Recently, my middle schooler stepped into the spotlight as Chip in Beauty & the Beast, and I don’t think my heart has recovered yet. She brought her whole self to the role—joyful, goofy, fearless—and it was magic.
We celebrated afterward the way we do best: a backyard bonfire with pizza, wine, and a very eclectic spread of oysters and s’mores. Someone joked about calling the combo “s’moysters” (don’t worry—no one actually stacked an oyster onto a graham cracker 😅), but the name stuck, and it felt perfectly chaotic in the best way.
There’s something about gathering with the people who love your kids as much as you do. It’s messy. It’s lovely. And it’s mine.
✨ A reel of the night is up on Instagram now!
Querying has officially begun!
After a cozy writer’s trip to Kiawah—just a few quiet days tucked between bike rides under the live oaks, tennis, beach walks, and hot-tub brain breaks—I finished polishing my materials and came home ready to leap.
Here’s where things landed last week:
- Wednesday night: I sent query packages to five agents who had previously requested them.
- Thursday morning: I sent another five unsolicited queries to agents I’d researched and admired.
- Total: 10!
Why ten?
Because everything I kept reading (and hearing) pointed to 8–12 as the sweet spot:
- enough to gauge whether the query + pages are landing
- enough for meaningful data
- and a smart pause point before sending out the next batch
So now I’m letting those simmer while I shift my focus to:
✨ My series proposal for the publisher who requested it
✨ Final tweaks to Book 1 of my DC Sisters trilogy, once my story coach sends back feedback on the last 300 pages
✨ Mapping out my next steps for December
If you want to feel the cozy Kiawah writing energy, the reel is live now—click the button below to soak in the vibes (bikes under the oaks, ocean moments, wildlife cameos, and the most dramatic horseshoe crab you’ve ever seen).
More soon. My “Story in Progress” is really progressing. ✨
Searching for your next favorite story?
Look no further! These bestselling authors have teamed up to offer a delightful selection of new books — available for a limited time.
👉 https://books.bookfunnel.com/sweeetandheat/9aakxq7nbk
And… It’s almost Secret Santa Days!
More than 300 romance authors will be giving away books, gift cards, swag, and surprises as part of this huge holiday reader event.
For readers:
Meet new authors. Win prizes. Celebrate the 9th anniversary of this beloved tradition.
👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/DangerouslyDarkDarlings
For authors:
Want your books in front of 12,000 voracious readers who read widely and leave reviews?
👉 https://gentle-frog-523.myflodesk.com/secretsanta2025
I’m hoping to make Frenching My Flatmate available again as a limited-time freebie through a fun opportunity coming December 1.
Romance Writers of America has partnered with Dr. Jason S. Wrench (SUNY New Paltz professor, researcher, and romance author!) to conduct a large-scale romance readership survey. To encourage participation, RWA members can contribute free eBooks as thank-you gifts to respondents.
If all goes to plan (and the files behave), Flatmate will be available for free from Dec 1–31, 2025.
Stay tuned — and here’s a tiny tease from the story:
Bending over to dig through the drawers, she located the fromage and backed out only to bump against a hard, warm body. It was also damp.
“Whoa there.” Two hands landed on her hips to steady her, which she didn’t need but wouldn’t complain about.
Straightening and shutting the fridge, she pivoted toward Julien. When his hands fell away, their absence was noticeable. They’d conveyed energy, soothing while stirring.
“Um, I know it’s a small kitchen, but do you have to stand so close?” Why was he sweaty and shirtless? Again, with the man nipples!
Here’s what I’m loving (and living off of) this month:
- Ultima Electrolytes – doctor-approved, tennis-cramp saving miracle: https://a.co/d/cTpJ9FL
- Those strawberry-cool mints I can’t stop eating: https://a.co/d/ccXpAXm
- Individually wrapped prunes (yes, I’m that mom): https://a.co/d/0mSsnZC
- My holy grail glowy base: Supergoop Glow Screen: https://a.co/d/fvbszkm
- Anti-poo-eating dog chews (desperate times, hopeful measures):https://a.co/d/21In32l
(FYI: I do not receive revenue for any links I share.)
And… a little something extra:
Did you know this isn’t the only newsletter I send each month? As Communications Director for Washington Romance Writers, I also produce the group’s monthly newsletter. If you want to know what writers are doing in the DC area—or you’re a writer yourself—come join us!
All the goodies above.
This month’s furry moments:
🐾 My youngest daughter and Sasha lying side by side on the floor with limbs in the air and tongues out — a perfect chaos twin moment.
🐾 Huxley with his paw raised and tongue out, gazing lovingly at his caretaker while we were away for my 11-year-old’s soccer tournament in Winston-Salem. (They lost in PKs in the semifinals — total heartbreaker — but furry cuddles heal a lot.)
Photos included below. Prepare your heart.
We’re heading into Thanksgiving travel and family time soon, so the next time you see me in your inbox, it’ll be December and full-on holiday sparkle.
Wherever this month finds you — writing, reading, cooking, resting — I hope it feels warm and good and yours. And if not, I hope something small and unexpected brings you a spark.
