Author of paranormal and romantic suspense. Follow her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alicia-Dean/131939826889437) or twiiter (https://twitter.com/Alicia_Dean_)
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Patricia McAlexander…
“Researching My Ancestors for Second Wives”
(The nine members of the Kornmeyer family listed on the manifest of the Jane E. Williams, October 7, 1850)
On a January afternoon in 2018, I sat at a computer in the Heritage Room of the Athens-Clarke County Library in Athens, Georgia, excited as an image came up on Ancestry.com—the manifest listing the name, gender, age, and birthplace of each passenger arriving in New York Harbor from Rotterdam on the barque Jane E. Williams, on October 7, 1850. There I found the name of my great-great-grandfather: “Martin Kornmeyer (M) 38, Farmer, Baden.” Listed below were the names of those traveling with him:
Rosa Jackle (F) 28, Baden
Theresa Kornmeyer (F) 15, Baden
Martin Kornmeyer (M) 14, Baden
Peter Kornmeyer (M) 12, Baden
Joseph Kornmeyer (M ) 10, Baden
Gabriel Kornmeyer (M) 8, Baden
Phillip Kornmeyer (M) 6, Baden
Mathilda Kornmeyer (F) 4, Baden
The last seven names were, of course, his children. But the list raised several questions. Catholic Church records had listed the Kornmeyer family—which presumably would have been Martin, his wife Maria Ursula Uhl, and their seven children—as leaving the town of Böhringen, Baden, in 1848, on their way to the New World. But where was Martin’s wife? And who was Rosa Jackle? She was not another child—she was only ten years younger than Martin. Finally, passage across the Atlantic at that time took six to twelve weeks, so the Jane E. Williams must have left Rotterdam sometime in the late summer of 1850. What had happened to the family during the two years after they left Böhringen? And what were the stories of those children in America, especially the younger Martin Kornmeyer, my great-grandfather, and his daughter Emma, my grandmother, born there in 1877?
Left to me were only documents on Ancestry.com; a nineteenth-century painting of the Jane E. Williams that came upon Google; gravestones in a Boonville, New York, cemetery; passed-down family tales and mementos—old photographs, letters, yellowed newspaper articles; my grandmother’s two-stone topaz engagement ring. Realizing how little I knew about the lives of these ancestors, even with help from other descendants, I decided their full story could be told only as historical fiction. I would have to fill in the blanks with imagination.
So, with notes and photocopied documents at hand, I began to write Second Wives. I used mostly their real names, adhered to the timeline of actual events, and embedded into the novel family tales and mementoes. Even as the novel was in progress, I researched the historical background, traveled up the Rhine as the Kornmeyers must have on their journey from Baden to Rotterdam, and visited sites of family homes and graves in Boonville, New York, where they settled.
I’ve always felt that one of the rewards of writing is the process itself, but that was especially true with Second Wives, as those ancestors I never knew came to life for me. But even more rewarding is when I’m told they came to life for readers as well.
About:
Inspired by the author’s ancestors, this historical saga traces the lives of three generations through marriage, loss, and the possibility of renewal through a second love.
Excerpt:
Martin reached down, scooped up a handful of soil, and, opening his fist, showed it to her. “I’ve loved this land, worked this soil, all my life. It will always be a part of me. But the crops have failed too many times. The farm is mortgaged. We would lose it if we stayed longer. And you know the political situation here.” He let the soil sift through his fingers back to the ground. “I will find new land in America. It will be a better home there for Esther and our children and their children.”
Rosa recognized in his eyes, his voice, the kind of passion she’d seen in Johannes when he talked of politics, of revolution. She turned away to look out past the farmhouse and barn to the winter-barren land beyond. She thought of the ragged men in the cities, of their angry demonstrations, of what Johannes had said about America. She turned back. “Yes, I see why you have to go.” Pulling her hood back over her head, she began moving out into the wind. “And it’s time for me to go back to Stuttgart. I’ll find work there as a governess.”
“Rosa!” He reached out and took her arm. “Esther and I want you to come with us.”
Note: If you search for Second Wives on Amazon, for some reason the search bar has my name as Patricia ALEXANDER—they’ve omitted the Mc. They tell me it has to do with autocorrect and cannot be changed. Pay no attention. The book comes up anyway.
About the Author:
Originally from upstate New York, Patricia Jewell McAlexander earned degrees from the State University of New York at Albany, Columbia University, and The University of Wisconsin, Madison, all in English. It was in Madison that she met her Southerner husband, Hubert, a fellow graduate student. They made Athens, Georgia their home, raised their son there, and taught at the University of Georgia. After retiring, Patricia has had more time to garden and travel while renewing her interests in photography, history, and, most of all, writing fiction.. Since 2020 she has published four contemporary novels of romantic suspense—Stranger in the Storm, Shadows of Doubt, The Student in Classroom Six, and The Last Golden Isle. In her most recent novel, Second Wives, she combines the romance and psychological complexity of her previous works with family lore and genealogical research to create her first novel of historical fiction.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Darlene Fredette…
In Redford Falls, connections aren’t just made, they’re woven into the very fabric of the town. Every story in this seven‑book series celebrates the friendships that grow from chance encounters, the families who rally around one another, and the bonds that deepen in the most unexpected moments.
Set against the backdrop of a cozy mountain town, Redford Falls offers more than scenic views. The ski resort hums with excitement, the local restaurant and lounge buzz with familiar laughter, and the chocolate shop tempts residents and visitors alike with sweet indulgence. These places aren’t just settings; they’re gathering spots where relationships spark, heal, and flourish.
Each book invites readers to return to a community where second chances feel possible, every character has a place, every relationship matters, and every book feels like a return visit to friends you’ve missed.
A Redford Falls Story
Nestled in the heart of Redford Falls is a charming small town that captures the warmth of close-knit community life, where friendly faces greet you on Main Street and every shop holds a story. Redford Falls offers the perfect setting for heartwarming moments against a bustling ski resort, quaint local businesses, and the town’s picturesque park, complete with winding trails and cascading waterfalls. Whether it’s family bonds that grow stronger, friendships that withstand the test of time, twists that intrigue, or love that blooms in the most unexpected ways, this series celebrates the beauty of connection in a place where everyone feels at home.
