Love Note from the Lake: March 2021
- At March 24, 2021
- By Roxanne Snopek
- In Roxanne Writes On
0
Happy Spring and welcome to the latest Love Note from the Lake! Although spring is officially here, the temperature in my neck of the woods isn’t quite agreeing. But I’ve got irises and rhubarb peeking through the ground, so that makes it real! What signs are you seeing?
Granny Love
I got to spend time with this little darling recently and oh, my heart! She’s going to be two soon – how can that be?? She and I spent some time making stone soup in her little kitchen, then adjusting flavours, and taste-testing inside her princess castle. I’ve had some great meals lately… but this one was simply the best. 🙂
As some of you know, I’ve embarked on the Simon Fraser University Editing Certificate Program. Don’t worry, I’m NOT quitting writing – I’ve got lots of stories on my to-do list. But I wanted to add to my skill set and I really enjoy working on stories with other authors. Since I was already doing it, sort of, I decided I might as well learn to do it, properly.
If you want to learn more about Roxanne’s World, ask to join my private Facebook reader group. I love our little book loving community!
Today’s Love Note
Today’s Love Note goes out to William Harris, a reader I’ve gotten to know since writing for Tule Publishing. Lots of people think that men don’t read romance. Well, William proves that smart men absolutely do. He has been an enormous champion for authors, so much so that he now moderates a Facebook Fan group called Main St. Marietta. Readers of my Tule books will recognize Marietta as a lovely, fictitious town that many of us wish we could visit In Real Life.
Since retiring, William has returned to student life, aiming to complete his history degree next year, which impresses the heck out of me. Despite his workload, he still has time to read, review, moderate and send encouraging messages to his favourite authors. I’m SO LUCKY to be one of them. Every author needs their Ideal Reader when they’re creating, to counteract that pesky inner critic. William, you’re mine. One day when we meet in person, I’ve got a big hug for you.
As an example of his kindness, William reminded me that today is World Down syndrome day, which reminded me of Mark, in The Chocolate Comeback, the character with DS who brings the hero and heroine together. Today on the Main St. Marietta page, William is celebrating me and several other Tule authors who include developmentally disabled characters in their books. I simply love that Tule allows us to write these “bigger” stories… and that readers like William appreciate them.
Thank you, William, for being my Ideal Reader. And just an all-round fine person.
Fresh air, wide open skies, new love
The first four full-length books in my Wild Sky series are now all out! Originally titled Three River Ranch, each book in this series has been updated and re-edited, and received a gorgeous new cover. If you’ve been with me for a while, you might recall these stories.
If you’re a newer reader and have missed these, I urge you to give them a try; set in Montana with wild mustangs, service dogs, babies, wounded heroes, these books are dear to my heart. They launched my career, put me on bestseller lists and connected me to many, many wonderful and kind readers – like YOU! I’m glad to see them alive again and hope you’ll give them a warm welcome.
Until the next Love Note from the Lake… stay well and happy reading!
Psychological Thriller Recommendation
- At March 18, 2021
- By Roxanne Snopek
- In Rox Reads
- 0
I’ve got a psychological thriller book recommendation for you! I met the author, Linwood Barclay, at a writers conference years ago. I was brand new but he was already making a name for himself in the crime-fiction world, and a nice guy, as well. He’s continued to build his craft and his name and when I saw this book on sale, I immediately downloaded it.
The New York Times bestselling author of No Time for Goodbye returns with a haunting psychological thriller that blends the twists and turns of Gillian Flynn with the driving suspense of Harlan Coben, in which a man is troubled by odd sounds for which there is no rational explanation.
College professor Paul Davis is a normal guy with a normal life. Until, driving along a deserted road late one night, he surprises a murderer disposing of a couple of bodies. That’s when Paul’s “normal” existence is turned upside down. After nearly losing his own life in that encounter, he finds himself battling PTSD, depression, and severe problems at work. His wife, Charlotte, desperate to cheer him up, brings home a vintage typewriter—complete with ink ribbons and heavy round keys—to encourage him to get started on that novel he’s always intended to write.
