MIRROR, MIRROR: A WRITER’S REFLECTION BY VERONICA JORGE
May 22, 2025 by Veronica Jorge in category Write From the Heart by Veronica Jorge tagged as art, reflection, revelation, words, writing
The painter stares at the canvas waiting for an image to appear. Patiently, he waits until a faint imprint of a landscape or a face emerges. He then grabs a brush and dabs it into the paint on his palette, making haste to reach the canvas with his brush to capture the image. The artist contrasts shade and light. He tightens or increases space. His brush moves rhythmically or scratches across the linen to make the colors and texture warm or cool. The work he renders leaves the viewer feeling airy or heavy.
That’s how I feel when I write. I stare at a blank page as though something secret lay hidden deep within the fibers and emptiness, that by patiently waiting will reveal itself to me. So I wait…until a word, a phrase, or a picture appears.
Could it be that the blank screen or journal page is a powerful mirror able to enlighten my own ideas and though
ts? Is it I who write on the paper; or does the paper draw out what is inside of me?
My words pour out and my hand races across the page. My mind tries to keep up with both for they seem to move of their own volition depicting moments dark and light. Paragraphs heavy laden with emotion yield and give way to joy and humor, while spacing slows or hurries the reader along.
Finished, I sit back exhausted and, ignoring my headache, I read what I wrote. Awestruck, I ask, “Where did this come from?”
My trembling fingers turn the leaf to uncover a new blank page and my sweaty palm smooths the journal sheet flat. Pen in hand, I sit ready to capture another treasure. My eyes dilate seeking and waiting for new wonders to behold.
See you next time on June 22nd.
Veronica Jorge
Books Review by Veronica
Tari Lynn Jewett: Featured Author
May 14, 2025 by Tari Jewett in category Charmed Writer by Tari Lynn Jewett, Featured Author of the Month tagged as #Charmed Writers, #FireworksintheFog, #HeromsaForTheHolidays, #PleaseSayYes, Love and Mud Puddles, romantic comedy, Tari Lynn Jewett
Tari Lynn Jewett lives with her husband of nearly thirty years (also known as Hunky Hubby). They have three amazing sons, a board game designer, a sound engineer and a musician, all who live nearby. For over fifteen years she wrote freelance for magazines and newspapers, wrote television commercials, radio spots, numerous press releases, and many, MANY PTA newsletters. As much as she loved writing those things, she always wanted to write fiction . . . and now she is.
She also believes in happily ever after . . . because she’s living hers.
Tari’s newest title is Love and Mud Puddles, available now.
Hannah loves her accounting job, the condo that she purchased herself, and her best friend Melinda. What she doesn’t love is baking. To be fair, she’s never tried. But when her cousin shames her into bringing homemade cookies to the family Christmas Eve celebration, she begins a quest to make the perfect holiday cookie.
Paramedic Josh also occasionally teaches kids’ cookie baking classes at his family’s bakery. When a beautiful accountant mistakenly signs up for a children’s holiday baking class, he realizes immediately that she’s in the right place.
Can this local hero help to save Hannah’s Christmas? Or will it all go up in smoke?
Tari’s other Books
Welcome to My Book Birthday Celebration!
May 12, 2025 by Denise M. Colby in category The Writing Journey by Denise Colby tagged as Book Birthday, Denise M. Colby, new releaseThis month, I’m having a book birthday celebration as my second book, A Slight Change of Plans releases on May 27, 2025. This is book 2 in my Best-laid Plans series.
I’m excited to share Jenny and Ren’s story with everyone. Out of the five teachers coming west, Jenny is the most insecure. She didn’t have a lot of love and affection growing up and hoped this new start would change all that. But the book starts with her school shutting down and she has no other options, so she heads to Washton, where Olivia is (the heroine in book 1, When Plans Go Awry).
You’ll meet Ren, and see familiar characters from book one including the rooster, Bert.
I’ve been busy putting together tidbits and information related to this story to share with everyone on my website, blog, and social media. Sign up for my newsletter to follow along.
Book Launch Activities
This time around I’m doing a blog tour through JustReadTours June 9-13
I’ve also created some of my own graphics to share
My son added on to the original map of Washton to show the parts mentioned in the story. This rests in the front of the book matter (and hopefully soon on my website)
My husband had designed the journal notebook for the first book, and so I asked him to do something for this one as well. This is what he came up with.
