Stephanie Verni's Blog

Nostalgia & New Beginnings

It seems all I’ve done lately is feel deeply nostalgic. I suppose that happens when you reach a certain age. You tend to reminisce a lot.

First Day Fall 2025/Graduate School Online

I taught my first class in the fall of 1993. I was working at the Orioles and got a last-minute opportunity to teach a public speaking class at Anne Arundel Community College. I was able to make teaching work with my Orioles responsibilities.

That’s when it all changed.

I loved, loved, loved my job at the Orioles. But after I taught my first class, a different type of passion was ignited. I loved being in the classroom with the students. I taught at several communitiy colleges before finding my way to Stevenson University. We have teachers in our family…my mom, my aunt, my uncle, and down the line. Being a part of enriching someone’s curiosity is a beautiful thing. I loved it. I ended up raising my children and teaching part-time. It was such a blessing.

Then, in 2008, I became full-time faculty at Stevenson University when my kids were in school all day. I got an MFA during that time, too. It was a whirlwind when I look back. I’m not even sure how I managed it, but my husband worked from home while I was taking courses and teaching, and it suited our family and our life perfectly. Even though my kids don’t have distinct memories of me being home with them all the time until they went to school, Anthony and I wouldn’t change any of the decisions we made back then.

After I had my hip replaced in 2021, I felt it was time to retire. But then I was offered the opportunity to teach as an adjunct again in the graduate program online. I couldn’t refuse.

The best part? As of next week, Dr. Leeanne Bell McManus becomes my boss, as she takes over as Director of the Graduate Program. How lucky am I? My dear friend, fellow author, and wonderful colleague and I get to work closely together until I decide to fully retire, whenever that will be. (She will say NEVER).

So yes, I’m a little nostalgic on this first day of classes for Fall 2025. I’ve been at this a long time, and I still feel the pangs of excitement as we begin a new course. Fall is full of new opportunities, new beginnings, and a sense of hope. I’ve always loved the months from September through December. They are rife with possibility.

Best wishes to everyone who teaches, coaches, and guides, and to all the students out there, I hope you are brimming with curiosity.

xx,

Stephanie

P.S. Today also made me realize that I have written a lot of books, but none of them revolve around the beauty of being a teacher. Perhaps something new will swirl in my creative brain in the years to come.

About the author:

STEPHANIE VERNI is the author of THE ONES CLOSEST TO YOU, THE LETTERS IN THE BOOKS; FROM HUMBUG TO HUMBLE: THE TRANSFORMATION OF EBENEZER SCROOGE; BENEATH THE MIMOSA TREE; INN SIGNIFICANT; LITTLE MILESTONES; THE POSTCARD; and ANNA IN TUSCANY. She is also a co-author of the textbook, EVENT PLANNING & MANAGEMENT: COMMUNICATING THEORY & PRACTICE. Currently an adjunct professor at Stevenson University Online, she instructs communication courses for undergraduate and graduate students. She and her husband reside in Severna Park, Maryland, just outside Annapolis, have two children, and a little boat that makes them immensely happy.

The Annual Birthday Post: A Lament with Gratitude

I freaked out when I turned forty. Forty was not good for me. I loved my thirties and all they entailed. I had enjoyed a tremendous career in sports; became engaged, then married; traveled to Aruba and Europe twice; bought our first home; threw parties; had our two children; watched them grow; became a part-time professor at a four-year university; took exciting vacations with the kids; and spent lots and lots of quality time with family.

In my thirties, I had no:

hip pain

back pain

neck pain

knee pain.

Minus the migraine headaches I endured monthly as part of being a woman, it was, by far, the greatest decade of my life.

The forties, well, let’s just skip those years. There were ups and downs, bumps in the road, good turns and bad turns, fun times and weepy times, and a sense that life just got crazy somehow. I lost my way, then found my way. I dabbled in part-time jobs. Some people love their forties, but as for me, I’d have rather jumped from thirty to fifty, quite honestly.

