Laura Benedict's Blog, page 3
January 9, 2020
Words for the New Year, Part 2
We’re in mid-renovation due to a September plumbing disaster at Chez Benedict. One half of our house looks like we’re auditioning forHoarders. The other half looks a lot like this:
I’ve been through renovations before, yet they never get easier. Well, I guess the one we did with a nine-year-old and a toddler in the house was exceptionally rough. It also may be that I’m older, and relish living without near-strangers being very busy and noisy in my usually peaceful home. Home is a big word,...
January 2, 2020
What’s Your Word for the New Year?
I love the tradition many people have of choosing a word to hang their new year on. I’m sure I’ve done that in the past, but I forget what I said. Which goes to the practicality of my choosing a theme, but not pasting it on the wall, or on something I see every day.
There are two things that loom large for me in 2020, two verbs that have made themselves significant in the past few months: Sleep and create.
Our Sylvie has no problem getting to bed
My relationship status with sleep: it’s...
March 5, 2019
The Stranger Inside Tour Wrap Up: Links and Pics
What an amazing month it’s been!
I can’t believe The Stranger Inside was published a full month ago. It’s been a whirlwind, so I’m collecting all my favorite links about it here. Lots of folks worked hard to bring this novel to as many readers as possible, and the results have been overwhelmingly positive! I’m crazy thankful for every one of them, especially Little Brown/Mulholland publicity gurus, Katharine Myers and Jennifer Shaffer. Then there are the booksellers who were both enthusi...
February 14, 2019
Happy Valentine’s Day and an Update!
Valentine Sweets for my Sweetie
Popping in to say THANK YOU for all the wonderful notes and likes and hugs this past week, since the release of THE STRANGER INSIDE. This has felt like a truly special release, and so much of that is due to you all. You’re the reason I spend my time trying to get my stories just right!
Have you read it yet?! If so, please, please leave a review to let everyone know that they should read it too!
A little update:
Today I’m setting out for Houston, for Saturda...
February 5, 2019
The Stranger Inside is Here!
Today is the day! THE STRANGER INSIDE is truly launched into the world.
A woman returning home to find a man living in her house? Check.
Someone trying to ruin her life? Check.
Dead sister? Check.
Exes everywhere? Check.
Secrets that could cost her everything–including her life? Check. Check. Check.
This is a story that came out of my dreams. Nightmares, really. And it’s set in St. Louis, one of my favorite cities.
Scout and the cats and I have spent a lot of time in the house this pas...
January 28, 2019
Dream Babies, Book Dreams
my babies
For three nights in a row now I’ve dreamed of babies. One baby to each dream. They weren’t my babies, but I had the care of them. The first dream was stressful because I’ve not had to care for a real baby in a long, long time. Still, these dream babies were sweet and calm and smiling, or they were asleep. The strange thing is, I’ve rarely dreamed of babies or children before–not even when I was pregnant.
Friends have suggested that I’m having wishful grandbaby dreams. Nope. Becomi...
January 22, 2019
Surprises Inside!
–photo courtesy of Susan Raihofer
Guess what? Two weeks from today, THE STRANGER INSIDE hits the shelves, the streets, and the Internet-sphere! I’m as dorkily excited as I ever am when I have a new book. (Read all about it here)
February 5th is the launch date (February 7th in the UK).
But right now I just want to give away a couple of signed copies.
Comment below, telling me what kind of surprise you’d like to find in your house when you turn the key and open your front door. I’ll pick t...
December 3, 2018
It’s So Monday. Plus Shiny New News.
It’s hard to believe the year is quickly nearing its end. Is it any wonder that we often fill the last few weeks of each year with celebrations and time spent with people we care about? After a long year of hard work and challenging news, it’s good to reconnect and re-center. I’m traveling this week, and so it’s still Thanksgiving back at my house. But I’ve been doing a little decorating at my parents’ home, having a wonderful time. Of course their small tree is now...
November 19, 2018
The Stranger Inside
Kimber Hannon feels like she has complete control over her life, until she comes home from a weekend trip to find her key no longer opens her front door. She’s stunned to find a stranger living in her house. A stranger who presents the investigating police with a lease bearing her signature. When she confronts the man, he gets close enough to whisper, “I was there. I saw what you did.”
Those threatening words reveal a connection to Kimber’s distant past, the time before her sister’s sudden de...
November 5, 2018
Open A Thousand Doors
New Story Alert! Hi, my dears. I have a story in a new book, A THOUSAND DOORS, and it’s a book I know you’re going to love.
Several years ago my bestie, J.T. Ellison, talked about an idea she had for a book: to take one character and explore different life choices she might have made. Last year, she started bringing that idea to life–and a VERY special life it is.
She invited me, along with fourteen other writers, to join her on the journey to create the many life choices of Mia Jensen. A...
