Free!!

View from my doctor's office.

Yep, with a view like that, I almost don't mind going to the doctor's...almost.

It's been 9 months since my first infection in my leg. I had surgery in August, then another surgery in December. They took out 16 screws and two plates out of my thigh. That helped the infection clear up, although I was left with a holey bone. The minions and I started referring to it as my Swiss Cheese Leg. Well after months on crutches and then limited walking in the house, I was finally given permission to start walking for exercise again.

Yesterday I walked around the block! It was in the twenties. I had to pull out my cold-weather-walking-coat, but I didn't mind because I'm FREE!

Fitbit here I come!

Seriously, I was years of never missing a 10,000 step day. The day of my first surgery, I was trying to get my steps in before my surgery. They came for me early and that was the first day I missed my count.

Now, I won't be back to walking 8+ miles a day today or even tomorrow, but I'm going to start working toward it...one step at a time. I'm hoping in a couple weeks I can creep up to at least those 10,000 steps and keep adding to that.

I think that's a good reminder to myself...for all of us. Change can happen, but it doesn't have to happen all at once. Small changes can grow into bigger changes. A walk around the block can grow into a couple miles. The kernel of an idea can grow into a novel. A piece of clay can grow into a ugly-face jug! LOL

One step at a time.

Literally in my case!

That idea of change is a good one to explore. For me, I'm changing from a couch potato back into a walker. Maybe there's some change you've been thinking about? Maybe it feels too big and cumbersome. Well, take a page from my book and take it one small step at a time. Yesterday I went around the block...who knows where I'll be walking today!

I'm so jazzed that as spring arrives I should be almost back to normal. (Normal being relative in my case!)

Holly

PS Speaking of one step at a time, another Hometown Hearts story is out in a couple weeks. You can preorder it now at your favorite online bookstore! Thanks as always for the support!

OUT NOW: Crib Notes

Amazon

iBooks

Nook

Kobo

Preorder: A Special Kind of Different

Amazon

iBooks

Nook

Kobo

Preorder: Homecoming
Amazon
iBooks
Nook
Kobo

The rest of the Hometown Hearts series will be coming soon.
Suddenly a Father will be out in September of 2020 and
Something Borrowed, Something Blue and Something Perfect in 2021!

Family

Most of you know I've spent a lot of my writing career writing romantic comedy. But a few years back, I drifted into books that were something more. They were still romance, but they were were greater than a relationship. They were about the heroine's journey. Romance was a part of it, but not her entire trip. I tried to coin the phrase Womance (Women's Fiction & Romance) but it never took off. LOL So I went with Romance+.

My Hometown Hearts series starts with Crib Notes. A woman who works with teen moms. Suddenly Eli finds her journey echoing her students'. She might be older, but she's dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. Certainly being a teen mom brings its own set of challenges, but every age brings a host of obstacles. I love the saying that every obstacle comes with a gift...and I think Crib Notes' ultimate gift is finding just what makes a family

Family.

That's the overarching theme of my Hometown Heart series.

The second book, A Special Kind of Different, has a much smaller family made up of two brothers. Colm has special needs, and Liam who wants to keep his brother in bubble wrap...safe from the outside world. Until the heroine comes into their lives. Anna's job is to help Colm find his best possible life. She's built a career on helping exceptional people live exceptional lives. She's always had to fight for her clients...but she's fighting even harder in this case. Because in these two brothers she might have found her family.

The third book, Homecoming, is about a fractured family. A pregnant heroine who's lost her fiance and is facing a pregnancy and a baby on her own. Only she's not alone. It takes time to realize it and to reach out to friends.

The fourth book, Suddenly a Father, is truly special. It's Tucker's story. She's a former teen mom who inspired Eli's work. She knows who her family is. But the hero? He's the most isolated person she's ever made. Eli's life lessons drive Tucker to help him find the support he obviously needs. More than that, she helps him find his family in an unexpected place.

Family.