And then there’s today. It comes rolling in quietly, and yet this milestone birthday has me flummoxed. I am once again in a state of weirdness. It feels like turning forty all over again. The truth is, I am no longer a spring chicken. I’m not. I can face reality. Time does this to us, whether we like it or not. I can’t wear heels anymore. If I sit a certain way, I curse the chair. If I lift a bin from the closet, I end up at Patient First during a Ravens playoff game. I have a wound on my forehead from having pre-cancer scraped off my face by a surgeon. Last week, I missed a step and landed on pavers on my knees. Things happen as we grow older. Time waits for no one.

We do what we can to remain young and stay healthy, but it’s a far cry from the youthfulness of our thirties. If any of you are in your thirties who are reading this, stop for a moment, get down on your knees, and say a prayer of gratitude. In my opinion, you are in the best years of your life.

There are those who will say that I am now entering the best years of my life. I’m heading toward to Golden Years, which, according to Google, begin at 65. That’s not that far away. I could be on Golden Girls if they revive it.

Retirement looms. Travel awaits. I’m praying that grandchildren are in the “near” future before I’m too old to pick them up. Yes. It’s true: we’ll be able to do whatever we want shortly. We’ll be free, in a sense. We can do whatever we want, go wherever we want, and go out whenever we want.

The fact is my back goes out more than I do.

And yet, there are things in the future that are exciting to look forward to, as well. We have a son soon to be married. We have a daughter who is growing up and is on her own. Who knows what other beautiful things are down the pike?

You don’t have to tell me to be thankful for my life and all that I have. God knows I am thankful. I thank Him every day. I am grateful. I do know how fortunate I am. These things are all true, it’s just that I have a real problem with numbers. I’ve never been good at math, that’s why I’m a writer. I’m good at words, but words escape me when I see the number written out:

60.

Sixty.

The big 6-0.

Mohammed Ali, someone I actually met in person, once said, “Old age is just a record of one’s own life.”

Christy Moore, an 80-year-old Irish folk singer, said, “If I had to live again I would do exactly the same thing. Of course, I have regrets, but if you are 60 years old and you have no regrets then you haven’t lived.” He’s right. I have tons of regrets. Bring me a few trash cans, and I’ll fill them up with them.

But he has a point. I’m 60 now. I’m older and wiser. I have wisdom to share that I didn’t have in my thirties. I have perspectives that have changed. I have faith that has strengthened and deepened. I have Jesus. I have friendships that have stood the test of time. I have family that loves me no matter what. Time changes you. You start to realize just how much time you’ve wasted on stupid, pathetic things and you begin to look at life as if time’s running out.

Because it is.

That’s not a bad thing, actually. It prompts you to do the things you still have left to do. The things that are important to you.

Sure, I can sit here and yearn to be in my thirties again, but what good does that do?

With my wonky back, wobbly knees, waggish hips, and wayward neck, I will forge ahead and embrace this 60 BS.

Because that’s what it is when it comes down to it…

60…

it’s only a number…

a BS number…

that has absolutely nothing to do with…

how I will live out the rest of my life.

About the author:

STEPHANIE VERNI is the author of THE ONES CLOSEST TO YOU, THE LETTERS IN THE BOOKS; FROM HUMBUG TO HUMBLE: THE TRANSFORMATION OF EBENEZER SCROOGE; BENEATH THE MIMOSA TREE; INN SIGNIFICANT; LITTLE MILESTONES; THE POSTCARD; and ANNA IN TUSCANY. She is also a co-author of the textbook, EVENT PLANNING & MANAGEMENT: COMMUNICATING THEORY & PRACTICE. Currently an adjunct professor at Stevenson University Online, she instructs communication courses for undergraduate and graduate students. She and her husband reside in Severna Park, Maryland, just outside Annapolis, have two children, and a little boat that makes them immensely happy.

Rebooting Your Writing Journey: Embracing Your Gift

True story:

Yesterday, I told someone that I may be done with writing books. I told her the marketing is hard and that it’s killing me. The marketing requires so much, I told her. You’re supposed to be writing your next thing, but you’re too busy marketing that you can’t write anything new. It takes its toll. You feel exhausted. You feel like what you write is not being seen, so…why bother?

She listened intently, and then said.

No. No.

