Behind the Book is a series in which I give you a behind the scenes look at one of the latest installments of The Diamond Collection. For this round, I will be focusing on Diamonds N’ Roses: Part Five of The Diamond Collection.
Diamonds N’ Roses was released on December 25, 2016 and is available at the following online retailers: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million.
Other Available Titles in The Diamond Collection: Diamonds in the Rough, Diamonds are Forever, The Ace of Diamonds, Black Diamonds, The Diamond Tiara (Part Six) and Dirty Red Diamonds (Part Seven).
CHAPTER SEVEN: DADDY LESSONS
In the last entry of Behind the Book, I discussed how Carmen wanted King to mend his relationship with his father, Jay. The purpose of that conversation was to plant a seed in King’s mind.
When Chapter Seven rolls around, Jay has invited King to breakfast to try and fix their relationship. I did this on purpose to show the seed being watered. Both Carmen and Jay are on the same wavelength when it comes to their son. I chose the diner as the place to hold this conversation because of its significance to the series (this is the site where Carmen and Jay first met).
In this scene, King shares that his pain stems from his jealousy towards Jay’s relationship with his younger brother, Rakim. I planted this on purpose as a prelude to a future book. In Book 9 (tentatively titled: Diamond Princess), there is a storyline where King and Rakim, who are now both adults, are on the warpath. Their constant arguments, fights, and battles have a major effect on the rest of the family and even leads to a murder. After finishing Book Seven, I do not know if I will keep this as a storyline as it no longer fits the series.
In this scene, King also shares his original idea of having Kane serve as his best man. In response, Jay says, “I know all about the role Kane played in your life…I will never take away what he’s done for you. He was your father when I couldn’t be. What I will attack is his character. There’s nothing authentic about him. He’s like a bootleg…”
The, “he’s like a bootleg,” line came from a conversation I had with a former friend. He was sharing a conversation he had with his mother about an older woman who was like a mother to him. His mother told him, jokingly, “she’s not the real thing, she’s a bootleg.” I was writing this scene at the time and told him I was going to use it, which is how it made it into the book.
In conclusion, I wanted this scene to take place because I wanted King and Jay to be in a healthy place before Carmen and Jay tied the knot. I thought it was important to their love story that they were both on a good page with their firstborn.
A maniac developing a fantastical drug wants one more thing to finalize the project—a test subject who fits all the parameters. But that test subject is as elusive as her namesake.
Ex-SAS operative Mitch Edwards has been on the run since the moment he was framed for treason by someone in the British government. But he’s never forgotten the flamboyant and seductive CIA operative with the tongue of a thousand languages. In a bar in Cancun, Mexico, Mitch comes face to face with her once more, and with her comes the full force of her enemies.
Reinstated Hera Force linguist and assassin, Nadia Roth, code named Phoenix, has no memory of Mitch Edwards, or of their affair before her team’s disastrous mission. Her traumatic brain injury is tricky that way. But something about this man sets her on fire and tickles the back of her mind. Her Hera teammates remember him, so why can’t she?
Mitch partners up with Hera, with the sole intent of locating those hell-bent on killing him and all who are associated with him. Yet more is at stake than their lives. A traitor hides among their ranks, one who has been revealing all their secrets to an enemy determined to procure this special drug and Nadia for his scheme.
Hera goes into operation mode, doing what they were created to do, but someone is watching, and the team finds themselves trapped behind enemy lines with no way out.
Will Nadia ever remember the man she once loved, or will they perish with the secret between them?
I was browsing a book blog and stumbled across the cover and synopsis for Phoenix’s Ascent. Although the book is not a part of the typical genre I read, the synopsis captured my interest. For one, the book cover depicted the main female character, Nadia Roth, a/k/a Phoenix, as a woman who knows how to kick ass. That was right up my alley as I love strong female leads. Then, I saw the words CIA operative. Those two things together made this book a MUST READ for me.
Phoenix’s Ascent is the second book in the Hera Force series. I did not read the first book, Mockingbird’s Cry, but it wasn’t necessary (Side Note – I have since purchased the first book because of how much I enjoyed this one). The author provides enough information and backstory that I could follow along without a problem.
The author serves up a story filled with relatable characters, vibrant dialogue, great action scenes, and unexpected plot twists. The author also has vast knowledge of the military and its operations, which is evident throughout the story.
