Diane M. How's Blog, page 2

The End is Near!

Ooh…that’s a scary thought!

No. No. No. Not THE end.

Sorry! Just wanted to grab your attention. I should have titled it: The Beginning but where’s the humor in that?

It’s been nearly two years since the final book in The Dahlonega Sisters series found its way onto bookshelves everywhere. I’m excited to announce their journey will continue in a new series Skipping Stone Lodge, but unfortunately, the building is still undergoing renovations. It’s scheduled for completion in the summer of 2024.

So what’s the beginning?

I finally typed The End to the first book of a new romantic suspense series, Burning Embers Book One, Spark to Flame which is scheduled for release on October 15, 2023!

This story has more twists and turns than the mountains of Colorado. A young widow, Brittany Harbor, survives a horrific car crash that claims her father’s life. Her injuries have healed, but not her heart. Determined to take back control of her life, she leaves New York to stow away in a remote cabin where she had spent childhood vacations with her dad. It borders a wild horse sanctuary. Her anticipated safe haven becomes a potential death trap. That’s all for now, but I will share the cover.

Stay tuned for more!

Diane

Baskets, Bubbles, and Books

How can it be August already? What happened to April, May, and June? Did I sleep through them?

No. I did not. When I wasn’t writing, I was weaving. My daughter, Laura, and I just returned from the Missouri Basket Weaving Convention in Independence, Missouri. What a great organization! So many talented instructors, volunteers, and happy weavers all gathered together to create magic.

The top right is called Seashells and was designed by Debbie Elston Hurd. The other three were designed by Mary Price. Top left is Shadow Box. Next is Sea Glass, and the bottom (my favorite) is Nautical Edge.

Five days with these fun-loving fabulous women was a welcomed break from writing. I took my laptop but didn’t take it out of the bag!

While the weeks/months have been slipping by, not much progress has been made by The Dahlonega Sisters, I keep in touch with them regularly and they assure me Skipping Stone Lodge should be completed soon. Actually, they knew I was distracted with another mission so they have been pretty quiet.

So where do the bubbles come in? I’ve got a bottle of champagne chilling in the refrigerator waiting to share some exciting news about my next book adventure.

Burning Embers Book One, Spark to Flame will make its appearance very soon! I’m working with a cover designer for my new romantic suspense series. My editor just returned my manuscript with the first round of edits. As some of you know, this romantic suspense novel which takes place in Colorado near a wild horse sanctuary has been in progress for many years. The bones were too good to bury so I’ve been rebuilding it piece by piece and it will finally be published by fall. I’ll share a sneak peek at the cover very soon. Thanks to all who have encouraged me to see it through.

Last but not least, I’m excited to be part of the Local Books and Brew Book Signing at Third Wheel Brewery in St. Peters, Missouri https://www.thirdwheelbrewing.com/ on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Award-winning authors will be available to answer questions and sign your books. Sarah Angleton, Pat Wahler, J.J. Zerrr, Tammy Lough, myself, and Tara Pedroley. Stop by and sample a cold beer while learning about an exciting new book club focused on local author books.

That’s it for now. Stay tuned for another post soon. Thanks for following my journey!

Chill Out with The Dahlonega Sisters

Hello, Readers!

I’m excited to announce that my book, The Dahlonega Sisters, The Gold Miner Ring will be available as part of a promotion on Smashwords for the month of July as part of their Annual Summer/Winter Sale! This is a chance to get the first book of the series for free, along with books from many other great authors, at a discount so you can get right to reading.

You will find the promo here starting on July 1, so save the link:
https://www.smashwords.com/shelves/promos/

Please share this promo with friends and family. You can even forward this email to the avid readers in your life!

Thank you for your help and support!

PS. The fourth book in The Dahlonega Sisters series, Skipping Stone Lodge, is scheduled for publication later this year.

Happy reading!

No After Cruise Blues

I did it!

My first cruise and my first time outside of the USA. No fear. Just fun!

Recently, my daughter and I set sail for the Eastern Caribbean. What a fantastic experience!

