OCRW Birthday Celebration
October 12, 2025 by Denise M. Colby in category The Writing Journey by Denise Colby tagged as Contests, Denise M. Colby, OCRW Birthday BashMany of us on this blog originated from OCRW, which once was called OCC. Today was the annual OCRW birthday celebration and it was fun to gather and celebrate the BBB winners, the BIAY celebrants, and those that earned roses.
There were baskets for raffle, a book cover contest, a speaker, potluck, and lots of catching up and fellowship.
I’ve been a member for over twelve years and I remember this meeting be a highlight every year. I don’t think this year was any less. Much kudos goes to our board and all the hard work behind the scenes to pull this off.
I thought I would share pictures I took. I wish I could’ve gotten a big group photo since there were many there you would all recognize (and some on zoom). It was nice to see familiar faces. The meeting was jam-packed full of lots of great things.
The Birthday Bash Itself
Here we are listening to our speaker of the day, the baskets for the raffle, and the food table.
Book Cover Contest
This year instead of large printed covers, it was all online. With a monitor to showcase them during the meeting. There were a large selection of covers to choose from with 5 different categories.
MOST ROMANTIC: Worth the Risk by Liz Durano
BUY IT NOW (Best Cover): What Happens At the Beach by Skye McDonald
SEXIEST COVER: Blue-Eyed Jacks by Calia Wilde
BEST TITLE AWARD: Where She Belongs by Liz Durano
BEST IN GENRE: A Slight Change of Plans by Denise M. Colby
Other OCRW Activities and Announcements
We have an active online book club that meets monthly for different topics. We also have Book in a year to encourage writers to finish their book. If you are interested in learning more about the Orange County Romance Writers group check out our website. (which we will be updating soon).
Book Buyers Best Contest Winners
Winners were announced during the meeting. My debut novel, When Plans Go Awry, placed in 3rd place in the Historical Romance category. Congratulations to all the winners.
It was a lovely day. I’ve been so blessed to be a part of this organization for so long and make lifelong writing friends here.
If you notice the vase of roses, it has been tradition as long as I’ve been here to receive a rose for published work. I remember sitting in my chair dreaming of the day I would receive a red rose (for traditionally published).
I’ve written about it in this blog post about my debut novel and all the firsts that came with it.
Now I have my first novella publishing in November and I’ll be receiving a white rose. I’m a little excited about that too. And now I realize I haven’t written about this book at all here on this blog.
My next published book releasing November 4, 2025
Sometimes the best life is the one we never planned.
Sarah Anne Baker never wanted to be anyone’s burden. But hours after losing the Godmother who raised her, she faces an impossible choice: marry her late fiancé’s brother—or flee into the unknown. With fear as her only companion, she places her trust in the one man leaving town that night—the enigmatic traveling peddler known only as Mr. Smith.
Alexander Sinclair walked away from his noble title in Scotland to live a quiet, hidden life. Peddling wares from town to town has given him peace, free from the weight of expectation. Until a desperate young woman crosses his path. He can’t turn her away… no matter the cost.
Together, Sarah and Alex set out on a journey through loss, healing, and a bond neither expected to find. But as secrets surface and choices demand to be made, both must decide: cling to the lives they planned—or risk everything to embrace the future God has written for them.
A tender tale of courage, redemption, and love strong enough to change the course of two hearts forever.
You can preorder the e-book here on Amazon for $3.99
0 0 Read moreA Slight Change of Plans—A Review by Veronica Jorge
August 22, 2025 by Veronica Jorge in category Book Reviews, Book Reviews by Veronica Jorge, Write From the Heart by Veronica Jorge tagged as A Slight Change of Plans, Denise M. Colby, new release, review, Reviewed by Veronica Jorge
A Slight Change of Plans
Best-laid Plans Book 2
Denise M. Colby
Scrivening’s Press
2025
ISBN 978-1- 64917-470-3
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…. Well, sort of.