While the book lives up to its genre – romantic suspense, I loved how this was also a story of friendship. In addition to Nadia, the Hera Force team consists of Lincoln, Jo, and Jade. They each have their own strengths (as well as weaknesses), which they use as a collective to take down those who threaten their team, and of course, the world.
Nadia’s love interest in the book is Mitch Edwards, an ex-SAS operative, who has his own problems and concerns. What makes their relationship intriguing and one to root for is the fact that they are two people who fell back from each other only to be brought back together by chance. Their relationship reminds me of the popular quote, ‘if you love something, let it go, if it comes back to you, it’s yours.’ Nadia is thrusted back into his life unexpectedly, which awakens the love and desire they had buried deep within.
I give this book 5 STARS. To be honest, I couldn’t think of one single reason why it should be rated anything less.
Eighteen months in Cancún, he’d seen the cartel violence escalate at a rate that made his time fighting in the Afghan war look like a Sunday stroll through Kensington Gardens. Despite it all, exiled SAS operative Mitchell Edwards stayed on. Where else was a man framed for treason supposed to hide out?
Swirling margarita glasses in hot, soapy water, he kept an eye on the open doorway, nodding at the comings and goings of the patrons. A breeze off the sea rippled through the grass roof. The salty, sweet air buffeted his damp face, cooling him. The sea beckoned, tempting him to come and play.
Later. After his shift. A swim in his little alcove sounded marvelous.
Mitch set the sanitized glasses on a drying rack. He raked his fingers through his blonde hair—it still took some getting used to having his hair this long—and flipped the curled strands out of his eyes. Looking and feeling more like Robinson Crusoe than Mitch Edwards. Snorting, he grabbed another handful of bar glasses and plunged them into the hot water. That he wasn’t stranded on a deserted island in the middle of the bloody sea was a better outcome compared to his fictional counterpart.
Shadows passed over the bamboo shades, dampening the late afternoon sun that bounced off the pristine sandy beach. Three men entered the bar and paused inches inside the doorway. The lead man wore a cream-colored blazer over a brilliant blue shirt, and khaki slacks. The two flanking him wore similar styled clothing, the exception being the noticeable bulges under their blazers. Lead man pulled his sunglasses from his eyes and did a quick sweep of the bar. Seemingly satisfied by whatever he did or didn’t see, he pointed at the two with him. They stepped past, and did a circular walk around the bar. Their predatory motions put Mitch at attention.
Bodyguards.
Mitch’s little, insignificant bar had attracted unwanted visitors. His quick initial assessment turned scrutinizing. These were not casual visitors, not with those bulges. No. Mitch’s blood ran cold. These three had to be cartel. What the hell were they doing here? They tended to avoid the tourists’ haunting hours, preferring to do their dirty work in the black of night.
The dapper dressed man strolled up to the bar. “El camarero, Modelo Especial, por favor.”
Giving him a curt nod, Mitch moved to the fridge. From the corner of his eye, he spotted three more men enter the bar, sporting similar bulges under their jackets to the other two, who were now stationed on opposite sides of the bar. Tension coiled through Mitch’s muscles. The place was half-full of patrons. He didn’t need or want a turf war to go down with innocents caught in the crossfire.
He retrieved the asked-for beer. The fridge door slapped shut behind him as he returned to the dapper dressed man. Mitch cranked off the metal top and held out the beer.
Winter Austin perpetually answers the question: “were you born in the winter?” with a flat “nope,” but believe her, there is a story behind her name. A lifelong Mid-West gal with strong ties to the agriculture world, Winter grew up listening to the captivating stories told by relatives around a table or a campfire. As a published author, she learned her glass half-empty personality makes for a perfect suspense/thriller writer. Taking her ability to verbally spin a vivid and detailed story, Winter translated that into writing deadly romantic suspense, mysteries, and thrillers. When she’s not slaving away at the computer, you can find Winter supporting her daughter in cattle shows, seeing her three sons off into the wide-wide world, loving on her fur babies, prodding her teacher husband, and nagging at her flock of hens to stay in the coop or the dogs will get them. She is the author of ten novels, with more on the way.
Behind the Book is a series in which I give you a behind the scenes look at one of the latest installments of The Diamond Collection. For this round, I will be focusing on Diamonds N’ Roses: Part Five of The Diamond Collection.