Other Book Launch Things
I recently was interviewed on Awesomegang.com, and have new listings of A Slight Change of Plans on all major platforms.
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231221127-a-slight-change-of-plans
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/a-slight-change-of-plans-best-laid-plans-book-2-by-denise-m-colby
AllAuthor: https://allauthor.com/book/97529/a-slight-change-of-plans-best-laid-plans-book-2/
fictionfinder: https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10961
As most of you know, it’s a lot of work to organize a book launch, yet so rewarding after spending so much time writing, editing, and marketing this story. And I get to do it again in six months when the prequel releases in November.
Earlier this year, I wrote a blog post sharing which books inspire my writing. I also pick a word every year to focus on. This year it is Flourish.
Thanks for following along in this journey with me!
0 0 Read moreTo L.A. With Love
May 4, 2025 by marianne h donley in category Apples & Oranges by Marianne H. Donley, Spotlight tagged as Charity Anthology, Pre-order, to L.A. with love
❤️❤️ Pre-Order ❤️❤️
To L.A. With Love is coming June 10, 2025! I can’t wait for you to read The Widow Next Door, Ellie Raynes’ and Neill Yates’ meet cute. The Widow Next Door is one of about 100 short stories in this charity anthology raising money for the Los Angeles and Altadena Public Libraries.
Thank you to Kate Farlow for designing AND donating our gorgeous cover!
❤️❤️Buy Buttons ❤️❤️
_____________________________________
B L U R B
When wildfires destroyed two beloved Los Angeles public libraries in January 2025, the romance community answered with heart.
In To L.A. With Love, 100+ local and international authors and poets weave tales filled with sexy contemporary passion, dreamy historical romance, and spellbinding magical encounters. From the sweetest kiss to steam between the sheets, these tales remind us why we fall in love with books—because like libraries, they offer refuge, inspire dreams, and bring people together.
This anthology celebrates the power of romance, and all proceeds from To L.A. With Love support the restoration of the Altadena and Pacific Palisades libraries, proving that love stories can heal more than fictional broken hearts—they can rebuild community.
❤️❤️ Pick up your copy today, and join us in writing a new chapter for Los Angeles. ❤️❤️
❤️❤️Buy Buttons ❤️❤️
Featuring stories by:
Aarti V Raman, USA Today Bestselling Author
Alexa Santi
Alexis Roark, USA Today Bestselling Author
Alice Duncan
Aliza Mann
Allie Lasky
Amanda Richardson
Amy Award, USA Today Bestselling Author
Amy J. Hawthorn
Andrea Johnston
Anna Quinn
Anne Barwell
Arell Rivers, USA Today Bestselling Author
Aria R. Blue
Arianna Quinn
Ashley Erin
Ashley Olivier
B. Ryan
C.B. Noy
C.G. Burnette
Caitlin Loggins
Cecilia Rene
Christina Alexandra
Christine Ashworth, USA Today Bestselling Author
CJ Warrant
Claire Davon, USA Today Bestselling Author
Claire Marti, USA Today Bestselling Author
Crystal Perkins
Cynthia Diamond
Dee Lagasse
Jennifer Worrell
DL Gallie
Ella Braeme
Ellena Espejo
Gemma Snow
Gwen Galloway
Heather C. Myers
Heather Scarlett
HL Miller
J. M. Zuniga
J.C. Hannigan
J.l. Perry
JCC Downing
Jeannie Choe
Jeannine Colette
Jodi Chow
Juliet Gauvin
Karen Grey
Katherine Moore, USA Today Bestselling Author
Katrina Marie
Kelly A. Varner
Kelly Violet
Kennedy L. Mitchell
Khushi T. Saha
KL Hill
Kristen Elizabeth
Leesa Bow
Lena Cove
Libby Waterford
Lisa Rayne
Lyra Parish
M. Solis
Marianne H Donley
Marilyn Throne
Michelle Mars
Milly Gray
Monica Ross
Monique Stokes
N.J. Ember
Nanxi We
Natalie Tay
Nicole Sanchez
Nikki Prince, International Bestselling Author
Olivia Huxley
Pamela DuMond, USA Today Bestselling Author
R. Snow
R.L. Merrill
Rae Shawn
Ren Alexander
Rhian Cahill
Rose Bak, USA Today Bestselling Author
Roxie Noir
Samantha Shaye
Shana Gray
Shannon Myers
Shelley Kassian
