our two cats can't flip the pieces from the table, which would result in the dog probably eating them.


Three adorable troublemakers...


Group texts with friends and family are a blessing...we're all trying to lighten each other's spirits daily with funny posts.  Social media is a double-edged sword--I enjoy the connection, but it's easy to get overwhelmed with the gravity of the situation and feel scared, sad, and helpless.

So, I'll gear up to release this next book, and spend time posting here.  Living on Cape Cod, there are many places to explore, and I hope to take advantage of that if the weather would just clear.  Our seasons pretty much skip spring. 

For anyone who needs some exercise inspiration, I've linked a list of my past Friday Fitness posts in the event they might help people.  In particular, Posts 1 - 3 offer suggestions on different exercises and training methods.

Links to a round-up of my fitness posts

Last but in no way least...I'm getting in more reading!  That's my favorite pastime and the reason I became a writer.  Of course, I hope readers will check out my novels, but since I'm an avid reader myself, I make an annual *completely unbiased* list of my favorite reads of the year.  Here's my list of Favorite Reads of 2019, which also links back to other years.  I read a variety of genres, so you'll find everything from nonfiction to legal thrillers to psychological suspense to horror to YA to...you get the idea.

Thanks to all who stopped by...I hope you're well.  Stay safe.  Be kind to yourself.  These are unprecedented times.  We'll get through it.


You know what else helps????  Wine!


Sunday, January 12, 2020

#Authors...Need More #Reviews? Join the Winter Games Event! #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting


Winter Games begins Feb. 1!
Consumers often rely on reviews when making purchases...I know I do!  And on retail sites, products--including novels--with more reviews usually receive the most visibility in searches.  A reader can't even consider choosing a title they've never even seen or heard of, and the book market gets more crowded by the day.  A new title gets added to Amazon approximately every five minutes.

On Amazon, the largest online retailer for e-books with 88.9% of the market (Bloomberg), only about 5 to 10% of consumers leave reviews after a purchase.  Everyone is busy, and I know even if I love a product, I often never get around to leaving a review.  (One of my resolutions is to do better with this!)

Enter Winter Games...an event that brings readers who review together with participating authors for a month-long event.  I was one of the authors in the Summer event, and I had such a great time, I wanted to spread the word to both interested authors *and* readers for this upcoming winter version.

Full details, FAQs, and sign-up forms can be found on our host's website here.  

Direct link to Author sign-up is here

Direct link to Reader sign-up is here

One important note...a Facebook account is required, even if it's not a very active account.  The events, book offerings, and communication all take place in the FB group.

And while there's no limit to reader participation, there *is* a max number of authors, so if you're interested, hurry!




Thursday, October 3, 2019

I'm Featured in Uncaged Magazine! #Paranormal #Author #Ghosts #October #Halloween #Books

As a fan of all things spooky, October is my favorite month, and I'm thrilled to be a featured paranormal author in Uncaged Reviews October magazine!  There are some great interview questions and an excerpt from my latest novel, The Haunting of Hillwood Farm.  If you're looking to celebrate the season with some ghost mysteries that will send chills up your spine--along with some steamy romance to heat you back up--I hope you'll check out my novels!  To take a look at Uncaged's October issue, click the link below...you'll find lots of fabulous authors and new reads :)  My interview begins on page 32...Happy Haunted Reading!

A few of my favorite things...fitness and presenting a big
check to Pets for Vets from the authors of Love Under Fire!




P.S. Several of my novels are now available in audio format, too, if you prefer to listen...the narrator who does my books is amazing!

This month in my newsletter, I'll be giving away some Audio codes and announcing a 99c sale on one of my most popular titles, so if you want to receive your copy, the "Subscribe to my mailing list" sign-up box is along the right side bar of this page --->



My pets made the "Authors' Pets" article too! (page 65)


Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Fiction Writing + Publication Course in #Falmouth! #amwriting #CapeCod #writingtips

I'm thrilled to be teaching a new "Fiction Writing and Publication" course this September, back at The Lawrence School in Falmouth.  For the last few years, I've taught this popular class for both Cape Cod Community College's Center for Corporate and Professional Education and for the Town of Falmouth's Community School in a number of locations, and I've met so many aspiring authors and hopefully helped them on their writing journey.  I've even read some of their finished manuscripts and visited their writing groups, which has been so rewarding.  If you're interested in writing a novel, or exploring publishing options, and you're in the Cape Cod area, consider joining us!  The press release is below, along with sign-up info and some reviews from class attendees!

