AN INTERVIEW WITH ROMANCE, WOMEN'S FICTION AND SUSPENSE AUTHOR MELISSA R. COLLINGS

Today we sit down for a chat with romance, women’s fiction, and suspense author Melissa R. Collings. Learn more about her and her book at her website.

When did you realize you wanted to write novels? 

I’m originally a surgical Physician Associate (medical provider). I worked 50-60 hours per week doing spine surgery, rounding on hospital patients, and seeing patients in the clinic. I enjoyed my job, but when my husband and I were expecting our first child, I decided to take a long hiatus from medical work and stay home to raise our daughter. I’d worked since I was very young, so this was a steep adjustment for me. I needed something for myself, so I turned to a psychological suspense novel I’d started before college. 

 

It took me months to admit to anyone that I was working on a novel. Then, I gave my first book to my husband and asked him to be honest. I needed to know if I could do this. He ripped my book to shreds (figuratively), and I wanted to let the whole thing go, but then he said, “There’s something here. You just need to fix it. And don’t you dare stop writing.” 

 

To this day, he’s my biggest supporter, and it was because of his honesty, followed by his solid encouragement that I went back to my fictional worlds. And as I edited and edited and edited, I got better. I started to understand the power of words, and I was positively thrilled at the idea of evoking emotion in my readers. I was in love. 

 

How long did it take you to realize your dream of publication?

I wrote off and on for years and finished my first book in 2017, my second in 2019, and The False Flat in 2021. It sold last year and debuted this month. 

 

Are you traditionally published, indie published, or a hybrid author? 

Traditionally published. 

 

Where do you write? 

My favorite writing spot is at my desk. My chair is cozy, equipped with a heating pad against my back (yes, even in the summer), a steaming cup of hot tea (lavender or jasmine) or coffee (cinnamon blueberry crumble, black) or piping hot lemon water. However, I’ve written thousands of words at coffee shops as well. 

 

Is silence golden, or do you need music to write by? What kind? 

Silence is golden for me. Occasionally I’ll play instrumental music or enjoy the background clatter of a coffee shop. I usually write to the melody of birdsong out my office window or the daily sounds of my family moving about the house.

 

How much of your plots and characters are drawn from real life? From your life in particular?

I love drawing from real life. I think it makes writing richer. And I draw from many people around me, and of course, myself. I never make a character “me,” but I do draw from my life experiences. For instance, in The False Flat, my main character is biracial, like me, and I gave her ALL my hair struggles as well as some of my unfavorable childhood experiences. 

 

My sister also passed away in 2018, and her death absolutely shapes my writing. 

 

And then there are the fun little things that I cannot resist sneaking in. 

 

 

Describe your process for naming your character?

This is SO hard for me. I always want something unique. I mentally collect names I like as I meet people. But I also search names by meaning. I love double meaning, hidden meaning, and metaphors. Sometimes the characters name themselves, popping into my head out of nowhere. And other times, I agonize until one seems right. But the characters need names for me to really get to know them.

 

Real settings or fictional towns?

Real, at least so far.

 

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?

Penelope Auberge from The False Flat has all kinds of quirks. She has social anxiety, and uses Cap’n Crunch, bicycle riding, and numbers as her coping mechanisms. As a financial planner, she’s soothed by numbers, so when she’s stressed, she envisions people as literal numbers so they’re less intimidating. That was so fun to write.

 

 

What’s your quirkiest quirk?

I don’t know if this is a quirk, but it gets me into trouble…my imagination is wild and I’m a perfectionist, and if I think it, I tend to feel compelled to do it. And I usually go overboard and overcommit myself, but I can’t stop until I feel like it’s perfect.

 

If you could have written any book (one that someone else has already written,) which one would it be? Why?

It’s a toss-up between Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.

 

Jane Eyre has personal significance for me. I admire the Bronte sisters as well as Jane Austen, and I think it would be so fun to have written this because it’s something I really enjoyed when I was younger. 

 

But as a writer, I adore the idea of writing something impactful and lasting. It’s not about the fame and notoriety, but it’s about significance. There’s something deeply appealing to me to be able to write something that sticks with people, that charms or helps them in some way. 

 

Everyone at some point wishes for a do-over. What’s yours?

