I have a new audio book available now – Red Shoes released April 8 – it’s been a good month!!
Red Shoes, narrated by the wonderful Tracy Butler is now live!
Also available as eBook and paperback
Wraith’s Heart is also now at Audible and Apple
Growing the Change – the third in the Changing Hearts series will to on pre-order on March 28 and will go live on April 5!
Since the 5th is also my birthday, I’ll be giving away a few copies, so let me know if you’d like to be in the drawing – just email me at steelestories@gmail.com and say Growing!
The first two book in the series – Hearing the Change and The Family You Choose are available at Amazon, B&N, Apple and Kobo!
Shelby and Stu are together and have been since he picked her up at the grocery store. Her daughter, Tiffany, loves him too, as well as the whole family they’ve grown around them. When Willa’s brother, Gavin, is brought into the mix a whole new dynamic – one that’s critical to family – is created. How will that affect the growing clan?
Excerpt –
Shelby looked over at her eight-year-old as they exited the car and headed inside Queen City Rehab Center. Tiffany didn’t seem to be upset about the last-minute change in plans but unfortunately, she appeared to be growing used to the disappointment. The good thing was it didn’t seem to bother her. Her dad had canceled their weekend again just this morning. So, she had accompanied Shelby to work today. It was Saturday therefore she shouldn’t be here long.
It was a fine establishment with an excellent reputation, and Shelby was now in a position to make sure that continued. With long term care on one side and physical therapy on the other, it was a vibrant place, with a homey feel, lots of good lighting, and calm colors with pops of bright scattered around. Even living plants rather than the dusty plastic ones where Shelby had her first experience working in long-term care before she’d gone back to school for her Advanced Practice Registered Nurse degree, APRN. She could now assess patients, diagnosis conditions, and prescribe treatment. It was a long-term dream come true.
Another bonus was Tiffany was already becoming familiar with the people who lived and worked here. Shelby had completed her internship here and her new job had been secured. Queen had hired her prior to graduation. Fortunately, her paycheck had increased once she was permanent. Now she brought Tiffany over here for a couple of hours a few times a week.
A lot of these people didn’t get many visitors. Tiffany knew which ones they were and made it a special point to see and visit with them. She really seemed to brighten their days.
Even as Shelby watched, Tiffany ran ahead to greet Otis in his wheelchair, as he sunned himself on the front porch.
He greeted her like a granddaughter, giving her a big grin and a hug. She was chattering away with him, filling him in on what she’d done at camp the past week.
“Morning Miss Shelby. Sounds like Miss Tiffany here had a good week.”
“Oh, she did. Always busy. I wish I had her energy.”
“Me too,” the elderly man said and waved goodbye as they continued inside.
They greeted the receptionist, Lee was on today, then Shelby took Tiffany’s hand and led her down a hall they didn’t usually visit. The patients on this hall didn’t interact with visitors. “You remember Willa?”
“Sure. She’s Clint’s girlfriend.”
“That’s right. Well, her brother has come to stay here with us. He’s in a coma, do you remember what that is?”
Tiffany nodded. “He’s kind of asleep and can’t wake up, but he can hear us.”
“That’s right. Would you like to meet him?”
“Sure!”
They moved on down the hall and tapped on the door. “Come in.” Willa’s voice came through the door and Shelby pushed it open.
Willa smiled up at them, putting her finger in the book she was reading to the boy in the bed to mark her place. “Hi. I didn’t expect to see you today too,” she greeted Tiffany.
“Mom works here,” Tiffany explained. “And on Saturdays I come in and say hi to everyone.”
“That’s a great idea. I’m sure the people here love seeing you.”
Tiffany grinned. “Is this your brother?”
“Yes, this is Gavin. Gavin, this is Tiffany.”
“Hi,” Tiffany said, taking his hand. “He’s young.” Shelby nodded. He was by far the youngest long-term patient here.
Willa smiled. “Yes, he’s fifteen, about ten years younger than me.”
Tiffany turned to him then. “I’m a friend of your sister’s. Her boyfriend is my Uncle Clint. When you get all rested, you should wake up and meet him.” Shelby watched her, it was almost as though he had answered her, and she was thinking about his response.
Willa smiled wistfully over at Shelby. Shelby knew that look, if only
It’s a new month! Check out some new books that are now available for you –
Do you read MC? BL Harris has a new one out – Cutting Edge, in the same universe as her best seller – On The Brink in the Devil’s Seed MC romance
And PK Corey has a new Cassie book out – Undercurrents on the River
CL Hadyn’s latest – Two Wishes is available now as well, and Leslie Ray’s – Division
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And my latest Survivors came out in February – sci fi, time travel, dystopian. The newest in the Changing Hearts series – Growing the Change will be on pre-order shortly. A wide variety for you to chose from – don’t miss them!!
Well, important stuff first, I got to see the grandkids several times. Since they live 7 hours away that can get iffy at times. Held our annual Camp Granddar and attended the 3rd birthday of the youngest and 8th for the oldest. They’re both growing like weeds so I need to step up my visits. We had a great and crowded Christmas with them! Got to keep the granddog a couple of times, which helps me keep my weight down with the walking!
Finally got to see some performances at the Tanger Center and got season tickets. Have seen Le Miz, Chicago, and Aladdin so far. Hadestown is up next!
Did some more counted cross stitch (not as much as 2020 and 2021 but more interruptions now)
Got new floors for the condo, new HVAC system, and replacement windows for the bedroom.
Published four books – Brown Mountain Lights, the Changing Heart series –Hearing the Change and The Family You Choose, and Home for Christmas. Wrote a few more that are in various stages of editing and I hope will be out soon. The third in the Changing Hearts series – Growing the Change and Survivors should be out next. I also released my first audio book – Wraith’s Heart!
A few got new covers as well – Red Shoes, Hazardous to the Touch and Christmas with Family.
My everlasting thanks to my Writer-2-Writer crew that helped with this process and wrote a few books themselves – Division by Leslie Ray, Homegrown by Laura Browning, Two Wishes and The Cuckoo by CL Hadyn.
Other new books written in 2023 I’d like to highlight are – Return of the SunRunner by Linda Sedgwick, The Rogue’s Ring by Nancy Lee Badger, Shambling and Shadows by Samantha Covington, and The Whisper series–Whispers in the Dark, Whispers in the Night, and Whispers in the Wind and Unwrapped in Love by Linda Tiffin
Here’s hope for a great 2024!