Hiya!
Writing is a passion. It’s also the most challenging and rewarding job I’ve ever taken on. I’m addicted and committed to bringing you the best stories possible. Writing requires enormous amounts of time, hours upon hours of research, and, yes, tears to create stories that will transport you—from the pulse-pounding, action and adventure, multicultural romance series Ancient Passages to the all-the-feels small town Piñon Ridge series.
I’m asked often about my process. Am I a planner or a pantser? Defiantly the latter. How do I come up with the concepts? The seeds of my novels begin with ideas, images, or experiences and germinate into scenes and then stories. A line from a song, or its title. A mindless roadtrip throughout southeast Ohio. Riding a bus in Nicaragua. Hiking and camping in the mountains. Walking sacred Tikal. A horse’s soul speaking through her eyes. Just a few of a countless many that stay with me.
I don’t write fast and have given up worrying about it, preferring to embrace my pace. I was blessed to add a new “hat” in February 2024, that of grandmother; my grandboy is precious and I’m fortunate to help watch him—and so, I continue to address streamlining my process.
A lot of time is spent on world-building and character development. World building comes first, an overview of where my characters live or travel to and from and how they move within all of that. The frameworks of Guatemala, Morocco, and Italy were actually far easier than Piñon Ridge and the new series beginning to release in late 2025 because I had worked in or had plenty of immersive experiences and exposures in those countries and cultures. Characters are second. They are a blast to construct and are continually tweaked as the story moves forward; my characters drive it all. So much of the specific character details don’t make it into the novels but inform me of who they are—motivations, tics, strengths, weaknesses, etc. I particularly enjoy the “bad” ones and arcs of redemption. All of my characters are as real to me as the air I breathe.
Some stories flow, and others stop and go but make eventually find their way to a satisfying ending. I have a team that helps me get there:
My go-to alpha and beta readers—Karen, Pam, Enid, and Kassie—who know me well and are unfailingly honest, i.e.,“That’s not going to work.” Then I ask why and get educated. Feedback can be humbling, sometimes painful, but it is always appreciated. For example, there was an excellent reason that the scene of Emory drifting off to sleep on her porch in Piñon Ridge didn’t make it into Finding Home. (Damn. I loved that scene.)
Anne Victory, my editor. Anne is a gentle taskmaster with a great sense of humor. A manuscript polisher and “nuke-this” queen.
Ally Hastings, graphic designer extraordinaire. She is simply lovely.
My prince of a husband who provides me with a man’s insight. Our discussion over a bottle of wine one summer night helped Hardin Ambrose’s character shine. Just saying.
I’m often asked about sales. “Is it better that I buy directly from you?”
That’s a resounding YES. Please and thank you!
The second best way is to purchase my books through indie bookstores. Note: Amazon is NOT a bookstore. Authors make little on each sale, regardless of the price we list our stories at.
I’m at numerous events and bookstores, but it’s impossible to be everywhere. Time and budget are my boundaries.
Don't fret. You can get personalized signed copies of all of my books for you and yours with some swag via snail mail (US only, unless you’re fortunate to have one of those special lockers). E-books are available globally.
My books make GREAT gifts, too!
Thanks for supporting this indie author!
xx, Sutton