One Sweet Christmas
More than a few pieces of chocolate are essential to fill this Scrooge’s heart with Christmas cheer.
Jackson Frost wanted to spend Christmas on a beach, instead, he’s home in snowy Redford Falls dressed in a Santa suit. Will the temptation of delectable chocolate and Candice Cane lure him to stay?
Winter’s Kiss
Her high heels flattened the snow, and his defences didn’t stand a chance.
As chilly glares between Danielle Lerato and Andrew Bailey thaw into cozy glances, Danielle suspects the town’s snowy landscape is warming more than her toes. Maybe this snowy wonderland isn’t a detour. Maybe it’s destiny.
Broken Branches
Some branches break, but where hearts once shattered, love dares to bloom again.
Years ago, a devastating family tragedy forced Maripier Nadeau to leave Redford Falls, leaving Tyler Kringle to pick up the pieces of their broken relationship. Now she’s returned, reigniting memories and emotions Tyler thought he had buried.
Secret Recipe
In the heat of the kitchen, one woman’s secret recipe blends danger, deception, and desire.
Jess Robinson is desperate for a fresh start, but an unexpected call drags her back into the dangerous world she thought she’d escaped. As drama simmers, Jess and Travis Cooper are caught in a game where Jess must execute the perfect con.
Legacy Lies Loyalty
When loyalty is tested, and lies run deep, the legacy they inherit could cost them everything.
A string of mysterious accidents pulls Jordan McKenzie into a web of danger. When long-buried secrets emerge, and danger looms, Jordan and Logan Crane must decide what—and who—is worth fighting for.
Derailed Hearts
With a matchmaking grandmother and a mythical rabbit at work, two hearts on a cross‑country train are destined to collide.
A cross-Canada train trip for Ethan Marley and his young daughter seems like the perfect fresh start—until Jenn Martini, a captivating woman on board, steals his breath. But Ethan and Jenn must decide whether the truth will shatter their fragile new beginning…or save their future.
Trickster
Can she heal the trickster before he breaks her heart?
Enchanted by his father’s feisty assistant, Eric Martini masks his heart. Convinced his destined future is already written in the stars—and doesn’t include Jade Parsons, will Eric and Jade find the courage to trust the mythical and smoky signs before their paths are severed forever?
Darlene Fredette is a multi-published author of contemporary women’s fiction that celebrates resilience, romance, and the small-town magic woven into ordinary days. Step inside her world for heartfelt stories, character-driven moments, a touch of charm, wit, twists, and just enough intrigue to keep you turning the pages. Residing on Canada’s scenic Atlantic Coast, where summers are too short and winters too long, she finds inspiration from family, nature, and the quiet moments that ignite the imagination, and enjoys life with her husband, daughter, and two large dogs.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Maria Imbalzano. I noticed I have a lot in common with her (favorite book, for one), but I cannot get on board with her favorite sports team. 😀
Hello Maria, welcome. Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?
I am a retired divorce lawyer. I practiced law for 38 years and found it very fulfilling in that I was helping my clients get through a very difficult time in their lives. My experiences as a divorce attorney were instrumental in writing “Sworn to Collide.”
What was your first job?
When I was 14, I had a job as a candy girl at a movie theater. All my friends worked there and it was a blast. We saw every movie several times, ate as much popcorn as we wanted, and when all the patrons left and we were supposed to lock-up, we stayed and partied.
What’s your favorite book of all time and why?
“Gone With the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell. I loved learning about the history of the civil war but I also loved the romance aspect. The push and pull between Scarlett and Rhett kept me turning the pages. One of my daughter’s just bought me a leather-bound version with gold-edged pages for my birthday. I just started reading it again.
What’s your favorite childhood book?
“The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.” Although it’s a children’s story that follows a young prince who visits various planets, the author makes observations about life, love, and human relationships. We were just in France, where “Le Petit Prince” is very popular. I bought a copy for my grandchildren.
What is your favorite quote?
“Some women fear the fire. Some women simply become it.”
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
In the Sworn Sisters Series, the four girlfriends are based on my high school friends. I’m still very close with them today. The stories are not their stories, but some personality traits, backgrounds, and physical aspects are most definitely based on them.
Who is the most famous person you have ever met?
David Copperfield. I was at one of his performances many years ago (when he was young and very handsome) and he pulled me out of the audience to go up on stage with him. He performed some magic trick with a duck. He did give me a kiss at the end.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
While practicing divorce law for over 35 years, I saw the many reasons why people were willing to throw in the towel. Of course there were the affairs, money problems, and marrying for the wrong reasons. But many couples grew apart because they couldn’t or wouldn’t communicate effectively with each other. The reader will see this problem in “Sworn to Collide.” Communication is key in any relationship, and if one or both parties aren’t sharing what they need or want, the other person is never going to be able to provide it.
Your favorite…
Movie Pretty Woman
Music I love female artists from rock and roll (Janis Joplin, Melissa Ethridge) to country (Kacey Musgraves, Carly Pearce). My ITunes playlists are very diverse.
Place you’ve visited Amalfi Coast, Italy
Place you’d like to visit Thailand
TV show from childhood That Girl
TV show from adulthood Younger
Food Pizza
Sports team Yankees
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? Television
She thought she had it all—until she realized she’d lost herself
Excerpt:
After they finished opening their presents, I stuffed the discarded wrapping paper into a trash bag and turned to Ben. “Do you want to help make breakfast?”
His eyebrows shot up. “Sure.”
It had been months since we’d occupied the house together. Planning for today had set my nerves on end, but I wanted Christmas to continue to be special for the kids. Including him was a must, even if his presence brought back memories that hurt me to the core.
He followed me into the kitchen where I got busy taking out eggs, bacon, milk, and butter from the refrigerator.
“Jennifer is going to want pancakes, so can you get out the mix?”
He complied, and before long we were side by side at the counter, preparing a feast.