Ready to Write That Novel?

A course offered this fall in Falmouth provides instruction on writing fiction and guidance on publishing options.

For many writers, a quote by Nobel Prize-Winning Author Toni Morrison summarizes the beginning of the journey: “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”  Many people dream of writing a novel, but aren’t sure how to begin.  Even once a manuscript is finished, the choices within the publishing industry seem to grow every day.  Literary agents continue to seek clients for the big publishing houses, smaller electronic presses have become a force in the new digital world, and more options than ever exist for those looking to publish independently.  Unfortunately, this type of growth has also resulted in many sites looking to take advantage of authors eager to publish and promote their work.  The entire process can become overwhelming quickly.

A five-week evening class offered by Falmouth Community School aims to offer guidance to aspiring authors.  “Fiction Writing and Publication” will be held at the Lawrence School on Tuesday evenings, September 25—October 23, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.  #1 Amazon and B&N Bestselling Author Kathryn Knight will teach the elements of successful fiction writing and outline the various options in the rapidly changing publishing industry.  Key concepts such as voice, POV, the hook, Goal-motivation-conflict, and character development will be discussed. Idea inspiration, common pitfalls, and query letters will also be covered.  Finally, avenues to publication - from self-publishing to small and digital presses to seeking agent representation - will be explored.

Lawrence School is located at 113 Lakeview Ave.  Pre-registration is required; please visit Falmouth Community School online or call 508.548.5739 to register.  Cost is $149, no materials or experience needed.







Sunday, September 9, 2018

An Interview on #Author Spotlight! Great Q+A on my wild #amwriting journey #Books

I'm honored to have been interviewed by James Moushan for an HBS Author's Spotlight on his site.  This amazing opportunity is a result of being a part of Love Under Fire, an amazing Limited Edition Romantic Suspense Box Set releasing this fall.  Twenty-one authors are contributing new, never before published stories, and we're donating 50% of our sale proceeds to Pets for Vets, a non-profit that pairs rescue pets with veteran seeking companion animals.



All 21 Love Under Fire authors are getting interviewed, with some interviews already up.  So far, we're thrilled with our marketing efforts, as the Box Set has settled in as a consistent #1 Amazon Bestseller before release, and all 21 Authors have made the Top 100 Authors of Romantic Suspense on Amazon together.  Our hope is to raise a huge amount of money for Pets for Vets by sharing our stories at a low price, and hopefully the cross-promotion will allow new readers to discover authors they may enjoy.

You can check out my interview here, and keep scrolling for the other Love Under Fire author interviews!  To support our cause AND pick up 21 new Romantic Suspense Thrillers, pre-order your copy today at only 99 cents (Limited time)!  Links below for all formats:





Win/Win - 21 new Romantic Suspense Thrillers hitting your e-reader this fall,
right in time to help escape stress during the holiday rush or relax on a snow day!

Monday, September 3, 2018

All 21 Authors of #LoveUnderFire in the Top 100 on Amazon! #RomanticSuspense #amwriting #books

This was an exciting weekend for the authors of Love Under Fire!  Our Romantic Suspense Box Set hit #1 again in several categories, thanks to all the readers pre-ordering their limited-edition copy (and helping support Pets for Vets in the process!).  This is such a great (limited-time!) deal at just 99 cents, and a fantastic cause we're supporting.  

There are 21 authors contributing to the set, and while we are all writing a Romantic Suspense/Romantic Thriller for Love Under Fire, many of us write in different genres as well.  I often include ghost mysteries in my novels, and my contribution to the box set will have that element...be sure to check back to see the cover of The Haunting of Hillwood Farm and read some exclusive excerpts!  I have one novel right now that has no paranormal elements, Dangerous Currents, and that's my only "traditional" Romantic Suspense, with the danger coming from a serial killer and the mystery hinging on both dark secrets and the psychological suspense (so far, almost all the editorial reviewers have said "I didn't see THAT coming").

With so many different types of Romantic Suspense out there, it's one of the most competitive categories.  So you can imagine how exciting it was to find out that EVERY SINGLE AUTHOR in our set was listed in Amazon's Top 100 Most Popular Romantic Suspense Authors over the weekend, all at the same time.  All 21 of us, with only 100 spots available for the current top authors according to sales.  Amazing!  I grabbed the screen shots so we could all bask in the moment a little longer, since it probably won't last forever.  

