Blog Archives
Steampunk and Victorian Vibes
The Roses of Port Townsend follows a mother and her two sons as their fresh start in a seaport town turns into a ghostly adventure. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I traveled with my two sons, Ian and Ryan, from Olympia, Washington, to Port Townsend when they were younger. We stayed at Manresa Castle over Easter and had a wonderful time. During our visit, we took several photos and captured images that featured orbs. In one photo, there was an orb above each of our heads, which was quite spooky. Manresa Castle is reportedly haunted and has been featured on the television show “Ghost Adventures.”
The Victorian architecture, combined with both Steampunk and Victorian vibes, makes Port Townsend a fascinating destination. The history of the town, as well as that of Fort Worden and Fort Flagler, is all intriguing and significant. As I was writing the novel, my husband and I lived on the coast, either on Camano Island or in Ferndale, Washington, overlooking the Salish Sea. We visited Port Townsend regularly, and during those visits, ideas for my novel began to develop. I would write between jobs or in the evenings after coming home from work. Once I was able to retire, I started writing regularly, and the ideas flowed freely.
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
I tell a good story, and plot twists are a necessity. I have always hated knowing how a story would end, and about eighty percent of the time, I can guess at even a “trick” ending and get it right. However, plot twists need to make sense and must enhance the storyline. I found that plot twists added depth to my story and made it more engaging. Everything just fell into place. I also challenged myself to revive my imagination, which had been buried in dry government documents, statistics, program requirements, rules, laws, and administrative procedures. To be truly creative, you must find the child’s voice within and ask yourself what’s truly fun, scary, exciting, whimsical, or even absurd. That’s the voice I try to tap into. I do utilize some of my knowledge about government to create an image of “them bilge-rat government types,” as the untrusting pirate, Ben Pease, would likely say. Still, mostly I rely on my imagination, the history of the area, and the joy of finding and fighting monsters. We all have to defend ourselves against monsters at some point in our lives. These days, they are less likely to be vampires and more likely to be found in the hallowed halls of our political institutions.
Do you find you are able to relate to your characters while writing?
My characters have become very real to me; they feel like members of my family now, so I have a good understanding of what they will and won’t do. I can relate to every character in my novel because they remind me of my sons or because I’ve encountered similar characters in the past. Most of my characters are a blend of people I know, historical figures I’ve discovered through reading, characters from movies or books, and aspects of my own personality.
Can we look forward to more mysteries from you soon? What are you currently working on?
I want to share that the Gumshoes are preparing for another exciting adventure. I am starting to work on “The Portal Protectors,” the next book in the “Roses of Port Townsend” series. I hope to complete my first draft by the summer of 2026.
Author Links: Website | Reader’s Favorite
In the heart of the book, The Roses of Port Townsend, you will meet Mandy Rose, a resilient schoolteacher, whose husband is missing under mysterious circumstances. Forced to leave her home in Olympia due to her school’s closure, she ventures on a daring journey with sons Max and Oscar to Port Townsend, a quaint Victorian era seaport city. Despite warnings of its eerie aura and alleged hauntings from her brother, Leo, Mandy follows the path that fate has laid down for her. The Rose family’s strength is truly tested as they confront the chilling mysteries of this Victorian city.
Mandy, Max and Oscar, and their loyal dogs, Josie and Bone, delve into a world that transcends the realm of the ordinary. The city’s scenic tranquility belies the dangers that lurk within, as the family stumbles upon supernatural beings. The Rose family is welcomed by new friends in Port Townsend; Max and Oscar develop budding romances; family members come to the rescue; and together they all become amateur detectives in the most important missing persons case they will ever face.
Not all is as it seems in this city, where an unusual tomato garden holds lethal surprises, and a pirate’s secret could be the key to their survival. As Mandy and her family navigate through the labyrinth of Port Townsend, they uncover truths that could shatter their reality. What started as a quest for employment soon turns into a race against time as they struggle to find Mandy’s husband, and to discover the secrets of their new home, Victorian cottage, “Little Red.”
The Roses of Port Townsend is a thrill-ride of whimsy, suspense, mystery, and danger. The book weaves an enchanting tapestry of suspense, magical realism, and the strength of a mother’s love. As Mandy battles the unknown, the question remains-will the Rose family bloom again in Port Townsend, or will they wilt under its haunting spell? Dive into the pages of this riveting tale to find out!
Once Upon a Christmas Kiss
This Christmas, hatred burns hotter than love…
She’s built walls around her heart at Thunder Basin Ranch.
Then Mason Thompson storms in—charming, reckless, and completely wrong for her.
One blizzard. One night. One kiss that changes everything.