He cracked an egg and went to drop it into the bowl, but my hand got in the way, and the egg slid right over my wrist.
“Sorry.” He laughed despite his apology.
“You did that on purpose.” My eyes widened as I looked into his.
“I didn’t,” he protested, but he continued laughing.
I picked up the measuring cup with pancake flour and held it menacingly.
“What do you plan to do with that? If you dump it over my head, you’ll just have a mess to clean up.”
Instead, I blew against the top, right into his face.
His laughter rang through the kitchen and melted my heart.
“Perfect clown makeup. Who knew?”
I dusted off his cheek with my fingers, and our eyes met, all laughter gone for the moment. He held my wrist, keeping my hand there. Turning his face against it, he kissed my palm, sending electric currents through my veins. He inched closer, and his lips were a whisper away. I held my breath. Waiting. Wanting.
“Is breakfast ready yet?” Jennifer skipped into the kitchen with Johnny in tow.
“I’m hungry, Mom.” Johnny squeezed between us and clung to my leg.
I held in my frustration as I ducked down to hug him before getting back to work. “Just a little while longer.”
Disappointment wound through my being like a snake, but I had to tamp it down. Even with my resolve, regret streamed through every cell in my body and would most definitely last the entire day.
Maria Imbalzano is an award-winning contemporary author who writes about strong, independent women and the men who fall in love with them. She recently retired from the practice of law, but legal issues have a way of showing up in many of her novels. When not writing, she loves to travel both abroad and in the states. Maria lives in central New Jersey with her husband–not far from her two daughters. For more information about her books, please visit her website at http://mariaimbalzano.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Susan Howell…
Too Much Confidence? Or Not Enough?
“I don’t want to drive late at night in this storm,” she says. “I’ll wait until morning when it clears up.”
“I’ll drive. It’s no problem,” he says.
So what just happened here? Did she lack confidence? Or did he have too much?
People who study gendered behavior report that in situations often considered “masculine” (like driving at night through a storm, for instance) women tend to feel less confident, men more confident.
When I first heard of this tendency, I quickly decided that women need to work on this. After all, if we were more self-assured, we might take on more challenges without the hesitancy that undermines our efforts.
Then it occurred to me: Maybe women don’t have too little confidence; maybe men have too much. Outside of an emergency situation, maybe no one needs to drive through a storm at night. Maybe her caution is appropriate and he’s taking unnecessary risks.
Why are we quick to assume (okay, I was quick to assume) that when research points to differences in the way men and women do things, that women are the ones in error? Should the goal be to align the behavior of us women to the standard set by men? Wouldn’t it make more sense to gauge the appropriateness of a behavior on the likely outcome of the action rather than by whether it’s the “male” or “female” way of doing things?
Once aware of this tendency, I changed the way I presented gender differences in my classes, presenting them as just that – differences. I hoped to communicate that sometimes men get it right, sometimes women get it right. Sometimes we both get it right (or wrong) in different ways.
What’s your experience? Have you ever had the other gender held up as a standard to which you need to get in line? If so, how have you dealt with this? I’d love to see your comments!
When my husband and I were newlyweds, we lived in the city where he attended seminary. Although I looked forward to graduate training, I hadn’t yet determined where to go nor which program to pursue. It made sense, I told myself, for him to go first. He would study while I worked to support us and took time to choose a school and program for myself.
I had several friends in the same situation and spoke with them occasionally about my plans to attend school when my husband finished. I assumed they would do the same. After all, we had spent our college days studying and planning for the careers we would pursue. Why not follow through? More than one of them told me we couldn’t make plans yet since we didn’t know where God would call our husbands. We would have to wait and see.
My students will find it hard to imagine that, at first, I believed those words: I would have to wait and see. But it bothered me. I couldn’t let it go. I had studied hard and prayed for years about my professional plans. I read everything about psychology I could get my hands on. I pored over graduate school catalogs while I dreamed of the classes I would take, the skills I would hone, the clients I would treat. Was I supposed to wait and hope my husband would find a church close to a school with a graduate program in psychology?
I am happy to report that since I couldn’t let it go, I didn’t. One night I broached the topic with my husband. I told him that we had taken three years to invest in his life’s work and that before he took a church that would require a move, I wanted to get my master’s degree. I admit I felt a bit heretical. If he had asked me to defend my position, I’m not sure I could have. I just knew it felt right and needed to be said.
Imagine my surprise when he said, “Sure.”
Of course I should pursue my calling. And what would he do while I studied? We didn’t know. Just do what I had done for him, we supposed. Work in a job, either in his area or not depending on what he could find and put off better options until we could both relocate.
I was pleasantly surprised and, I admit, relieved. His commitment to my call equaled my commitment to his.
Bio: Dr. Susan Harris Howell is a psychologist and retired university professor. She is the author of Buried Talents, which focuses on the subtle ways women are discouraged from entering many male-dominated occupations. Buried Talents was named a winner in InterVarsity Press’s 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards. She is also the author of the novel, The Spirit of Vanderlaan, a cozy mystery set on a university campus. Susan and her husband have two grown children, a daughter-in-law, one adorable grandson, and an incorrigible beagle named Doc.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Diana Rubino, with a fascinating post, some fun facts and awesome photos. Oh, yes, and her book, which sounds like a well-researched, fabulous read.
NATHANIEL AND SOPHIA HAWTHORNE: OUR DESTINED BOND
Nathaniel and Sophia Hawthorne called themselves Adam and Eve as he suffered the shame of his family’s connection to the Salem Witch Trials.
Meet Diana
My passion for history and travel has taken me to every locale of my books and short stories, set in Medieval and Renaissance England, Paris, Egypt, the Mediterranean, colonial Virginia, New England, Washington D.C. and New York. My urban fantasy romance, FAKIN’ IT, won a Top Pick award from Romantic Times. I’m a member of the Richard III Society and the Aaron Burr Association. My husband Chris and I own CostPro, an engineering firm based in Boston. In my spare time, I bicycle, golf, play my piano, devour books of any genre, and spend as much time as possible living the dream on my beloved Cape Cod.
