Tess Thompson's Blog, page 6

Home front news and Marred releases tomorrow!

Good morning, all. We're headed into the last part of September. Can you believe it? Time continues to roll on by whether we're ready or not.

Yesterday we took my Bonus Son 2 to college. We spent an afternoon and morning time getting him settled. One trip to Costco and one to Wallmart later, we had him fully supplied with enough candy and snacks to feed the entire floor. The day we took him to college was also his 19th birthday. I only got to be his Bonus Mom for threeish years, but in that time the line between step and mom blurred. I'll miss his big voice and huge heart in my day-to-day life, but know that it's his time to fly. He's only two hours away. We're already planning when to come up for a visit.  

Here at home, the princesses are back to school and thick into schoolwork, swim, and cheer. Bonus Son 2 just started his third quarter of college and works - get this - at a mail and shipping store. How perfect for an author with prizes and books to send out on regular basis! 

Best Husband Ever is months into a new job doing smarty tech stuff for a software company that I don't totally understand. Between that, our pool team, and our kitchen remodel, things are busy. 

However, I still make time for #ButtInSeat. Tomorrow my 15th novel releases. This is my 4th release of the year, with the 5th coming in November. I've never worked as hard as I have these last several years. I love it. The fun I have writing these books is indescribable, even for a writer. 

Today, I sit at my desk contemplating how to describe the particular hue of twilight blue. I was reminded of it last night as we excited a restaurant after a birthday celebration for my bestie, Violet, and her husband. The moon was not quite full. None of us knew if it had just been full, or if it would soon be full. Regardless, the moonlight sparkled over Lake Washington and the sky was that blue of twilight, my favorite color. We were stuffed from steaks and potatoes and heartened by friendship. I thought, remember this moment. Tuck it away as one of the special memories of my life.

Back at my desk this morning, I realized the last paragraph of my current manuscript has my five heroes on the back patio of the newly opened brewery at just this exact time of year and at twilight. I know God has a lot of other important things to do, but sometimes it gives me pause to realize He seems to always be by my side, reminding me to celebrate the beauty of this world through the words of my fiction. I do know I'm not saving the world with my stories, but I've heard from enough of you this year to know they give you pleasure. This is more than I ever hoped for. 

Anyway, I digress and really should get back to work on that last paragraph. In the meantime, this is a reminder to grab my new book tomorrow, or today, as it's on pre-order. I think you'll love Violet and Kyle's story as much as I loved writing it. I hope so, anyway. I dedicated this one to my aforementioned bestie, the real Violet. She's as beautiful and smart as my heroine, although not nearly as outspoken! The outspoken part of the fictional Violet is based on my oldest princess, Ella. "We only have one planet, Mom." 

The fourth Cliffside Bay novel, MARRED: KYLE AND VIOLET comes out tomorrow on all platforms. Buy now and it will show up on your reading device September 24th. For a limited time, the first in the series, TRADED: BRODY AND KARA is FREE. If you haven't read it yet, now's the time. More about all four of the books below. 

The Cliffside Bay Series continues!

Marred: Kyle & Violet by Tess Thompson goes LIVE September 24th!!
AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER EVERYWHERE:
Amazon → https://amzn.to/2ByJOlx
iBooks → https://apple.co/2vok31x
Kobo → http://bit.ly/2M4WIf0
Nook → http://bit.ly/2MqBzbYBLURB:
Kyle Hicks started with nothing. Now he's a self-made man. And as luck would have it, his latest project as a real estate developer lands him in Cliffside Bay with his very best friends, The Dogs. At the end of his grueling work days, Kyle's got just enough time left for his buddies and not much else. Except maybe another of his many no-strings-attached trysts with whatever sexy lady catches his eye.
Violet Ellis is struggling. She's a single mother, the proprietor of a near-failing shop, and a champion for the historical integrity of her dear Cliffside Bay. She has enough to deal with between her three-year-old son and her languishing business, but she's still prepared to take on real estate mogul Kyle Hicks to save the charm of the place she calls home.
When a twist of fate forces these two to put aside their differences and rely on one another, they just might find that sometimes the strongest love grows out of the hurts and the scars that we carry with us always.
The fourth installment of The Cliffside Bay Series by bestselling author Tess Thompson follows the interwoven stories of five best friends, the beach community they love, and the women who captivate them. Prepare to get lost in a wave of small town charm, men you want to take home to your mother, and smart, resilient heroines you wished lived next door.
Visit the sweet small town everyone is talking about NOW:
Traded: Brody & Kara
Amazon → http://amzn.to/2EtVseY
iBooks → https://apple.co/2EsCOEn
Kobo → http://bit.ly/2rSq8nR
Nook → http://bit.ly/2npjP6p

