Happy almost Valentine’s Day, everyone!

I spent a lot of my life pretty much hating this holiday. It’s kind of the single person’s nightmare day when they’re reminded that they’re “alone.” But, if I could go back in time and talk to my former self, I’d tell her it’s her choice to feel that way. There’s plenty of ways to show love for yourself, and being lonely is different than being alone. I spent so much time worrying I’d never have a husband/boyfriend/whatever when I should have realized that was society’s pressure and other people’s problems being shoved onto me. So single folks, guess what? There is nothing wrong with you.

I also used to think the romance part of stories were dumb. Sometimes, they are. Like you’ve got this great race-through-history style book about the Knights Templar with espionage and action and artifacts and all this DiVinci Code style action, and then the main characters hook up for like, no reason. I’m looking at you, The Last Templar.

Other times when I read, the love story in some way just rings true to me. I didn’t really like much about The Historian (you can read my review here) but the also-in-some-ways pointless love story between the main character and Barley echoed my own adolescent fumblings in a way that was really sweet and real and hit me in an unexpected way.

Now, I’m writing about two young men who fell in love as 13-year-olds, and seem destined to be together, part of a legendary narrative. But there’s no such thing as a perfect relationship, even though it’s going to break my heart to put them through a storm. I honestly don’t know what will happen in the end. Writing about love is actually pretty great. I don’t know if I’ll ever be a romance writer, but I enjoy that aspect of some of my stories.

These characters in love are from my short story Idylls of the King which will appear in Running Wild Press’s Anthology of Short Stories Vol. 2. It releases on March 15th, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

I’ll be sure to let you all know where you can buy your copies. One place will likely be M and M Bookstore in Cedar Rapids, IA. They are awesome and extremely supportive of local authors! Please check them out and support a local business.

My other big news is that I’ll be at Imagine Other Worlds with Authors, a wonderful book signing event, July 21, 2018 from 10 am to 3 pm at the Marion Columbus Club at 5650 Kacena Avenue in Marion, Iowa.

I know it’s not probably the most professional headshot, but I took that selfie at a cafe in Paris. That day(s) I went to the airport and flew to Paris all by myself with a connection in London. It was the best international flight ever — the plane was empty so I could actually sleep, and then on my connection from London, this random French dude gave me his business class ticket so he could sit with his wife. So I got free breakfast and fun cheeses. I landed in Paris and hit the ground running. I figured out how to ride the RER all by myself and rendezvoused with my husband at Notre Dame. This was a very big day for me where I was happy to be myself and be alive. And that’s how I feel when I write. So, dopey picture gets to stay :).