GREAT THANKS

Thanksgiving is a great holiday. No presents to buy, no lists to make. Just a day set aside to gather together with those you love, enjoy some favorite foods and take time to remember all you have to be thankful for. Something many of us don’t do enough.

In prior years, I’ve used this space to express thanks for my family, both my kids and grandkids and my extended family of seven brothers. I’ve been blessed with wonderful relations and have much in my family circe to be thankful for. I’ve also been blessed with a great many personal and professional friends, some of which have sadly passed. They have all, in one way or another, made my life richer.

But today, I’d like to take a few moments to express my gratitude for those who have made my writing possible…and successful.

I’m especially grateful for my two talented editors, Beth “Jaden” Terrell and Dianne Rich. Both have made sure my books are polished and professional, when the work was near the finish line.

 And I wouldn’t have been able to make the writing nearly as good without the critiques—in the best sense of the word—from my Writers’ Critique Group, these members talented writers in their own right. I truly appreciate the time, patience and insight they have provided me to help make my writing is as good as it can be.

And, I might not get my manuscript to the finish line without my Beta Readers, who get the first look at my written words. Their interest, support and excitement for my writing has encouraged me to get that next chapter completed. Thanks for keeping me writing and going.

Special thanks to the folks at Wild Rose Press who believed in my writing and have published my last four novels. I've signed with them in 2017 and since then, they have been professional, encouraging and super supportive. Not to mention, they've produced great looking books with knock out covers for all my novels.

I also want to thank the thousands of interesting people I’ve met over the years at my author talks and book events. In 2024 alone, I shared my programs with groups at 33 different events, meeting and interacting with almost a thousand individuals. I’m especially grateful to the hundreds of fans I met at these events who took a chance and bought my books. And also thanks to the scores of participants who might not have purchased a copy but took time to tell me how much they enjoyed my presentations. These encounters truly sustain me and remind me why I write.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the hundreds of readers who have taken time to share a comment or review of any of my books on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub or Barnes & Noble. Thanks to these kind folks, my novels have earned hundreds of 5 star across all platforms.

I write because I have stories to tell and I hope others will enjoy reading them.

I may never have a NYT bestseller and be a celebrity author, but this Thanksgiving, I’m truly grateful that thousands of readers have chosen any or all of my five published books to add to their library. And I hope they’ll be excited to read my number six—which will be released next summer!

Happy Thanksgiving and don’t forget to thank those around you who make your own life richer. Peace!