You’re too talented not to write. That is a waste, she said.

You just need to reboot. Find another avenue.

But don’t waste your stories. There are people who need them.

It was, if I may be so bold to say it about myself, selfish of me to wallow in the murk. I was only thinking about myself. How I’m tired. How I’m struggling to get something out of it.

But she made me see it in a different way.

It’s your gift to others. That’s what she said.

I tell this story because I’m about to turn sixty and I’m feeling a little down in the dumps about everything at the moment. It’s a moment of realness…and a time to reflect on what I’ve done over these last decades.

But, it is said, that when you don’t use your gifts, you are not appreciating that gift which has been given to you by God. We all have them. We all have gifts. So it made me wonder, why would I not continue to work at it, even if it’s hard?

I’ve never been a defeatist in the past, so why start now?

It is our job to toil away at these gifts, even if it has taken us thirteen years of our lives working hard to share them with the world. If Moses can wander in the wilderness for 40 years until something good happens, what’s a few more years giving my energy to this craft and…marketing.

That’s today’s thoughts. Let’s see where we land months from now and if I can pick myself up from all the weariness.

xx,

Stephanie

About the author:

STEPHANIE VERNI is the author of THE ONES CLOSEST TO YOU, THE LETTERS IN THE BOOKS; FROM HUMBUG TO HUMBLE: THE TRANSFORMATION OF EBENEZER SCROOGE; BENEATH THE MIMOSA TREE; INN SIGNIFICANT; LITTLE MILESTONES; THE POSTCARD; and ANNA IN TUSCANY. She is also a co-author of the textbook, EVENT PLANNING & MANAGEMENT: COMMUNICATING THEORY & PRACTICE. Currently an adjunct professor at Stevenson University Online, she instructs communication courses for undergraduate and graduate students. She and her husband reside in Severna Park, Maryland, just outside Annapolis, have two children, and a little boat that makes them immensely happy.

A Catch-Up Letter

Dear Friends,

Yes, I’ve been gone for a while. And while I’ve missed posting, taking a break from blogging was healthy. We’ve had a lot of things going on recently. Namely, my husband and I have spent a lot of time traveling. As he was in-between jobs, we took the time to get away, which was good for both of us mentally. It allowed us to recharge our batteries, especially after some unforeseen challenges.

To recap what we’ve been up to as of late, I’ll try to keep it on the shorter side. Here’s the latest of where we’ve been…

Puerto Rico: I didn’t expect to love Puerto Rico as much as I did. The week away was just what the doctor ordered. We loved staying at the El San Juan Hotel (bumped into Chris Noth, aka Mr. Big of Sex and the City fame), ate well, enjoyed cabaret shows at the hotel, toured Old San Juan several times, and just enjoyed being away and in each other’s company. If you’re looking for a place to get away that’s friendly and speaks the language, I highly recommend Puerto Rico.Wilmington, NC, Southport, Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach: We spent several days combing the beaches in the Wilmington, NC area. With a day trip to Southport (where Nicholas Sparks set Safe Haven, we enjoyed getting to spend some time in downtown Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach (we took a long walk between the two piers totaling 4 miles), Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach. Eating on the piers in both Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach was great; we felt bad for the poor Carolina Beach pier, which was one of the longest in the United States, as it was damaged from the hurricane. But Wrightsville Beach’s pier is a great spot to eat and enjoy ocean views. Southport was my favorite. It makes you want to sip sweet tea on your porch and read a good Nicholas Sparks novel.Cooperstown, NY: As my husband had not been to Cooperstown since he was a kid, I told him it was time to go. I have never been, despite all my past years working in baseball. We loved it. We stayed at the gorgeous Otesaga Hotel , enjoyed two days of combing the memorabilia in the National Baseball Hall of Fame , ate at Sal’s Pizza twice (some of the best pizza I’ve had in the U.S. for sure!), and sitting on the porch overlooking the lake at the hotel. It’s the perfect 3-4 day getaway if you love baseball.