Carnival Celebration

Laura impressed me with her travel knowledge and skills. If it were up to me, I’d still be standing in the wrong line at the airport trying to figure out how to get my luggage tags. She guided us quickly through a maze of travelers via the short TSA line and to our gate.

We arrived in Miami a day early to reduce the worry of a flight delay or cancellation. She’d arranged transportation from the hotel to the port the next morning , and before long, we were herded along with 5,000 other cruisers onto the ship. She’d selected a wonderful ocean view stateroom with a balcony.

The launch party certainly set the mood. Music, dancing, Caribbean Coladas-and a fun-loving cruise director.

I trailed my daughter like a little puppy the first two days afraid I’d get lost and never see her again. When I wasn’t trying to remember which of the nineteen decks held our room, the lido, and of course, the casino, I was challenged with figuring out forward, aft, port, and starboard.

All the walking helped offset the some of the weight gain from visiting the dozens of the food venues. Of course we had to test them all – well, most of them. We did splurge on the Steak House and Bonzai Teppanyaki, a Japanize steak house. So worth it!

Our first port stop was at Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic where we experienced monkeys up close and personal at Monkeyland Punta Cana. It was a little unnerving as they climbed all over me, but I didn’t freak out and they were cute.

The following morning we arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Even though it was hot and humid, Laura and I hiked two and a half miles uphill to one of the historical forts. https://www.nps.gov/saju/index.htm

Later that evening, we set sail for St. Martin island and when we woke the next morning, we were already in port on the French Republic side of the island. The other side is Dutch and ruled by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. We spent the day browsing through shops, wading in the pristine waters, and lounging under an umbrella sipping cold beer.

The Celebration ship is the largest in Carnival’s fleet. At capacity, it can accommodate 6,5003 passengers plus 1,735 crew members. The enormous size impressed me as we passed numerous smaller cruise ships along the way. However, when we docked in port at St. Martin next to the largest cruise ship in the world, Wonder of the Sea, I had to laugh.

Hopefully this is the first of many new experiences I’ll enjoy in this chapter of my life. I’m keeping an open mind and kicking fear to the curb! Meanwhile, stay tune for news about The Dahlonega Sisters. Coming soon!

I’d love to hear about your adventures. Drop me a line!

A Fresh Start to the New Year!

Happy New Year to all who read this! Wishing you peace, joy, and fulfillment of any long-held dreams.

Making annual resolutions—which seldom last longer than a few weeks—is not my thing. Life has a way of interrupting my best planned out schedule like losing weight or being more consistent in posting blogs. One thing for sure, my followers can’t complain about me flooding their inbox with too many posts.

While I try never to make promises I can’t/won’t keep, I do have a tendency to travel the backroads of my mind remembering the footsteps which caused me to stumble and the ones where I marched ahead.

With regret, I did not finish editing my romantic suspense novel, nor did I reach 50,000 words on the next Dahlonega Sisters novel during NANOWRIMO.  I count both as stumbles since they are still works-in-progress which I’m hoping to publish in 2023.

While reviewing the positives and negatives, I was inspired to write about a mountain (okay, maybe it was a hill) I successfully climbed this year.

Fear.

It has always limited my world. I’ve never been bold or brave. Conforming to rules and expectations kept me out of trouble as a kid and for the most part, as an adult. I’m not timid, but I seldom risk venturing into the unknown, especially on my own. My husband of fifty-one year is even less adventurous. As such, the width of our world has been pretty limited.

However, we’ve often been very blessed to vacation across the United States with my brother and his wife. They skillfully and confidently take care of all the arrangements: hotel reservations, car rental, and mapping out all the sights to see. We merely get in their vehicle and enjoy the experience.

This year, my dear friend who now lives in Virginia, invited me to join her at a beach house in the Outer Banks, North Carolina. We’d talked about the possibility ever since she moved away. I’d promised to visit and to spend time at the beach with her. When the opportunity presented itself, I balked. The list of reasons why I shouldn’t go grew quickly: Hubby would be all alone. The cost of airline tickets and car rental would dent our savings. Too many commitments listed on my calendar.

