Dedication: Dress for Success

My third book had to be dedicated to my sister, Ashley Beaulieu.  She's one of my best friends and one of my editors.  She also happens to be one of my biggest fans.  She is more insulted than I am when I get a negative comment and she is always pushing me forward to keep me writing because she's anxious to read the next book.

Ashley and I often get asked if we're twins.  We're not. There are four years between, and Ashley would be quick to tell you that I am the older one.  We're often seen together.  We say the same thing, at the same time, with the same inflection - evidence that we spend a lot of time together.  People will often call us by the other one's name and we don't correct them any more.  We'll just go to each other and say, "So and so thought I was you."

Ashley and I have been blessed to serve together in many capacities.  We used to teach the four and five year olds in Vacation Bible School every year.  I would teach and Ashley would help.  We were able to co-direct VBS together this year and right now we serve in the same small group for ladies Bible study.  We work well together.  As the oldest, I tend to be the leader and the one who takes charge, but Ashley has a lot more contacts as the younger, more outgoing one.  I can delegate things to her easily and she's always willing to help out.  We're a good team and we balance each other out nicely.

When I got back her editing notes for Dress for Success, she had written on the first page, "LOVED IT! P.S. I cried a lot! :)"  She encourages me all the time and will list me as one of her favorite authors, which always makes me smile.  The thing that I love about it is that I know she's being sincere.  She's not saying that just because she's my sister.  She genuinely enjoys reading my books.

We didn't always get along as well as we do now.  When we were growing up and she would irritate me, my mom would remind me that I had prayed for a sister and God had given me one.  I didn't think it was very fair to remind me that I had wanted a sister.  I often thought that if I had known what a pest a little sister was, I wouldn't have asked for one.  But now I can't imagine my life without her.  God knew what He was doing when he gave me a sister and a best friend rolled up in one amazing person.  I love you, Ashley!

Switching gears a little bit, I want to thank everyone who has purchased Dress for Success.  I hope you enjoy Brooke's story as much as I enjoyed writing it.  If you haven't purchased it, you will be able to find it by clicking on the link below.

I also wanted to quickly update you on my Christmas novella.  It's coming along and I'm really enjoying writing it.  It's not part of the KW Consulting series so I've been able to develop all new characters which has been a lot of fun.  I think it will be a nice Christmas read when it is finished. I still have my eye set on a Thanksgiving release date.

Dress for Success

Dress for Success

Here it is!  The cover for book three, Dress for Success!  The book has been edited, formatted and is now ready to publish!  It should be available for purchase tomorrow, September 16th, in the afternoon sometime.  You can find it at amazon.com.  

Dedication: Smell the Roses

After my husband, the next most obvious people to dedicate my book to was my parents.  I dedicated Smell the Roses to both of my parents because I couldn't possibly choose one over the other.  When I first told my parents that I was writing a book, they were both excited and supportive.  It would have been so easy for them to think that I was wasting my time or to warn me that the likelihood of my ever getting published was not good.  Instead they acted like it was completely natural for me to be writing a book and that they would fully expect to one day expect to see a book with my name written on the cover.  Their reaction gave me confidence to continue and see where it went.

Both of my parents have helped with editing my books, although my mom is more active in that aspect than my dad.  I know that I could go through my book ten times and still miss errors simply because I know what it's supposed to say.  I'm so thankful to have fresh eyes take a look at my books and catch those errors or those phrases that don't make sense.

I know my parents are proud of my writing.  My dad actually has read my books which says a lot and I can honestly say that I am the only romance author he has ever read.  My dad likes to tell people that his daughter is an author and I can hear the pride in his voice when he does.  My mom enjoys reading my books and she loves to tell her friends that are looking for a new book to read that they should try my books.  I appreciate her willingness to "advertise" for me.

My parents taught us the value of hard work by example and taught us that we should serve the Lord, not to gain us "brownie points" or to get noticed, but to thank God for all He's done for us and to spread the Word.  I can't remember my parents ever going to church and not being involved in some sort of ministry.  I appreciated seeing them serve and then later they brought me alongside them so that I could learn from them how to serve.

My family is close.  We just enjoy spending time together.  I love the times that I can cheer on our favorite sports team with my parents, or play board games.  I can talk to my parents for hours.  My dad and I have always been close.  My mom and I are so much alike that we understand each other better than anyone else.  This makes her someone that I can go to when I'm struggling because most likely, she's been there too and she understands.  

Thank you, Dad and Mom, for all your support and help!  I love you!

Now for a quick update.  Mom has finished editing and is going through a second time to double check.  Meghan thinks she should finish up sometime this weekend.  Which means that hopefully I can start the final edit either this week or next!

If you haven't read the first two books, you can find them by clicking on the links below!

Best Laid Plans
Smell the Roses