Simran
SL Hannah
Sorcha Mowbray
Stephanie J. Scott
Stephanie Marie Whitson
Susannah Erwin
Tessa McFionn
Theresa Lambe
Tiffany Carby
Tori Mitchell
Tracy Reed
V. Walker
Vi Summers, International Bestselling Author
Victoria Ellis
❤️❤️Release Date: June 10, 2025❤️❤️
Financial Fore-cast
April 30, 2025 by Dianna Sinovic in category Quill and Moss by Dianna Sinovic tagged as Dianna Sinovic, flash Fiction, magic, Spells
The accountant opened the folder and skimmed the stack of documents it contained. A W-2, 1099s, receipts, investment summaries, it was all there, Annie hoped. Matt always left it up to her to compile the papers needed before they sat down with Tom, their CPA. Her business was laden with supply orders, customer invoices, and back-end pay-outs. Matt worked in analytical statistics for a pharma company: salary, health insurance, 401(K), easy-peasy.
“This expense here.” Tom tapped his finger on a receipt. “Shadow essence. For your shop?”
“Yes. I go through three boxes a week, minimum.” Annie had opened her store, A Spell on You, three years ago and had yet to turn a profit—a sore point with Matt, who was used to assessing revenues in the hundreds of thousands.
“How much longer are you going to play at this?” he’d groused several days ago as she was assembling the folder for Tom. “Give it up. Get a real job.”
“I’m not playing. This is my dream and I’ll make it work.”
“Yeah. Conning people into thinking you can ‘cast spells.’” Matt didn’t believe in magic; he believed in numbers. “Numbers don’t lie.” His favorite three words to live by.
Annie knew in her bones she was the real thing. Her testimonials were glowing. Her repeat customers came with a list for her to work through. If only there were a few more customers. Still, imposter syndrome ate at her, and Matt’s griping made it worse. She didn’t want anyone to know she was uncredentialed, a seat-of-the-skirt kind of gal, when it came to spelling. But books on spell craft filled three full shelves in her shop’s back room, and she’d memorized most of them.
Tom coughed politely, and Annie pulled herself back to the present.
“Sorry,” she said, her face hot. “Did you have a question?”
Matt sighed in annoyance. “Come back from la-la land, bae. Tom doesn’t have all day for you to daydream your way to financial success.”
Putting his readers on, Tom smiled kindly at her. “I’m in no hurry.” He turned back to the folder and held up another sheet. “Now this one for spider milk.”
And on they went, with Tom asking questions, to which she supplied explanations, while Matt rolled his eyes.
At the session’s end, after shaking hands with Tom, they stood at the elevator. The doors swished open, and Matt strode into the empty car, his anger obvious in the set of his jaw.
“Next year, we file separately,” he said. “I’m tired of this hocus pocus shit.”
“Let’s try something,” Annie said, as the car descended, with a clunk, from eighth to the lobby. “You don’t believe in magic, so we’ll put it to a test. See who’s right.”
Chuckling, Matt shook his head. “Can’t you see how ridiculous you are?”
She cocked her head, moved her feet in a patterned sequence, and spoke in a monotone. “Five, twenty-three, fourteen, thirty-nine …” She continued on with a handful of additional digits. It was a spell she’d been waiting to use, patiently watching for the perfect moment.
A low groan filled the elevator, and Matt sagged against the rear wall. His eyes held panic—understandably, since he could no longer move or speak.
The car settled on the ground floor, and the doors swished open.
Annie smiled sweetly at her husband. “Matt, dear, I agree with you. Numbers don’t lie.” She walked out of the elevator, leaving him where he was.
More of Dianna’s Stories
Featured Books
SHORT and SWEET’S FAMILY ALBUM
Join these 60 authors as they share their families’ stories of grace, forgiveness, loyalty, respect, support, vulnerability, love, laughter, and faith.
More info →
