My New Beginnings Series Is Back Out

After the publisher for my inspirational romantic series closed, I wasn't sure when I would be able to get the series back out. I've been swamped with writing my new cozy mystery series and things just seemed a little more hectic in my life than usual. I've had a bit of time trying to juggle everything and as the year winds down, am finding so many items on my yearly plan not having been accomplished. Of course, at the beginning of the year, reediting and self-publishing a series wasn't on the agenda as I didn't learn about it until June.

Even though it wasn't on my to-do list for 2018, I have the series back up (currently only on Amazon and in ebook...next year, I'll tackle paperbacks). It is available also through Kindle Unlimited. The first two books and three through five are available for pre-order. Adding these onto my schedule, pushed back another project but I didn't want this series just sitting in my computer since they were "done".  As I read, I could "see" some of the faith struggles I was having at the time when I wrote the books. The books meant a lot to me and I feel back in love with these characters. Matter-of-fact, the muse has been contemplating a sixth book for this series.

Lost Then Found: Skip tracer Renee Stratford-Knight’s life plan changed upon her sister’s murder. Instead of using her skills to find people, Renee opened New Beginnings a firm specializing in “vanishing” abused women. Now her ex-husband –and former business partner – Jonas Knight reenters her life asking about her most vulnerable client.

In order to uncover the secret a teenage girl disappeared to keep, and a killer wants silenced, Jonas and Renee must struggle through distrust and the pain of their pasts to work together to save the life of a teenage girl – and their own.

Led Astray: With a battle brewing between the off-the-grid towns of Mourning and Haven, WV, skip tracer Danita Ballinger races to the area before the lives of her "vanished" clients are jeopardized.

Pastor Riley Coole isn't interested in a mining company's offer of jobs and a new spiritual home for the community in exchange for the mountaintop where the church resides. To Riley, the church is never up for sale. As word gets out about the promised jobs, his refusal ignites a war between two towns. Adding to Riley's problem is the brazen woman who charged into town and forced her way into his church's business--and his thoughts.

The murder of a key player in the tug-of-war over the mountain puts plans of retaliation into place. Danita and Riley must put aside their private battle to protect the people relying on them for safety. Will seeing each other in a new light put them on a path of acceptance and love, or create a further divide ripping apart the town and their own hearts?

Safe and Sound: Five years ago, Connor's new bride Hannah lost her way in a blizzard and the mountain claimed her. When a woman's body is uncovered during a landslide, Connor learns his beloved was murdered and the man responsible goes on the run. Connor enlists the aid of his cousin, a skip tracer, to track down the killer and discovers the murderer has set his sights on another woman. Determined to save the woman from the same fate as his beloved wife, Connor has her brought to Haven and faces the second biggest shock of his life—the woman claims she's Hannah. 

The murderer who sent Hannah Stratford on the run has tracked her down. For years, she has lived off the identity of her best friend and lookalike. Now, the only way to stay alive is for Hannah to prove she didn't die in a blizzard. Connor offers her safety and protection in his home, but keeps his heart guarded from her. Hannah wants more than to save her life. She wants Connor back. How will her husband react once he learns she not only left on her own, but hid her friend’s death to save herself? Can Hannah ever find true peace in her life or will she always be on the run?

Long Gone: Reporter Eve Darling has the story of a lifetime. Years ago, a man and his brother had connived a baby away from a teenage mom and plan--and that man is now running for Governor. Without the source's name, her boss refuses to the run the story, and Eve isn't willing to give up the name of the victim--herself. Fearing the men who ruined her life have set their sights on another young woman, Eve turns to skip tracer Alex Stratford to help locate and protect the new intended victim.

Alex is stunned when Eve requests his help. The woman who once accused him of murder now accuses another man of a crime. Having battled Eve's mudslinging himself, Alex refuses to work with her. Determined to bring the brothers to justice, Eve continues the mission alone. When she's attacked, Alex rushes to her aid--and a decision alters lives forever. Can a battered and discredited Eve and a battle-scarred Alex ever feel worthy of love?

Far and Away: Priscilla Thorn’s heart broke when her son killed his wife, and now shatters when her son takes his own life. Priscilla’s grief-stricken soul finds little comfort knowing before he died, Samuel turned his life over to God. Believing her son would want his father at his funeral, she informs her ex-husband--the man she ran from decades ago. Stephen Thorn drops a bombshell on his ex-wife, he's life is ebbing away and he has no one to care for him. Priscilla believes for Samuel to receive forgiveness from the Heavenly Father, she must give it to Samuel’s earthly father…her abusive ex-husband.