When Christmas Eve traps them together, enemies become lovers in the most explosive way.
But when her past threatens their future, can a jokester prove he’s the man she’s always needed?
Some Christmas miracles come wrapped in danger.
Once Upon a Christmas Kiss.
Where enemies-to-lovers meets holiday heat.
The Image Maker
The Image Maker is a historical novel that follows the intertwining lives of three ambitious men, John Mather, Charles Miller, and Patrick Boyle, as they chase opportunity, legacy, and identity in the booming Pennsylvania oilfields during the Civil War era. Mather is a driven photographer obsessed with capturing the rise of the oil industry. Miller, a soldier turned industrialist, transforms hardship into wealth through sheer discipline. Boyle, full of restlessness and bravado, joins the Union army as a wide-eyed teen and matures through the brutality of war. Their separate but overlapping journeys unfold across muddy roads, oil-slicked rivers, and tense political moments, painting a vivid portrait of ambition, loss, and grit in 19th-century America.
What struck me most about this book was how real the characters felt. I found myself rooting for Mather even as he neglected his wife to chase photos of oil gushers. He was flawed but fascinating. His obsession with documenting progress, even if it meant losing himself, hit a nerve. The writing was clean, not flowery, which made the emotions hit harder. Flanders doesn’t drown you in exposition. Instead, she invites you into the sweat and smells and hunger of the time. It felt like watching history from behind the lens of someone who was living it, not reading it from a textbook. The story had a pulse, even in its quiet moments.
There were times, though, when some transitions were abrupt. At times, I would have enjoyed seeing the characters wrestle with the weight of what they were doing. Especially Boyle, his growth was interesting, but I wish we’d stayed longer in his head during those pivotal moments. Still, I was impressed by how well Flanders balanced historical detail with forward momentum. You don’t need to know a thing about oil or the Civil War to be pulled in. It’s the people who keep you turning the pages.
I’d recommend The Image Maker to readers who love character-driven historical fiction with a sense of place and a heartbeat. If you like stories about ambition, sacrifice, and chasing something bigger than yourself, even when it costs you, you’ll probably get something out of this. This book reminded me why I love historical fiction when it’s done well. It doesn’t just tell you what happened, it shows you what it felt like to live through it.
Pages: 272 | ASIN : B0F7M1FBSY
A Connection of Souls
Kheira & Khogee: The Legend Begins follows two soul-connected beings who are Twin Flames separated by memory loss and a mission that transcends lifetimes and galaxies, and together must resist powerful agents sent to erase them from existence. What was your inspiration for creating the kind of relationship that Kheira and Khogee have?
My inspiration came from a desire to showcase a genuine relationship, between souls having a human experience, primarily based on trust, loyalty and friendship.
Your characters go on a deeply emotional and transformative journey in your novel. Is this intentional or incidental to the story you want to tell?
Their bond and story unfolded organically within my consciousness every time I sat down to continue writing their story. It was like I was an observer to their story and just as surprised as a reader as to what happened next.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Some of the most important themes I wanted to portray were trust, loyalty and a connection beyond time and space. I feel most of what we see in entertainment today is based on a physical connection. I desired to bring to life a story where the connection was at a soul level.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
The first book ended with a cliffhanger and my goal is to pick up where ‘The Legends Begins‘ ended with ‘The Legend Continues‘. I do not have a firm release date yet but my goal is to get it published sooner than later.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Instagram
Things take an unexpectedly shocking turn when Kheira suddenly forgets who she is, which puts a strain on their mission and relationship together, but Khogee is there for Kheira to help her remember who she is, their bond, and their purposeful plan for saving the galaxy together.
At the heart of this cosmic adventure are vibrant dialogues that drive a journey of fierce battles, hidden truths, and shocking betrayals—even from their own family. Each dangerous mission reveals new secrets, adding layers to their unforgettable voyage across space and time.
Kheira & Khogee: The Legend Begins offers you the experience of a lifetime! Buckle up! Don’t miss it!
A Million Tomorrows
A Million Tomorrows is an emotionally rich novel that follows Perry Roberts, a young oncologist in San Francisco haunted by personal grief and the long shadow of cancer. Through his relationships with patients, colleagues, and especially the enigmatic Beverly Bowen, the book explores how we navigate memory, love, guilt, and second chances. The story is told in the first person, and its power lies in the deep interiority of Perry’s voice as he relives past traumas, unexpected connections, and one strange, beautiful relationship that may defy time itself.
This book surprised me. At first, it felt like a standard character-driven drama, maybe a little too heavy on introspection. But as the story unfolded, I was hooked. The writing is tender and relatable. Middaugh has a real gift for voice, and Perry’s narration walks a fine line between thoughtful and raw. The supernatural elements that emerge later are handled with a kind of casual magic that made me believe them without blinking. There’s a warmth and ache to this book that stayed with me.