I wish I hadn’t worried so much about what other people thought of me when I was younger. When I was growing up, I missed out on opportunities and experiences because I didn’t want to draw too much attention to myself. Other people matter, but they also don’t. Living life to the fullest, regardless of what I might seem to others, is so freeing. The small things I sweated were wastes, and I wish I could go back and not let things get to me like they did. 

 

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

When people don’t take the time to see someone else’s perspective. 

 

You’re stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?

My computer (with infinite battery life), an infinite supply of hot tea, and my family. 

 

What was the worst job you’ve ever held?

I’ve had many jobs, and I’ve hated aspects of all of them. However, each one has given me something or taught me something about the world or myself. But if I’m pressed, I’d say when I worked at Toys R Us when I was very young. The environment was stressful and hectic.

 

Who’s your all-time favorite literary character (any genre)? Why?

Jesus. I haven’t read about a person’s life that has affected me more than Jesus.   

 

Ocean or mountains?

I cannot commit to only one of these. I have commitment issues. However, there is no better place to be than by the ocean with the soft sand under my feet and the crashing waves taking command of my thoughts, where the wind is powerful and the world goes on forever while simultaneously being enclosed within a dome. Until I tire of it and crave the majesty within the tall peaks and the security of layered rock or desire to breathe in the sweet notes wafting off the mountain greenery or stand tall looking over a world that holds infinite treasures.  

 

City girl/guy or country girl/guy?

City, no question. I love being five minutes from a grocery store because my “meal plans” are always incomplete.

 

What’s on the horizon for you?

I’m in a period of limbo, and I’m trying hard to be okay with that. I’m waiting to see how my first book does, waiting to see if I’ll get another book published, waiting to start a new medical job. 

 

Anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself and/or your books?

Links to my social media accounts and a Book Club Kit can be found on my website. Sign up for my newsletterto receive Just Desserts, a free novelette about betrayal, doubt, and sheet cake. 

 

The False Flat

In this uplifting story about friendship, love, and growth, one woman must untangle herself from a past that’s holding her back in order to move forward into the life that will set her free.

 

Penelope Auberge is at her breaking point. With an overbearing mother, a married boyfriend, and a boss who gives Pen’s high-profile finance clients to male colleagues, it feels like nothing she’s accomplished in her thirty-two years belongs to her.

 

Determined to build a life entirely her own, Pen moves from Minnesota to Tennessee to open a solo financial business. There, she meets siblings Deanna and Grant, who attempt to coax Pen out of her socially anxious shell. Hesitant to open up so she doesn’t get hurt (again), Pen is slow to develop a friendship with Deanna, and she’s determined to ignore her feelings for Grant, which is difficult given she’s joined his cycling group and a clear something begins blossoming between them.

 

Pen’s path in Nashville appears to be smoothing out, but she soon learns that packing up her past isn’t quite that easy. If she wants to start fresh, she’ll have to decide what she really wants—even if that means riding away from her old life for good.

 

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AUTHOR MAHUA CAVANAGH SETS A MYSTERY IN NAIROBI, KENYA

Mahua Cavanagh is a third culture kid from New York. Nairobi Ndoto, her debut novel, was inspired by the four years she spent living in Nairobi, Kenya. These days, she lives in Vienna, Austria. When not working on her next novel, she's out having fun diving into Viennese life, exploring the city, and learning German. To learn more about Mahua and her books, visit her website.

In 2015, a job with the United Nations led my husband and me from our home in New York to Nairobi, Kenya. We were ready for a change and excited about the adventure. We made the leap with open arms and open minds.

We arrived in Nairobi in August and found that we felt…a little chilly. There was a big drop in temperature from New York summer weather. That was the first of many things I learned about Nairobi: it is not hot and humid. At 5,500 feet above sea level, it’s dry and relatively cool, especially at night. Outside of the two rainy seasons, it’s usually sunny and 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit. The weather is amazing, as is the rest of the city.

 

The Kenyan capital is vibrant. It’s high energy and full of life. You have commerce, art, music, culture, food, clubs, bars, and everything else you would expect from a major metropolis, albeit one with a game park. What other city can boast an area where lions roam free and where you can look at giraffes against the backdrop of a city skyline?

