Ten Photos
When widowed Fern Randall dies, she leaves behind a lifetime of unlabeled photos and two bitterly estranged daughters. Claire, a university librarian, is happily married and the mother of two grown sons. Maya is divorced and bouncing between bad boyfriends, low-paying jobs and bouts with alcohol.
But when a fatal car accident thrusts them together, communication is nearly impossible. Claire has just suffered a brain stem stroke resulting in Locked-in Syndrome and lies paralyzed and speechless in a rehab hospital, leaving her husband Brian, a gifted violinist, in charge. Thus begins a volatile triangle, exacerbated by the reappearance of Maya’s ex-husband and the fact that Fern put Claire in control of Maya’s inheritance.
With Maya struggling to stay sober and Claire weighing whether to continue her locked-in life, their mother’s photos may be their last chance to reconcile.
The Passion of Hubert
When Hubert and Felicia Lamb retire to Florida, they think they’ve found their own private paradise—until an act of God leaves a body floating face down in their swimming pool. The dead man is a dead ringer for Jesus, and soon Hubert acquires a halo and “miracles” begin to occur, thanks to the water in his pool.
Now Hubert must contend with faith healings, a megachurch led by the charismatic Pastor Brad Light, a pregnant teenaged runaway named Genie, and the glare of worldwide publicity, all while struggling with the shock and grief of a personal tragedy.
It’s all a bit much, especially for a man who knows in his heart he’s never been special in any way.
The Coloring Scroll
As a young boy living above his parents’ small-town grocery store, D.S. Maxwell dreams of becoming a sorcerer. He plans to make his parents rich, banish his meddlesome Grandma, and turn over his spoiled little brother Critter to a band of demons.
But for his sister, Emily Grace, a tall, homely genius of a girl, D.S. will make everything wonderful. He hones his artistic talent and sets off to San Francisco, where Emily Grace lives, to become a great artist. Yet he also seeks one thing more: a love he’s always wanted, a love he intends to keep.
A book about children that’s not for children.
Sanctuary
Quarter-finalist in the 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards
As the newly hired caretaker of a rundown New England estate, Jane Avery becomes caught up in the tangled history of Charlotte Deerfield, the temperamental artist/owner, and her enigmatic secretary, Bella.
Drafted to lead nature walks on the estate, Jane finds herself in the company of avid birders, aspiring artists, actors from the local theater, and a group of conservationists who don’t think she’s up to the job.
But Jane, Charlotte and Bella are each harboring a secret, and as their stories are revealed, they must find a way to emerge from their sanctuary and reclaim a place in the world.
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The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare
In 1623, in Stratford-upon-Avon, William Shakespeare’s widow Anne lies dying in her second-best bed. But as her granddaughter Lizbeth reads aloud to her from the famous plays, Anne breaks a lifetime of silence to reveal the truth.
“William Shakespeare,” she whispers to Lizbeth, “did not write the plays that appear in his name.”
Often dismissed as a homely country spinster who seduced an innocent boy, Anne Shakespeare emerges in my novel as a smart, witty, resourceful woman who discovers she has a mind and talents of her own.
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How (Not) to Have a Perfect Wedding
“My, what a boring job you have!” was a comment I heard often when I worked as a wedding hostess at one of the famous Newport mansions. Oh no, it was fascinating to stand on duty, observing the interactions of everyone from the caterers in the kitchen to the well-heeled guests.
By telling the story of a society wedding from multiple viewpoints – bride and groom, wedding party and mansion staff – my novel takes the reader behind the scenes at a wickedly funny affair.
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The Kingsley House
A runaway slave on the Underground Railroad, a pair of scheming Spiritualists, a deadly diphtheria epidemic and a high-flying love affair are just a few of the adventures to overtake the five generations of family in this seemingly ordinary house.
Built by my ancestor Nathan Kingsley in 1843, the real Kingsley House is now preserved in Greenmead Historical Village in Livonia, Michigan. The novel was inspired by a family history album created by my mother, to whom I am deeply grateful for her research and support.