About NATHANIEL AND SOPHIA HAWTHORNE
Salem, Massachusetts witnessed horrific and shameful events in 1692 that haunted the town for three centuries. Accused as witches, nineteen innocent people were hanged and one was pressed to death. Judge John Hathorne and Reverend Nicholas Noyes handed down the sentences. One victim, Sarah Good, cursed Noyes from the hanging tree: “If you take away my life, God will give you blood to drink!” She then set her eyes on Judge Hathorne. “I curse you and your acknowledged heirs for all time on this wicked earth!” Hathorne was not only Sarah Good’s merciless judge; he also fathered her son Peter and refused to acknowledge him.
In 1717, Nicholas Noyes choked on his own blood and died. Every generation after the judge continued to lose Hathorne land and money, prompting the rumor of a family curse. By the time his great great grandson Nathaniel was born, they faced poverty.
Ashamed of his ancestor, Nathaniel added the ‘w’ to his last name. His novels and stories explore his beliefs and fears of sin and evil, and he based many of his characters on overbearing Puritan rulers such as Judge Hathorne.
When Nathaniel first met Sophia Peabody, they experienced instantaneous mutual attraction. Sparks flew. He rose upon my eyes and soul a king among men by divine right, she wrote in her journal.
But to Sophia’s frustration, Nathaniel insisted they keep their romance secret for three years. He had his reasons, none of which made sense to Sophia. But knowing that he believed Sarah Good’s curse inflicted so much tragedy on his family over the centuries, she made it her mission to save him. Sarah was an ancestor of Sophia’s, making her and Nathaniel distant cousins—but she kept that to herself for the time being.
Sophia Peabody’s home next to Charter Street Burying Ground, resting place of Judge Hathorne, Salem, MA
Sophia suffered severe headaches as a result of childhood mercury treatments. She underwent routine mesmerizing sessions, a popular cure for many ailments. Spirits sometimes came to her when mesmerized, and as a spiritualist and medium, she was able to contact and communicate with spirits. She knew if she could reach Sarah and persuade her to forgive Judge Hathorne, Nathaniel would be free of his lifelong burden.
Sarah Good’s son Peter had kept a journal the family passed down to the Peabodys. Sophia sensed his presence every time she turned the brittle pages and read his words. John Hathorne’s legitimate son John also kept a journal, now in the Hawthorne family’s possession. Living on opposite sides of Salem in 1692, Peter and John wrote in vivid detail about how the Salem trials tormented them throughout their lives.
Nathaniel finally agreed to announce their engagement, and married Sophia on July 9, 1842. They moved into their first home, The Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts. “Wanting nothing else but to spend the summer enjoying each other, we became Adam and Eve, alone in our Garden of Eden,” Sophia wrote in her journal.
The Old Manse, the Hawthornes’ first home as newlyweds
As success eluded Nathaniel, they lived on the verge of poverty. After being dismissed from his day job at the Salem Custom House, he wrote The Scarlet Letter, which finally gained him the recognition he deserved. But the curse he believed Sarah cast on his family still haunted him. In the book he asks for the curse to be lifted.
The House of the Seven Gables, Salem, MA, built in 1668
Sophia urged Nathaniel to write a novel about the house, knowing it would be cathartic for him. While they lived in Lenox, Nathaniel finished writing The House of the Seven Gables. The Gothic novel explored all his fears and trepidations about the curse. He told Sophia, “Writing it, and especially reading it aloud to you lifted a tremendous burden off my shoulders. I felt it physically leave me. I carried this inside me since my youth and couldn’t bring it out to face it. And I have you, and only you, to thank.”
But he did not believe the curse could be lifted.
Sophia invited renowned spiritualist John Spear to The Gables. She explained that she needed to complete one final step to convince Nathaniel the curse was lifted.
John Spear urged Nathaniel to forgive Judge Hathorne. “You don’t have to say it out loud,” John said. “Just forgive him in your heart.”
Nathaniel whispered his forgiveness.
John, Nathaniel and Sophia went to Judge Hathorne’s gravesite to give the journals proper burial.
Grave of Judge Hathorne, Charter Street Burial Ground, Salem, MA
Why I wrote FOR THE LOVE OF HAWTHORNE
I live near Salem and have been to all the Hawthorne landmarks there, and in Concord. The House of the Seven Gables has been my favorite house in the world since I’m a kid. I’ve always felt a strong spiritual connection to Salem, and always wanted to write one of my books set there, including the witch trials.
I read several of his books and stories, to get a better background on him. Nathaniel wrote from the heart, about his true beliefs, and his loathing of how the witch victims were treated. He did consider it disgraceful, and it certainly was. He added the ‘w’ to his last name to distance himself from the judge. That tormented him and his family all his life. It must have been cathartic to him to have his writing as his outlet.
I was fortunate to get a private tour of the House of the Seven Gables when I was writing the book; two of the guides, Ryan Conary and David Moffat, showed me around, and it was fabulous.
The Wayside, the only home the Hawthornes ever owned, in Concord, MA
Nathaniel added that room at the top for his writing studio
An excerpt from NATHANIEL AND SOPHIA HAWTHORNE (their visit to his cousin Susan Ingersoll at The House of the Seven Gables):
I went over to a curio cabinet and swept my eyes over the items on the shelves—a china doll wearing a calico dress, a stack of gold cups and saucers, a red and blue glass checkerboard propped up to display its surface…and a wooden hammer on the top shelf. Upon closer inspection, I saw it was a gavel that judges use in trials. Out of curiosity I picked it up and a shock ran through me as if electrified. Dear God, was it that gavel?
I dropped it to the rug. It landed with a thump. I bent to retrieve it. Somehow I knew it wouldn’t shock me this time—that was only an initial warning. “Something about it made me want to touch it, to pick it up and hold it.”
Nathaniel approached me. He stared at the gavel in my hand, horror darkening his eyes. His lips parted but no words emerged. I knew what he was thinking—the curse. He turned to his cousin, pointing at the gavel, his arm trembling.