Diamonds N’ Roses was released on December 25, 2016 and is available at the following online retailers: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million.
Other Available Titles in The Diamond Collection: Diamonds in the Rough, Diamonds are Forever, The Ace of Diamonds, Black Diamonds, The Diamond Tiara (Part Six) and Dirty Red Diamonds (Part Seven).
CHAPTER SIX: HOLD UP
This chapter is a perfect example of how there are only good moments in the series, and not good days. The good news of the chapter is Carmen learning that her divorce from Kane is final. While this puts a smile on her face, the smile is temporary. King strolls in her office with the announcement that Kane, his stepfather, will be the best man at his upcoming nuptials.
If you’ve made it to this book in the series, then the drama and turmoil between Jay (King’s birth father) and Kane is well-known. I won’t go into all that, but to sum it up, it’s just an old-fashioned love triangle with Carmen smack dab in the middle.
In Chapter Six, there are two different dynamics going on. Carmen has officially broken ties from Kane while King is set on maintaining his. It is King’s right to choose who he wants as his best man, but Carmen also feels it’s right to share with him what the outcome could be. Carmen expresses her opinion because she wants King to heal his relationship with Jay not dig the grave any deeper. Carmen feels that Jay would be disturbed and upset over the decision because once again, he is being robbed of a special moment with his son. King doesn’t express to Carmen his reason for the decision, but Carmen believes it’s to get back at Jay for whatever issues they have.
All I wanted for this scene was for Carmen to plant a seed in King’s mind. Whether it is watered and grows, well, that’s a discussion for the next entry of Behind the Book.
Behind the Book is a series in which I give you a behind the scenes look at one of the latest installments of The Diamond Collection. For this round, I will be focusing on Diamonds N’ Roses: Part Five of The Diamond Collection.
Diamonds N’ Roses was released on December 25, 2016 and is available at the following online retailers: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million.
Other Available Titles in The Diamond Collection: Diamonds in the Rough, Diamonds are Forever, The Ace of Diamonds, Black Diamonds, The Diamond Tiara (Part Six) and Dirty Red Diamonds (Part Seven).
CHAPTER FIVE: ONLY
There are two major things to dig into when it comes to Chapter Five. The first is mother/daughter relationships. The action and dialogue between Carmen and her mother, Patricia, show how their relationship is strained. Patricia has no filter as she takes shots at not only Carmen’s parenting (because her oldest son has impregnated his teenage girlfriend), but also at Carmen’s illegitimate children with Jay (Rakim and Nyla).
This torn relationship between mother and daughter is becoming a generational curse as Carmen isn’t in the best place with her oldest daughter, Kristian. While not heavily discussed in this book, the animosity between the two stems from Carmen’s affair with Jay (Kristian blames both her mother and Jay for breaking up the family). However, Carmen still remains Mama Bear and is worried about her daughter’s safety as she took an impromptu trip to Georgia to see Victor Fontaine.
This leads me to the second thing I want to dig into…
When I wrote this book back in 2016, I believed Victor Fontaine was going to be a character that would be heavily present in the rest of the collection. This is the reason I had him pop up in this book. I thought he would be a good love interest for Kristian as he was her knight in shining armor in Book 4, Black Diamonds, during her kidnapping. Even in this chapter, he comes to her rescue when she has a night terror. I wanted readers to become familiar with seeing him.
I can honestly say as I type this that I am torn on what to do with his character. For one, Kristian has another love interest, Dijuan Harrison, who was heavily present in Book Two, Diamonds are Forever. I feel like he needs to make a grand return and Book Eight: Diamond Life, would be a good place. If he comes back, Victor has to come back, too, but I don’t want another love triangle. I feel like I have enough of that with Carmen, Jay, and Kane.
Behind the Book is a series in which I give you a behind the scenes look at one of the latest installments of The Diamond Collection. For this round, I will be focusing on Diamonds N’ Roses: Part Five of The Diamond Collection.
Diamonds N’ Roses was released on December 25, 2016 and is available at the following online retailers: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million.
Other Available Titles in The Diamond Collection: Diamonds in the Rough, Diamonds are Forever, The Ace of Diamonds, Black Diamonds, The Diamond Tiara (Part Six) and Dirty Red Diamonds (Part Seven).