Since we’ve been back home, my husband has started a new job in corporate partnerships for MDE Tennis (are you going to go to the Mubadala Citi DC Open in July? We hope to see you there!). It’s a tournament in Washington, D.C. that takes place in Rock Creek Park that’s been around for 55 years and was started by Arthur Ashe. With both the men’s and women’s tours on the docket, it takes place from July 19 through July 27. Sounds like the place to be this summer, and I wish my husband all the best in his new role.

We’ve also accomplished some home projects. If you haven’t had your porch power-washed, do it. After many years in this home and power-washing it ourselves, we hired a professional power-washer, and boy, does it look great. I’ve also been refinishing our porch furniture and getting the porch ready for some summer entertaining.

Starting in May, I took on a new role in our Walking with Purpose ministry at our parish and will be coordinating along with my friend Dawn and two other ladies. We have a pretty sizable and wonderful group of women in this ministry, and we look forward to serving in this new capacity. Studying the Bible and growing in faith has been the greatest gift for me over these last several years.

And finally, to the writing…

I was certainly stuck in a rut for a bit, trying to figure out what I wanted to write next, when it dawned on me. People seem to enjoy The Letters in the Books. They ask me often if there will be a sequel. Up until now, I said “no,” as I typically write one book and then move on. But this one may be different. And so, I’ve decided to write a three-book series, with The Letters in the Books serving as Book 1 (of 3 total). The tentative title of the book is The Bakery of Fresh Beginnings, and once again, it will be set in Annapolis and will pick up where that book left off. I’m 15,000 words into it, and I’m looking forward to completing it this summer before school picks back up again. I’ll be teaching two graduate courses in Fall 2025.

Book 2 of The Letters in the Books Series will be coming soon!

I also want to congratulate our son on his recent engagement! We are looking forward to a wedding in Fall of 2026. As well, he just completed an Eagleman (Ironman) triathlon, a total of 70.3 miles total. Wow.

Engaged in Annapolis

Our daughter is loving her first year in her marketing job, has traveled to London and Paris, and is going to dance in a showcase this Fall. We’re so proud of her.

A Lady in Paris

We’re looking forward to an exciting Verni Family Vacation in October. So many blessings, and so many things to be grateful for.

Hope you are all well. See you soon. And I’ll try not to stay away for so long.

As they say as they part ways in our recent favorite 90s British show called Heartbeat, Ta-ra for now.

Ta-ra,

Stephanie

P.S. This was one of my favorite moments from Puerto Rico after visiting the Cathedral there. I loved going to mass there. It was really special.

Outside the Cathedral

About the author:

STEPHANIE VERNI is the author of THE ONES CLOSEST TO YOU, THE LETTERS IN THE BOOKS; FROM HUMBUG TO HUMBLE: THE TRANSFORMATION OF EBENEZER SCROOGE; BENEATH THE MIMOSA TREE; INN SIGNIFICANT; LITTLE MILESTONES; THE POSTCARD; and ANNA IN TUSCANY. She is also a co-author of the textbook, EVENT PLANNING & MANAGEMENT: COMMUNICATING THEORY & PRACTICE. Currently an adjunct professor at Stevenson University Online, she instructs communication courses for undergraduate and graduate students. She and her husband reside in Severna Park, Maryland, have two children, and a little boat that makes them immensely happy.

Happy World Book Day!

Happy World Book Day!

I’ve been an independent author for 13 years now, and somehow I keep doing my thing, despite that marketing the books is one of the hardest things I have to do.

And yet, here I am, with some thoughts for others who are out there doing the same.

Celebrate every accomplishment.
Do it for you.
Write because you enjoy the process.
Let the storyteller in you have some fun while you do it.

Grin and bear the marketing. It’s not fun. It can zap all the energy out of you.

But, when you get that one reader who loves your work, it’s totally worth all the struggles you face.

Happy reading!

About the author:

STEPHANIE VERNI is the author of THE ONES CLOSEST TO YOU, THE LETTERS IN THE BOOKS; FROM HUMBUG TO HUMBLE: THE TRANSFORMATION OF EBENEZER SCROOGE; BENEATH THE MIMOSA TREE; INN SIGNIFICANT; LITTLE MILESTONES; THE POSTCARD; and ANNA IN TUSCANY. She is also a co-author of the textbook, EVENT PLANNING & MANAGEMENT: COMMUNICATING THEORY & PRACTICE. Currently an adjunct professor at Stevenson University Online, she instructs communication courses for undergraduate and graduate students. She and her husband reside in Severna Park, Maryland, have two children, and a little boat that makes them immensely happy.

