Aug 7Member-only30-Day Challenge — Chapter 5 ‘A Breath Away’A kiss can’t take away all the pain. But is it the start of something new? — No matter how much I outline, at some point during writing, the characters stop talking to me. Chapter 4 was tough. In most romances, the couple would have made love and Chapter 5 would start with them still in bed. I even originally wrote it that way. But it didn’t…Writing11 min read
Aug 5Member-only30-Day Challenge — Chapter 4 ‘Fire Break’When is a date not a date? When do words flow freely and when does writer’s block strike? The best thing that can happen to a writer (other than millions of fans decide to buy and rave about their book), is to fall in love with their characters. I’ve fallen…Romance14 min read
Aug 4Member-onlyAccidental IgnitionWhen a broken hero meets a woman who’s learned not to trust, will love IGNITE? — Do you love small town romance? Do you love alpha men who are a little bit damaged? Do you want to cheer on a woman who’s been betrayed and refuses to trust again? And when these two people come together, do you want to see love IGNITE? Keep reading for…Romance12 min read
Aug 3Member-only30-Day Challenge — Chapter 3 ‘Love the Past’How do you know when grieving is over and it’s time to move on? It’s a question for Shar in Chapter 3 of my 30-day challenge. — Writing a short romance in 30 days is a challenge. I started with enthusiasm and good intentions, but today the words were more of a challenge. Perhaps it was because I had to dive into emotions and face my own fears and grief. Did you start at Chapter 1? …Romance8 min read
Aug 1Member-only30-Day Challenge — Chapter 2 ‘The Box’When writing a scene makes me cry, what will it do to a reader? — Perhaps I’m just a sucker for a gorgeous hunky man who has crushed on a woman for over a decade. Or perhaps I’ve always believed in a slow-burn friends-to-something-more. In any case, I’m happy to add another fiery heart to my project plan. Go back and start at Chapter 1…Romance7 min read
Jul 30Member-only30-Day Challenge — Chapter 1 ‘Speechless’The first line of the first chapter of this short romance packs a punch and leaves Shar speechless. — Can I plot, write and publish a short romance in 30 days? Go back to the beginning for my reasons and the plan, or keep reading for Chapter 1. But before you read, just a caveat: You are inside the writing cave where no spelling mistakes are acknowledged, all grammatical…Writing7 min read
Jul 29Member-onlyHow to plot and write a short romance in 30 daysCan I write a short romance in less than one month? — Am I a little bit crazy or overly optimistic? To be honest, probably both. Let me recap. I wrote HEAT as a small-town, firefighter romance in the immediate aftermath of the 2020 Australian bushfires. …Writing4 min read
Jul 10Member-onlyInk My HeartCullen can cover my scars with ink, but can he make the pain of my past go away? — The only marks on my skin had been left by my ex. I hated them almost as much as I hated him. Getting my first tattoo at thirty hadn’t been on my bucket list, but friends had convinced me that I deserved to look in the mirror and see beauty. …Romance5 min read
Published in Coffee Lounge Romance·Jul 5Member-onlyGrand Gesture of LoveI’d always preferred cars to dolls and football to netball. I’d always been a daddy’s girl. But can the love of my life help me overcome the grief of losing my father? I stared at the wall of framed photos. I blinked and stared again. “Well?” he asked and I…Father And Daughter4 min read
Published in The Lark·Jun 28Member-onlyRoad To RevengeHe put me on this road but do I have the courage to see it through? — I can hear him. Muffled screams and thumps as he tries to break free. It took years to find him and months to prepare my basement. My phone chimes. Three-thirty, the school’s out, and it’s time to talk. Before we do, I check the mirror. My body is fuller than…Thriller3 min read