CHAPTER FOUR: THE CRYING GAME
This chapter opens with a family dinner in which Carmen and Jay’s son, King, announces his plans to marry his girlfriend, Coco. While the marriage plans were revealed in a previous chapter, King and Coco are hesitant to announce their pregnancy due to their fear of how Coco’s mother, Maya, will react. While they dance around the topic, Maya has already figured out that her daughter is pregnant (the biggest clue is that they are trying to have a shotgun wedding).
Maya shares her thoughts on the pregnancy in a one on one conversation with Carmen. Her reaction isn’t positive because I wanted her to have a similar reaction to the one Carmen’s mother (Patricia) had when she learned Carmen was pregnant with King. This is an example of history repeating itself. Like Patricia was with Jay, Maya disapproves of the pregnancy because of King’s past and run-ins with the law. Another example of history repeating itself, is that just like Carmen, King is also having his first child in his early twenties.
The pregnancy and pending nuptials are only more toppings to distract Carmen and Jay from planning their wedding. With a year to go until their wedding date, more drama can only be on the rise.
A maniac developing a fantastical drug wants one more thing to finalize the project—a test subject who fits all the parameters. But that test subject is as elusive as her namesake.
Ex-SAS operative Mitch Edwards has been on the run since the moment he was framed for treason by someone in the British government. But he’s never forgotten the flamboyant and seductive CIA operative with the tongue of a thousand languages. In a bar in Cancun, Mexico, Mitch comes face to face with her once more, and with her comes the full force of her enemies.
Reinstated Hera Force linguist and assassin, Nadia Roth, code named Phoenix, has no memory of Mitch Edwards, or of their affair before her team’s disastrous mission. Her traumatic brain injury is tricky that way. But something about this man sets her on fire and tickles the back of her mind. Her Hera teammates remember him, so why can’t she?
Mitch partners up with Hera, with the sole intent of locating those hell-bent on killing him and all who are associated with him. Yet more is at stake than their lives. A traitor hides among their ranks, one who has been revealing all their secrets to an enemy determined to procure this special drug and Nadia for his scheme.
Hera goes into operation mode, doing what they were created to do, but someone is watching, and the team finds themselves trapped behind enemy lines with no way out.
Will Nadia ever remember the man she once loved, or will they perish with the secret between them?
Eighteen months in Cancún, he’d seen the cartel violence escalate at a rate that made his time fighting in the Afghan war look like a Sunday stroll through Kensington Gardens. Despite it all, exiled SAS operative Mitchell Edwards stayed on. Where else was a man framed for treason supposed to hide out?
Swirling margarita glasses in hot, soapy water, he kept an eye on the open doorway, nodding at the comings and goings of the patrons. A breeze off the sea rippled through the grass roof. The salty, sweet air buffeted his damp face, cooling him. The sea beckoned, tempting him to come and play.
Later. After his shift. A swim in his little alcove sounded marvelous.
Mitch set the sanitized glasses on a drying rack. He raked his fingers through his blonde hair—it still took some getting used to having his hair this long—and flipped the curled strands out of his eyes. Looking and feeling more like Robinson Crusoe than Mitch Edwards. Snorting, he grabbed another handful of bar glasses and plunged them into the hot water. That he wasn’t stranded on a deserted island in the middle of the bloody sea was a better outcome compared to his fictional counterpart.
Shadows passed over the bamboo shades, dampening the late afternoon sun that bounced off the pristine sandy beach. Three men entered the bar and paused inches inside the doorway. The lead man wore a cream-colored blazer over a brilliant blue shirt, and khaki slacks. The two flanking him wore similar styled clothing, the exception being the noticeable bulges under their blazers. Lead man pulled his sunglasses from his eyes and did a quick sweep of the bar. Seemingly satisfied by whatever he did or didn’t see, he pointed at the two with him. They stepped past, and did a circular walk around the bar. Their predatory motions put Mitch at attention.
Bodyguards.
Mitch’s little, insignificant bar had attracted unwanted visitors. His quick initial assessment turned scrutinizing. These were not casual visitors, not with those bulges. No. Mitch’s blood ran cold. These three had to be cartel. What the hell were they doing here? They tended to avoid the tourists’ haunting hours, preferring to do their dirty work in the black of night.