Deleted: Jackson & Maggie
Amazon → https://amzn.to/2J3Bk5p
iBooks → https://apple.co/2FQH0OW
Kobo → http://bit.ly/2CXV06J
Nook → http://bit.ly/2H38vV9Jaded: Zane & Honor
Amazon → https://amzn.to/2L8iDOp
iBooks → https://apple.co/2ybCdHW
Kobo → http://bit.ly/2yezOvR
Nook → http://bit.ly/2LSps6Q

Home front news and Marred releases tomorrow!

Good morning, all. We’re headed into the last part of September. Can you believe it? Time continues to roll on by whether we’re ready or not.

Yesterday we took my Bonus Son 2 to college. We spent an afternoon and morning time getting him settled. One trip to Costco and one to Wallmart later, we had him fully supplied with enough candy and snacks to feed the entire floor. The day we took him to college was also his 19th birthday. I only got to be his Bonus Mom for threeish years, but in that time the line between step and mom blurred. I’ll miss his big voice and huge heart in my day-to-day life, but know that it’s his time to fly. He’s only two hours away. We’re already planning when to come up for a visit.  

Here at home, the princesses are back to school and thick into schoolwork, swim, and cheer. Bonus Son 2 just started his third quarter of college and works – get this – at a mail and shipping store. How perfect for an author with prizes and books to send out on regular basis! 

Best Husband Ever is months into a new job doing smarty tech stuff for a software company that I don’t totally understand. Between that, our pool team, and our kitchen remodel, things are busy. 

However, I still make time for #ButtInSeat. Tomorrow my 15th novel releases. This is my 4th release of the year, with the 5th coming in November. I’ve never worked as hard as I have these last several years. I love it. The fun I have writing these books is indescribable, even for a writer. 

Today, I sit at my desk contemplating how to describe the particular hue of twilight blue. I was reminded of it last night as we excited a restaurant after a birthday celebration for my bestie, Violet, and her husband. The moon was not quite full. None of us knew if it had just been full, or if it would soon be full. Regardless, the moonlight sparkled over Lake Washington and the sky was that blue of twilight, my favorite color. We were stuffed from steaks and potatoes and heartened by friendship. I thought, remember this moment. Tuck it away as one of the special memories of my life.

Back at my desk this morning, I realized the last paragraph of my current manuscript has my five heroes on the back patio of the newly opened brewery at just this exact time of year and at twilight. I know God has a lot of other important things to do, but sometimes it gives me pause to realize He seems to always be by my side, reminding me to celebrate the beauty of this world through the words of my fiction. I do know I’m not saving the world with my stories, but I’ve heard from enough of you this year to know they give you pleasure. This is more than I ever hoped for. 

Anyway, I digress and really should get back to work on that last paragraph. In the meantime, this is a reminder to grab my new book tomorrow, or today, as it’s on pre-order. I think you’ll love Violet and Kyle’s story as much as I loved writing it. I hope so, anyway. I dedicated this one to my aforementioned bestie, the real Violet. She’s as beautiful and smart as my heroine, although not nearly as outspoken! The outspoken part of the fictional Violet is based on my oldest princess, Ella. “We only have one planet, Mom.” 

The fourth Cliffside Bay novel, MARRED: KYLE AND VIOLET comes out tomorrow on all platforms. Buy now and it will show up on your reading device September 24th. For a limited time, the first in the series, TRADED: BRODY AND KARA is FREE. If you haven’t read it yet, now’s the time. More about all four of the books below. 

The Cliffside Bay Series continues!

