​Most writers will say that each project is different than the last. We learn from the book creating process in many ways. We grow and get better.

But, when it came to creating THE SISTERS’ SECRETS: ROSE, I had no idea what I was in for.

I had already published eight novels and novellas with the fantastic team at HQ Digital. I had this down, right?

Wrong.

When I created this project, the vision came quickly. I saw Rose and Reen, and their ailing mother, Pearl. Their dynamics formed and before I knew it, I had three paragraphs—one for each book. Ideas flew through my mind, and I jotted them all down.

Then, I signed the contract and *Poof* nothing.

First, I thought it was the prospect of starting something new. Rose’s book was the first in the trilogy, so setting up the world was imperative. The first two stories take place in “our world” with a hint of the supernatural.

I used Google maps to look at coastal towns in Connecticut—surely at that point, I would find the spark of the story. While I had the location, the story still sat dormant in the back of my mind.

The deadline for the first draft loomed, and I was nowhere near where I wanted to be.

This roadblock is where a lot of unpublished writers might stop and start something new. But I had a contract and many people at my publisher waiting and expecting a story.

So, I put the coffee maker on standby and pushed through the story. I understood the responsibility of setting up this world, but I kept it in Rose’s perspective. I still had Reen and Pearl’s story to get through, and I knew there would be a time in revisions to expand.

When I started writing, there was no stopping me.

Sure, this book had the most notes during first and second revisions, but I had the story I wanted to set the series off.

Looking back at other books I’ve published, at some point in the process, I’ve hit a rut—whether it’s during drafting or revising. But my best work comes out of being challenged. Luckily, I’ve had some amazing women at HQ Digital to push me to be the best I could be, one book at a time.

Rose changed the way I approach a book, and I have faith that more characters and book ideas will do the same.

I can't have a successful writing session without listening to music. Silence doesn't strike any inspiration for me. If you follow me on Twitter and Instagram,  you will frequently see my current writing music.

When I get up in the morning before a writing session, I browse my email and social media for about 5-10 minutes while listening to a cultivated list of music to get me in the "mood". While writing, I prefer to keep to movie/television scores without lyrics (as they distract me!). 
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Over the course of about a year, I created a playlist for the series because at any moment, I would be drafting and revising at the same time. I wanted these books to have the same "feel" so I kept everything in one neat playlist and added more as I continued with the series.

If there's one universal truth about writers, it's that we like to share. When we hear great writing advice, we share. If we read a book we like, we share. And, when we come across a resource that has really helped us, yes that's right...we share!

​So today I'm sharing some news: authors Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi have released a second edition of The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression!

​I'm so excited to share my newest release with all of you! REEN is the second of three books involving a family in a small seaside town. Reen returns to her hometown after eight years to find out everything is different. The truth always rises to the surface, and Reen is about to discover her family's magical past. 
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Now available for purchase at your favorite ebook retailer.