Truth was, none of those things were the issue. It was fear.

Traveling alone freaked me out. I hadn’t flown in more than twelve years, hadn’t rented a car in nearly twenty, and even more important, I’d never driven for hours by myself to an unfamiliar location. I don’t even like to test drive a car when we are looking to buy it.

I’m not a “what if” person, but I sure spent a restless night praying for an answer and trying not to think of things that could go wrong.

The following morning, I woke with new-found confidence. I called my daughter, who travels frequently, and asked for her help. She selected the flight, arranged for a rental, and reassured me I could do this. Suddenly, excitement overtook the fear. I mapped out the driving route, researched the requirements and limitations for flying, and started packing.

Not once did I feel anxious or second guess my decision. There were no delays flying out, the rental car was a breeze, and my Garmin took me right to the driveway of the beach house. I felt like I’d released a new me.

We laughed. We cried. We made new memories. Then, we promised to do it again next year. And, I found a confidence that had escaped me for most of my life. Hubby survived alone. I didn’t get lost or end up in Timbuktu. I could do this!

When I got back home, still feeling pumped with confidence, I filled out applications for passports for my husband and myself. He may not ever use his, but I will. There are places I want to go to and things I want to see.

Shortly after I returned from vacation, my daughter booked for us on a Caribbean cruise which we will take in April 2023. Once I’ve gotten my feet wet on a ship and abroad, I hope to convince my husband to join me on another cruise or some other trip out of the country.

Fear is in my rearview mirror. I hope it stays there!

So here is to the start of a new year. May you face your fears and rise above them.

Blessings to all of you.

Diane

Taciturn

Some might call it procrastination; others think it’s neglect; perhaps it might be avoidance. I’ve been guilty of all three at times.

Today, I’m choosing to call my seven-month absence from posting on my blog as taciturn. Bartlett’s Roget’s Thesaurus covers my silence quite thoroughly. I refuse to comment on the weather, politics, or religion. My husband would dispute that assertion, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Actually, I’ve been busy doing what writers do. Writing!

After finishing the third book in The Dahlonega Sisters series, https://www.amazon.com/author/dianemhow

I decided to brush the dust off my very first (still unpublished) romantic suspense novel, Burning Embers. It was written during NaNoWriMo. If you aren’t familiar with this supportive writing organization, I encourage you to check it out. https://nanowrimo.org. I’m probably on my tenth round of edits, but I keep plugging away it and hope to see it published by fall of 2022.

Besides weaving stories, I weave baskets. Here are a few I’m getting ready to sell along with my books at a pop-up market at Third Wheel Brewery https://www.thirdwheelbrewing.com/ on May 7. A dozen vendors will display their handmade crafts just in time for Mother’s day. Come check it out and grab a bite to eat while sampling a cold brew. Win, win!

Last but not least, in honor of Mother’s Day, I’m sharing a picture of my Mom and sisters.

I miss her every day and I thank her for teaching me to be responsibe, generous, and unselfish. I will never be as good at it as she was, but I try.

I’m giving away a basket and book package. (sorry, USA only). All you need to do is comment on this post with a note about your mother or a mother figure who influenced your life. I’ll draw a name on May 8th and contact the winner for details.

Can’t wait to hear your stories.

Hot Off the Press!

The Dahlonega Sisters, Golden Adventures has arrived just in time for your fall reading pleasure!

Not all dreams are meant to come true. Sometimes fate has better plans. Journey with these spunky women as they laugh, cry, and find new adventures in their golden years. This entertaining women’s fiction series takes place in the quaint historic town of Dahlonega, Georgia. The women are as wholesome as apple pie, feisty as young pups, and resilient as a strong rubber bands.