Marred: Kyle & Violet by Tess Thompson goes LIVE September 24th!!
AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER EVERYWHERE:
Amazon → https://amzn.to/2ByJOlx
iBooks → https://apple.co/2vok31x
Kobo → http://bit.ly/2M4WIf0
Nook → http://bit.ly/2MqBzbYBLURB:
Kyle Hicks started with nothing. Now he’s a self-made man. And as luck would have it, his latest project as a real estate developer lands him in Cliffside Bay with his very best friends, The Dogs. At the end of his grueling work days, Kyle’s got just enough time left for his buddies and not much else. Except maybe another of his many no-strings-attached trysts with whatever sexy lady catches his eye.
Violet Ellis is struggling. She’s a single mother, the proprietor of a near-failing shop, and a champion for the historical integrity of her dear Cliffside Bay. She has enough to deal with between her three-year-old son and her languishing business, but she’s still prepared to take on real estate mogul Kyle Hicks to save the charm of the place she calls home.
When a twist of fate forces these two to put aside their differences and rely on one another, they just might find that sometimes the strongest love grows out of the hurts and the scars that we carry with us always.
The fourth installment of The Cliffside Bay Series by bestselling author Tess Thompson follows the interwoven stories of five best friends, the beach community they love, and the women who captivate them. Prepare to get lost in a wave of small town charm, men you want to take home to your mother, and smart, resilient heroines you wished lived next door.
Visit the sweet small town everyone is talking about NOW:
Traded: Brody & Kara
Amazon → http://amzn.to/2EtVseY
iBooks → https://apple.co/2EsCOEn
Kobo → http://bit.ly/2rSq8nR
Nook → http://bit.ly/2npjP6p

Deleted: Jackson & Maggie
Amazon → https://amzn.to/2J3Bk5p
iBooks → https://apple.co/2FQH0OW
Kobo → http://bit.ly/2CXV06J
Nook → http://bit.ly/2H38vV9Jaded: Zane & Honor
Amazon → https://amzn.to/2L8iDOp
iBooks → https://apple.co/2ybCdHW
Kobo → http://bit.ly/2yezOvR
Nook → http://bit.ly/2LSps6Q

Stillness in the light of the morning...

Last year my sweet Bonus Son 2 dropped Emerson off at her bus stop and then took Ella and himself to high school. Since he's about to embark on his college adventure, I lost my driver. Honestly, I was dreading taking over the duty. It takes almost an hour to drop them at school and back home. Traffic is terrible, as there are many schools within a five mile radius. It's an hour I could be writing or getting housework done. Mostly, I figured the girls would be quiet and grumpy and, you know, teenager like. I imagined sullen quiet.
I was totally wrong.
I *think* they like having me all to themselves for a half hour every day. They talk. A lot. I love it.
The three of laugh and share things about our lives that we might not necessarily think to tell one another if we didn't have that 20-25 minute car drive every morning.
Then, after I drop them, I crank the music and daydream about my current work in progress.
For me, the key is this.
I just let it go. Time, that is. Yearning to be back at my desk to be 'productive' means I miss the respite of twenty minutes alone with music and the beauty of the morning.
I love to see the same scenery every day and notice small changes. Scarlet leaves are slowly replacing green. Today the rain from the night before sparkled in the grasses.
It's only week two and it's not dark yet, so I may be complaining by this time next month. Until then, I'm feeling blessed to have this new routine with two of my favorite people and to live in this beautiful place. Yes, even with the road construction.
Sometimes stillness is just what we need. Blessings. xo

Stillness in the light of the morning…

Last year my sweet Bonus Son 2 dropped Emerson off at her bus stop and then took Ella and himself to high school. Since he’s about to embark on his college adventure, I lost my driver. Honestly, I was dreading taking over the duty. It takes almost an hour to drop them at school and back home. Traffic is terrible, as there are many schools within a five mile radius. It’s an hour I could be writing or getting housework done. Mostly, I figured the girls would be quiet and grumpy and, you know, teenager like. I imagined sullen quiet.
I was totally wrong.
I *think* they like having me all to themselves for a half hour every day. They talk. A lot. I love it.
The three of laugh and share things about our lives that we might not necessarily think to tell one another if we didn’t have that 20-25 minute car drive every morning.
Then, after I drop them, I crank the music and daydream about my current work in progress.
For me, the key is this.
I just let it go. Time, that is. Yearning to be back at my desk to be ‘productive’ means I miss the respite of twenty minutes alone with music and the beauty of the morning.
I love to see the same scenery every day and notice small changes. Scarlet leaves are slowly replacing green. Today the rain from the night before sparkled in the grasses.
It’s only week two and it’s not dark yet, so I may be complaining by this time next month. Until then, I’m feeling blessed to have this new routine with two of my favorite people and to live in this beautiful place. Yes, even with the road construction.
Sometimes stillness is just what we need. Blessings. xo

Because she knew she could...

