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From a young age, I determined to adhere to the words of the incomparable Audrey Hepburn, who once declared, "Paris is always a good idea." Paris is always a good idea: as a vacation destination, a place of residence, and as a setting for movies and novels. In the movie Sabrina, Audrey's character writes a letter home to her father, waxing poetic about her feelings for Paris.   "I am looking at the world through rose colored glasses and it says everything I feel.  I've learned so many things, Father...I have learned how to live." Why?  Why is Paris the setting parfait for an exploration of one's character...or for a novel? Because when you are there, every breath you inhale is tinged with hope, every exhalation with gratitude. Hope for a grand histoire d'amour -  a great love affair.   Hope for one of those serendipitous moments - when the light filters through the spires of Notre Dame leaving a lacy patterned shadow on the square ...

Let's face it, births are messy and painful, but  birthdays are fabulous and fun!   To c elebrate my novel's one month birthday, I am throwing an uber-fabulous online party, and you are invited.  There will be virtual glitter , champagne, music , a celebrity appearance , and prezies for all!   So don your swankiest ensemble, mon amie , and let's get ready to paaaarty !   Nothing is worse than walking blind into a party.  Am I right?  I don't mean  literally walking blind - that would be painful.  You still have your sense of sight, but you don't know a single person at the party.  You are the outsider...and you feel awkward, a little self-conscious, constantly checking your breath, hair, pits.   I don't want any of you to feel that way.  Let's just forgo the nervous tummies and sweaty pits, shall we?  Allow me to share the guest list... Vivia Perpetua Grant will be in the house.  Vivia is the heroi...

Reading what has happened to James Rhodes certainty puts things into perspective in one's life.   Nothing - not rejection letters, not weak book sales, not even bad reviews - could compare to what James Rhodes has been through.   As a writer, I admire his dogged determination to see his work to publication.  As a human, I admire that small bubble of buoyancy he's kept alive inside of him despite the horrific things that have happened in his life. If you are unfamiliar with James' story, click here . Excerpt of article by Cherrybatched: "He said he hoped his book would help other survivors of abuse to find the courage to speak up, and that 'it will inspire those in pain to find solace in music'. Rhodes was repeatedly raped while a pupil at the junior school at Arnold House, a preparatory school for boys in St John’s Wood, north London. His abuser was Peter Lee, who worked at the school part-time, as a boxing coach. Lee was recently arrested and c...

In Faking It , my heroine has an epiphany about her life while sipping potent champagne cocktails at a swanky beach-side bar in Cannes, France.  The scene wasn't entirely fictional.  There is actually a swanky beach-side bar in Cannes called ZPlage. Owned by the Hotel Martinez, a sexy, Art Deco hotel frequented by celebrities, ZPlage is famous for their premiere beachfront access, a rarity in the South of France, and their crazy-delicious champagne cocktails.   What to wear to ZPlage? Try Palazzo pants, strappy sandal, designer sunglasses, and statement jewelry. What to read on the beach in Cannes? Light, funny, empowering Chick Lit novels are the choice parfait! If you would like to read more about my visit to ZPlage, read My Lunch with Robert Redford .

"In 1999, Congress designated May as National Military Appreciation Month to recognize the service and sacrifice of those in uniform.  I have dedicated May to spotlighting authors connected to the military.  Today we welcome Air Force veteran and Kensington author Leah Marie Brown ..."  Kim Lowe, Editor of SOS ALOHA . Kim :  Thank you for your service in the USAF! What did you learn from active duty that you can apply to your writing career? LMB :  Wow! That's a good question. I learned a lot of during my tour in the United States Air Force, like the true meaning of sacrifice, patriotism, and respect.   I also learned: If you slip the base tailor twenty bucks, she will nip your Blues in at the waist a little to give you something resembling a female figure.    Singing I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am to yourself in a Cockney accent while standing in formation might not keep you from passing out, but helps makes the time pass quick...

Grayton Beach on a gloomy, foggy late Fall day. Once again, the winds of Fate have carried me from one town to another.  This time, the vertiginous journey took me from Kansas City, Missouri to Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.  A new town, a new home, a new start...again.  I don't know how long Fate will allow us to settle in this sunny pocket of the world before snatching us back up and carrying us somewhere new, so I am determined to make the most of my time here on the Emerald Coast.  To that end, I decided to approach these changes with an Attitude of Gratitude. Part of my Attitude of Gratitude Plan includes taking daily beach walks to marvel at the ocean, to breathe, to just be.  Since photography is one of my passions, I also decided to take one beach shot per day and post them on Instagram and Facebook.   Someone recently said to me, "I am so envious. You have the perfect life.  I wish I could travel, live near the beach, and get a bo...

  My wanderings have taken me from Toledo to Tokyo, Pittsburgh to Paris, Vacaville to Vienna, Charleston to Cologne.  I have marveled at the wonders of the world, made my home in exotic locales, and forged bonds with people of many nations.    Of all my journeys, none has resonated with me as deeply as my recent trip to Ireland.  I made a soul connection with the place and her people.  This should probably come as no surprise to those who know me well.  After all, I have an abundance of Irish DNA surging through my veins.  The connection is cellular.  I'm also an enthusiastic storyteller and conversationalist (a nice way of saying I have the gift for gab ).    Still, I was surprised by my immediate affection for Ireland.  I had only been there a few days when I began daydreaming about buying a cottage in Kenmare and opening up a bookstore/tea shop on her quaint, colorful mai...