We Are All Hopeless Romantics at Heart

Truth.

Last night, we watched an episode of All Creatures Great and Small. I found myself rooting for Mrs. Hall and Siegfried to get together (my husband doing the same). I also realized that we are all hopeless romantics at heart. We want love to win. For good to beat evil. For love to conquer all. And for hope to triumph.

This is why I write fiction and love reading stories centered around the notion of hope. Hope is the nugget that helps carry us both in good times and in bad. God has always offered us hope through Him, and that’s the most comforting truth of all.

Yet, as I’m working on my next novel, a suggestion was made to me of how a “conflict” could be brought into the novel during the plotting stage. I shrugged my shoulders. I honestly wan’t interested in going that direction.

“I can’t do that to my characters. I’m not that kind of writer,” I said with certainty. I can say this boldly because I mean it. I’m in the optimism business—here to provide my readers with an optimistic outcome.

Moreover, I know the kind of stories I provide readers…I know the crux of the story I have been gifted to tell. The hopeless romantic in me wants everything to work out. Love will conquer all. Good will triumph. And a happy ending will be had for those who believe.

Unlike in real life where bad people can seemingly win, in my stories, good wins, love conquers all, and hope springs eternal.

______________________________

About the author:

STEPHANIE VERNI is the author of THE ONES CLOSEST TO YOU, THE LETTERS IN THE BOOKS; FROM HUMBUG TO HUMBLE: THE TRANSFORMATION OF EBENEZER SCROOGE; BENEATH THE MIMOSA TREE; INN SIGNIFICANT; LITTLE MILESTONES; THE POSTCARD; and ANNA IN TUSCANY. She is also a co-author of the textbook, EVENT PLANNING & MANAGEMENT: COMMUNICATING THEORY & PRACTICE. Currently an adjunct professor at Stevenson University Online, she instructs communication courses for undergraduate and graduate students. She and her husband reside in Severna Park, Maryland, have two children, and a little boat that makes them immensely happy.

Last Night During Church

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Photo by Craig Adderley on Pexels.com

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This February weather has certainly kept us all on our toes. Last night, my husband and I went to mass as the winds began to pick up after a heavy downpour of rain. The wind was whipping, and as we made our way into mass, people were holding on to their hats.

The priest for our 5:15 p.m. service, Father Erik, warned us that the lights had been flickering in the building we are currently using as our church, while our actual church is under renovation. Situated in the gym on the campus of our school, yet turned into a temporary holy place of worship, the lights flickered. Father Erik instructed us that should the lights go out, he would continue to go on and finish the mass. It’s a good thing he prepared us.

About three-quarters of the way through his beautiful homily, the lights went out. We were sitting in the dark, the light of the candles on the altar and the bit of light that was visible through the front windows our only sources of light.

As Father continued to receive the gifts and then bless the Eucharist, sitting there in the dark, the candles glowing, I became moved to tears. Actual tears. I was instantly transported to what it must have been like in Jesus’s time as He taught and built relationships in candlelight…as Jesus said the words of the Last Supper among glowing candles. I pictured the scene from The Chosen at Matthew’s house when Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners and brought them hope. It felt the same to me last night in that candlelit church. Ironically, the message of the homily was to “hang on to hope.” It was moving.

And so, with our beautiful team of musicians, one on guitar, one on piano, the songs at the end were sung a cappella, which again, made it one of the most memorable masses I’ve ever attended. I won’t soon forget that moment. My husband said the same.

Wouldn’t it be beautiful to attend candlelit masses more often? The Holy Spirit was certainly working for our good last night.