The dapper dressed man strolled up to the bar. “El camarero, Modelo Especial, por favor.”
Giving him a curt nod, Mitch moved to the fridge. From the corner of his eye, he spotted three more men enter the bar, sporting similar bulges under their jackets to the other two, who were now stationed on opposite sides of the bar. Tension coiled through Mitch’s muscles. The place was half-full of patrons. He didn’t need or want a turf war to go down with innocents caught in the crossfire.
He retrieved the asked-for beer. The fridge door slapped shut behind him as he returned to the dapper dressed man. Mitch cranked off the metal top and held out the beer.
Winter Austin perpetually answers the question: “were you born in the winter?” with a flat “nope,” but believe her, there is a story behind her name. A lifelong Mid-West gal with strong ties to the agriculture world, Winter grew up listening to the captivating stories told by relatives around a table or a campfire. As a published author, she learned her glass half-empty personality makes for a perfect suspense/thriller writer. Taking her ability to verbally spin a vivid and detailed story, Winter translated that into writing deadly romantic suspense, mysteries, and thrillers. When she’s not slaving away at the computer, you can find Winter supporting her daughter in cattle shows, seeing her three sons off into the wide-wide world, loving on her fur babies, prodding her teacher husband, and nagging at her flock of hens to stay in the coop or the dogs will get them. She is the author of ten novels, with more on the way.
Behind the Book is a series in which I give you a behind the scenes look at one of the latest installments of The Diamond Collection. For this round, I will be focusing on Diamonds N’ Roses: Part Five of The Diamond Collection.
Diamonds N’ Roses was released on December 25, 2016 and is available at the following online retailers: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million.
Other Available Titles in The Diamond Collection: Diamonds in the Rough, Diamonds are Forever, The Ace of Diamonds, Black Diamonds, The Diamond Tiara (Part Six) and Dirty Red Diamonds (Part Seven)
At the time I was writing this book, I had two friends who were looking to create an event planning company. I added them to the book as the characters, Veronica Freeman and Patience Nelson, because Carmen needed event planners for her wedding. In fact, DreamGirlz, as named in the book, was going to be the name of their company.
This particular chapter was entitled, “Want Some More,” because more drama was brewing. The relationship between Jay and his eldest son, King, which has always been rocky, was taking another plunge. Kane also hints to Carmen in this chapter that he still has a soft spot for her when he asks for “one more night,” before their divorce is final.
Behind the Book is a series in which I give you a behind the scenes look at one of the latest installments of The Diamond Collection. For this round, I will be focusing on Diamonds N’ Roses: Part Five of The Diamond Collection.
Diamonds N’ Roses was released on December 25, 2016 and is available at the following online retailers: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million.
CHAPTER TWO: ALL THINGS GO
In this chapter, readers learn that Chapter One was a nightmare. Well, parts of it was. Some of it did actually happen.
In Chapter Two, readers are introduced to the two main plot points of the book. The first is Story A, which is the planning of Carmen and Jay’s wedding. The second is Story B, which is Jay being introduced to the issue of conflict diamonds (or blood diamonds).
Story B conflicts with Story A because it distracts Jay from the main task at hand – the planning of his wedding. This chapter shows the start of the breakdown in some of Jay’s relationships. First, with his fiancée, Carmen, as he misses their first planning session. Then, with his business partner in Africa and his best friend/ right-hand, Malik Washington.
Of course, it wouldn’t be The Diamond Collection if there wasn’t a sea of other conflicts occurring at the same time (i.e. Coco’s pregnancy, Kristian’s disappearance). I planted this stuff on purpose as I wanted readers to question if the wedding between Carmen and Jay was even going to happen with all the drama surrounding them. Hence why the chapter is named, “All Things Go.” The title of the chapter as well as many more in the book come from the tracklisting of Nicki Minaj’s The Pinkprint album. This album stayed on repeat while I was writing the book, which is why I named the chapters after most of the songs.
Behind the Book is a series in which I give you a behind the scenes look at one of the latest installments of The Diamond Collection. For this round, I will be focusing on Diamonds N’ Roses: Part Five of The Diamond Collection.
Diamonds N’ Roses was released on December 25, 2016 and is available at the following online retailers: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million.