 

In addition to having night life and wildlife, Nairobi is also cosmopolitan with a wide array of people. Kenyans themselves can be from one of the 45 tribes of Kenya, ethnic Europeans (usually of British descent), or ethnic Indians. Then there are the expatriates—partly integrated into the fabric of Nairobi while mostly living in the expat bubble, with its ups and downs as well as its privileges.

 

Expats are just as varied as Kenyans. There are people who come from the private sector, people who work for nongovernment organizations, religious groups, and diplomats. They come for all sorts of reasons, but what brings people to Nairobi is only the tip of the iceberg. The interesting part is what happens once they settle into the city. 

There are overlaps in experiences, but there is no one way to be an expat. I met people whose careers took a hit because they traveled for their spouses’ work, which sometimes led to resentment. There were couples who lived separately so that neither career would suffer, which sometimes worked and sometimes didn’t. There were people who struggled with how to raise their children, realizing that theirs were now Third Culture Kids with a different outlook on life. There were Peter Pans who overindulged in the Nairobi party scene. There were people who fell in love with Kenya and never wanted to leave. 

 

The expat bubble in Nairobi was a strange and interesting place. I lived among all these people. I was one of them, and I experienced much of what they did. Some of the experiences were universal. Figuring out a new city can be tricky. Distance from friends and family can be painful. Establishing a new life in a new place takes effort. 

 

Some experiences were specific to Nairobi. For example, driving was like being in an action-packed video game. Plus, I had to learn how to manage water rationing and power outages. I also became adept at how to handle monkey incidents, including but not limited to kitchen break-ins.

 

Even with the tough parts, life in Nairobi suited me. I was and am still grateful for the opportunity to live four years in Kenya. Like so many others before me, I was inspired by what I saw, witnessed, and experienced in Kenya. Unlike many other expats, I didn’t want to write a memoir. I had a different idea. I kept thinking to myself, “there is a story in here somewhere.” 

 

I tried to write it down, but I found it difficult to do so while still living there. In 2019, we moved to Vienna, Austria and I sat down to write in earnest. I was able to take everything in my head and create the tale of three expat women who become embroiled in a murder. Set in Kenya and including some real places, it all came together as my debut novel: Nairobi Ndoto. It’s a story written to entertain as well as give a peek into life as an expat in Nairobi. It’s also my love letter to a country I will always carry in my heart.

 

Nairobi Ndoto 

Three expatriate women find their ndoto—the Swahili word for dreams—have become a nightmare when their world is thrown into turmoil by murder.

 

Tilly, Pauline, and Zara each dreamed of a life abroad in Kenya filled with adventure, opportunities, and new beginnings. Reality didn’t match the dream. Tilly thought her move to Kenya would be temporary, but nearly ten years and three kids later, she no longer knows what home is. Dealing with an increasingly strained marriage, Pauline struggles to establish herself as more than a trailing spouse. Zara, tired of shuttling between Nairobi and Mogadishu and sleeping in borrowed shipping containers, longs for stability. When one of their husbands engages in illicit activity, the women become entangled in a murder. Lines are crossed and friendships tested as they sift through the shock and tragedy.

 

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AN INTERVIEW WITH CRIME AND WOMEN'S FICTION AUTHOR DAMYANTI BISWAS

Today we sit down for a chat with crime and women’s fiction author Damyanti Biswas. Learn more about Damyanti and her books here.

When did you realize you wanted to write novels?

I started writing short stories back in 2008, but it was in 2011 that one of them kept growing and eventually became my first novel, You Beneath Your Skin.

 

How long did it take you to realize your dream of publication?

For me publication was never a dream. It’s always been part of the writing process. I believe that writing begins in the author’s mind but is completed in the reader’s.

 

Are you traditionally published, indie published, or a hybrid author?

I’m traditionally published. You Beneath Your Skin was published by Simon & Schuster India. The Blue Bar is published by Thomas & Mercer, and they have also contracted its sequel.

 

Where do you write?

It depends on what’s good that day. I always end up writing somewhere other than my writing table, sadly. I also write at cafes if I’m too blocked to write at home.

 

Is silence golden, or do you need music to write by? What kind?

I usually write with white noise in the background, either sounds of rain or forest birdsong.

 

How much of your plots and characters are drawn from real life? From your life in particular?

Some of the incidents in my books draw inspiration from newspapers. I’ve not written anything based on my life for the crime novels.

