I don't think I've done an update post in a while, mostly because I often don't feel that I've made a lot of progress. I have to keep reminding myself that I have—it's just slower than I'm used to. I'm still working on the first book of the Dragons of Ivria series, now title To Love the Dragon King. It also has a gorgeous cover by the wonderful Natasha Snow that I will share with you once I have a better sense of what the release date will be. This is my first try at self-publishing, and I'm hoping to have it out to you later in the spring. 

After I finish this book, I'm going to switch over to writing the next Chronicles of Tournai book, which I believe will be Meriall and Adora's story. I'm going to try to juggle that with a holiday story in the hopes I get have something else out this year. Then it's back to the Dragons of Ivria for book 2. All of that is, of course, subject to change, since the pandemic has completely ruined whatever productivity I have. I'm doing my best to be kind to myself about this—I think we all need to do that and many of us aren't very good at it. So here's my reminder to you: be kind to yourself in this difficult times especially.

In other news, I'll be appearing at the Rainbow Space Magic Virtual Con this weekend. It's all on Zoom and registration is free, so if you enjoy LGBTQ spec fic, check it out. I will be participating in a panel about writing queer female protagonists on Saturday March 13th at 10 am Eastern and doing a reading the same day at 9 pm Eastern. I plan to read from The Envoy's Honor (though I need to pick a scene still!).

Lastly, I have a couple of sales for you. All of my books are 50% off through March 13th in the Smashwords Read an Ebook Week sale. You can also get my books (and anything else you purchase) 50% off with code MARCH2021 at NineStar Press through March 19th, if you prefer to buy from the publisher. Go forth and add to your virtual TBR piles!

I'll do my best to do better about regular updates going forward. Hope you're all staying safe and well.

I meant to write this RWA National recap right after the conference, but copy edits for The Spymaster's Secret greeted me just as the conference ended. So, this recap is a little later than I meant for it to be. In any case, two weeks ago, I attended the RWA National conference in New York. My first RWA conference was in New York back in 2011—I knew no one and wasn't even a member yet. It was overwhelming and inspiring and so many other things. I joined just after. This year's conference was the fifth national conference I've been fortunate enough to be able to attend, and I went into it with a bit of a different mindset. In some ways, I suppose, I was searching for that inspiration and excitement of my first conference because this year has been such a difficult writing year. Between the state of the industry as a whole and the world in general, getting words down on the page has been more difficult than I can ever remember. I really hoped being surrounded by other romance writers and attending workshops would give me a little jolt. 

​​I'm not sure if it did what I was hoping, but I did find out I'm not alone in my feelings. The first workshop I attended on Thursday was called #Tired: Wielding Your Pen When the World's on Fire, which showed me that a lot of us are in the same boat and gave me some good strategies that I hope will help me along. I went to the PAN Keynote, delivered by Jennifer Probst, next and found more of the same. She spoke about our doubts and fears in a changing industry and reminded us to protect the work because there's nothing more important than the book. That change is going to happen and we have to change with it, but we also have to commit to what we want. I came out of those two sessions feeling not so alone and a little more determined. I also went to a great workshop called Burnout: The Art and Science of Unlocking the Stress Cycle. The presenters were both really dynamic and gave me a way of looking at stress and how we treat it and our physical response to it that I hadn't thought of before. It think it's going to be really helpful.

I went to some other fantastic workshops too, ones that will help hone my craft. Jade Lee's session on Going Deep: Exploring Core Wounds was so interesting, and Sherry Thomas's Pacing workshop really helpful. Both gave me new ways to think about character and story structure that even my more organic way of planning/writing (not an outliner, me) can work with. One of my favorite workshops turned out to be the last one I attended on Saturday: Hands on History, A Physical Experience with the Past. The presenters were both re-entactors of various historical periods as well as authors, and they gave us some great tips on historical research. They also busted some myths and brought with them so much stuff for us to look at and touch and even try on, in some cases. We saw hats and gowns and undergarments and a real document from the seventeenth century, learned about handicrafts and how to start a fire. I wish the session had been longer than an hour!

