Happy New Year! As I look back over the past year, it's been a journey unlike any I've expected. I had a baby, had a book released, traveled around with a baby on a disastrous vacation, attended a wedding where I got to stay at a beautiful mountaintop B&B in New Hampshire, said good-bye to my husbands dog when his long life was ended by illness and then good-bye to my husband when it became apparent our relationship was beyond repair. I took my children and moved downstate to a beautiful home about 10 minutes away from my parents and realized that my life is moving forward. As I look forward to the new year, I realize that while life may take some unexpected twists and turns, it is happening and instead of sitting back and let it happen to me, I can take the wheel and direct it where I want it to go. After years of being not much more than a housewife and mother, I face the prospect of finding a full time job and making a life for my children and myself. For some reason the prospect isn't as scary as I'd once thought. As a romance author the loss of my marriage is especially painful. I believe in the whole "happily ever after" deal. I see it with my sister, my cousin, my aunt and some friends who have all found the right person to spend their lives with. Unfortunately it's not something I've found for myself - yet. I still believe in love and that there is someone out there who perfectly complements me. Someone who will believe in me and make me feel good about who I am. So romance isn't dead for me. It's just around the bend and waiting for me to find it. It'll wait until I'm ready.
Meanwhile, I'll spend time helping my characters find the love and romance with each other that I know is out there. Here's hoping you all love Jayne and Nick (from Unexpected Destinies) as much as I do!