 

Describe your process for naming your character?

The main characters are always born within my consciousness along with their names. The Blue Bar started with Tara without a conscious thought process, and then I had to figure out why she was named so. 

 

The supporting cast is named as per their roles, and these names often change in case they sound too similar. They have names befitting their social class, and the part of India they hail from. India is a complex country, and a fair amount can be divined about a person’s background based on their surnames.

 

Real settings or fictional towns?

So far, all the settings in my novel have been real.

 

If you could have written any book (one that someone else has already written,) which one would it be? Why?

I don’t think I could have written any of the books already written by others. My books emerge from my subconscious, and I can’t picture myself having written any others not already within.

 

Everyone at some point wishes for a do-over. What’s yours?

As a college graduate, I went into fashion design, and lost touch with reading for a few years. I wish I’d understood myself and my calling earlier, and not missed tons of great books. Mortality looms, and on some days, I feel bad I wasted all that time.

 

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

My own tendency to use certain words in my writing, which I then have to pull teeth finding and replacing in an appropriate fashion!

 

You’re stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?

 A good book. A bottle with a water filter. A knife.

 

What was the worst job you’ve ever held?

The absolute worst was as a model at a car fair. 

 

Who’s your all-time favorite literary character (any genre)? Why?

Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. I like her sharp observations and wit, and also her vulnerabilities. She’s one of the earliest heroines of the novel form, and a strong, incredibly wise one.

 

Ocean or mountains? 

Mountains

 

City girl/guy or country girl/guy? 

City

 

What’s on the horizon for you?

I’m editing the sequel to The Blue Bar, after which I’ll be polishing up a novel for submission that my agent really likes. Hope to write another novel this year.

 

Anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself and/or your books?

The Blue Bar is set in Mumbai, a megapolis of 21 million people. It has the most expensive private residence in the world, worth 2 billion USD, with 400,000-square-feet area divided into 27 floors. 

 

Not far from it stands Dharavi, one of the biggest slums in the world. 2 million people crammed into 0.81 square miles.

 

Since my work is set in India, the contrasts shown are extreme, and everyday reality is overwhelming to the senses. In terms of color, sounds, scents, and the sheer density of humanity, Indian cities have few equals. 

 

With The Blue Bar, I’ve tried to take readers to the megacity of Mumbai— its skyscrapers and its underbelly, its stories of love and hate, its beaches and swamps, its movie sets and police stations. I hope readers will come along for the journey. 

 

The Blue Bar

A Blue Mumbai Thriller, Book 1

 

On the dark streets of Mumbai, the paths of a missing dancer, a serial killer, and an inspector with a haunted past converge in an evocative thriller about lost love and murderous obsession.

 

After years of dancing in Mumbai’s bars, Tara Mondal was desperate for a new start. So when a client offered her a life-changing payout to indulge a harmless, if odd, fantasy, she accepted. The setup was simple: wear a blue-sequined saree, enter a crowded railway station, and escape from view in less than three minutes. It was the last time anyone saw Tara.

 

Thirteen years later, Tara’s lover, Inspector Arnav Singh Rajput, is still grappling with her disappearance as he faces a horrifying new crisis: on the city’s outskirts, women’s dismembered bodies are being unearthed from shallow graves. Very little links the murders, except a scattering of blue sequins and a decade’s worth of missing persons reports that correspond with major festivals.

 

Past and present blur as Arnav realizes he’s on the trail of a serial killer and that someone wants his investigation buried at any cost. Could the key to finding Tara and solving these murders be hidden in one of his cold cases? Or will the next body they recover be hers?

 

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BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--WHAT MY AUTHOR AND I HAVE BEEN READING LATELY

This is a first. In the 10-1/2 years since the inception of this blog, we’ve had two guests in a row need to reschedule, Thursday’s guest due to a move and today’s guest because her publisher pushed back her release date. She’s rescheduled for late next month. That means once again, you’re stuck with yours truly today. “Stuck” being the operative word here.  

We’re all stuck lately, aren’t we? You humans are stuck dealing with a vicious pandemic. Those of us who only live on the page are stuck with having our lives manipulated by our authors. In my case, that means Lois Winston is constantly forcing me to confront murder and mayhem. Of course, what all of you are going through is much worse. No matter what Lois dumps on me, I know I’ll survive. After all, without me, there is no Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery Series.