Make sure you grab your copy of Love Under Fire Limited Edition Romantic Suspense Thrillers Box Set now, so it hits your e-reader upon release this fall.  You'll get 21 NEW, never-before-published stories from WSJ, USA Today, and Amazon Bestselling Authors. and you'll help Pets for Vets, a non-profit organization that pairs rescued shelter pets with veterans in need of companion animals.  Links below for all formats!






Scroll down for some links to some of the individual blurbs and individual covers included in the set!


Stephanie Queen starts us off at 71, with
Pamela Fagan Hutchins at 72


Tamara Ferguson at 73 and Suzanne Jenkins at 74


Uvi Poznansky at 78, Alyssa Richards at 80

Inge-Lise Goss at 82 and Aaron Paul Lazar
at 84, bookending the incredible Brenda Novak


S.R. Mallery 86, Stephany Tullis 87, me at 88!

Valerie J. Clarizio at 89, Casi McLean at 90


Jinx Schwartz 91, Anna Celeste Burke 92, K.M. Hodge 93

Fiona Quinn 94, Margaret Daly 95, Linda Watkins 96


Judith Lucci 97, Chris Patchell at 98!

Want a taste of some of the stories included?  Here are the blurbs to five, along with their individual covers...16 more stories to reveal, including mine!









Get your copy and get ready for an explosion of
danger, romance, mystery, and thrills this fall!


Sunday, May 20, 2018

Fiction Writing + Publication Course #Hyannis! #CapeCod #amwriting

I'm thrilled to be teaching a new "Fiction Writing and Publication" course this June, back at Hyannis Center on Main Street in Hyannis.  For the last five years, I've taught this popular class for both Cape Cod Community College's Center for Corporate and Professional Education and for the Town of Falmouth's Community School in a number of locations, and I've met so many aspiring authors and hopefully helped them on their writing journey.  I've even read some of their finished manuscripts and visited their writing groups, which has been so rewarding.  If you're interested in writing a novel, or exploring publishing options, and you're in the Cape Cod area, consider joining us!  The press release is below:

Ready to Write That Novel?

A course offered this summer in Hyannis provides instruction on writing fiction and guidance on publishing options.

For many writers, a quote by Nobel Prize-Winning Author Toni Morrison summarizes the beginning of the journey: “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”  Many people dream of writing a novel, but aren’t sure how to begin.  Even once a manuscript is finished, the choices within the publishing industry seem to grow every day.  Literary agents continue to seek clients for the big publishing houses, smaller electronic presses have become a force in the new digital world, and more options than ever exist for those looking to publish independently.  Unfortunately, this type of growth has also resulted in many sites looking to take advantage of authors eager to publish and promote their work.  The entire process can become overwhelming quickly.

A four-week afternoon class offered by Cape Cod Community College’s Center for Corporate and Professional Education aims to offer guidance to aspiring authors.  “Fiction Writing and Publication” will be held at the Hyannis Center on Thursday afternoons, June 7—June 28, from 2:30 – 5:00 p.m.  Bestselling author and Mashpee resident Kathryn Knight will teach the elements of successful fiction writing and outline the various options in the rapidly changing publishing industry.  Key concepts such as voice, POV, the hook, Goal-motivation-conflict, and character development will be discussed. Idea inspiration, common pitfalls, and query letters will also be covered.  Finally, avenues to publication - from self-publishing to small and digital presses to seeking agent representation - will be explored.

Hyannis Center is located at 540 Main Street.  Pre-registration is required; please visit Cape Cod Community College online here (there's a "Register Now" button on the description page) or call 508.375.5010 to register.  Cost is $119, no materials or experience needed.




Thursday, May 10, 2018

An #Author Interview on USA Today #Romance Blog! #amwriting #books


Since this is one of the most exciting things to happen to me lately, I decided I need to dedicate an entire blog post to my recent author interview on USA Today's Happily Ever After Blog!  I can't say how thrilled I am to have been featured along with my new release, Dangerous Currents, a steamy second-chance romance filled with secrets and suspense.  I discuss one of the strangest things that's happened to me while researching a book...plus, there's a picture of my kitties :)  You can check out the interview here.



Since it is release week, Dangerous Currents has been featured on other sites, and a few are offering giveaways!  So if you would like to enter, you can stop by Tome Tender Book Reviews to find a Rafflecopter for a $10 Amazon gift card, or check out the New Release page of Great Books Great Deals, where you'll find a $25 Amazon gift card Rafflecopter at the bottom.  Good luck and thanks for stopping by!  And if you need a new page-turning beach read, please visit my Amazon Author Page or click on some of the above title tabs at the top of my blog for book blurbs and all retailer links...download a sample on your Kindle, Nook, iPad, or on Audible!

