I was super excited to see a full page review of my books in the local newspaper just before Christmas. That was a huge bucket list checkmark. I really hope others read the review and were inspired to try a new author. I’m terrible at marketing, but I’m trying to put myself out there more. If no one knows about my books, they definitely won’t buy them. As an introvert, telling people about my books is the hardest part! My…
I am so excited to finally announce that my debut novel, Turbulent River, is available for purchase from all major ebook retailers. It has been a long process, but my book has been released out into the world. I hope it will be able to fly. If you’ve been following along on my journey, you’ll notice my book has a different cover. There were some issues with the previous cover, so I had a whole new one made and I…
I am so excited to reveal the cover to my debut novel, Turbulent River, and the book sales description. What do you think? Four women. The Canadian wilderness. A fight for survival. Landscaper and outdoor enthusiast Bristol Emerson is navigating the rough waters of being a single woman and re-establishing her life, post divorce. Deciding that a peaceful excursion into nature with her girls is exactly what she needs to lighten her heavy heart. She convinces her best friend and…
My website has been neglected for the last few months because I was super busy planning our wedding. Frank and I were supposed to get married in the summer of 2020 but we, like many of others had to postpone because of the pandemic. We pushed it off a few months at a time until we decided on July 2021. Originally, we had over a hundred people invited, but the rules in Quebec changed every time we turned around. It…
This past weekend we did many fun outdoor adventures with our kids. Saturday, my fiancé and I took them kayaking. We rented two double kayaks and two singles. Our ten- and eleven-year-olds got their own kayaks to try for the first time, and our youngest went with each of us in the doubles. We set off a little ways down the river until we reached the dam and then backtracked to the lake. We rented the boats for an hour….
If you have read any of my previous posts, then you know I love being outside. I draw on my many outdoor experiences when writing my women’s adventure fiction novels. I am always trying to get my fiance to join me on my adventures. He is super busy with work so I don’t get to have him with me as often as I’d like. But we do make time for dates. Pre-covid times (so bizarre to now live in a…
I love long distance endurance sports. I’ve run two marathons (42,2km), many half marathons, hiked over 25 mountains with some multiple mountain days of 12 to 14 hours of hiking. I enjoy pushing myself. Pushing the limits of what my body and mind are capable of. But cycling 100km without proper training was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. On Saturday, my friend Monica, and I left home at 6:30am to drive the 45 minutes to the bike trail we…
I have just entered a brand new phase of the indie publishing process. My novel is in the hands of beta readers. If you are unaware, as I was, beta readers are also known as test or first readers. Before you send your manuscript off to your professionally hired editor, it is recommended that you have a few people read your work. These first readers can catch typos and grammar mistakes, but mainly they are there to read it straight…
I have always, always wanted to go whitewater rafting. I grew up on the Lower North Shore of Quebec, right beside Newfoundland and Labrador. So water and boats have always been a part of my life. From tiny outboards, to medium-sized inboards to large fishing boats. I have been on all types of water: ponds, lakes, rivers, and the Atlantic ocean. Being on the water makes me feel invigorated and alive. But I had never been on whitewater. Never felt…
Last weekend, I joined a local writing workshop for the first time. I am involved in a few groups online based around writing, publishing and marketing but I have never participated in an actual real time writing group. Because of Covid-19, we couldn’t get together face-to-face. Thirteen of us gathered via zoom. Our instructor, Jan, gave us a lesson on metaphors (poetic comparisons) and similes (which use like or as for the comparison between things). First, we were provided the…