Going into this conference, there has been much focus on diversity and inclusion in RWA and the romance-writing/reading community in general, and more, who has been excluded. Those conversations carried over at RWA, and though the conversations are difficult and I wish we didn't have to have them, they are necessary. On the first day of RWA, I attended a round table discussion called RWA Listens: Continuing the Conversation Around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The entire board was present, and the session seemed well-attended by the general membership. Many people shared both their stories of lack of inclusion, of racism and the bigoted behavior of some in organization, and their ideas for solutions, for ways to move forward. It felt productive. Like a good step. I also went to a panel called Whose Story Is It? Writing Diversely in Romance Fiction during which the conversation continued and also branched out into looking at the characters and stories we write and if we're the best ones to write them. It was another great discussion, and it sparked other conversations throughout the rest of the conference. Hopefully, we'll keep having these discussions. Hopefully, one day, we won't have to anymore.

I went to the conference undecided about whether I was going to attend the Rita Awards Friday night. If you follow romance, you've probably seen the discussions about racism and bias in the awards over the last few years, and I just wasn't sure I wanted to support the awards as they are. However, a few NJ Romance Writer chapter mates were finalists, and I decided to go to support Nisha Sharma and Joanna Shupe. I ended up so glad I did. I went with two fellow NJ authors, Arell Rivers and Anaida Pierce, and we joined up with some other NJ authors to form our own little cheering section. The energy in the room was really fantastic, and the program was too. Presenters took us through a history of romance that made sure to highlight its trailblazers in all genres, paying particular attention to the marginalized voices that came before and are writing now. And, I was there to witness history. After 37 years—and wow, is that far too long!—two Black authors finally won Ritas: Kennedy Ryan won for Long Shot and M. Malone won for Bad Blood. The Ritas also had their first South Asian winner in Nisha Sharma, who won for her Young Adult novel My So-Called Bollywood Life. The entire room was on its feet, cheering and applauding. The energy was really amazing, and I truly hope it means even more change is coming.

I ended my conference with a visit to the Literacy Autographing, a huge book fair, the proceeds of which are donated to literacy charities. To make it even more fun, my mom came into the city and went with me (after lunch and gelato with Dad)—and I hope she doesn't mind that her picture is here (Hi, Mom!). Mom is a big romance reader—you may have heard me say in the past that the first romance I read at the age of twelve came from her shelf—and we've been sharing books for decades now, so it really was great to get to go to the signing with her. 

I have a few regrets about the conference—not doing as much networking as I'd planned, only getting to see some friends in passing—but, overall, it was a good conference and I got a lot out of it, including some additions to my TBR. (And now that the conference is over and copy edits turned in, it's back to writing for me!)

​I have two book signings coming up in a couple of weeks! 

I'll be signing copies of A Dance of Water and Air at the Barnes & Noble in Holmdel, New Jersey on Friday February 8th at 6pm.

I'm also signing at the Menlo Park Barnes & Noble in Edison, New Jersey on Saturday February 9th from 12pm-4pm as part of a Valentine's themed event with other area romance authors.

If you're in the area, come see me!

On Saturday September 23rd, I'll be at Jersey Girl Brewery with a bunch of other romance authors for a book signing and beer tasting. I'll have copies of The Dragon's Devotion, along with my other books, and I'll probably have cookies too. If you're in the area, come by and say hello!

1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups quick cooking oatmeal
1 cup chocolate chips

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and the sugars until fluffy. Beat in the egg, followed by the pumpkin puree and the vanilla extract. Stir in the flour mixture and the oatmeal until just combined and no streaks of flour remain. Stir in the chocolate chips. 

You can bake the cookies at this point, but I like to chill them at least overnight. It makes the cookies come out puffier. 

Preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 12 minutes. Cookies will be lightly browned at the edges when done. Allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 4-5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes about 2 dozen cookies.