Treat yourself to a new beach read...or listen!

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Pre-orders are up! Steamy Second-Chance #Romance + Suspense ~ New Release #Books

My fifth novel, Dangerous Currents, is almost here!  Pre-orders are live for all formats except print, and if you order now, it will hit your Kindle/Nook/iPad on Thursday!  Dangerous Currents is a second-chance romance with plenty of suspense, but no ghosts--a bit of a departure from my other novels that involve some paranormal elements.  This release date is especially meaningful to me, because I struggled with writer's block for a while after my father was diagnosed with cancer and passed away five months later in April of 2017.  I desperately wanted to finish Malorie and Dean's story, but the emotional turmoil made it impossible to write even a single sentence for months.  So to have this novel about to finally release feels like a victory!  Check out the blurb below, as well as the cover, done by the talented author and graphic designer K.R. Conway.  And the first rating has just hit Goodreads--5 stars--I can't wait to see the review when release day hits!


No ghosts in this one, but plenty of dark secrets, danger,
and of course, steamy romance!
Grab your copy on Pre-order!


When a costly mistake ends Malorie Montgomery’s career, she returns to Cape Cod in search of a fresh start.  But her plans for a new—and quiet—life are quickly derailed when she makes a grisly discovery in the woods, and her screams bring the one person from her past she’d hoped to avoid.  Dean Slater, the ex-boyfriend who broke her heart in high school, now lives in the beachfront community that was supposed to be her haven…and he’s just as hot as he was six years ago.

With his rough background, Dean always knew he wasn’t good enough for the kind, intelligent beauty who claimed his heart, but somehow he’d believed their love was strong enough to survive anything—until the tragic night she turned her back on him when he needed her trust the most.  Despite their painful history, Dean can’t resist the instinct to protect her, especially when it becomes apparent there’s a killer in their town.


Their former chemistry soon reignites, but Malorie has long accepted that her dark family secret has destined her to a life alone.  And when she uncovers evidence that makes her the killer’s target, a deadly confrontation threatens to destroy any possibility of a second chance.

Preorder Dangerous Currents to hit your Kindle, Nook, or iPad on May 3rd!  Print paperbacks will be available in May as well.





Sunday, April 22, 2018

New Fiction Writing Class in #Falmouth! #amwriting Cape Cod

I'm thrilled to be teaching a new "Fiction Writing and Publication" course this spring, back at the Lawrence School in Falmouth.  For the last few years, I've taught this popular class for both Cape Cod Community College's Center for Corporate and Professional Education and for the Town of Falmouth's Community School in a number of locations, and I've met so many aspiring authors and hopefully helped them on their writing journey.  I've even read some of their finished manuscripts and visited their writing groups, which has been so rewarding.  If you're interested in writing a novel, or exploring publishing options, and you're in the Cape Cod area, consider joining us!  The press release is below:

Ready to Write That Novel?

A course offered this spring in Falmouth provides instruction on writing fiction and guidance on publishing options.

For many writers, a quote by Nobel Prize-Winning Author Toni Morrison summarizes the beginning of the journey: “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”  Many people dream of writing a novel, but aren’t sure how to begin.  Even once a manuscript is finished, the choices within the publishing industry seem to grow every day.  Literary agents continue to seek clients for the big publishing houses, smaller electronic presses have become a force in the new digital world, and more options than ever exist for those looking to publish independently.  Unfortunately, this type of growth has also resulted in many sites looking to take advantage of authors eager to publish and promote their work.  The entire process can become overwhelming quickly.

A five-week evening class offered by Falmouth Community School aims to offer guidance to aspiring authors.  “Fiction Writing and Publication” will be held at the Lawrence School on Tuesday evenings, May 1st - 29th, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.  Bestselling author Kathryn Knight will teach the elements of successful fiction writing and outline the various options in the rapidly changing publishing industry.  Key concepts such as voice, POV, the hook, Goal-motivation-conflict, and character development will be discussed. Idea inspiration, common pitfalls, and query letters will also be covered.  Finally, avenues to publication - from self-publishing to small and digital presses to seeking agent representation - will be explored.

Lawrence School is located at 113 Lakeview Ave.  Pre-registration is required; please visit Falmouth Community School online or call 508.548.5739 to register.  Cost is $149, no materials or experience needed.