She believed she could, so she did. I've been guilty of not celebrating milestones and achievements, too busy going straight to work on the next book. However, upon contemplating this and a few other things this week, like Imposter Syndrome, I decided to try and do a little better.

This year has been an explosive one for my career. From the first time I released my first book in 2011 (with my old publisher) until now (fully indie since 2016) has been a struggle.

Throughout this journey, my daughters have witnessed my small triumphs, but mostly failures. Going after my dream has had the opposite effect of the one I wished for them. Instead of seeing their mother as an example of fearlessness, they saw nothing but a failure. A flop.

Every time they expressed doubt, I said to them, "Some day. You'll see."

Instead of nodding with encouragement, they vowed to always take the safe route. Each said it at various times throughout this journey. They didn't want a hard life like the one I'd chosen.

They thought my pursuits were futile. Not because they doubted my talent but because the industry was too hard. They felt sorry for me. That was rough, you guys. I cannot lie. More than a few tears were shed on my bathroom floor over the years.

It's hard to keep going when no one believes in you but yourself. However, it made my desire for success even stronger. I vowed to myself that I would show them through hard work and persistence, it was possible. Through my stubbornness to never give up, it would become obvious, some day, that I was right.

So I kept writing. I've worked harder than I like to admit. I can't remember the last time I took a full weekend off. Thanks to smart phones, we're never unplugged. This is a hard gig, not just because honing a craft takes 10,000 hours, but because it's lonely and often times soul-wrenching. And, let's be real. There are a billion books published every day. Maybe not that many, but you get my point.

Conventional wisdom and my daughters said to give up. No one but the big names have a chance.

Along came my husband, Cliff. He said. "Not if, honey, when."

I questioned him sometimes. How can you believe in me this much?

"Because you're that good. And because you work harder than anyone I've ever met."

Well, at long last I can say things have shifted. 'When' is here. My husband was right. I'm not rich yet, so don't get excited. But I'm doing pretty well. People are finally finding my books. Momentum is building.

Which brings me back to my original point. I'm taking my daughters out for facials this afternoon. A celebration, yes. It is important to celebrate victories instead of just getting right back to work. That said, today is also a thank you to them. My dream made sacrifice mandatory in our house. Not just for me, but for them. More often than not the answer was no. Not empty refrigerator type of sacrifice, but the extras that most of their friends had.

Today it's yes. "Let's have girls' day."

It feels good to be able to say to them, "I'm able to take you for a special treat because of my sweat and tears and a belief deep down that I could."

The doubt in their eyes is gone. What can I say? That's worth every sacrifice.

Will it make them less likely to take the safe route? The one guaranteed to bring money? I don't know. All I know is that I've lived authentically. It's what I had to do to breathe.

Whatever it is you know in your heart is real, don't let others discourage you. Listen to that voice deep down that says, "Yes, I can do this."

And when those you love the most don't believe dreams can come true, love them anyway, because someday they will see they were wrong. ​

Because she knew she could…

She believed she could, so she did.

I’ve been guilty of not celebrating milestones and achievements, too busy going straight to work on the next book. However, upon contemplating this and a few other things this week, like Imposter Syndrome, I decided to try and do a little better.

This year has been an explosive one for my career. From the first time I released my first book in 2011 (with my old publisher) until now (fully indie since 2016) has been a struggle.

Throughout this journey, my daughters have witnessed my small triumphs, but mostly failures. Going after my dream has had the opposite effect of the one I wished for them. Instead of seeing their mother as an example of fearlessness, they saw nothing but a failure. A flop.

Every time they expressed doubt, I said to them, “Some day. You’ll see.”