Susan hurried over to us, took it from me and placed it back on the shelf. “Yes, it’s Judge Hathorne’s. What happened, Sophie? Are you all right?”
I looked down at my open hands, palms up. They burned as if I’d touched a hot poker. “That gavel—it carries something evil. Has anything happened to you with this, Susie?”
Nathaniel backed away and before Susan could answer me, he grasped her arm. “I begged you to get rid of that accursed thing! You know it shouldn’t be here!”
She looked from him to me, heaving a deep sigh. “I’m not inclined to dispose of it, Natty. It’s a family heirloom, notwithstanding its past.”
He gripped the chair, his face drained of color. “It’s downright evil. You know what he used that thing for.”
She held her hands up in surrender. “Very well, I’ll conceal it.” She took it off the shelf and slid it behind the checkerboard.
“That should not be in this house!” He stood his ground, his eyes fixed on the checkerboard as if it would melt in such close proximity to that horrid object.
“It’s fine there, Natty. It’s concealed from sight now.” She looked at me and gestured for me to sit again. I sat and gulped my sherry.
“Nathaniel’s always overcome with distress at the witch trials.” Susan explained what I already knew.
“And so should you be,” he cut in.
“If I must speak for Judge Hathorne, I heard stories of him from my grandfather.” Susan looked from Nathaniel to me. “The whole hysteria that caught up the judge was started by unscrupulous men to further their own riches. But spectral evidence was still admissible. No sane person could believe that blithery.”
Please help me welcome my friend and fellow Mystery on Lilac Lane series author, Maxine Douglas. Happy Release day, Maxine!!
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
I am originally from Wisconsin, born and bred, but my late-husband and I moved to Oklahoma after I retired from my day job after nearly 30 years. I share my home with my shelter cat, turned cover model. Simon. Maybe I should say Simon’s shares HIS home with me. I have one son, two granddaughters, and two great-grandchildren.
What do you want readers to come away with after they read Art of Deception?
To never give up on love and finding your soulmate. In this story, it’s reconnecting with your soulmate. Sometimes fiction imitates life.
Would you rather have a bad review or no review?
I’d rather have a bad review simply because I know the book was read, or at least I hope it was. As a rule, I believe reading a book is subjective to the reader. Not every reader gets the same experience in their journey.
If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have 3 (inanimate) objects, what would they be?
Tough question! I would want plenty of paper and pencils, as well as the good book.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
Yes! I am currently writing my next Friday the 13th story that is due to be released in November 13, 2026. In Lighthouse Cove where each sweep of the light reveals the past… and it’s waiting in the storm.
When a reclusive woman seeking solace in a storm-battered lighthouse witnesses a ghost ship emerging from the lake’s haunted past, she’s thrust into a supernatural battle with a cursed sailor torn between duty and redemption—before becomes her prison and the sea her grave. I will also be working on my second Friday the 13th story title Lighthouse Cove set to be released on November 13, 2026.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
When I first started writing way back when, I wrote what I knew and the people knew. Now I’d like to think that as much as my characters and their situations are fictional, they do carry a bit of me in them somewhere.
What do your friends and family think of your writing?
My family is very supportive, even if they haven’t read any of my books. My brothers and my son said they don’t want to know what goes on in my creative brain. LOL Several friends continuously buy and read my books, which warms my heart in the best way possible.
Your favorite…
Movie I have so many it’s hard to chose just one, but I do enjoy the Hallmark movies from time-to-time.
Music Country or classic rock from the 1960s-1990s
Place you’ve visited My late-husband and I travelled the US a lot from coast to coast.
TV show from childhood Walt Disney’s Zorro was my first Bonafide hero!
TV show from adulthood The Gilded Age, Outlander, Bridgerton, to name a few.
Sports team Why the Green Bay Packers and the Wisconsin Badgers Football
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? LOL All three!
Every masterpiece tells a story—this one whispers murder.
In the picturesque town of Wisteria, Wisconsin, gallery owner Skye Johnson loves celebrating local art and the friends who create it. When photographer Lucas Cooper agrees to show his new collection honoring his late mentor, Skye can’t wait to display it—until one photo reveals something strange. Hidden in the image of the old Hendrickson barn, where Lucas’s mentor was found dead, is a detail that doesn’t belong.
Someone has added a painted clue—a silent cry for help from a witness too afraid to speak. Now, Skye and Lucas must unravel the mystery brushstroke by brushstroke before the truth—and the artist—are buried for good.
Excerpt:
The gallery door swung open easily. Too easily.
Skye’s heart skipped. “Lucas…did you lock up when we left?”
“Yes,” he said immediately. “I always do.”
Inside, nothing looked disturbed at first glance. The photographs still lined the walls. The desk was tidy. The air smelled faintly of lemon cleaner and old wood. Then Skye saw it.
The barn photograph—the altered one—was gone.
Her breath left her in a rush. “It’s missing.”
Lucas crossed the room in three long strides. The empty hook on the wall swung slightly, as if it hadn’t yet settled.
“They only took that one,” he said, voice flat. “Not any of the others.”
Skye’s pulse thundered like a base drum. “Which means they didn’t want us studying it any longer.”
“Or they didn’t want anyone else seeing it,” Lucas added.
Her stomach twisted tightly. She turned slowly, scanning the room. “They came in again. While we were out talking to people.”
“And they knew exactly what to take,” Lucas said grimly.
Before she could respond, the bell over the door jingled and Skye jumped.
A man stood just inside the doorway, holding a large flat parcel wrapped in brown paper. He smiled, pleasant and forgettable.
“I’m looking for the gallery owner?” he said, walking toward the counter.
“That would be me,” Skye said cautiously.
“Delivery for submission review.” He handed it over. “There’s no name or addressed attached.”
Lucas frowned. “You didn’t mention expecting anything.”
“I wasn’t,” Skye said slowly, accepting the parcel. It was heavier than she expected.
The delivery man tipped an imaginary hat and left without another word. They stood in silence until the door shut.
“I don’t like this,” Lucas said.
“Neither do I.”
Skye carried the parcel to the desk and carefully unwrapped it. Her fingers trembled as the paper fell away.
