It's Friday and it's October--but it's still hot out and I can't bring myself to make pumpkin things. So today I'm baking Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies for a family member.

Today I'm sharing the cover for my new Kingsmill Courtships novella, The Last Outlaw, that will be included in Heroes, Holidays, and Hope, a new charity anthology coming out this winter.

Fall is here which means it's time to get our pantries ready with cozy seasonal staples and emergency essentials. From soups and spices to power-outage prep, let's stock our shelves for comfort, cold weather, and peace of mind.

Who were the Sleepy Hollow Boys? Discover the young men behind Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, including Brom Bones, and how one forgotten phrase reveals a different side of this classic American ghost story.

It’s Preptober time... again! And this year I'm still writing a very rough draft of a story i've been working on for years. I'm not worried about perfection or word count, and I've included a list of basic tools to help you prep a story for its rough draft stage.

With all the extra zucchini from the garden, I'm making Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins. They are delicious and freeze really well for three months.

Thank goodness for the public domain, especially when it comes to my favorite fall stories. So grab a cup of tea and reread The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, a perfect way to welcome October.

Today I'm writing about how to use a story bible to track secrets, clues, character knowledge, reader knowledge, and important reveals throughout a novel or series.

September 29th is Michaelmas. So today I'm collecting the last of the blackberries and baking tarts!

This enemies-to-lovers anthology hs only a few days left before it leaves forever. And it includes my new Kingsmill Courtships story, Her Reckless Outlaw.

Celebrate National Key Lime Pie Day with an easy recipe for Key Lime Bars, a bright, creamy, tangy dessert that's perfect for holding onto the last flavors of summer.

Once & Nevermore is back! This anthology of romantic Camelot-inspired retellings is coming in October and is now available for preorder. Get the details, preorder link, and a first look at my Kingsmill novella.

The Fall Ember days have arrived so it's time to reread The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, make a list of fall field trips, and make a September Pie.

The Autumn Equinox marks a fleeting moment of balance between light and darkness. Today's post is a reflection on autumn, letting go, gathering in, creative rest, and following the changing season home.

Along Bohicket Creek in the South Carolina Low Country, the changing tides offer a quiet reminder that not everything follows our schedules.

Welcome to September's Book Fair! This month there are lots of free books and a few reading events to kick off the fall season.

Celebrate the old September tradition of Nutting Day with a cozy Apple Hazelnut Cake and a look at the seasonal folklore surrounding hazelnuts, apples, and the beginning of autumn.

A love letter to the cotton sundress—cool, comfortable, washable, and perfect for hot September days in South Carolina.

A September visit to the South Carolina Lowcountry, where tidal creeks, live oaks, fresh-caught shrimp, and changing light offer the first quiet hints of fall.

September is the perfect time to do a quick garden clean up and and for planting some late fall/cool weather veggies.

Unshaken is a charity romance anthology that supports Doctors Without Borders and their relief efforts after the Venezuelan earthquake.

Honey Baked Squash is one of the easiest and most delicious ways to use up all the excess yellow squash in the garden or found at the early fall farmer's markets.

County fairs, bonfires, parades, and small-town, end-of-summer traditions are a great tool in the writer's tool box. They are perfect story fuel for romance and women’s fiction novels.

Is the book always better than the movie? Usually, but not always. With Practical Magic 2 arriving in theaters, I'm looking at why some movie adaptations become even more beloved than the books that inspired them.

September is the perfect time to do a quick garden clean up and and for planting some late fall/cool weather veggies.

A Labor Day reflection on why writers need rest, how repetitive tasks can restore creativity, and why stepping away is sometimes part of the work.

It may be September, but this holiday weekend is going to be scorching hot, so I'm making Cold Blueberry Soup. It's a sweet, cold soup that's perfect for a Labor Day picnic.

Today I'm sharing an updated version of Sarah Munro's Fire Cider, a perfect remedy for winter sniffles.

The summer anthologies are almost gone, but this enemies-to-lovers anthology still has a few days left. And it includes my new Kingsmill Courtships story, Her Reckless Outlaw.

Welcome September! The first day of September brings the promise of autumn, changing gardens, cozy books, seasonal traditions, and the quiet pleasure of a fresh start.

It's cover reveal day for Unshaken, a charity romance anthology that will support Doctors Without Borders and their relief efforts after the Venezuelan earthquake.

I'm taking a short Christmas in July break to focus on writing new stories, finishing a few behind-the-scenes website projects, and preparing for an exciting fall book season. While I'm away, I'm sharing one of my favorite Christmas romance novellas as a free BookFunnel download. Grab your copy, enjoy a little holiday magic in the middle of summer, and I'll see you again in August with new books, new stories, and plenty more to share. Happy Summer!

Happy Fourth of July!

July 4th weekend is going to be scorching hot, so I'm making Watermelon Soup. It's a sweet, tangy, and cold soup that's perfect for holiday picnic.

A well-organized story bible helps authors track character arcs, themes, and continuity. But tracking romance tropes across a long series can also strengthen branding, prevent repetition, and deepen reader satisfaction.

Summer travel this year has been a wild ride, so I compiled an updated list of FEMA, NWS, Ready.gov, and other sites/links with current advice on how to stay safe on the roads this summer.

Let's prepare for and stay safe during a heatwave with this essential summer survival guide. I've included trusted government resources, safety tips, and practical advice to protect your home, health, and loved ones from extreme heat.

There's a heat dome coming for most of the country this week, so I've curated a list of new and free books and a book event to keep you inside and reading... and away from this hot weather!

It's going to be another hot weekend, so I'm keeping our meals cool and easy and tonight I'm serving my favorite Spinach Raspberry Salad.

Now that summer travel has arrived, there are new rules that may affect everything from how you pack to how you can charge your phone. It's exhausting and complicated so I've tried to organize it all here in this post.

Readers and writers often long for fictional places because those settings aren't really about geography. They're about belonging.

The found family trope remains one of romance fiction's most beloved storytelling devices because it speaks to our deepest need for belonging.

Shifting to a more reflective writing space, today I'm writing about why I’m publishing more essays on The Windswept Writer on Substack. Expect thoughtful, narrative-style posts about the writing life, creative process, and storytelling, shared weekly in a slower, more intentional rhythm.

I hope all the fathers out there have a wonderful Father's Day! Today I'm making Bourbon Burgers and Spinach Artichoke Pasta. It's an easy and delicious supper for my favorite man.

Tomorrow is the summer solstice! Enjoy the day with sun tea, watering the garden, watermelon salad, and barefoot vibes.

Story Bibles track many things, including relationships, conflicts, secrets, and emotional bonds so your characters stay consistent throughout your novel or series.

We have another graduation party this weekend, so I'm making my favorite Cheesy Green Beans. They're perfect for picnics, pot lucks, and all sorts of summer parties.

I am so excited about this enemies-to-lovers anthology and my new Kingsmill Courtships story in it, Her Reckless Outlaw. :)

Summer Heatwave is a new beach read charity anthology where all the proceeds support a Free Speech organization.

It's cover reveal day for the next volume of Heroes, Holidays, and Hope, a military-themed romance anthology. I can't wait to show you the wonderful cover for Heroes, Holidays, and Hope (Vol. 4).