Other Available Titles in The Diamond Collection: Diamonds in the Rough, Diamonds are Forever, The Ace of Diamonds, Black Diamonds, The Diamond Tiara (Part Six) and Dirty Red Diamonds (Part Seven)
CHAPTER ONE: THE LION’S DEN
To kick it off, let’s start with Chapter One, which is entitled “The Lion’s Den.” The chapter’s title was partly inspired by the show, Empire, and by the primary setting of the scene – Jay’s office at his club, Sapphire. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Jay Santiago is the main male character of the series. At the time of this chapter, he is engaged to the book’s main female character, Carmen Davenport.
This chapter is a mix of reality and fantasy. I wanted to pick up where Book Four, Black Diamonds, left off, which was at the re-opening of Jay and Carmen’s soul food restaurant, Blue Magic. I also wanted the book to open with a bang. This chapter is an intimate scene between Carmen and Jay, which begins with the two sharing a couple of drinks. One in particular, was VSOP, which I chose on purpose as an ode to one of my favorite singers, K. Michelle (she has a song called VSOP).
Their intimate moment is “interrupted,” by Carmen’s soon-to-be ex-husband Kane. This was to show that the love triangle between these three is still on-going despite Carmen and Kane being in relationships with other people. The end of the chapter is where the fantasy comes into play (I won’t share this spoiler) and is a foretelling of what is to come later in the book.
Career-defining moments are not only years in the making, but also few and far between. What was supposed to be a night celebrating her wins, Carmen’s world is turned upside down when her fashion brand’s anniversary party becomes a bloodbath.
Fifteen people are left dead including members of the terrorist group, Artemis 66. When the group’s leader goes off the grid, Carmen receives a tip from a former Triad agent of a potential lead in the Entertainment Capital of the World.
Dirty Red Diamonds is a tale of what happens when Vegas’ bright lights meets Brookstone’s most famous players.
Ask anyone how New York-born fashion designer, Carmen Santiago (née Davenport), rose to fame and the first reference you’ll get is her multi-million dollar fashion empire, Flame, Inc. The second reference you’ll get is the fashionista’s high- profiled relationship with business mogul, Jay Santiago.
What many don’t reference is the driving force behind Carmen’s success, Flame’s Vice President, Tiara Washington. A Brookstone native, she’s had the reins of the company since its infancy. With a career in fashion that spans more than two decades, fashion greats describe Washington as Flame’s backbone.
As the fashion brand continues to stay on everyone’s lips, so does its major player, Carmen Santiago. After her lavish wedding in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Carmen is whisked away to sunny St. Lucia. The first three days are pure bliss until one phone call sets off a nonstop cycle of drama, scandal, deception, and lies.
Career-defining moments are not only years in the making, but also few and far between. What was supposed to be a night celebrating her wins, Carmen’s world is turned upside down when her fashion brand’s anniversary party becomes a bloodbath.
Fifteen people are left dead including members of the terrorist group, Artemis 66. When the group’s leader goes off the grid, Carmen receives a tip from a former Triad agent of a potential lead in the Entertainment Capital of the World.
Dirty Red Diamonds is a tale of what happens when Vegas’ bright lights meets Brookstone’s most famous players.
Ask anyone how New York-born fashion designer, Carmen Santiago (née Davenport), rose to fame and the first reference you’ll get is her multi-million dollar fashion empire, Flame, Inc. The second reference you’ll get is the fashionista’s high- profiled relationship with business mogul, Jay Santiago.
What many don’t reference is the driving force behind Carmen’s success, Flame’s Vice President, Tiara Washington. A Brookstone native, she’s had the reins of the company since its infancy. With a career in fashion that spans more than two decades, fashion greats describe Washington as Flame’s backbone.
As the fashion brand continues to stay on everyone’s lips, so does its major player, Carmen Santiago. After her lavish wedding in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Carmen is whisked away to sunny St. Lucia. The first three days are pure bliss until one phone call sets off a nonstop cycle of drama, scandal, deception, and lies.
I started this novel in my early twenties before a single book was published.
I revisited it in August of 2018. I would write, stop, and start back.
I never fell out of love with my characters. I only struggled with finding the right story to tell. Over the course of three years, bits and pieces would come.
Now as I read the pages, it amazes me how the story went from here to there. Some things I kept, some things I didn’t. Some things even happened I didn’t initially plan on.
One thing is for sure, I will always write the story I want to read.
Simply Vogue 