The painting beneath made her gasp. It was the barn. Not a photograph; a painting. Dark, layered strokes. The same angle as Lucas’s photo. The same slant of light. And there, unmistakable in the shadows a human-shaped figure clearly watching.
Award-winning author, Maxine Douglas writes in many genres and found a love for western historical romance. A Wisconsin native, Maxine resides in Oklahoma. While Maxine may miss her family and friends in the north, she loves the mild winters Oklahoma has to offer.
Having found love in 2001 and then losing the love of her life in 2018 to cancer, Maxine hasn’t given up on believing in true love. She hopes that she expresses that feeling with every story she brings to life through her writing.
Maxine is a current member of the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. and its affiliations Central Region Oklahoma Writers and Oklahoma Romance Writers Guild. She is also a member of the Romance Writers of American, The Friends of the Chickasha Public Library, and serves as a Board Member on the Chickasha Area Arts Council.
Today is release day for my newest cozy mystery, Wick’ed Ways, and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with readers. It’s my first cozy mystery and I had so much fun writing it.
This story introduces Paget Ross, a woman looking for a fresh start after divorce. She leaves Oklahoma behind and moves to charming Wisteria, Wisconsin, where she purchases a candle shop called Lotus and Lights.
But just as life begins looking brighter, murder strikes inside her shop.
Now Paget must clear her name, uncover secrets, and figure out who wants her gone for good.
If you love cozy mysteries with quirky townsfolk, charming settings, amateur sleuths, and twists, I hope you’ll check it out.
Wick’ed Ways is part of the wonderful Mystery on Lilac Lane series and is available now on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited.
Thank you so much to everyone who supports authors and books. Release day is always exciting—and a little nerve-wracking—but sharing stories with readers makes it all worthwhile.
🕯️ Buy or borrow Wick’ed Ways today!
And be sure to check out the other books in the Mystery on Lilac Lane Series…
Please help me welcome today’s guest, L.B. Griffin…
“Creativity has woven itself through every stage of my life, colour, words, and human connections, good and bad, have shaped the person I have become. I’m still learning and still growing, but I realise why I chose creativity. They are the quiet companions that ask for nothing but time, imagination, and a willingness to sit with my own thoughts. I have also discovered they have been my safety net, and, in many ways, free therapy. The trouble is, despite the need to write or paint, by its very nature they are solitary pursuits. Hours can slip by as I lose myself in a canvas or a chapter. My poor husband can attest to that as he is often left to his own devices!
Anyway, the seed for Secrets, Shame and a Shoebox was planted years earlier during a conversation with my grandfather. He spoke fondly of a child his mother once fostered, a memory so vivid and tender, it has stayed with me fifty years on. That single recollection became the spark for two of my characters, Harriet and Kathleen. Though their backgrounds differ dramatically, they are drawn together by a chain of events neither could have foreseen. Their story is one of resilience, connection, and the unexpected ways lives intertwine.
My years as a lecturer, teaching vulnerable adults, and later in social work, also shaped the emotional landscape of the novels. Those experiences taught me about courage, compassion, and the quiet strength people carry even when life has been unkind. I remain deeply grateful for everything my students and clients taught me. It is their stories, struggles, and triumphs which echo through the pages of my book. In many ways, my passions, all stem from the same place: a desire to understand people and to honour their stories.
I think, while creativity may begin in solitude, its true power lies in connection. And that, more than anything, is what keeps me returning to the blank page. I hope in some small way, my stories resonate with my readers and if needed, offers a gentle nudge toward survival.
When I was offered a contract for my debut and subsequent companion, I couldn’t believe it and wanted to share the experience with others. I knew others were out there, writing in the quiet corners of their homes, unsure whether their words mattered. I wanted to reach them and build a space where creativity wasn’t something done in isolation, but something we nurtured together. That’s how my free writers’ workshop began. Today, I run three, free creative writing groups, all built on the simple belief that we grow stronger when we support one another. Watching new writers find their confidence has been amazing, and as fulfilling as writing itself.
“In a gentle way you can shake the world…” Mahatma Ghandi. Growing up on a council estate taught me resilience, perspective, and a strong sense of identity. I never saw my background as something to hide or apologise for. It was normal. My normal. And for everyone who lived there, it was theirs too.
That clarity became especially important during a conference where the speaker made an offhand remark about the area. She suggested that, because the event was being held on a council estate, candidates should be wary, even likening the place to a war zone. Instead of letting it pass, I challenged it, calmly but firmly.
The reaction in the room was immediate: people actually paused, and listened, and to my great surprise, reconsidered their assumptions. In that moment, I realised something important about myself. I could use my voice to make people think, to disrupt bias, and to shift a conversation. It was the first time I truly understood the power of words. Not just to express who I am but hopefully begin to influence how others see the world.
Harriet Laws has lost almost everything, but the quiet kindness of neighbours helps her begin again. A poor choice in marriage and long‑kept secrets rise to the surface. As she confronts what she once ran from, Harriet discovers the strength to rebuild a future on her own terms.
A favourite line from Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox: Your childhood will shape your life, it is the path you choose that will shape your future.
Fun fact
I originally wrote the story as a way to explore how ordinary people carry extraordinary strength. The shoebox itself was inspired by a real keepsake box. It maybe small, and unremarkable, but it holds memories far bigger than its size.
What was the most difficult thing about writing in conjunction with the other authors.
I have tried working with other authors on two occasions. While I am excited by the prospect I found I wasn’t a match. I look forward to finding someone – one day.
What was the best thing about writing in conjunction with other authors
I love sharing and listening to viewpoints – the creative writing groups do exactly that. It helps me develop and hone my skills and in return I offer my thoughts.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Ruben D. Gonzales…
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in East LA. After college I was with the Peace Corps teaching school in an African village by day and reading and writing by candlelight at night. Before I retired from full time work, I was Director of Development for Winston-Salem, NC. Now I write full time and teach part-time with the local community college. My first novel of historical fiction was, The Cottage on the Bay, published by Moonshine Cove Publishing and came out in 2018 and my second book, Murder on Black Mountain, the first in a mystery series, came out in 2020 from Fire Star Press. The second book in my Black Mountain Mystery series came out in 2022 by Indigo Sea Press, the third book in the series came out in June 2023, and the fourth book in the series released in August 2025. I have two recent books released by the Wild Rose Press, a mystery book, Cabana Bay, the first in a mystery series, released on May 14, 2025, and an action/adventure book, Under the Tree of Life, released in Sept. 2025.