Last summer, in Denise M. Colby’s, When Plans Go Awry, Book One of the Best-laid Plans books, we met Olivia Carmichael in the small ranching community of Washton, California, (you see, there really is a ranch), where Olivia had fled to escape a scandal and start a new life as a school teacher. As luck would have it, love loomed on the horizon for her with Luke Taylor. To get those dreamy details, you’ll have to read the book, and the review I posted on this site July 22, 2024.
In this second book, A Slight Change of Plans, Olivia is still in Washton and welcomes Jenny Millard, her friend and fellow teacher, into the community, helping her to settle in. But for Jenny, settling in means more than just finding a job. Although she has travelled far from home, the miles and the distance have not helped to leave the rejection behind. How can she ever erase or put to rest all of the years of hurt and her wounded heart that won’t heal?
The past is not so easy to shake loose as both women discover.
Jenny makes a connection with another newcomer, Ren Lyman, a blacksmith, and a loner due to the scars of his own life. She is strongly attracted to him, but is not sure she can overcome her past and learn to trust, much less love.
A story of second-chances, hope, friendship, gratitude, and yes, the redeeming power of love, A Slight Change of Plans, satisfies at many levels. As the title suggests, things may not always work out the way we plan or expect. Colby encourages us to believe that there is a good plan for our lives, and a Master Planner who knows how to put all of the pieces together in the right place if we would only trust Him and let Him.
See you next time on September 22nd!
Veronica Jorge
Other Books Reviewed by Veronica Jorge
A New Book Release and First Book is an Award Finalist
June 12, 2025 by Denise M. Colby in category The Writing Journey by Denise Colby tagged as Denise M. Colby, finalist, new releaseI wanted to share my exciting book news – a book release AND an award final announcement! My first book become an award finalist and my second book released, all while on our three-week trip abroad (I will write another post about all the great research I did).
2025 ACFW Award Finalist
My debut novel, When Plans Go Awry, is a 2025 Carol Award finalist in the debut category. It is such an honor to be recognized in this way.
I was so surprised. In fact we were at Disneyland, Paris when I started receiving texts early in the AM (think nine hours ahead). I might’ve made a few incoherant sounds as I reached for my laptop to find the website page and confirm before I said something to my family. Sure enough, my book was listed. I think I walked around the parks in a daze that day. As I said, such an honor. Winners will be announced at the ACFW conference gala on September 6.
A New Book Release
My second book, A Slight Change of Plans, released May 27th. About midway through our trip. In fact, I was going through the final proof on the plane to London.
Which meant I didn’t have a book in hand with me on my trip. Instead I printed out the cover and glued it to cardstock and carried it around with me taking pictures against major landmarks.
It was my little way to celebrate the release of my book and be able to create this graphic for launch day, announcing it was released to the world.
I took way more than what could fit on one graphic, so I thought I’d share them here. See if you can guess some of the places I visited. Once the book released, I stopped (and kindof wished I hadn’t).
Celebrating both a Book Release and becoming an Award Finalist
I was staying present for our trip, except to respond to all the well wishes on both announcements.
On release day it rained as we walked to find a coffee shop and breakfast. This is the one picture of me and the book cover that day. I was a little wet and tired (we had walked and walked and walked every day). But still celebrating. A Slight Change of Plans made it to the 7th spot in one of the new release categories on Amazon, and has received many lovely reviews.
This week A Slight Change of Plans is on a blog tour. Click on the link to check out all the interviews, excerpts, and reviews being highlighted this week.
It’s been an exciting month having a book release and become an award finalist. Thank you everyone for your support. I’m so happy to see readers enjoying the story and feeling encouraged. I love to write stories full of faith, hope, and love. If you are interested in learning what inspired and influenced my stories, I wrote this blog post a few months back about it.