It's a subject at the heart of most of my books. Why? Because it's a subject of unlimited possibilities. I've spent a few years working on my family tree and what I've found and followed is so many broken branches. It's fascinating. And while I'm related to so many of these people by blood, I do know what truly makes a family...heart. And I know the people who are at the center of my heart and are my true family. Blood has nothing to do with it!

I've built my life around family. Sometimes it's overflowing with them. LOL But I love my life and all these crazy people who make it interesting. So it makes sense that I've built my career around family...and love.

Holly

PS Here's links to my Hometown Hearts series. If you've already read Crib Notes, you can preorder A Special Kind of Different and Homecoming. I'd really appreciate a review at your favorite online book site!

OUT NOW: Crib Notes

Amazon

iBooks

Nook

Kobo

Preorder: A Special Kind of Different

Amazon

iBooks

Nook

Kobo

Preorder: Homecoming
Amazon
iBooks
Nook
Kobo

The rest of the Hometown Hearts series will be coming soon.
Suddenly a Father will be out in September of 2020 and
Something Borrowed, Something Blue and Something Perfect in 2021!

What-Iffing

This week, Susan and I were asked what do we do if we get stuck on a manuscript. We have two magic words we both use. "What if?" They can lead us out of a dead zone. They create a path to the story.

But those two words are magic for more than writers. I think everyone needs to ask themselves, "What if?" on occasion.

For instance, I've always loved pottery. I've got a nice little collection. I asked myself, "What if I took a class?" (PS The answer to that question is, if I took a class I'd fall in love with making pottery.) Or what if I take the road less traveled? What if I try something new in the kitchen? What if read more about...(fill in any particular subject)? What if I volunteer my time? What if...

I've talked a lot about continuing to learn and try new things. What If? can lead to all of roads less traveled and roads never even considered.

So even if you're not a writer, try a bit of What If? soon! Or maybe you've already been What-Iffing? I'd love to hear about it!

Holly

PS Don't ever miss a Trippin' with Holly and Susan.  Follow me on YouTube.

PSS Here's my newest series. If you've already read Crib Notes, I'd really appreciate a review at your favorite online book site!

OUT NOW: Crib Notes

Amazon

iBooks

Nook

Kobo

Preorder: A Special Kind of Different

Amazon

iBooks

Nook

Kobo

Preorder: Homecoming
Amazon
iBooks
Nook
Kobo

The rest of the Hometown Hearts series will be coming soon.
Suddenly a Father will be out in September of 2020 and
Something Borrowed, Something Blue and Something Perfect in 2021!

I'm worth it...

I was going to pick up something quick for my dinner while I was at the grocery store today. I'm solo this week and I've cooked a lovely risotto and some bangin' cream of chicken soup with cheese tortellini. Mmm. I thought cooking another nice meal for just myself would simply take too long.

And the moment I had that thought, I kicked myself. (Well, since the leg's still weak, it wasn't much of a kick, but I deserved it.) As I kicked myself, I reminded myself, that I'm worth it. I'm worth taking the time to cook something just for me. So I made a huge tossed salad with spring greens, and a lovely crab marinara. Had a nice glass of wine even.

I've spent my life as a caregiver. My brothers when I was growing up, my family, my grandmother, my neighbor...  I think it's easy for caregivers to forget to give themselves time as well. Taking a moment to cook myself a lovely dinner. Taking a moment to read a book. Taking a bunch of moments going back to school. Heading to the studio. Those moments...well, I'm worth them. Yes, I may forget sometimes. I think we all do. But it's worth reminding ourselves.

Maybe during this shortest month, we should all take a moment to do something for ourselves. Whether it's cooking, or claying, or reading...

Take a moment. You're worth it!

Holly

PS Here's my newest series:

OUT NOW: Crib Notes

Amazon

iBooks

Nook

Kobo

Preorder: A Special Kind of Different

Amazon

iBooks

Nook

Kobo

Preorder: Homecoming
Amazon
iBooks
Nook
Kobo

The rest of the Hometown Hearts series will be coming soon.
Suddenly a Father will be out in September of 2020 and
Something Borrowed, Something Blue and Something Perfect in 2021!