Instead of nodding with encouragement, they vowed to always take the safe route. Each said it at various times throughout this journey. They didn’t want a hard life like the one I’d chosen.

They thought my pursuits were futile. Not because they doubted my talent but because the industry was too hard. They felt sorry for me. That was rough, you guys. I cannot lie. More than a few tears were shed on my bathroom floor over the years.

It’s hard to keep going when no one believes in you but yourself. However, it made my desire for success even stronger. I vowed to myself that I would show them through hard work and persistence, it was possible. Through my stubbornness to never give up, it would become obvious, some day, that I was right.

So I kept writing. I’ve worked harder than I like to admit. I can’t remember the last time I took a full weekend off. Thanks to smart phones, we’re never unplugged. This is a hard gig, not just because honing a craft takes 10,000 hours, but because it’s lonely and often times soul-wrenching. And, let’s be real. There are a billion books published every day. Maybe not that many, but you get my point.

Conventional wisdom and my daughters said to give up. No one but the big names have a chance.

Along came my husband, Cliff. He said. “Not if, honey, when.”

I questioned him sometimes. How can you believe in me this much?

“Because you’re that good. And because you work harder than anyone I’ve ever met.”

Well, at long last I can say things have shifted. ‘When’ is here. My husband was right. I’m not rich yet, so don’t get excited. But I’m doing pretty well. People are finally finding my books. Momentum is building.

Which brings me back to my original point. I’m taking my daughters out for facials this afternoon. A celebration, yes. It is important to celebrate victories instead of just getting right back to work. That said, today is also a thank you to them. My dream made sacrifice mandatory in our house. Not just for me, but for them. More often than not the answer was no. Not empty refrigerator type of sacrifice, but the extras that most of their friends had.

Today it’s yes. “Let’s have girls’ day.”

It feels good to be able to say to them, “I’m able to take you for a special treat because of my sweat and tears and a belief deep down that I could.”

The doubt in their eyes is gone. What can I say? That’s worth every sacrifice.

Will it make them less likely to take the safe route? The one guaranteed to bring money? I don’t know. All I know is that I’ve lived authentically. It’s what I had to do to breathe.

Whatever it is you know in your heart is real, don’t let others discourage you. Listen to that voice deep down that says, “Yes, I can do this.”

And when those you love the most don’t believe dreams can come true, love them anyway, because someday they will see they were wrong. ​

Jaded: Zane and Honor Released today!

Good morning and happy Monday. If you're like me you are back to work this morning. I call it #ButtInSeat and it's the best work in the whole world.

When I was a little girl I was that kid with her nose in a book, as I'm sure a lot of you were. I lived in a small town in southern Oregon with my parents and two brothers. My dad was a middle school teacher; my mother took care of us and painted watercolors. Not a lot happened in our little town or on the 8 acres of wooded land my dad and mom proudly purchased for only $29,000 in 1975.  Imagine that! The seventies and eighties were a simpler time, especially in small towns. There were no computers or cell phones. Our black and white television only received one channel. But we had a library. The most amazing two rooms on the planet. In books...oh, those glorious books...in the pages and words of stories, I went everywhere.

Later, after I was grown and no longer lived in a small town or a simpler time, I decided it was time to use all the years of study and practice of the craft of writing and actually WRITE the novel I prayed I had in me. That was ten years ago. As of today, I have 18 publications.

In my stories, I often explore what it means to be in 'community' with others. I believe greatness can be achieved when we combine our talents and efforts toward a common goal. 

When I decided to write a new contemporary series (historical fiction is my first love) I wanted to capture the essence of simpler times. Although the characters of Cliffside Bay are very modern, they are infused with a certain beautiful simplicity. They value love over ambition, put family and friends above all else, and approach their work/lives with integrity. A sense of community weaves its way through all of the books in the series. When one is down, the others come to their aid. When one is up, they celebrate as if the victory is their own. This, perhaps, is the definition of community? 

Growing up in a small town gifted me with a keen awareness of the power of community. We all find ourselves in one or several these days, especially as the world shrinks because of technology. I am lucky enough to be part of the author community, Zumba community, mom community, USC alumni, kid from the Valley (Oregon girl)...to name a few.

What communities have you found as you make your way through this life?