Family? My wife and I have nine grandchildren!
Pets? We are down to one old dog now – but when he leaves us, we plan a long trip to Australia and after that we will get another one. In both my series, dogs are important characters in the stories.
Where did you get the idea for Murder at The Water Wheel?
Murder of course is the main plot point of Cozy Mysteries so it comes with the territory, but aside from that I love a good murder mystery.
Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?
Murder at the Water Wheel is book four in my Black Mountain Mystery Series, and the Water Wheel in the story is an important fixture in the small mountain town with a mysterious past and present.
Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?
I was born and raised in East Los Angeles so my first trip to the mountains of the Blue Ridge Parkway was a real eye-opening experience. In a huge coincidence in writing the story was a connection to mountain music, especially the blue grass tradition. As it would happen, I had a college roommate that was a blue grass fan and I eventually learned how to play the banjo and guitar, never imagining I would one day live in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?
For me, it is getting the grammar right. I’m afraid an editor I work with is correct in saying my grammar sucks.
What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular?
With a series, it is difficult to weave in pertinent information from the first book into the subsequent books, seamlessly. You need enough to explain things but you still have to have a new story!
What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do?
I run about every day. It has to be real cold for me not to run. When I was young, I ran in the Boston Marathon.
What’s your favorite book of all time and why?
Moby Dick. So many elements of writing in one book and a historically inspiring trope.
Would you rather have a bad review or no review?
I’ll take a bad review. Usually people have legitimate complaints and taking the complaint to heart is an opportunity to do better.
What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?
Fantasy
Your most prized material possession?
My piano.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
Yes, I have two completed manuscripts that have yet to find a home.
What is the toughest criticism given to you as an author?
That my grammar sucks!
What has been the best compliment?
One publisher told me that my historical fiction book about a civil war plantation matriarch’s life was one of the best they ever published.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
The physical characteristics are from real people but their emotional stuff is all made up. MOSTLY
My favorite all time movie: Casablanca
GIVEAWAY!!!
I’m giving away a copy of my book, Murder at the Water Wheel. Please go to my website; www.rubendgonzales.com and use the contact page form to send me your request to be entered into a drawing for the book. Include you name so we can contact you if you are chosen and include the word “drawing” as well.
About the Book:
Since Emma can read auras, will she know if you are lying about murder?
While on his way to the altar to marry Emma’s widowed sister-in-law, Trent Cochran ends up dead in the Water Wheel Pond of the town’s historic Shaw Mill. The murder at the mill, now a tourist attraction and major component of the Shaw business empire and Black Mountain’s vibrant downtown, threatens to disrupt commerce. Mayor Shaw grows frustrated with the contracted sheriff’s department handling of the matter and asks Emma to look into it. While balancing her new responsibilities publishing the Black Mountain Post, the town’s biweekly newspaper, operating her growing photography business, and navigating her personal affairs of the heart, Emma must investigate the murder and help free an innocent man. Using her ancestral gift of aura reading, Emma separates suspects telling the truth and those that are lying, to discover who killed Trent Cochrane at the Water Wheel.
Excerpt:
Like most people, I enjoy a good wedding. Especially when it is someone else’s. But when my big brother’s widow told me that she and Trent Cochran planned to get married in the fall, I thought it was a bit premature. I mean, Becky had only just started seeing the guy. Did she even know Trent? I mean, really know him. Can any of us say we really know a person?
Now, I admit he was good looking, in a tall, dark, and lean way, but getting married? Wow!
“So, what happened to Drew Carter,” I asked when I saw her after I heard her wedding plans, trying to remember if Becky had told me why she ended it with her former boyfriend. “I thought you and Drew were hot for each other. He’s such a nice guy.”
“Drew’s nice, Emma,” she told me then, “but he doesn’t have ambition. He’s just happy to be working at the lumber mill for fifteen dollars an hour. I need someone with more ambition. You know, I have my boys to worry about. Trent has more ambition.”
“What about Eddie Jordan,” I had asked about another nice guy she saw after my big brother, her husband, was murdered. We all grew up with Eddie and now he coached at the Black Mountain High School.
“All Eddie wanted to do was play games. He wasn’t serious about anything if it didn’t involve sports.”
Of course, all that ambition or seriousness doesn’t do you any good if you end up dead the morning of your wedding.
Becky’s opinion aside, I always had mixed feelings about Trent, especially his dark orange aura. The color of an aura I associate with people who can’t make commitments.
I’ve always been able to see a person’s aura. When I was young I thought everyone could. It wasn’t until my grandmother, Louise Looking Bird, explained that my aura reading ability was handed down to me by my Cherokee ancestors. A special gift that not just everyone had.
I use my aura reading gift in my portrait photography. I found I got the best results if I clicked the shutter at the moment of a subject’s aura’s rightest moment. My old editor praised my work saying, my shots captured the real essence of people, and their likeness was so real it was as if the subject was only caught between breaths.
So, the wedding plan went forward and the morning after the big rehearsal dinner Trent Cochran threw at the Shaw Winery, I donned my heavy parka, grabbed my camera, and clenching my teeth, I went for a walk with my dog, Blue. The old pro photographers I used to work with always said never go anywhere without your camera because you never know what you might see.
The first freeze of the season swooped down the mountain in the morning catching the small mountain town in a surprise early winter of ice and cold. The kind of cold you meet with strong hot coffee and double layers of clothes. Since I was out so early, I thought I’d take a few photos of the sunrise over the frozen town.