Edgar Fritz is stunned when the woman he loves takes her dying ex-husband into her home. While Priscilla sees caring for her ex-husband as showing God’s love, Edgar believes Stephen has an ulterior motive and will use the opportunity for revenge. Edgar finds he is risking losing Priscilla’s friendship by insisting the man hasn’t changed his ways and has come back to hurt her one last time. Is Priscilla risking her life by insisting her ex-husband changed, so the world -- and God -- will know her son had changed?

On the Book Front: Couple of Pre-orders

It's November 1st! This year, it's not only the time I "officially" begin to celebrate the holiday season by watching Christmas movies (okay, I actually started this weekend as I'm not a "Halloween" person), reading Christmas theme/setting books, and also start my Christmas decorating prep, but it's also pre-order time.

I have two books available for pre-order at the same time, something I've never have before. One of the books is a re-release, the second book in my inspirational romantic suspense series, and then there's the first book in my new cozy mystery series, Not a Creature was Stirring.

Led Astray, Book 2 in the New Beginning Series:
Release date: November 5, 2018

With a battle brewing between the off-the-grid towns of Mourning and Haven, WV, skip tracer Danita Ballinger races to the area before the lives of her "vanished" clients are jeopardized.

Pastor Riley Coole isn't interested in a mining company's offer of jobs and a new spiritual home for the community in exchange for the mountaintop where the church resides. To Riley, the church is never up for sale. As word gets out about the promised jobs, his refusal ignites a war between two towns. Adding to Riley's problem is the brazen woman who charged into town and forced her way into his church's business--and his thoughts.

The murder of a key player in the tug-of-war over the mountain puts plans of retaliation into place. Danita and Riley must put aside their private battle to protect the people relying on them for safety. Will seeing each other in a new light put them on a path of acceptance and love, or create a further divide ripping apart the town and their own hearts?

Not a Creature was Stirring, Book 1 in the Merry & Bright Handcrafted Mystery Series:
Release date: January 22, 2019

Empty nester Merry Winters loves three things: Christmas, crafting and her family. To regain purpose and joy, Merry hits the road to a Christmas vendor event with her furry sidekick Ebenezer in her new mobile crafting sleigh, aka an RV.

But it soon turns into the nightmare before Christmas when Merry unwraps her Scrooge of an ex-husband’s body in one of the RV’s compartments. Add to that his missing winning lottery ticket believed to be stashed somewhere in the RV, leading the homicide detective and Merry’s stepdaughter to believe Merry is the one whodunit. 

With visions of prison dancing in her head, will Merry be able to solve this Christmas calamity before she’s locked away?

New Beginnings

I'd never have guessed that my series titled New Beginnings was going to need a new beginning of it's own. At the end of last week, the publisher of my inspirational romantic suspense announced they were closing up shop at the of June. There was no hint or warning this was coming. Granted, I'd been super focused on my mystery series as I'm editing the first book in the series while writing the second book, but from what I'm reading from other affected authors no one saw it coming.

I'm surprised, yet not surprised. The publishing industry isn't easy to navigate and seems to get harder each year for authors and small presses to get noticed. So, it's not a surprise that another small press has decided to close its doors, but it hadn't seem like this was something to have on my radar. The publishing house still had books set to release and were taking submissions so the announcement through every one off guard.

I do plan on self-publishing the titles myself...I love this series...but don't have a time frame at this time. There's a lot on the list to re-publish a book: new cover, re-editing, re-formatting. And I have five books needing that attention. I'm hoping I can get them out next year though my schedule is pretty full right now with the new mystery series.

I'm a little sad that the publishing house, Desert Breeze, will be no more. I enjoyed working with them and I know this wasn't an easy decision for the owners. I had been hoping to pitch a new series to them and one day meet them in person at a romance conference. But alas, that won't happen. It's also a little disappointing to know this series will be coming down by the end of the month. I'm proud of these books. New Beginnings is an inspirational romantic suspense series that follows a group of skip-tracers who dedicate their lives to relocating abused women who need a new start in life. These women and men face danger as they keep their clients safe. These were my self-rescuing princesses and tarnished knights out to set the world right. The couples hold a special place in my heart, and I hate to "see" them gone...even knowing I'll bring them back.