______________________________

About the author:

STEPHANIE VERNI is the author of THE ONES CLOSEST TO YOU, THE LETTERS IN THE BOOKS; FROM HUMBUG TO HUMBLE: THE TRANSFORMATION OF EBENEZER SCROOGE; BENEATH THE MIMOSA TREE; INN SIGNIFICANT; LITTLE MILESTONES; THE POSTCARD; and ANNA IN TUSCANY. She is also a co-author of the textbook, EVENT PLANNING & MANAGEMENT: COMMUNICATING THEORY & PRACTICE. Currently an adjunct professor at Stevenson University Online, she instructs communication courses for undergraduate and graduate students. She and her husband reside in Severna Park, Maryland, have two children, and a little boat that makes them immensely happy.

365 Days of Inspiration

Hello, Readers!

I wish I could have popped on here sooner, but I was laid up again with yet another back injury. I am finally healed and on the mend. Whew. It took a lot out of me.

I’m not sure what compelled me to give this thing a try for 2025. On Instagram, I post a lot of inspirational stuff…so I decided to step up my game and challenge myself this year by writing 365 Days of Inspiration. Sure, I’m doing it for you, but to be honest, I’m also doing it for me.

It’s never a bad idea to think about life in a way that offers gratitude, thankfulness, and way to expand ourselves. Bringing kindness to others is always at the forefront, and it’s a high priority goal of mine for 2025. Additionally, I’ve chosen my WORD for 2025, as I am also asking you to do below, so everything is to be centered around my word of choice: intentionality.

If you want to follow along, you can see each day’s words of inspiration on my stories on Instagram. Then, at the conclusion of each month, I will post them here. I know we’re not done with January yet…it’s Day 23 today, but I figured I’d share now in case you would like to follow along and do the same.

As well, I’m back to teaching in the graduate program at Stevenson University and have started to write my next novel. Let’s see what 2025 has in store for us, but may we always feel a sense of gratitude and peace as we move through each day.

Wishing you all the best and an abundance of blessings,

xx,

Stephanie

About the author:

STEPHANIE VERNI is the author of THE ONES CLOSEST TO YOU, THE LETTERS IN THE BOOKS; FROM HUMBUG TO HUMBLE: THE TRANSFORMATION OF EBENEZER SCROOGE; BENEATH THE MIMOSA TREE; INN SIGNIFICANT; LITTLE MILESTONES; THE POSTCARD; and ANNA IN TUSCANY. She is also a co-author of the textbook, EVENT PLANNING & MANAGEMENT: COMMUNICATING THEORY & PRACTICE. Currently an adjunct professor at Stevenson University Online, she instructs communication courses for undergraduate and graduate students. She and her husband reside in Severna Park, Maryland, have two children, and a little boat that makes them immensely happy.

Reflections

Each year, I like to reflect on some of the things I’ve learned. It’s great to set goals for 2025, but I believe it’s also important to glean lessons from what has already passed. Not that we need to dwell in the past—that’s certainly NOT healthy. But we can learn from it. Here are my 5 takeaways from 2024. I’d love to hear some of your own lessons & discoveries.

A Trip to New Hope, PA

1. CELEBRATE THE BIG MOMENTS AND THE LITTLE ONES. In 2024, we celebrated my father-in-law’s 90th birthday, my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday, my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary, a college graduation, a confirmation, and a sacramental marriage. These were the “big things” in 2024, but there were also smaller celebrations…new jobs, promotions, Blue Angels, and publishing a book. All marked the year and allowed us to celebrate together.

2. DON’T JUST ENJOY RECREATIONAL TIME: SAVOR IT. With my husband working a crazy baseball season, the moments we get down time we’ve learned to savor it. Whether we go on the boat in the Severn River (our little getaway) or take a day trip to a nearby town or city, we’ve learned to appreciate every moment. 

3. DIVE INTO VOLUNTEER/SERVICE WORK. In 2024, I vowed to become more involved in things that serve others. Having been a teacher since 1993 and working in a “helping field,” when you step back to part-time, it leaves room to do other things. I’ve enjoyed giving back, and I’ve also been given so much by giving of my time. Before Christmas, I threw a little party for my 2nd grade Faith Formation class. One little girl, thinking it was the end of our time together, asked me if she would see me after the holidays. I said, “Of course…after Christmas.” She said, “Oh, good. I would miss you if I didn’t see you again.” I melted.