My dog, Blue, never feels the cold like people, so pulled on her leash dragging me along, happy to be outside. I got Blue as a gift for solving a murder two years ago and we started a rough get acquainted period but came out the other end better for our trial. We’ve settled into kind of a mother – teenage daughter type of life together, in the little mountain town of Black Mountain I moved back to after swearing I never would. Except in this relationship, Blue was more the mother and me more the daughter.
We walked along a tributary of the Swannanoa River, right before a wide bend that flows at the northern edge of town. In the old days, like a hundred and fifty years ago, before electricity, the river’s powerful flow turned a big water wheel at the mill. It drove the saw that cut the lumber and crushed the grain that made the Shaw family the richest in the Valley of the Three Forks.
Although I’m part Shaw, I’ve tended to shy away from the recognition because they are a greedy bunch. The Shaw family owns just about everything in town including the bank, general store, real estate company, and the renovated historic water wheel where they sell tourist souvenirs, mountain crafts, wine from their vineyard, and baked goods from the community women who make the best pies in the state.
In a major irony, it appeared that I inherited the same business genetic make-up that drove the founding fathers of the Shaw clan. I returned to my childhood home to open my own business, a photography studio. A good many people, mostly men, laughed at my choice of an enterprise since these days everyone carries a phone camera and thinks of themselves as the next Ansel Adams. But through a varied menu of services and products I’ve managed to survive in the business world, thank you very much.
At the bend in the river, where Main Street straightens out, Blue and I approached a trio of County Sheriff cruisers, lights flashing in the early morning light, and several red trucks and a vehicle from the volunteer rescue squad. A big crowd started to form in front of the historic water wheel complex. Not one to miss an opportunity to capture a moment, I clicked off several shots of the flashing lights reflecting off the water, with the mill a dark shadow looming over the scene.
“What’s going on?” I asked Shelby Shaw when I saw her in front of the mill. Shelby is the mayor’s wife and the manager of the mill. As she stood outside the yellow taped off area, I shot a profile of her with the mill in the background. Even in the morning her aura brimmed out in a dark gold, a sign of people having trouble.
“I can’t believe it,” she moaned.
“What?”
“I found Trent Cochran, down in the water wheel pond,” she said. “Looks like he’s dead.”
About the Author:
I was born and raised in East LA. After college I was with the Peace Corps teaching school in an African village by day and reading and writing by candlelight at night. Before I retired from full time work, I was Director of Development for Winston-Salem, NC. Now I write full time and teach part-time with the local community college. My first novel of historical fiction was, The Cottage on the Bay, published by Moonshine Cove Publishing and came out in 2018 and my second book, Murder on Black Mountain, the first in a mystery series, came out in 2020 from Fire Star Press. The second book in my Black Mountain Mystery series came out in 2022 by Indigo Sea Press, the third book in the series came out in June 2023, and the fourth book in the series released in August 2025. I have two recent books released by the Wild Rose Press, a mystery book, Cabana Bay, the first in a mystery series, released on May 14, 2025, and an action/adventure book, Under the Tree of Life, released in Sept. 2025.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, friend and fellow author Pamela Thibodeaux…
Giving on Purpose How 30 Days of Conscious Giving can Chang Your Life.
Here’s the Blurb: What if the key to abundance isn’t giving more—but giving in balance?
We’ve been taught that it’s more blessed to give than to receive. But what if receiving is just as sacred as giving? And what if the two were never meant to exist apart?
The Giving on Purpose journal invites you to explore the powerful, often misunderstood connection between giving and receiving. If you’ve ever felt like you give endlessly—your time, love, energy, or resources—yet struggle to receive in return, this journal was created for you.
Through guided reflection and intentional prompts, Giving on Purpose gently opens your heart and mind to conscious giving—helping you recognize where imbalance may be blocking blessings and how aligning giving with receiving can transform your spiritual and emotional well-being.
✨ Inside, you’ll discover how to:
• Release guilt around receiving
• Recognize your worthiness to receive from God
• Cultivate deeper gratitude in everyday life
• Restore balance between generosity and abundance
By the final page, readers experience a renewed sense of self-worth, a deeper belief in their God-given worthiness to receive, and a lasting attitude of gratitude.
Give freely. Receive boldly. Live abundantly.
Giving on Purpose: How 30 Days of Conscious Giving can Change Your Life is your invitation to do all three—without guilt, fear, or limitation.
Why I Wrote Giving on Purpose How 30 Days of Conscious Giving can Chang Your Life: Many people give automatically, it’s just part of our nature. But then, at some point, some folks get frustrated or resentful because you feel like you’re giving and giving and getting nothing in return. But the truth is we are always receiving! Scripture and the Universal Law of Divine Compensation tell us that when we give, it shall be given unto us good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over! I really believe this project will revolutionize the way we think about giving and receiving / sowing and reaping.
BIO: Pamela S. Thibodeaux grew up in the town of Iowa, Louisiana. She is a mother, grandmother, award-winning author, life coach and spiritual mentor. Her tagline, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ defines her life, writing, and coaching style.
Before I received the revelation that inspired this journal, I, like many, feared giving. Especially money. For much of my life, my intentions to obey and/or give were overruled by all the reasons why I couldn’t. Not always, but when there was more month at the end of my money or when I felt prompted to give but questioned whether that was truly God or guilt or just me. But as I’ve grown and matured and come to realize the truth of how powerful giving is, I do my best to act immediately when the urge hits.
Another misconception we have around giving is that money is the only commodity that truly counts. Not so!
Do you own a garden and give fruit and vegetables to your family, friends, and neighbors? Are you a hunter who shares the meat you harvest with food banks or needy families?
When he was alive, my husband loved satsumas, so we planted two trees in our yard. Every year he’d gather bags and bags of these sweet citrus fruits and give them away.
Once he went to get a haircut and a lady was talking about her husband’s diabetes and how much he loved satsumas but how expensive a small bag was. My husband went home and brought back two plastic bags full for her! He didn’t know this woman or her husband. He just enjoyed giving whatever and whenever he could.
He also loved to make jelly…you guessed it, to give away. No matter the cost, time or energy that went into making pint jars of gooey goodness, he was always willing to share the joy he experienced in doing this.
Author Alicia Dean 