 

Right now, Lois is taking a break from writing as she promotes the recent release of A Sew Deadly Cruise, my latest adventure. This means I don’t have to worry about what she’s planning to do to me next—at least not for a few weeks. I’m sure by next month she’ll come up with a new way to torture me, and the cycle will begin all over again. Such is the life of a reluctant amateur sleuth.

 

While Lois is giving me a rest, she’s been catching up on her TBR pile, which nowadays resides in her Kindle, lessening the risk of a huge stack of books toppling over and causing bodily harm to her delicate tootsies. I’ve been reading over her shoulder, and I have to tell you, we’ve both been enjoying some really good reads lately. Given that it’s Book Club Friday, I thought I’d share a few of them with you.

 

First up is Lucky’s Beach by Shelley Noble. Noble writes books set at various beach locations up and down the east coast, but her books are far from fluff. She tackles real-life issues in her stories, making them not only enjoyable reads but thought-provoking as well. Lucky’s Beach is no exception.  

 

Liese Sherwood-Fabre writes The Early Case Files of Sherlock Holmes. The series explores the life of thirteen-year-old Sherlock Holmes as he develops his skills while investigating his first murders. There are two books in the series so far, The Adventure of the Murdered Midwife and The Adventure of the Murdered Gypsy.  

 

Finally, Fishing for Trouble, the second book in Elizabeth Logan’s Alaska Diner Mystery Series, won’t be out until the end of November, but it’s available for pre-order now. Lois was lucky enough to read this book pre-publication and thoroughly enjoyed it. Elizabeth Logan is the newest pen name of author Camille Minichino, who has been a frequent guest on this blog and will make a return visit next month.  

 

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to enjoy what little peace I have left before Lois once again starts pulling my strings.

#COOKING WITH CLORIS--AUTHOR JOANNE GUIDOCCIO SHARES A BLUEBERRY MUFFIN RECIPE WITHOUT WHITE FLOUR AND SUGAR

 

Joanne Guidoccio writes cozy mysteries, paranormal romances, and inspirational literature. Today she makes a return visit to share a special blueberry muffin recipe and tell us about her latest novel. Learn more about Joanne and her books at her website.  

The Last of the White Devils

At the beginning of 2020, I resolved to eliminate the remaining white devils—white flour and sugar—from my diet.  A daunting goal, but one I was determined to achieve by the end of December (hopefully sooner). 

 

During January and February, I continued to struggle with desserts. I simply couldn’t give them up. In conversations with my naturopath, Emily Murphy, I discovered  that almond flour and erythritol can replace wheat flour and sugar in many recipes. 

 

A non-foodie, I don’t enjoy cooking or baking but if some extra time suddenly became available, I would consider experimenting with a few recipes.

 

The universe was listening. Two weeks later, we were in lockdown. 

 

No more excuses. I started researching and experimenting.

 

About Almond Flour

Made from blanched almonds that have been ground and sifted, almond flour is low in carbs and high in healthy fats and fiber. One ounce (28 grams) contains 6.1 grams of protein, 5.6 carb grams, and 3 grams of fiber. Rich in Vitamin E and magnesium, almond flour is gluten-free and an excellent alternative to wheat flour. 

 

While almond flour can replace wheat flour in a 1:1 ratio, the baked products will be denser and flatter. 

 

About Erythritol

Substituting erythritol (a sugar alcohol that is found naturally in foods such as grapes, pears, melons, and mushrooms) for sugar is also easy. For starters, it contains significantly fewer calories than sugar. With only 6 percent of the calories of sugar, it still maintains 70 percent of the sweetness. And more importantly, erythritol does not raise blood sugar levels. 

 

A 1:1 ratio works well for erythritol to sugar. If you miss the sweetness, try a 1.25: 1 ratio.

 

I experimented with almond flour and erythritol and created the following quick-and-easy blueberry muffin recipe:

 

Blueberry Muffins

Yield: 12 regular-size muffins 

 

Ingredients:

2-1/2 cups almond flour

1/2 cup erythritol (I use the monk fruit blend)

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup butter

1/2cup unsweetened almond milk

3 large eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup frozen blueberries

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

 

Line a muffin pan with paper or silicone muffin liners. 

