On one of the questions I am most often asked is, "Why do you write books set in England?" And considering I am from the midwestern U.S., it is an understandable question! I truly think what we read as young people has a profound and lifelong effect. When I am asked, "Why is a midwestern girl writing about England?" the answer comes back to the books I read at a young age: The Secret Garden … [Read more...]

Ken and I have been living out the dream of a lifetime these past two weeks—our first time to travel overseas! We spent three glorious days in Paris, then traveled through the United Kingdom—England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. It has been everything I could have ever hoped for—made all the more fun because we are traveling with Ken's brothers and sister and their spouses. (I'll share more about … [Read more...]

I don't often have reasons to wear fancy dresses. As a writer, I work from home and my daily "uniform" is comprised of yoga pants and exercise tops. His Highness and I are much more likely to spend Saturday night on a date at a local restaurant than attending a formal event. That said, I do love dressing in fancy dresses now and then. Author awards galas have given me my best opportunity to do … [Read more...]