What struck me most was how it deals with grief, not as something to “get over” but as something you live with, reshape, even share. The love story at the center of the book is unusual and a little odd at times, but I found it touching and refreshingly honest. And Beverly Bowen? She’s a wonder. Funny, sharp, and complicated. Their conversations felt like real conversations. The baseball stuff, which I expected to be filler, turned out to be beautifully woven in. Not just a theme, but a language of connection and healing. I found myself smiling at the smallest moments.
A Million Tomorrows is a book for anyone who’s lost someone or loved someone in a way that didn’t make sense on paper but made perfect sense in the heart. It’s for readers who like stories that stretch time and memory and emotion without shouting about it. If you’ve ever stared at the past and wondered what would happen if you got one more shot, this is your book.
Pages: 254 | ASIN : B0CW1NB6NW
Exploded Into Existence
Deception’s Edge follows a knife-throwing performer on a mission to find her mother’s killer, when she discovers her friend has been captured in North Korea, and now must choose to continue her vendetta or join in the rescue mission. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Years ago, while commuting to work, Peter Gabriel’s “Red Rain” started playing on the radio. And out of the blue, a scene from Deception’s Edge exploded into existence. From that moment on, I knew I had to write a book using that climatic scene.
Blade Broussard is a woman with strength. What do you think makes her a valuable and worthy heroine?
Blade Broussard is a woman of strength, despite her shortcomings. In Deception’s Edge, she is still grieving her mother’s death, her hunt for Alec Quinn is going nowhere, and her career as a professional knife-thrower is on hold. I root for her not because she’s perfect or invincible, but because she’s messy, broken, brave—and determined to do what’s right, no matter the cost.
How did you balance the action scenes with the story elements and still keep a fast pace in the story?
As a writer, I would say my strength is writing action scenes. But I also love my characters. They aren’t two-dimensional cardboard cutouts, but people with hopes and dreams, failures and triumphs. Every action scene isn’t just about adrenaline or danger, but about showing who these characters really are under pressure. For example, Blade’s fights highlight her skill but also her vulnerabilities and emotional state.
Where does the story go in the next book, and where do you see it going in the future?
The third book in the series will focus on Blade’s hunt for the assassins who marked her for death in Deception’s Edge. But her quest will uncover a far deadlier threat rooted in her own bloodline. I’m not sure how the story will evolve, but this is what I most enjoy—the discovery.
The Secret Lives of the Doyenne of Didsbrook
Tessa Barrie’s The Secret Lives of the Doyenne of Didsbrook is a charming and clever blend of cozy mystery and emotional introspection, set in a picture-perfect English village brimming with secrets. The novel kicks off with the sudden and suspicious death of Jocelyn Robertshaw, a glamorous former actress turned best-selling author. Her passing sends ripples through the quaint village of Didsbrook, stirring up a whirlwind of gossip, speculation, and long-buried truths. Through a rotating cast of relatable characters, from wide-eyed young Lucy to weary but sharp-witted DCI Middleton, the story unravels a layered mystery that bridges generations, identities, and emotional reckonings.
What I loved most about this book was its vivid sense of place and community. Barrie paints Didsbrook with loving, whimsical strokes, half theatrical set, half living village. The writing has a warm, inviting tone, even when diving into darker themes like grief, betrayal, and mortality. There’s something tender and sharp happening at the same time in these pages. The narrative is breezy without being shallow, and full of theatrical flair, particularly in the witty banter and sly nods to classic detective fiction. And though it dips into mystery tropes, it does so with affection and originality. The characters feel lived-in. DCI Middleton, in particular, made me smile with his mix of grump and gallows humor.
There’s a lot of backstory and a sprawling ensemble that took some time to keep straight. But I didn’t mind getting lost in the sidetracks. The emotional undercurrent is strong and steady. The story isn’t just about whodunit. It’s about why we hide parts of ourselves, and what happens when truths finally come out. That gave the book its real punch. Jocelyn’s life, even in death, becomes a mirror for the other characters to confront their own stories.
If you’re someone who enjoys character-driven mysteries with a side of small-town eccentricity and a splash of theatrical charm, this is your kind of read. Fans of Richard Osman, Agatha Christie, or even Joanna Cannon would feel right at home. It’s funny, thoughtful, and heartfelt. And despite the crime at its center, it somehow manages to feel like a warm hug. I’d happily recommend it to anyone who likes their mysteries with brains, heart, and a little sparkle.
Pages: 307 | ASIN : B0F9P9DM57
LITERARY TITAN 