However, the typewriter itself is a problem. Paul swears it’s possessed and types by itself at night. But only Paul can hear the noise coming from downstairs; Charlotte doesn’t hear a thing. And she worries he’s going off the rails.
Paul believes the typewriter is somehow connected to the murderer he discovered nearly a year ago. The killer had made his victims type apologies to him before ending their lives. Has another sick twist of fate entwined his life with the killer—could this be the same machine? Increasingly tormented but determined to discover the truth and confront his nightmare, Paul begins investigating the deaths himself.
But that may not be the best thing to do. Maybe Paul should just take the typewriter back to where his wife found it. Maybe he should stop asking questions and simply walk away while he can. . . .
Right now, the Kindle version is on sale for $1.99.
I’m guessing the lost sleep will cost me a bit more… but will be worth it.
🙂
Love Notes from the Lake
If you wonder what I’ve been up to lately, this photo might explain it. Walking around the lake with Ray and Luna is a never-ending joy
The people in our new community are wonderful, too. My new next-door neighbor Ruth, in fact, is the inspiration for this newsletter. I love Ruth. She appreciates people and isn’t afraid to shout that from the rooftops.
Ruth is also a phenomenal cook and frequently asks us to “help her” by tasting her mushroom risotto, or double-crunch chicken, or blueberry coffee cake. We do her this favor because that’s what friends are for.
On her Facebook page, Ruth posts beautiful Loves Notes highlighting the important people in her life. Even though I don’t know most of these people, reading them always brings a smile to my face.
So, with a nod to Ruth, that’s what my revamped newsletter is about. Love Notes. Reminding people – YOU – what you mean to me and why.
I’ll also update you a bit on my life and my books, but honestly, that bores me so there won’t be much of it. (Also, if you want to know about that, ask to join my private Facebook reader group. I don’t post much on “regular” Facebook anymore, being more of a small group kind of gal.)
Love Note #1
My very first Love Note goes out to Kim of ReadYourWrites book reviews. Kim – Kimmie to me – has been with me from my very first book. For a writer just starting out, when no one has ever read your books before, to have someone you don’t know post that they LOVE it, well. That does something for a fragile writer’s heart. (Kim, one day 
when we meet in person, I’ve got a big hug for you.) Kim is more than enthusiastic and kind, however; she’s also unflinchingly honest, which is vital in a reviewer – and a friend. When she starts off hating a character of mine – and she’s hated a few – she says it. Then she says something to the effect of “… but I read the book anyway because I knew Roxanne would make it worth my while – and she did.”
Ah, Kimmie. Thank you. Thank you!
Audio Books
In other news, a year ago, Tule Publishing negotiated a fantastic deal with Blackstone Publishing for the audio editions of my books. Over the past several months, they’ve been produced, and are now all available.
Narrator Felicity Munroe does an amazing job with my Montana Home and Love at the Chocolate Shop books, as well as A Dog Called Valentine and was kind enough to tell me that recording my books helped keep her spirits up during those early dark days of Covid-19.
Three River Ranch – relaunched!
Finally, I’m excited to announce that my very first series is being relaunched! The series, originally titled Three River Ranch, has been languishing on the bottom shelf, so to speak, so we’ve updated and re-edited the books, given them fresh covers and new titles and they are now being released as the Wild Sky series. If you’ve been with me for a while, you might recall these stories.
If you’re a newer reader and have missed these, I urge you to give them a try; set in Montana with wild mustangs, service dogs, babies, wounded heroes, these books are dear to my heart. They launched my career, put me on bestseller lists and connected me to many, many wonderful and kind readers – like YOU! I’m glad to see them alive again and hope you’ll give them a warm welcome.
Until the next Love Note from the Lake… stay well and happy reading!
Love, Roxanne
