One Day at a Time... ❤️

We'll start with the most important thing first...thank you.

As many of you know, Nikoo had surgery this past Friday. Your messages, emails, prayers, and kind words have poured in, and we've read every single one. Often, more than once. And yes, sometimes with tears in our eyes.

It's a humbling and beautiful thing to be surrounded by so much kindness from people we've come to think of as family.

Recovery is coming along, and we're taking it the only way that makes sense right now...one day at a time.

That little phrase has been on our minds a lot this week. And the more we think about it, the more we realize it's pretty good advice for all of us, whatever life happens to be throwing our way.

So, if you'll indulge us, here are a few things we've been reminding ourselves lately.

Be gentle with yourself. Rest isn't a reward you earn after everything else is done. Sometimes, rest is the work. And that's perfectly okay.

Let people help. This one is harder than it sounds! But saying yes to a casserole, a ride, a phone call, or simply someone's company isn't a weakness. It's a gift to the person offering too.

Look for the small good things. A cup of tea that's still warm. A dog sleeping in a patch of sunshine. A message from an old friend. A chapter in a book so good you forget to look at the clock. These little moments matter. Sometimes, they're what carry us through.

And one more thing, especially during October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month: if you've been putting off a screening, a mammogram, or a checkup, please make that appointment. Early detection can save lives, and taking care of yourself is one of the greatest gifts you can give to the people who love you.

Consider that a loving nudge from both of us.

A little escape to Harbor View for just 99¢

Speaking of small good things, sometimes the best medicine for a weary mind is a good story.

A little magic. A seaside town. A mystery waiting to be solved. And perhaps a ghost or two with entirely too many opinions.

That's exactly what you'll find in FIRST STREET, the opening book in our Harbor View Cozy Fantasy series.

For a limited time, through the end of October, 

we're offering First Street for just 99¢.

If you haven't visited Harbor View yet, we'd love to welcome you. And if you've already met Skye, Ocean, Henry, Jo, and the rest of our slightly unconventional gang, perhaps you know someone who could use a little escape of their own.

STEP INTO HARBOR VIEW — FIRST STREET FOR 99¢

And the BOOK SALE is still ON! 

Every book in our bookstore is 50% off, all October long.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and once again, we want to turn something we love—sharing stories—into something that can make a difference.

Throughout October, every book in our direct bookstore is 50% off.

Highland romance, Regency, cozy fantasy, Westerns, thrillers: all half price through October 31. And there's something more.

For every purchase, we're donating $1 to the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance (LBCA), an organization close to our hearts that supports research, education, and advocacy for invasive lobular breast cancer.

So whether you're treating yourself to a new adventure, discovering a series you've been meaning to read, or stocking up on gifts for the readers in your life, your purchase will also help support an important cause.

SHOP OUR BOOKSTORE — 50% OFF EVERYTHING

And if you'd prefer to support LBCA directly, you can make a donation here:

DONATE DIRECTLY TO LBCA

Thank you. Every act of kindness matters, no matter its size.

 One little favor — please share the love 

If this newsletter brought you a smile, a moment of comfort, or a reminder to take care of yourself, we'd love for you to pass it along.

Forward it to a friend. 

Share our book sale with someone who loves to read. 

Or share the LBCA donation link with someone who is looking for a way to make a difference.

You never know who might need a little encouragement today, who might find comfort in a good story, or whose life might be touched by the research we're helping to support.

And for those of you who've already shared our books, recommended us to friends, or simply taken the time to write a kind note, please know how much that means to us. Word of mouth is one of the greatest gifts you can give an author.

Thank you for reading. For writing to us. For caring. For being part of this wonderful community we've built together over the years.

We feel your kindness every day, and we hope some of it finds its way right back to you.

Take care of yourselves. Hug the people you love. Find joy in the little things. 

And remember, one day at a time is still moving forward.

New Releases, Service, and Gratitude

We have been writing for some of you for decades now, and if there is one thing we have learned, it is that the people who read our books are not just our readers. You are our friends. You are the reason we keep showing up with more stories, even when life makes that harder than it sounds.

This week is one of those weeks.

Jim is with me as I go through scans for my metastatic disease and my fifteenth stent replacement. Fifteenth. We laugh about that number, because what else do you do? We have learned over the years that the body has its own timeline and its own strange sense of humor, and the best you can do is show up, trust the people taking care of you, and keep writing the next chapter…literally and otherwise.               

Your kind words, your messages, your reviews, and your loyalty mean more to us right now than we know how to say. Thank you for being here.             

We have more news , but first...two books we cannot wait to put in your hands and they are available NOW.

SECOND STREET

Harbor View Cozy Fantasy Series, Book 2

Harbor View is back.

So are Skye, Ocean, Jo, Henry, and a town that keeps its deepest secrets buried, sometimes literally.

When a body turns up in a locked house with no visible way out, Skye Randall finds herself pulled into a mystery that reaches back decades: stolen art, hidden tunnels beneath a Revolutionary War-era house, and a leather journal written in code that someone is willing to kill to recover.

