2013 - A year of good times!

Hello everyone,

It has been a while since I've posted, but with good reason. My husband and I have embarked on a year (2013) of travel. We have a trip planned for every month this year. It seems we hardly unpack our suitcase until it is time to leave again. We are loving it!

I have to admit that writing had slowed considerably but during the past few months I've been flooded with wonderful ideas for new manuscripts. I pencil down the idea, throw it in my purse and continue on with my day. Once the whirlwind of travel is done, I will put words and plots to the ideas.

I dropped by to put up two new cover art pictures. One Too Many is set to release in March. The story is a part of a series of Aphordite's Island. Hot Pants should release in August. It is part of a series called dark heroes.

Thanks so much for stopping by...

Sinful cover art

I'm attaching a copy of the cover art for my new book Sinful. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. Sinful is a story that's well off the beaten path. The lead character is a traveling merchandiser following the US miliatry airshows. Things get complicated when she makes friends with a group of F-18 maintainers. One wants her in his bed, but she's warned that he's a player. Another she finds irresistable but he's taken.....boy, it all sounds simple doesn't it? It is far from simple....it weaves into a complicated triangle of lust that will leave you gritting your teeth, wiping sweat and stomping your foot.

Sins and Secrets - coming soon

For the past few weeks my editor and I have been working on a title for a manuscript recently contracted by Carnal Passions. Finally after what seemed like an eternity Patricia, my editor, came up with a title that fit the bill. Sins and Secrets tells everything about the story, while giving no hit as to what the sins and secrets might be.

With the recent release of Honorable Lies, I can now focus on the task of edits for Sins and Secrets. Then, I must get back into the writer's seat and finish a few more projects. The problem is: Mystery or Erotica?

Sometimes life is so funny

I had to log on and tell everyone about something odd that happened to me yesterday afternoon. I was in a local grocery picking up a few things for dinner when I saw a girl I'd gone to grammar and high school with. The woman, who grew up just down the road from me, was never friendly in school and she wasn't any different now it seemed. She was standing in a lengthy check-out line with one of her friends. By the looks of their basket, they were planning a cook-out. Anyway, her friend was holding a tablet (maybe a nook or kindle) and both were reading something. I thought little of it and stood there as she looked back at me ever so often to seemingly assert her belittling stare.

One minute turned to two and so on. Finally as the duo pushed their buggy to the register the clerk says, "I read on my Kindle all the time. What book are you reading?"

"Summer Rain," came the reply.

I swallowed hard and battled the rush of heat that shot through my body. It appeared that they were reading my book.

"Never heard of it," the clerk said. "Who is the author?"

"Arlene Knowell."

I pressed my lips together and looked at the floor to cloak my smile. The woman who wouldn't speak to me in line was reading a book I'd written. Talk about poetic justice!

The clerk shifted her mouth as she reached for the next item. "Is it romance?"

"Yes," the friend said with smile.

"I mostly read horror."

"You should read this, it's an edge of your seat book."

The conversation continued on as the trio talked about Arlene Knowell's books. Little did they know that Arlene Knowell was the woman behind them in line.

The moral of this story is: Chose your actions and words wisely....I've always heard that one might be entertaining angels...in this case it wasn't an angel, but someday when she figures it out, it will serve up the same kick in the pants!

Sometimes you just have to take a break!

A few weeks ago I found myself burned out and frustrated. I'd sit down at the computer to continue writing on one of several stories I have in progress and it just wouldn't come. Well, being honest, the words were coming but I just wasn't interested in typing them. I decided that the best thing for me was to step away from the work and take a little break.

Having been in this situation a few times before I knew that a well deserved break would save a lot of grief later. So, for almost a month I didn't work on any of my stories....it was a brilliant move. Last week I started thinking about my stories and the turns they'd already taken and the ones they still needed to take. Last night I officially sat down at my desk again and put my fingers to the keyboard. The words came...they weren't forced....and I feel revived.

Finally, after getting back on track, I took a long look at my "working stories" folder and realized that I'd been due a break for quite some time. I have twelve stories in the works...none I've been anxious to finish. Now, I'm back to the grind stone, with a new mindset, ready to get those stories finished, polished and sent to my publisher.

So, if you ever find yourself in a situation that your desire and drive are gone...perhaps you too need a break. Don't get me wrong, a month off could have been a costly move, but I think it was the right thing to do. We aren't those invincible characters in books, we're real live people who can't write in a happy ending once things get screwed up. We aren't perfect, at least I'm not, and it isn't fair to expect one's self to perform like a computer day in and day out. Sometimes, we need a little down time.

HONORABLE LIES - Cover art released

Today I received a copy of the cover art for Honorable Lies; I really like it. This is one of my favorite story lines...it has a very "real" feel about it. Who hasn't been a relationship and learned that your past is about to bite you on the ass? Such is the case in this story. Joseph Hill has honorable intentions but things just don't work out for him.

WEBSITE NIGHTMARE!!!

I want to thank you for stopping by. As you've probably noticed I'm having major website problems. I am in the process of swapping providers and it appears there is going to be a gap in which my main page will be out of commission. Sorry about that. I will be back up and running in a couple of weeks.