0 0 Read moreWelcome 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 moreDeadlines and Books, the Life of an Author
March 12, 2025 by Denise M. Colby in category The Writing Journey by Denise Colby tagged as books, deadlines, Denise M. Colby, readingWith the deadline approaching for my third book in my Best-laid Plans series, I’m deep in my writing cave and not thinking about much else except exploring the California countryside with a peddler in 1867. And when I’m not thinking about that, I’m reviewing the edits on book two. Or working through my next read. Whatever it is, it’s all about books.
So I thought I would share some highlights from each of these areas.
What I’m Revealing – A Slight Change of Plans Releases May 27th
I will be revealing my book cover for A Slight Change of Plans in my newsletter that goes out on March 15. This is the second book in the Best-laid plans series. If you want to be the first to see it, sign up for my newsletter right now.
Deadlines on multiple books this month, which included edits on this beauty. I can’t believe that in a few months I get to say I’ve published books (plural)! I can’t wait for people to meet Ren and Jenny when it releases on May 27, 2025.
Here’s the back cover blurb.
A Slight Change of Plans – Book 2 in the Best-laid Plans series by Denise M. Colby
She believes she doesn’t matter.
Jenny Millard’s hopes for security and stability as a schoolmarm out west are dashed when her schoolhouse closes and no positions are available nearby. With only enough money for a one-way train fare, Jenny heads to her friend’s home uncertain of her next step.
His scars have made him an unlovable outcast
Newcomer Ren Lyman prefers to keep to himself, hiding in the back of the blacksmith shop to avoid the stares at the scars left by a childhood accident. When he comes across a lost stranger, he’s surprised when she doesn’t recoil at his appearance, and even more so at his eagerness to assist her.
As Jenny settles into the welcoming, but small, town of Washton, she can’t help but come across Ren, especially since his daily constitutional takes him along the same path. It doesn’t take long for them to form a connection that breaks down the walls erected by years of hurt. But when strange occurrences unsettle the townspeople, it seems their chance at happiness might be at risk.
Will Jenny and Ren discover that they’re enough—for God, and each other?
What I’m Reading – Readers Comfy Porch Book Club
I’m participating with eleven other authors in the Comfy Porch Book Club. I posted about this in my January post. This month we are reading EV Sparrow’s Muldoon’s Misfortunes. Anyone can join us at any time. There’s daily conversation in a facebook group page, and a monthly zoom call to discuss the book.
Back cover copy: A cursed widower forsakes his faith to ensure his hope.
On a verdant island beset by poverty and death, Mick Muldoon dares to escape his misfortunes. Is working a farm and raising a family such an impossible thing to ask? Wasn’t God supposed to answer prayers—not turn a deaf ear?
After surviving the treacherous voyage to America, Mick discovers the rumors of ample opportunity aren’t exactly true. His defective body hampers employment and keeps him dependent upon his peculiar sister. However, an unexpected invitation to move to the heartland guarantees his dreams.
Mick’s own dreadful choices hamper his hopes when he accepts work as a widow’s farmhand. Unbeknownst to him, there’s deception afoot. Mick’s inattention to love causes catastrophe as single fatherhood cruelly shatters his family. Will God miraculously hear his prayers this time?
In Book 1 of Those Resilient Muldoons series, this misguided, wayward widower encounters God’s unexpected presence.
What I’m Giving Away
I’ve joined a group of authors in a newsletter round robin and each month I will feature a different author in my newsletter and my subscribers can download their book for free. I thought I would start out with the first one here. All That Glistens by Marie Wells Coutu
When the bright lights of Broadway dim, the warm glow of home beckons to Delia. Delia left her tiny Kentucky hometown to make her mark on a Broadway stage in the 1930s. But when her success proves fleeting, will she be welcomed home or will her older sister’s jealousy tarnish the homecoming?
This short story was originally published in Best Short Stories from The Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction Contest 2023.
Get your FREE copy of All That Glistens
Hope you have a wonderful week
Blessings,
Denise
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