Her fifteen-year-old daughter Ocean has an edge nobody sees coming. She can talk to ghosts. Three of them. Each with opinions, agendas, and a stubborn refusal to stay out of the investigation.

Second Street is not a romance. But it is deeply, completely about human connection. The family you are born into, the family you find, and the ones who stay with you even after they are gone. It is about a mother and daughter learning to trust each other with the impossible. It is about a town that remembers everything and the people brave enough to ask it what it knows.

We hope you love it as much as we loved writing it.

TREMORS OF THE PAST

A Caleb Marlowe Short Story

For those of you who have been riding with Caleb Marlowe through the Elkhorn, Colorado series, this one is for you.    

“Tremors of the Past” takes us to Denver, 1882, where Henry Jordan, a man carrying more history than most. finds himself in the middle of something he did not go looking for and cannot walk away from. It is a story about survival, about the weight of the past, and about what it means to stand up when standing down would be so much easier.

Not a romance. But every page of it is about what binds people together when the world is trying to pull them apart. About loyalty. About the kind of courage that does not announce itself.

We think you'll feel it.

More News!

September is a full month for us, and we want to share it with you.

Our children and grandchildren are coming to visit, and we cannot tell you how much we are looking forward to that. After the kind of week we are having, there is nothing more grounding than the people you love most filling up the house.

Jim and I will also be spending a week volunteering with Little Pink Houses of Hope, an organization that provides retreat weeks for families living with breast cancer. It is one of the most meaningful things we do all year. If you are not familiar with Little Pink Houses of Hope, we encourage you to look them up. The work they do is extraordinary.

And at the end of the month, I will be traveling to San Francisco to serve as a co-moderator at the International Lobular Breast Cancer Symposium, a gathering of researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates working to advance understanding of invasive lobular carcinoma. As a patient advocate myself, being part of that conversation is an honor I do not take lightly.

September, in other words, is for us a month about service. About showing up for the people and the causes that need us. About remembering that the stories we tell, in books and in life, are always, at their heart, about human beings taking care of each other.

One small ask, from our hearts to yours.

Neither Second Street nor "Tremors of the Past" is a romance. But we believe deeply that they are about everything that romance is really about.

The bonds between people.

The loyalty that survives loss.

The love that does not require explanation.

The family that shows up, living or otherwise.

If these books find a place in your heart, we would be so grateful if you would tell someone. A friend. A book club. A stranger on the internet who looks like they need a good story. Also a review, however short, often gives other readers the courage to take a chance on something new.

You have always been our best ambassadors. We would not be here without you.

Posting this with deep love and gratitude!

Taking Steps — Empower, Educate, Advocate…

Fifteen months have passed since my life took an unexpected turn with a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer. Since then, anytime there is silence on our social media accounts, I get private messages asking, ‘How are you doing?’ And it warms my heart to know that you're with me on this journey.

My weeks are a symphony of scans and appointments, a continuous rhythm that has become my new normal. And yes, I will always be on one or another type of chemo. And no, I won’t be done with it. Ever. When it comes to discomfort, I have pain. I’ll always have some pain, but I can live with it.

To those friends and family who have followed my journey through this blog, you remember the challenging six months leading to my diagnosis. The confusion, the fear—those emotions were all too real. And the emotional toll that followed was profound. The statistics were terrifying.

“Only one-third of women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in the U.S. live for 5 years after diagnosis.”

I needed some space to get comfortable with my diagnosis. I needed time to find my strength and search for a purpose for the time I have left. Yes, writing is our profession. It pays the bills, so that had to continue. But there were deeper questions that kept me up at night.

What more can I do with the time I've been given?

How can I help people who are going through the often scary stages of diagnosis?

How can I support others living with MBC, now and in the future?

Jim and I have always believed in the power of giving back. Early in our marriage, our wise landlord, Tom Kepple, shared a lesson that stayed with us: "Always give more than you take." In a way, his words were an echo of Martin Luther King, Jr.: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?"

With those words as our guide, Jim and I decided to dedicate our time and energy to advocacy. I found my calling in patient advocacy, while Jim is getting involved with caregiver advocacy.

Advocacy starts with each of us, as individuals, speaking up. It's when the appointment schedules don't align with our lives, when medications bring debilitating side effects, when second and third opinions are essential. And later, it’s when we share our experiences, offering empathy and practical insights.

Breast cancer is a multifaceted challenge, and my focus is on helping patients ask questions and finding resources. I decided early on to share my journey, and hopefully, to inspire others in embracing life fully.

The realm of advocacy is vast and unending, but I'm committed to immersing myself in it, learning, and being a voice for change. As I prepare to attend my first in-person medical conference as a patient advocate, I'm mindful that there are no long-term guarantees for MBC patients like me. However, I refuse to let statistics define my path. I am a unique statistic, ready to empower, educate, advocate…and live.