The Sheltie Gazette: Getting to Know Each Other
Apr 17, 2025 1:31 pm
I'm so happy you're reading the Sheltie Gazette!
Hi, —
A couple months ago, you entered a giveaway for historical fiction and ended up in my puppy-filled, fairy-tale corner of the internet. By now, you've gotten to know my dogs, entered my giveaway, and had the chance to read your prize copy of "The White Deer of Kildare."
Where was that link again?
You're a reader, so let's talk about books. Here are some more places that you can find my writing, and scroll down for a fun conversational opener. I love having you on this journey, so just reply to this email to join my review team, or click here for...
Right now, as I write this, I am watching my Shelties play in the yard. Malin likes to hide behind a tree trunk, perhaps as a hide-and-seek or perhaps just to catch his breath before his big brother pounces on him. They make me smile absolutely every day, so here are some Shelties to give you a smile before we move on to words.
Do you have dogs—or cats or horses or pigs? I love hearing from readers and seeing your pictures! Please reply to this email and show me your sweeties of whatever variety.
I've had seven Shelties over the last 18 years. Besides being part of my daily life, we've done road trips, competitive dog obedience, rally, agility, and I'm hoping one of these pups can do conformation with me. I'm also working on a novel titled "Summer of the Shelties," which leads us into...
Q: So, what do you write?
I write uplifting stories that deal with hard stuff but always have happy endings.
I write about strong, creative women working together. But my strong women often are not the kind that swings machetes and kicks bum; many of my protagonists have never been fighters but must learn to rely on their own inner strength.
My characters are artists. They embroider, knit, garden, and draw.
I write character-driven work, but there's always some adventure thrown in......Witches. A hidden stiletto in the trouser leg. Kidnapping.
I write diverse characters, like the world around me. Whether it's found family or marriage, my characters all belong to interracial families — like I do.
I write historical fiction, and fairy tale retellings with time slips into historical period.
Q: Where can I find your writing?
Writing and publishing takes a really, really, really long time. So thank you for joining me at the beginning of my publishing career, and I hope the best is yet to come.
My novels are represented by Kristina Sutton-Lennon of Focused Artists, and the first is currently out on submission with publishers. I have two and two-halves books written in the same world. I love reading a series where each book features a related character, so that's what I write.
Meanwhile, I have short stories and essays available that you can read.
I am an editor and contributor to Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women:
With my writing partner, I am publishing essays and invite you to the conversation over on Substack. Warning — we try to keep the message uplifting, but we go deeper into the challenges of the modern world, including politics and health.
I am letting you know about my short fiction right here on this newsletter (yay!) but you can also find them on your favorite e-book site. I try to make my stories accessible all over the world, so I've put them on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and Google Play.
I have published three novellas set in the same world as The Horned Women...
- much of The White Deer takes place in Heroic Ireland (approximately the 3rd century), and readers say it is full of interesting historical tidbits
- In The Knight of Terrible Valley and Aiden of Florida, you get to follow three of the kids into the land beneath our world, where Aiden has to face armies of tin can men -- and his own memories and insecurities
- and I've just opened pre-orders for The Squire and His Magical Library
And they're all novellas, so you can dip in and enjoy a story with Maura and her unusual castle. When my life is overwhelming, it can be a relief to finish a whole story in one or two reading sessions — especially when I know I can return to the characters later.
Q: Whew, that was a lot of words...
I know, life is chaotic, and you have too many emails.
My Shelties spent a while standing on the little trampoline my kids left out in the yard, and now they are chasing away evil monsters (aka deer, or possibly squirrels). Thank you for reading this far — you deserve something beautiful in your day.
And now, I would really like to get to know you!
It makes it more conversational to write these newsletters if I know a little bit about you, so I'm going to include questionnaires from time to time. I promise I am not doing anything nefarious with the information. I'm just a person, sitting in her living room watching Shelties chase leaves, not some data-collecting machine who will adjust your Google feed and send you targeted advertising.
Besides, I think questionnaires are kind of fun. It has only 8 questions and they are mostly multiple choice and slightly silly. I really love to read your answers!
Thank you for reading!
And if you've finished "The White Deer of Kildare," it would help me so much if you would leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or Bookbub. It's also on Kobo, Nook, Google, & Apple--I tried to make it available wherever you have an account. Writing a review is like sending an author a box of cookies, except faster and cooperates better with the internet!