 

In a large bowl, use a wooden spoon to stir together the almond flour, erythritol, baking powder, and salt.

 

Melt butter. Add to the dry mixture. Add in the almond milk, eggs, and vanilla extract. Blend well using an electric mixer.

 

Fold in the blueberries with a wooden spoon.

 

Distribute the batter evenly among the muffin cups. Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Muffins are done when the tops are golden, and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

 

No More Secrets

Angelica Delfino takes a special interest in the lives of her three nieces, whom she affectionately calls the daughters of her heart. Sensing that each woman is harboring a troubling, possibly even toxic secret, Angelica decides to share her secrets—secrets she had planned to take to the grave. Spellbound, the nieces listen as Angelica travels back six decades to reveal an incredulous tale of forbidden love, tragic loss, and reinvention. It is the classic immigrant story upended: an Italian widow’s transformative journey amid the most unlikely of circumstances.

 

Inspired by Angelica’s example, the younger women share their “First World” problems and, in the process, set themselves free. 

 

But one heartbreaking secret remains untold...

 

Watch the Book Trailer

 

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#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--AUTHOR GINI ATHEY COMBINES A PASSION FOR #QUILTING WITH A PASSION FOR WRITING

Gini Athey is the award-winning author of the small-town women’s fiction series, The Shops on Wolf Creek Square, which includes Quilts Galore. The Quilt Company is the first in her new Briarwood Series. She quilts, gardens, writes, reads, and lives with her husband in a rural area west of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Learn more about Gini and her books at her website. 

Write What You Know

Over the course of my life, I’ve delved into a variety of hobbies, pastimes, and occupations. I like to be busy, and I enjoy the challenging of mastering a new skill. After selling the small business I owned in 2004, I found myself with time to explore a new challenge—writing a novel.

According to one survey reported by The New York Times, 81 percent of Americans want to write a book. I was one of those people. But as I ventured into the publishing community, I discovered there is a huge difference between wanting to write a book and actually writing one.

Before I could begin putting the words on the page, I had to answer several questions to define my story.

·      What would the story be about? 

·      Where would it be set? 

·      What themes would it include? 

·      Who would the primary protagonist(s) be?

Some of the questions were easier to answer than others, but then I considered the sage advice often given to aspiring authors: Write what you know.

Initially, that raised more questions than it answered.

·      What did I know?

·      What did I know that would intrigue and engage readers?

·      What did I know that lent itself to the stories itching to spill from my fingertips onto the page?

I spent many hours pondering what I know and eventually came up with a list. 

Quilting and crafts. I inherited my love of quilting, both making them and admiring them, from my grandmother. As a young girl, I spent hours and hours with her, carefully cutting fabric into blocks and assembling them into a quilt which very often became a cherished family heirloom.

Independent women entrepreneurs. For several years, I owned and operated a full-time business that distributed original designs for professional quilters. This company was a labor of love, yet my ambition motivated me to make it profitable and successful. I later went on to sell the company to another individual who shared my love of quilting.

Home and hearth. It’s exciting to visit the big city, but at heart, I’m a small-town girl. I like the slower pace of life in small towns, being surrounded by friends and family, and the sense of community that binds people together. Many of my stories include journeys home, finding home, or creating a home through shared values and experiences.

Nine books later, these elements still define the stories I write. If any of these themes resonant with you, I hope you’ll check out my books.

The Quilt Company

The Briarwood Series, Book 1

A big loss could tear a family apart, but does a big dream have the power to reunite them? 

Deanna Westford may have lost her husband, but she’s determined not to lose her big dream along with him. A quilter with a flair for design, Deanna will do whatever it takes to transform her passion for quilting into a thriving business. She finds the perfect studio-condo location in a renovated factory building repurposed for businesses just like hers. Even better, she knows and trusts the builder, Paul Silverman. Paul is acquainted with loss himself, but that doesn’t stop him from becoming a generous friend and confidant for Deanna. 

With three children in their twenties and on their own, Deanna assumes she can organize her life to please herself. She happily embraces the long hours it will take to establish her business. along with newfound friendships. But her best-laid plans don’t leave room for her kids’ complicated crises, which bring extra demands just when her company needs her the most. 

Deanna—and her children—soon discover that disasters sometimes offer great opportunities. Deanna must waste no time deciding what she’s willing to risk.

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