This is the third and final book of The Dahlonega Sisters series. If you haven’t had a chance to read them, check out The Gold Miner Ring and Veins of Gold. All three books are available in e-book and paperback.


https://www.amazon.com/Dahlonega-Sisters-Veins-Gold/dp/1734038330

https://www.amazon.com/Dahlonega-Sisters-Gold-Miner-Ring/dp/1734038306

As a special offer to my followers, for a limited time, I have signed copies of the books available for $12 each. Any two books for $22. Add $3 for shipping one or two books, $5 for three. (Sorry, US only)

It’s never too early to shop for the holidays. Is there an avid reader on your Christmas list? Buy all three for a limited time $30. Add $5 for shipping.

Send me an email at authordianemhow@gmail.com

Offers expire October 26, 2021.

One last thing. These lovely ladies aren’t ready to rest, quite yet. Be on the watch for their future endeavors. Perhaps they’ll be Skipping Stones at their brother’s B&B. Stay tuned!

Thanks to my many followers, all the wonderful folks who have bought my books, and to anyone who supports Indie authors! Without you, there would be no need for me to write novels, short stories, or poetry.

Diane

Celebrating Life

What an exhilarating month and it’s only half over. Time to share some good news.

Writing a blog post fell off my to-do list many months ago. While it is important for me to stay connected with my followers, I hope you will understand after you read further.

In the midst of the pandemic, life threw us another curve ball when my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer. HIs oncologist said that normally, they wouldn’t bother treating an eighty-two year old man. Fortunately, they felt he had the health of a fifty-year old and proceeded with treatments. We learned last week the treatments succeeded and it appears he is cancer-free.

Hubby (a picture of health!) posing between two of his plumerias

Unseen in this picture is our brand new air conditioning unit two men are installing. We’ve been without air for seven days, so are cheering the hope for a cool night’s sleep.

My final book of The Dahlonega Sisters series, Golden Adventures, hit the market today. With strong determination and a lot of help from my family, critique partners, and supportive editor, I’ve managed to achieve my goal of completing three novels in three years before my seventieth birthday next week.

I hope you will celebrate with me and perhaps enjoy a light-hearted, romantic and humorous read as The Dahlonega Sisters work their way through new challenges and changes.

https://books2read.com/u/me97wz

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CFKWY8S

I’d love to hear from you.

Diane M. How

Dogwoods, Redbuds, and Blue Skies

My husband and I just returned from five remarkable, refreshing days at the Lake of The Ozarks. The drive was spectacular. Brilliant, creamy white dogwoods scattered across the forested Missouri hills, challenging the scarlet-purple redbuds for attention. Fortunately, my husband was driving and I could focus on the brilliant display without running off the road.

Spending time with my family after a year of confinement helped refuel my soul and inspired me to write. While I’ve been working steadily on the third novel of The Dahlonega Sisters series, Golden Adventure, I have devoted little time to blog writing or much of anything else.

My daughter and her fiancé had spent their vacation week working on extending their upper deck. My husband supervised, and I pecked away on my laptop. Okay, that’s not true, but it sounded better when I first wrote it. They didn’t need supervision. In fact, both of them are far more experienced in building things than we ever have been or ever will be. And, in full disclosure, I only wrote when it rained one day, but I was able to critique five chapters of a friend’s manuscript. That should count for something, right?

Hubby and I took turns walking Hammie. He’s got us trained quite well and loves when all four of us are in one place. It makes his job of protecting us much easier. Posing for pictures is not one of his favorite things. My daughter calls him greybeard now. He’s aging, but still has some spunk in him, as long as it involves a treat.

After one of our many walks, I sat outside on the already refinished lower deck that overlooks a nearly dry cove. Staring up at the azure blue sky, my heart was at peace. Scattered clouds slid past towering oaks, taking with them any hint of stress I’d tucked away over winter. Slender branches dappled with lacey green sprouts danced in the gentle breeze and provided resting places for tiny finches as they darted from limb to limb.

I would be content staying right there, suspended in time, sucking in the sweet scents of unidentified flowering bushes, and listening to songbirds sing their praises in thanks of spring’s arrival. No phone, no cable TV, no distractions from God’s creations.

