5/26/25 It's An Author's Life

A moment of silence in memory of those men and women who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today. They were/are the true heroes we sometimes forget about.

It has been several days of stormy weather, yet again here in Oklahoma. With all the high humidity, I’ve had to keep the A/C on. Hopefully, humidity will decrease along with the temps once we are out of the stormy season. At least until the heat hits in a month or two.

This weekend is also the official start of the camping season. I know my family in Wisconsin are always gone this weekend to their favorite spots. If you are camping, I hope you have had a safe and great time. There’s nothing like the smell of a campfire.

Miss M’s (youngest granddaughter) last day of school was Thursday. She got all her exams taken and is more than happy to be out for the summer. The plan is for her to help me get my office and what my craft room, aka Simon’s room, in order and organized. It’s a long time coming.

Thirteen Reflections has been completed, edited, and uploaded onto Amazon. It has been several years since I wrote a paranormal story. I watched a lot of Kindred Spirits as research for this story. It will be available in both ebook, including KU, and print on June 13. Here is a sneak peek:

On the night of Friday the 13th, in the eerie halls of the infamous abandoned Firestone Manor, a dead body is found in front of an antique mirror, shattered into countless jagged shards.

Because some mirrors don’t just reflect the world. They trap souls. And once you look in... something else might be looking back.

Ravenclaw Manor

Friday the 13th

Late 1800s

 

E

ighty-year-old Felicity Firestone dipped the tip of the brush into the watercolor for the last time, smiling at the reflection in the mirror. The tear slipping down her cheek reflected the lie of her smile. Nothing would ever be the same now that love had broken her heart for the last time.

Like the others before Samuel, Felicity only had to look in the mirror to see the reflections of those who broke promises of loving her forever.

“You’re all mine forever and no woman will ever come between us again,” she chanted repeatedly with each brush stroke.

As the last bit of color on Samuel’s image glided across the tarnished surface, the antique gold mirror crackled into thirteen pieces, each broken section a reflection of one of the twelve man who had broken her heart.

The well-used horse-hair brush slipped from her fingers and Felicity’s soul faded into the thirteenth broken piece, her reflection alongside those she loved and were betrayed by.

KU / 99¢ : https://bit.ly/3EO7W4Z / Print Coming June 13, 2025

13Stories13Authors#7: https://bit.ly/45kabaP / Add to Wishlist: BookBub / Goodreads

I am back to working on Deceptive Promises. It’s coming along nicely, and I am looking forward to having it ready in time for Christmas. I also saw several who had done animated covers, so I asked one where she did it. After she told me, I decided to try it and this was the result. I think it looks pretty good.

In addition to DP, I have a cozy mystery set in Wisconsin, and another Friday the 13th story for November is planned for 2026. I have a story idea for the cozy, but am still mulling over the 13^th story. I think I will be emptying a lot of ink from pens and wearing out my fingers.  😊 

That’s it for now. Have a great week!

I can never thank you enough for continuing to read these snippets into my life as an author. I hope I haven’t bored you too much with them. 😊 After all, others’ lives are never as glamorous as we may think.

May your Kindle or bookshelf overflow with great books to read!

Maxine