WOMEN'S FICTION AUTHOR
“Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of her life,
every quality of her mind, is written large in her works.” Virginia Woolf
BOOKS
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After being confronted with what she suspects has been a long-kept family secret, Grace McKenzie Clark returns to her hometown looking for answers. Answers she’s hoping her two older brothers will be able to provide. But when they both refuse to talk, Grace’s only hope of ever learning the truth about her own father rests with the only other person she can think of: her deceased mother’s elderly best friend, Cori.
By traveling back and forth from present day with Grace, to her mother and best friend in the summer of 1969, we discover along with Grace of her mother’s beautiful yet scandalous love affair. And of the additional secrets attached to it. Secrets the entire McKenzie family has tried to keep hidden from everyone, especially Grace... for her own good.
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After losing her twelve-year-old son, Spencer, divorcee Adele Hamilton takes matters into her own hands when she arranges for a life-altering meeting with mobster, Carl Nardone. But later, with a fresh lease on life, including a budding new love affair, Adele learns that her fate may have already been sealed if she cannot reach Nardone in time to call of their deal. And the clock is ticking.
After eighteen years of marriage and six children, Emma Riley learns that her husband, Mac, has run off to California with another woman. Destitute, Emma is forced to move herself and her six children into an abandoned farmhouse she finds sitting high atop Jerusalem Hill in Elmira. But later, when Mac discovers that the grass isn't necessarily greener in California, he returns homes with a chip on his shoulder and an ax to grind and Emma, and the handsome mayor she befriends, are straight in his line of fire.
After eighteen years of marriage and six children, Emma Riley learns that her husband, Mac, has run off to California with another woman. Destitute, Emma is forced to move herself and her six children into an abandoned farmhouse she finds sitting high atop Jerusalem Hill in Elmira. But later, when Mac discovers that the grass isn't necessarily greener in California, he returns homes with a chip on his shoulder and an ax to grind and Emma, and the handsome mayor she befriends, are straight in his line of fire.
ABOUT ME
Life began for me in the southern tier section of New York state in a town called Horseheads. I'm the youngest of thirteen, but my two parents only child. Growing up in a small town meant I knew my neighbors and they knew me, and graduation day from high school included the same kids I jumped rope down maple-tree lined streets. I'm happy to report I remain good friends with many of these same people today. More importantly, I think that being raised in a small town taught me many of life lessons and inspires much of what I write today. I was taught that my failures will always be evidence that I had the courage to try. I also learned to trust my own instincts which has continued to serve me well.
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However, in 1979 I packed up myself and my infant son and moved in with my brother and his new wife (she was thrilled) living in metropolitan Northern Virginia for a little while. I quickly learned a trade to support myself and my son and bounced back, feet first. Since then, I have lived in many different states, cities and towns, and attended college. I was blessed with two additional children; a girl and another boy, along the way, too. I have worked jobs I both loved and loathed. I have made many, wonderful new friends and mourned the loss of a few old.
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While absent from my home state, I continued to hone my writing skills. A lot. But not until I returned home in 2011, miserably hopeless, did I decide to make a dramatic change in my life. Soon, there was no turning back; in April 2015 I resigned from my day job with a Fortune 500 company in order to recover from a mental illness. Eventually, with dedicated help, I got better and was encouraged to begin writing again. Slowly, words became sentences and soon sentences turned into stories. In January 2015, during a particularly hard time in my life, I transferred my grief into words and wrote my first novel, Reasonable Regret. A few short months later, remembering my beautiful mother and the struggles she faced, I sat down and finished writing Beyond Jerusalem Hill, a story I had started and stopped working on for more than twenty years. Recently, validation for my writing came in the form of winning two writing contests resulting in the publication of my two short stories Innocence Lost and The Wedding Band. Much more importantly, hearing my three children tell me they were once again proud of me has been the greatest validation of my life.
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Now I do my best writing in my new forever home—located deep within the woods of the Pocono Mountains—with my two cats, Bella and Biscuit, by my side. I prefer writing about strong, independent women and besides reading and writing some of my favorite pastimes include spending time with my family, going to the movies and kayaking with my extraordinary husband, Jim Mack, and sampling the wonderful wines produced back home in the Finger Lakes Wine Region with my life-long, childhood friends. My guilty pleasure, I admit, is spending an entire day in my pajamas binge-watching true crime shows on television. Good Lord, I can't seem to get enough of them!
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I hope you will enjoy reading some of my writing samples contained on this website, maybe even buy a couple of books, but, regardless, please consider dropping me a line sometime. A link to my email address has been provided in the Contact section. I'd really love to hear from you! Meanwhile, I wish you and your family peace, happiness and above all else, love.
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