Proud to be a women’s fiction contest judge (again) this year!
I’m a proud member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA). This is a volunteer organization aimed at supporting women’s fiction writers with craft classes, conferences, resources, writing dates and specialized groups. WFWA also sponsors two contests each year: the Rising Star Award (for unpublished authors) and the Star Award (for published authors) . Since…
Read MoreMedieval Manhattan … in Tuscany’s San Gimignano
I’ve been a few times to the gorgeous Tuscan town of San Gimignano, but I hadn’t visited in several years. So, earlier this month – the Summer Solstice, to be precise – I was thrilled to get back to this wildly picturesque medieval hilltop town. What makes this town so special are the thirteen narrow…
Read MoreChecking in about halfway through my Goodreads Challenge 2026
Another year, another fabulous stack of books. I’m a bit behind on my reading, but largely because I’m busy with my own writing and I’ve taken on some book award contest duties, but I’m sure I’ll hit my goal of 45 novels read by year’s end. I’ve certainly gotten a good start and have read…
Read MoreTraipsing through the Ancient Roman cisterns – in Todi
On my last visit to the lovely Umbrian hilltop town of Todi, I made an interesting visit to the Ancient Roman cisterns. You can arrange for a guided visit at the tourist office on the main town square, and the entrance to the cisterns is from the backside of that main square, Piazza del popolo.…
Read MoreVisiting Sermoneta with my short story from Feisty Deeds II
I was happy to return to Sermoneta, which is the site of my short story for the latest Feisty Deeds anthology, Feisty Deeds II: Historical Tales of Batches and Brews. My story, The Girl from Sermoneta, takes place in Sermoneta and Rome in the early sixteenth century. This is at the time of one of…
Read MoreRaphael in New York
I was fortunate to be in New York this spring soon after the Raphael: Sublime Poetry exhibition launched at the Metropolitan Musuem of Art. I’m a long-time Met member, and I had asked my son to wait for my visit so we could see it together. It was extremely crowded when we went, but it…
Read MoreNew Readers’ Favorite review for May Flowers at The Three Coins Inn
I’m always thrilled to receive new editorial reviews, so I was pleased to receive my latest from Readers’ Favorite for my latest novel, May Flowers at The Three Coins Inn. Appreciated this five-star review and, as a bit of a travel junkie myself, I’m pleased the reviewer felt my story transported her to Umbria. You…
Read MoreA mini Charles Bridge in Würzburg, Germany
This spring, I was in Würzburg, Germany for the first time, visiting a German uncle of mine who has moved there recently. This is a small town in Germany’s Bavaria region, along the Main River. There is so much to see in this town, but the old bridge crossing over the river is a must-see…
Read MoreMay Flowers at The Three Coins Inn launches today!
Yay! It’s publication for my latest novel, May Flowers at The Three Coins Inn. This is my third entry into my Three Coins series – but it can be read as a stand-alone. Glorious spring has arrived in Todi. Will friendship and hope blossom as well? A new set of guests arrive to find spring…
Read MoreHanging out at the Kaffeehaus Goldene Waage in Frankfurt
One of the fun aspects of visiting new destinations (or, in this case, revisiting destinations you haven’t returned to in years) is picking out what would be my favorite café were I to live there. Were I to live in Frankfurt, Germany, that would definitely be the Kaffeehaus Goldene Waage. After my son as I…
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