Everything was fine, until we left...

Do you look forward to certain events every year?  

For me, it's the annual Novelists Inc. conference, which is held every September at St. Pete's Beach in Florida. 

The chance to hear so many excellent speakers and learn about the latest updates in a constantly evolving industry is a phenomenal experience. I always take copious notes!  

I look forward to it all year, and then the conference week speeds by. But I always know I'll be heading home with invaluable information on the business side of writing for the coming year. 

There's also a personal side—the delight of seeing writer friends from all over the country and far beyond, people I've known for many years. Once the conference is over, I'm counting the weeks until next year! 

Most of us left St. Pete's Beach at the end of the conference. Four days later, Hurricane Helene hit Florida with devastating force and then wreaked utter havoc through six states. And then Milton arrived.

Living in the Upper Midwest, I wasn't sure which charities were serving these hard-hit areas and which would best utilize donations. 

A friend told me about https://www.charitynavigator.org/

If you aren't sure where to donate, the website lets you choose the area you want to help and then provides a wide variety of options, along with a percentage ranking that indicates how well each one handles its finances.  

Even small donations can help!

On another note, here is my new release, a clean, small-town romance mystery.

CLICK HERE  to buy!

Here's a sneak peek:

Danger can lurk in unexpected places.

Claire has inherited her sister's small, rustic resort on Lake Superior. 

Given her business experience, running it shouldn't be much of a challenge. She hopes.

But now she has guardianship of her sister's three young children, and they are the most important part of her life. With no experience as a mom, can she help them feel secure and happy again? 

The children and their unusual pet make life...interesting. But when Logan, her late sister's first husband, shows up at her door and pushes her to sell the property back to him, everything changes.

Someone is threatening her. 

She might feel a simmering attraction to Logan, but is he behind those threats, trying to drive her away? Or is it someone else who will stop at nothing to drive her away?

The danger is rising.

Lake Superior's North Shore is stunningly beautiful. But it can erupt with deadly force when a N'Easter slams into its rocky cliffs. A massive storm is on the way.

And keeping the children safe from the storm and her stalker will depend on knowing who she can trust.