The third book in my Cliffside Bay Series, JADED: ZANE AND HONOR, released today. I have to say, these characters are almost as alive to me as the ones that live in my house. Writing their stories has brought so much joy to my life. I hope you'll fall in love with them as I have.

I've made the first in this series FREE right now on all platforms, so maybe grab TRADED: BRODY AND KARA and give it a try. These novels are light reads...sweet but powerful in their simplicity. It's all about love, my friends. I hope you'll fall in love with my Dogs and the women they love as much as I have.

Spoiler alert, all my books have HEA, so you can probably guess where they end up. :-)

Details here:

Pack your bags for another trip to Cliffside Bay!
I'm so excited -- Jaded: Zane & Honor is NOW LIVE!!!

GET. IT. EVERYWHERE.
Amazon →  https://amzn.to/2L8iDOp
iBooks → https://apple.co/2ybCdHW
Kobo → http://bit.ly/2yezOvR
Nook → http://bit.ly/2LSps6Q

Zane Shaw isn't the type to cower in a corner, until he meets Honor Sullivan. She's the most phenomenal woman he's ever met, but he's been burned before and so he's doomed to fall for her from a distance. If only his past hadn't left him so weary, perhaps he could be the man he was raised to be.

Honor Sullivan has too much at stake to get distracted by a man. But Zane Shaw isn't just any man. He's smart, gorgeous, and a survivor like her. Which is why she knows, deep down, that he deserves someone better than her. Someone whole and undamaged. Yet she can't seem to contain the way he makes her feel.

These two jaded souls with an instant connection just might find that true love is a joy best savored in the aftermath of life's hardships and pain.

Jaded: Zane and Honor Released today!

Good morning and happy Monday. If you’re like me you are back to work this morning. I call it #ButtInSeat and it’s the best work in the whole world.

When I was a little girl I was that kid with her nose in a book, as I’m sure a lot of you were. I lived in a small town in southern Oregon with my parents and two brothers. My dad was a middle school teacher; my mother took care of us and painted watercolors. Not a lot happened in our little town or on the 8 acres of wooded land my dad and mom proudly purchased for only $29,000 in 1975.  Imagine that! The seventies and eighties were a simpler time, especially in small towns. There were no computers or cell phones. Our black and white television only received one channel. But we had a library. The most amazing two rooms on the planet. In books…oh, those glorious books…in the pages and words of stories, I went everywhere.

Later, after I was grown and no longer lived in a small town or a simpler time, I decided it was time to use all the years of study and practice of the craft of writing and actually WRITE the novel I prayed I had in me. That was ten years ago. As of today, I have 18 publications.

In my stories, I often explore what it means to be in ‘community’ with others. I believe greatness can be achieved when we combine our talents and efforts toward a common goal. 

When I decided to write a new contemporary series (historical fiction is my first love) I wanted to capture the essence of simpler times. Although the characters of Cliffside Bay are very modern, they are infused with a certain beautiful simplicity. They value love over ambition, put family and friends above all else, and approach their work/lives with integrity. A sense of community weaves its way through all of the books in the series. When one is down, the others come to their aid. When one is up, they celebrate as if the victory is their own. This, perhaps, is the definition of community? 

Growing up in a small town gifted me with a keen awareness of the power of community. We all find ourselves in one or several these days, especially as the world shrinks because of technology. I am lucky enough to be part of the author community, Zumba community, mom community, USC alumni, kid from the Valley (Oregon girl)…to name a few.

What communities have you found as you make your way through this life?

The third book in my Cliffside Bay Series, JADED: ZANE AND HONOR, released today. I have to say, these characters are almost as alive to me as the ones that live in my house. Writing their stories has brought so much joy to my life. I hope you’ll fall in love with them as I have.

I’ve made the first in this series FREE right now on all platforms, so maybe grab TRADED: BRODY AND KARA and give it a try. These novels are light reads…sweet but powerful in their simplicity. It’s all about love, my friends. I hope you’ll fall in love with my Dogs and the women they love as much as I have.

Spoiler alert, all my books have HEA, so you can probably guess where they end up.

Passages of time...

Happy weekend to all!

I've been in #reflect mode this week as my Bonus Son #1 finished his first quarter of college, Bonus Son #2 graduated from high school, and the school year wrapped up for my daughters, Princess 1 and Princess 2. My kids are ages: 19, 18, 15, 12.