Of course, all good things come to an end. On Tuesday, we returned to our humble home and within an hour, the washing machine was humming, all the mail had been sorted through, and the lawn mower was cranked up. I plugged in the laptop and noticed a message that brought a smile to my face. It was a different type of praise and reminded me of the benefits of today’s advances in technology. I enjoy the solitude of the lake house, but I’ve grown to appreciate the many social media connections to friends, family, and writing enthusiasts.

Here’s a five star review of Veins of Gold by K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

The Dahlonega Sisters: Veins of Gold is a work in the women’s fiction, interpersonal drama, and family saga sub-genres, and was penned by author Diane M. How. The work is intended for the general adult reading audience and tells the tale of the titular sisters: Marge, Rose Ellen, and Mutzi. Following on from The Gold Miner Ring, we find the sisters poised at the start of what may be a terrifying or affirming discovery, as Marge prepares to take a DNA test. Mutzi is fearful that the rumors may be true, and that the sisters are not true sisters after all, whilst Rose Ellen encourages her younger sister to take the plunge.

Author Diane M. How has crafted an utterly charming work of fiction with a fascinating journey into family ties, loyalty, and love to offer its readers. One of the things which I loved the most about this novel was the way that the town itself has a unique personality, and how the history of the Gold Rush is woven into the contemporary storyline. It was also highly refreshing to read a women’s fiction novel which isn’t all about mushy romance, but instead explores the multi-faceted world of family emotions in a realistic way that brings joy, but also plucks at the heartstrings. The dialogue was also very effective, serving to display the unique traits of life in Georgia, whilst moving the plot forward in a natural and entertaining way. Overall, I would highly recommend The Dahlonega Sisters: Veins of Gold to fans of endearing family dramas, well-penned female characters, and Southern fiction enthusiasts everywhere.

Perhaps you need a refreshing getaway to a quaint, friendly place. The Dahlonega Sisters invite you to come join their journey at https://books2read.com/u/mvnnLJ

Till next time, search for the silver lining. It’s there, right behind the cloud.

The Eyes of March

Hello My Friends and Followers.

It’s been a long and challenging few months since I’ve posted. Thank you for spending a few minutes with me today to reflect and project.

Spring is close and I feel a renewed energy in the air. I hope I can share some positivity if you are struggling to find the beauty of the season. Let’s start with some visuals.

Bright cheerful flowers, brilliantly budding trees, azure blue skies. True masterpieces lifting my soul to a brighter place. Although I know rainy days, heavy grey clouds, and frightening storms are scattered throughout the season, I have a renewed determination to endure those days with faith, hope, and love.

I’m finally scheduled for my first COVID-19 vaccine this week and my husband has received both of his. Soon I will be able to visit friends and family with less fear of being infected by the virus.

My husband of 49 years, Wart-nicknamed by his grandfather for being a worry wart- made it through three months of cancer treatments and is doing better than expected thanks to his strong stamina, attentive doctors, and some TLC from me. While the emotional toll has been hard, his physical pain has been minimal. With a positive prognosis, a little more energy, and some warmer weather, he’ll be outside cutting grass and growing his tomato plants soon.

We’ve seen Hammie, our grand dog more than our daughter, Laura. Hope she’s ready for all the hugs she’s missed. I’ve got a year’s worth coming her way.

Hammie’s had to tolerate a bunch of them, but he doesn’t mind as long as he got a treat.

Spring brings a freshness that exceeds the cold, dark, winter days. Sometimes I have to remind myself that life is good. But, I know it is and I am blessed.

The new season brings thoughts of visiting family and friends, participating in outdoor adventures, and maybe even scheduling a face-to-face book signing.

Until then, you can order a copy of Veins of Gold at https://www.amazon.com/Dahlonega-Sisters-Veins-Gold/dp/1734038330

Enjoy the new season and have faith that spring will bring a renewed sense of hope. If I can help you in the journey, let me know. I’m here for you!

Love you!

Diane