4. DON’T LET THE WORLD STOP YOU FROM YOUR PASSIONS. I can get down about being an indie author. But I had many small epiphanies that taught me that ONLY I can make myself feel bad about my writing career. No one else can do that. And so, I plug ahead.

5. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE HOW MUCH YOU CAN TOUCH SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE. There are too many stories for me to share in this short form, but it really is amazing to hear how my books, teaching, or my involvement in something has touched someone else’s life. I’m not special. We ALL have the capacity to do that.

About the author:

STEPHANIE VERNI is the author of THE ONES CLOSEST TO YOU, THE LETTERS IN THE BOOKS; FROM HUMBUG TO HUMBLE: THE TRANSFORMATION OF EBENEZER SCROOGE; BENEATH THE MIMOSA TREE; INN SIGNIFICANT; LITTLE MILESTONES; THE POSTCARD; and ANNA IN TUSCANY. She is also a co-author of the textbook, EVENT PLANNING & MANAGEMENT: COMMUNICATING THEORY & PRACTICE. Currently an adjunct professor at Stevenson University Online, she instructs communication courses for undergraduate and graduate students. She and her husband reside in Severna Park, Maryland, have two children, and a little boat that makes them immensely happy.

A Resolution for 2025

Happy holidays, my dear readers.

This morning I received the “renewal” notice for my blog, and it made me realize how much I’ve let blogging go over the last couple of years. One of my 2025 resolutions will be to reinvigorate my writing here on this platform. It’s a funny thing…when I stepped back from full-time teaching and returned to a part-time role at my university, I did so with the intention of writing more. And while I’ve kept that promise to myself with novel writing, I’ve let blog writing fade.

In my new-found “free time,” I found myself volunteering more and becoming more involved with my church, Bible study, and community. Therefore, the blog writing had to take a back seat.

For a while.

Now, however, as I sit here with a blank calendar for 2025 and pencil in all that I hope to accomplish, I’ve decided to get a little better about scheduling in writing blog posts: I’m gunning for a blog post at least once a week. I enjoy this space where I can just talk about anything I want, whether I share thoughts about writing, books, travel, shopping, fashion, boating, family, or God and all my blessings—whatever is on my mind—it keeps me on my toes and helps me get my thoughts out there.

As I am in the very EARLY stages of formulating my next novel, and as I look back on this year and into the next, I recently had a revelation. In the past, I put my novels into the categories of women’s fiction or historical fiction, but the truth is, my genre is inspirational fiction. This epiphany made me feel particularly blessed to write these types of stories because I believe in the power of words to uplift, heal, and inspire.

During the holidays, a time when many people may feel a mix of joy and stress, my books are written as a source of encouragement that helps others reflect, recharge, and rediscover hope. Whether through my storytelling, affirmations, prayer, or thoughtful insights, I strive to create content that reminds people they are not alone, that they matter, and that brighter days are always ahead. In short, there is always hope.

Writing these types of stories feels especially important to me lately. I’ve realized that writing these types of stories are my way of giving back to the community and a way to share themes of love, forgiveness, tenderness, and friendship.

I’m looking forward to writing my next novel with a real sense of purpose. May the New Year bring us all inspiration, guidance, and a sense of purpose and hope.

Happy holidays!

Love,

Stephanie

About the author:

STEPHANIE VERNI is the author of THE ONES CLOSEST TO YOU, THE LETTERS IN THE BOOKS; FROM HUMBUG TO HUMBLE: THE TRANSFORMATION OF EBENEZER SCROOGE; BENEATH THE MIMOSA TREE; INN SIGNIFICANT; LITTLE MILESTONES; THE POSTCARD; and ANNA IN TUSCANY. She is also a co-author of the textbook, EVENT PLANNING & MANAGEMENT: COMMUNICATING THEORY & PRACTICE. Currently an adjunct professor at Stevenson University Online, she instructs communication courses for undergraduate and graduate students. She and her husband reside in Severna Park, Maryland, have two children, and a little boat that makes them immensely happy.