I've been thinking about the passages of time and the seasons of life - how quickly it seems we transition from one to another. It feels like yesterday I was a young mother of a newborn and toddler. Now one of them is learning to drive.
My 'story' for the last fifteen years has been that of mother to young ones. Not only that role, of course, but it's been the main plot, so to speak. For the last two years, I've been a stepmother to my Bonus Sons, who lost their mother five years ago. It's been a privilege and honor to be their Bonus Mom for the last part of their journey into adulthood. Soon they will both move away to lives of their own. Just writing those words makes me tear up. I can't help but wish I'd had them for a little longer.

As I venture into new territory with these four almost grown people, I can't help but mourn the past, even as the memories of happy times make me smile.
I wonder...how do you keep happy memories alive? Do you look at photos, tell stories, watch videos? Or, are you more like me, and just close my eyes and remember.

Along those lines, I wanted to share a passage from my novel, "Deleted: Jackson and Maggie".

And it seemed to him, there amongst the smiling moon and the first brave stars, that the meaning of life was found in the moments where love stretched and breathed like a living creature. It was in these brief snatches of time that one’s whole life made perfect sense. Love given and received gave our toiled years meaning. Love told the story of our life.
Because at the end, when all that remained were the memories captured in paintings hung on walls, or photographs in a box, or merely flashes of moving pictures behind our eyes, it would be a moment such as this that whispered our life’s story. This is your glory, your meaning, your purpose.

​

Deleted: Jackson and Maggie Releases May 7th

My latest novel releases tomorrow! This is the book I wasn't sure I could pull off, but decided to try anyway. The premise is odd to say the least, as evidenced by the opening sentence: "Maggie Keene turned thirty the day she learned she'd been dead for twelve years."

For me, 2018 is about courage, so in keeping with that theme, I went for it. This is the second installment in my new small town romance series, but my Cliffside Bay books are more than just epic love stories. They're about rising from disappointments and tragedy to love again.

The first in the series, TRADED: BRODY and KARA is on sale for $1.49 if you want to start at the beginning. More about DELETED: JACKSON AND MAGGIE below.

The one who got away just might be back to stay.
Deleted: Jackson & Maggie is NOW LIVE!!!
GET YOUR COPY HERE:
Amazon → https://amzn.to/2J3Bk5p
iBooks → https://apple.co/2FQH0OW
Kobo → http://bit.ly/2CXV06J
Nook → http://bit.ly/2H38vV9
Jackson Waller has loved Maggie Keene since they were six years old, but their dueling dreams ultimately tore them apart. First love—true love—wasn’t enough to overcome their individual desires to pursue dreams on opposite coasts. When Jackson learns of Maggie’s tragic death on her way to college on the east coast, his heartbreak, compounded by grief, renews his focus on his own future. He vows to do nothing but work toward his goal of becoming a doctor, and maybe enjoy the companionship of his new college buddies, The Dogs.
Maggie Keene left Cliffside Bay with two things: a broken heart and her ambition. For twelve years she relentlessly pursues her dream of a musical theater career in New York City, but when she learns her father is dying, she returns home to find the truth about her family’s ugly past. There, she discovers two things that will change everything: one, the bitter old man has spread a wild rumor that she has been dead for over a decade; and two, Doctor Jackson Waller is also back in Cliffside Bay—with his brand-new fiancée.
The second installment of The Cliffside Bay Series by bestselling author Tess Thompson follows the interwoven stories of five best friends, the beach community they love, and the women who captivate them. Prepare to get lost in a wave of small town charm, men you would love to take home to your mother, and smart, resilient heroines you wished lived next door.
START FROM THE BEGINNING WITH TRADED: BRODY & KARA
Amazon → http://amzn.to/2EtVseY
iBooks → https://apple.co/2EsCOEn
Kobo → http://bit.ly/2rSq8nR
Nook → http://bit.ly/2npjP6p
He's the best quarterback in the AFL. She's a young woman desperately in need of a fresh start. Neither expects to fall for the other. Will he finally put love ahead of his career? More importantly, can she trust him with secrets so deep her very life depends on them?