Novels and contemporary development

Surprisingly, contemporary novels often chronicle historical and local geographical development. Today I was reminded how details in my novels do this. My debut novel, Nardi Point, is set in a growing North Raleigh, North Carolina new subdivision; specifically an IT professional couple take on the construction of their first home and creation of a family. 2018_NP_PP_coverWell, increased development in this region’s corridor has increased exponentially and the model subdivison for this story, Tadlock Plantation, is completely sold out and even expanded into adjacent, The Registry, where once a sleepy dairy farm existed.

Closely followed by book two, A Path through the Garden, the heroine lives in the Youngsville area. That town’s Main street, where “founding fathers would not have trouble recongizing it today as it remained unchanged newly two hundred years later,” is now quite changed. New shops, antique havens, coffee and coffee shops, family farm visit experiences, new architectural improvements, increased foot traffic, have updated the growing town and region.PAPERBACK Cover APTTG

Writing is such an adventure. Writing in the present and reflecting on those words several years after, provides quite the opportunity to consider our busy lives and places in our world. If you keep a journal of sorts, dip back into its pages for references to your setting, where your world unfolds, and muse over the changes that have occurred. These changes can mirror those in our thoughts about our inner selves as well. Change is indeed the only constant.

Happy reading♥

A Boomer coming of age story ….

This month marks the exciting re-release of the unique Boomer coming of age story, Yellow Pansies in a Blue Cobalt Jar. Heroine Rhose Guerin is the quintessential New Kindle Yellow Pansies coverboomer with a vibrant mind, passionate about contributing to society while engaging the challenges of everyday life and family.

In this journey through a web of relationships, we explore a long-term marriage where one partner’s desire for stability and security conflicts with the others drive for personal growth.

Bibliotherapist Rhose Guerin uses books, and movies in her private therapy practice, but no novel can show her how to become the heroine of her own story and make peace with life decisions boomer generation women face.

New Paperback Yellow Pansies cover

The Vintage Telepath

The world of vintage clothing introduced in the Loving Vintage series opens an entire new realm of clothing history that mixes both past and trending fashion. How the two worlds collide is up to how yesterday‘s pieces are paired with today’s—an art form for self-expression.PRINT cover Vintage Telepath

In The Vintage Telepath, we follow Julie Bishop, the Loving Vintage authenticator, who feels publicly humiliated because she knows things unknown to everyone else merely by holding an object. Julie is a clothes telepath. While this makes her job as vintage authenticator easy, she hides this ability from everyone.

There is much to learn about vintage. For instance, clothing categorized as Vintage is 20 years prior to current date, and Antique is applied to items older than 75+ years. The best way to learn is immersion. Visit many shops and experience how vintage makes you feel.

Hints to help with the process:

  • Don’t pass by items that may not look good on the hanger, try it on
  • Try on items for fit rather than relying on garment’s actual size, sizes have undergone standardized changes across the years and often use Vintage sizing versus Vanity sizing
  • Incorporate one piece at a time
  • Dead stock vintage means the items are vintage, but have never been worn
  • Don’t feel comfortable in it? Hang it back up

Once you dip a toe into the Vintage world you may be pleasantly excited by its design and quality workmanship. Included below are links to popular Vintage shops across the nation. Enjoy exploring!

RaleighVintage, Raleigh, North Carolina

Hey Betty Vintage Clothing, Pittsburgh PA

Rue St.Denis, New York, NY

Screaming Mimi’s, New York NY