The Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” Boy howdy, was he right! I’ve been telling you all that my next novel, Grace Under Pressure, would be available in August. What I didn’t count on was life throwing a bit of a curve ball. My husband, The Dude as I like to call him, had a bit of a medical scare which meant the last thing I was thinking about was writing. He’s fine now and things are getting back to normal.

In light of what happened, it got me thinking about things like gratitude and love. Gratitude that The Dude is doing great and back to his super chill self. Also, so much gratitude for the doctors and medical staff at our local hospital who took such good care of him. Perfect example; he was in the hospital on our wedding anniversary. Not exactly the place we expected to be for the celebration. But the medical staff all knew about it and one of the nurses went down to the gardens surrounding the hospital, waded into the flower beds, and brought us a pretty bouquet of fresh cut posies to celebrate. She didn’t have to do that but she did, and that small act of kindness made all the difference. Let me just say that nurses, medical technicians, and service workers are unsung heroes and they deserve our kudos, applause, and I’ll say it again, gratitude.

Now, about this thing called love. As a romance author I live for the happily ever after. Writing about the rush of early love (and lust), and the butterflies-in-the-tummy feeling early on in a relationship are the things I love most about writing in this genre. As we celebrated our own wedding anniversary at the hospital, I remembered the vows we took to love and cherish in sickness and in health. Needless to say, that really hit home. Love isn’t just about those roller-coaster emotions that often take center stage in romance novels that make them so much fun to read. Sometimes love shines brightest in the simplest ways. Doing the laundry (and folding it too!) when you’d rather not but he wants to wear his favorite rugby shirt. Making her favorite comfort food for dinner when work has been a grind and she’s wiped out. And yes, even sitting in a hospital room together watching bad television and counting down the time until you can be together at home.

Thank you for indulging me in this post. It’s been a crazy, stressful time. I promise the wait will be worth it for Grace Under Pressure.

Fall is my favorite time of year. It’s spooky season after all, and there’s nothing I like better than a dark night with the moon peeking out from behind the clouds while the wind rustles the leaves that still cling to the branches. The crisp temperatures and the vibrant colors add to the magic. Plus, there’s nothing I love more than a cozy sweater and a hot chocolate–or perhaps a wee dram of my favorite whiskey–while curled up with a good book. What about you? What’s your favorite season?

On the writing front, Just Lucky is on its way to my editor for a final pass. I want to thank all of the people who volunteered to beta read for me and I’m sorry I couldn’t use more of you. Hopefully, I can tap into your skills on the next novel, which is well underway. Once the edit and the cover design are complete I plan on releasing Just Lucky in mid-to-late November–just in time for the holidays. I’m super excited about this novel and I’ll keep you posted once the release date is set.

If you’re wondering about my next novel, the title is Grace Under Pressure, and I’m already in love with my characters and the location. I promise lots of sexy romance and fun with my protagonist Grace Moretti and her hot Scotsman Mac Galbraith, set in the beautiful Catskill Mountains of New York. I don’t know about you but I’ve never been one to resist a man in a kilt! More coming on that soon. In the meantime, enjoy the change of seasons!

xoxoxoxox — Nikki

_{Leaf image courtesy of Autumn Vectors by Vecteezy}

First of all, Happy Belated St. Patrick’s Day! If you’ve read my novel Ghost of a Chance, then you know how much I love Ireland. My husband and I were lucky enough to visit in October of 2017. We had plans to return in 2020 but a certain pandemic changed our plans. I’m really hoping we’ll be back in 2023.

Why do we want to return? There are several reasons:

• First, the people! Everyone is so kind and welcoming and I really appreciate their sense of humor. Plus, the taxi drivers in Dublin are the best! They kept us laughing with their running commentary on just about everything as they navigated the chaotic Dublin streets.
• Second, the country itself. As the photo above shows, it is one of the most beautiful place I’ve ever visited–and I’ve traveled a lot.
• Third, would have to be the libations. Irish whiskies and beer? Yes please! Nothing is finer than sitting in a pub, sharing in the craic while sipping a fine Irish whiskey or a pint of the black stuff-Guinness.
• Fourth, but definitely not last, the sense of magic that seems to permeate the air, land, and the buildings. History is a living, breathing thing in Ireland and you can sense it wherever you go. A few days into our 2017 trip we arrived in Cashel after a few hair-raising hours of learning how to drive on the left-hand side of the road. There was a soft rain falling as we stood on top of the rock, the sounds of birds calling to each other bouncing off the stone walls of the ruin. I felt such an overwhelming connection to the place and those who had lived on the land. It was emotional, spiritual, and beautiful–one of those magical moments when you travel somewhere new and yet you feel as if you’ve been there before.

So, is it any surprise that my next novel takes place in Ireland? I’m still figuring out the title, and I’m in the process of wrapping up the ending–happily ever after of course–but it’s almost done. Here’s a quick sketch of the characters/plot:

The main character is Lily Vincent; a thirty-seven years old, recently divorced, Midwesterner. One day, when out trying to find an apartment on her meager salary, Lily stops in the local convenience store and buys a mega-millions lottery ticket. Later that night, she is stunned to discover she has won $365 million.

Fast forward to the (fictional) town of Ballymeade on the southwest coast of Ireland where Lily has purchased, sight unseen, a large parcel of land that includes a lighthouse, cottage, and two large outbuildings–one of which is a whiskey distillery. The first night on the property she meets her tenant, Evan Connor, a forty year old, drop-dead gorgeous movie star who wants nothing more than to get out of the movie business and devote his time to making whiskey and having a simpler way of life.

Sparks fly from their first meeting, and while both Lily and Evan are mindful of their hearts, it isn’t long before romance is in the air on the beautiful shores of Ireland. This is a story about two people, both searching for their purpose in life, all with some spicy romance for good measure! Add in some local characters from Ballymeade, an aging starlet who has set her sights on getting Evan back in her life, and four witches from centuries past who give Lily sage advice for living her best life. You knew I had to throw in some magic and ghosties somewhere, right?

Stay tuned for more updates and as always, thanks for your support!