Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Your nonfiction book about traveling on a houseboat in France for several years is magical. How did the adventure, and the book come about?
A. That answer is so long, I had to write a book about cruising the waterways of Europe, Just Imagine: A New Life on An Old Boat. I have an adventurous husband who came up with a radical idea for a charter business in France called “Barge and Breakfast” on a 1906 Dutch barge we christened “Imagine.”
Q. You also wrote a nonfiction picture book about the real-life adventure of a lost dog in a national park. Tell us more! What advice do you have for others writing children's books?
A. Jade—Lost in Yellowstone is based on Bring Jade Home, the true story of a young Australian shepherd, Jade, who was lost in Yellowstone National Park for 44 days and survived. My advice is that children’s books are not “easy.” Identify your age range, tell the story in as few words as possible, and rely on illustrations to show the rest. I am currently submitting my newest picture book, Star: The Lockkeeper’s Cat in Paris, based on my ten years on the French waterways and love of my cats who cruised with us!
Q. You're currently writing a traditional romantic suspense series. Can you give us the "logline" or thumbnail plot summary of each book, please? When will the next book debut and what is its title and logline?
A. Desire in Dairyland is a contemporary romance/mystery set in Southeastern Wisconsin. Struggling nurse Ruth Markson dreams of becoming a doctor, but when healthy residents at her retirement facility die mysteriously, she teams up with her charming, tech-savvy childhood friend to uncover the truth. Amid scheming coworkers, an Elvis-impersonating nemesis, and a rogue goose, Ruth must solve the case—before she becomes the next target.
Nowhere Wisconsin, a Romantic Suspense novel, is currently on submission. Street artist Leslie Engel flees a violent ex and hides out at her family’s RV park, focusing on her art and avoiding emotional ties. But when she falls for local cop Seth Miller, her guarded world cracks. Leslie and Seth are thrust into a fight for their lives—and a chance at love.
My next WIP is A French Love Afloat. In Burgundy, a forty-something heiress expects a cozy boat but finds a rundown barge. She hires a reserved local boat restorer, and as they rebuild the vessel, their tension turns to admiration. Amid the repairs, she uncovers secrets from her aunt’s past—including an unfinished love story that may mirror her own.
Q. When you're not writing, what makes you smile and enjoy life?
A. I learned to knit from a guest aboard “Imagine” and ever since have knitted hundreds of projects, particularly socks. I love to read, cook (I made the meals on board “Imagine”) and travel. In September of last year, my husband and I went on a French river cruise to our homeport in St., Jean des Losne and let someone else do all the work!