Susan Lower's Blog, page 2
August 10, 2020
Trade Secrets
March 20, 2020
Reckless Hearts
January 24, 2020
February New Release Cover Reveal
Valentine’s is right around the corner and I’m excited to say I’ve got a new love story coming out in about two weeks under my fantasy pen name. It feels like forever, but I couldn’t wait to share the cover with you. It’s just so pretty. I love..love…love it!
This is a clean new adult mythology fantasy
Damen De Santis is about to lose the love of his life, no thanks to Cupid’s poisoned arrow.
Determined to get the woman he loves back, Damen kidnaps Joy, one of Cupid’s daughters, and holds her hostage in exchange for the one he lost.
Joy should have known better than to run off to Venice for the celebration of masks without her sisters to protect her. De Santis is clearly demented, thinking Joy is some kind of love goddess that can fix all his problems. Forced to play along with his scheme to use her to get his lady love back, Joy finds it difficult not to lose her own heart to a descendant of Chaos.
It will take more than the truth to set Joy free of Damen’s plans. She’ll have to embrace her new powers to persuade Damen to fall in love again. But will she use it to free him from heartbreak or seal the deal on revenge toward Cupid?
RELEASES FEBRUARY 6th
The post February New Release Cover Reveal appeared first on Susan Lower.
January 2, 2020
2019 In Review
This year I wrote 372,542 words.
Not all of them have been published yet, but don’t worry they’re coming.
In 2019 I published 4 books and 1 novella. 2 under my clean YA fantasy pen name Eliza Chambers, and two cowboy romances along with 1 western historical novella.
Susan Lower Books
2/ 2019 The Postage Stamp Bride (Brides of Anne’s Creek) Book 34/ 2019 Salvaged Hearts (Hearts of Hidden Hills)11/ 2019 Silver Stirrups (Silver Wind Equine Rescue Romance) Book 3
I went back and edited and added my solo book RESIDENCE OF HER HEART to the Hearts of Hidden Hills Series. It got an upgrade both inside and outside with a new cover.
Eliza Chambers Books
6/ 2019 Shards of the Moon (YA Speculative Fiction with a twist of folklore and mythology)9/ 2019 Troll Hunter’s Apprentice (MG suspenseful fantasy)
I didn’t have a plan for 2019, other than to write. Life as a mom with almost three teens is unpredictable and at times downright hard. Life and parenting has its seasons, and I’m right there with the other parents as every child is different and every mom’s parenting experience isn’t the same.
Which is why I’m looking forward to 2020 and while I have goals, they’re not about numbers. They’re about you.
In 2020 I pray for your year to be filled with hope. I want you to feel inspired and have strength for the days that get hard. I want you to know you’re not alone through the various trails in the various stages you are currently in or entering.
Someone once told me we are better together. The right people in our lives are worth the value of the greatest treasure.
A few weeks ago I wrote a different list consisting of numbers. A former accountant, I like numbers. For 2020 I wanted to write 500,000 words. I wanted to write 12-15 books, and so on. But really, when I thought about it, you can’t rush putting heart and hope into a story. So my goal for 2020 is to write more stories to give hope, that you’re never alone in life, and no challenge is never too big for God’s grace.
Through the chaos of middle-grade chaos and high schoolers determining their paths, 2020 is going to be an adventure. If you want to join it with me, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter. Let’s do this together.
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December 5, 2019
Read SLower December 2019 Books #TBR
Between Hallmark movies and all Holiday preparations, I usually take December off from writing and indulge in a few good reads of my own. If you’ve been getting my newsletter you’ll see recommendations there, too. (You can sign up here if you’re not receiving it.)
Here is my line up of books to read in December:
Have you read any of these? No spoilers, please! But I’d love to hear what you thought of them or recommend a Christmas story you read recently and enjoyed!
Tis the season for a great read! Click to tweet and share!
The post Read SLower December 2019 Books #TBR appeared first on Susan Lower.
November 28, 2019
A Time to Have Courage and Be Kind
A few weeks ago, the kids and I were watching Cinderella. As we’re entering the holiday season, I’ve had this one scene in the back of my mind. It’s the one where Cinderella’s mother tells her to have courage and be kind.
I believe we all need a little courage when times get tough and in those moments it’s easy for us to forget to be kind to one another. There is always a little piece of backstory you’ll never know about someone else’s lives.
Be kind.
Treat one another the way you’d want someone to treat you, even when you’re not feeling it.
I like to believe we are all like the Whos living in Whoville, singing and joyous for this coming of Christmas. I’d like to believe everyone has a giving heart and looks out for their fellow man. When you grow up in a small town, you develop this sense of always finding the good in people. As well as you should!
But what I really want to share today is there are people this holiday season who are not feeling the joy vibe like you are. There are those who are estranged from family, alone and grieving for the loss of someone dear. There are those struggling financially and struggling to hold hope when what they really feel is desperate and despair. There are those who are depressed and struggle with the ups and downs of holding onto hope and joy; to all of you, I say, “Have Courage and Be Kind.”
Kindness doesn’t take much time to share. It doesn’t cost much in comparison to the other gifts you’ll give and receive this year. It’s the price of a smile or a simple word. Tell the clerk at the shop “thank you” even if they’re just doing their job, everyone needs to feel appreciated.
Have courage.
Be Kind.
Click to Tweet: Have courage and Be Kind
The post A Time to Have Courage and Be Kind appeared first on Susan Lower.
November 25, 2019
Silver Stirrups
November 21, 2019
Silver Stirrups Releases this week!
For those of you in my newsletter list, the chapter excerpt went out in last month’s newsletter and I know some of you are as excited as I am to see this book coming out.
Silver Stirrups is the 3rd book in the Silver Wind Equine Rescue Romance Series. Originally the Silver Wind Trilogy it wouldn’t be a trilogy without a third book, but I’ve since renamed it and thanks to finding my old written notes in notebooks from our move a few years ago and the flooding of our home a few years ago, I’ve been able to bring Josh and Alison’s story to you.
Can a little faith, a whole lot of trust, and a second chance help Josh and Alison find what they’re both missing?
After a streak of bad luck hits Windy Knoll farms, Alison finds herself without a horse, and the Silver Stirrups Riding Club is without a trail master. While Alison expects foul play where the disappearance of her horse is concerned, she can’t prove her ex had anything to do with it.
Josh Anderson vowed he’d stay out of trouble after a few bad decisions put him in debt to his brother-in-law, but he owes a bigger debt to Alison for walking away from their relationship years ago without an explanation. Josh volunteers as the new trail master while using his connections through the Silver Wind Horse Rescue to help find Alison’s horse.
All the evidence leads to Josh’s guilt, but can Alison trust him enough to let a horse lead them down the right trail?
Silver Stirrups will be available on November 26th. You can ensure your copy on release by clicking here.
As a special treat for the release, book 1, Forgotten Reins is FREE this weekend and Book 2, Unbridled is only 99 cents!
The post Silver Stirrups Releases this week! appeared first on Susan Lower.
Silver Stirrup Releases this week!
For those of you in my newsletter list, the chapter excerpt went out in last month’s newsletter and I know some of you are as excited as I am to see this book coming out.
Silver Stirrups is the 3rd book in the Silver Wind Equine Rescue Romance Series. Originally the Silver Wind Trilogy it wouldn’t be a trilogy without a third book, but I’ve since renamed it and thanks to finding my old written notes in notebooks from our move a few years ago and the flooding of our home a few years ago, I’ve been able to bring Josh and Alison’s story to you.
Can a little faith, a whole lot of trust, and a second chance help Josh and Alison find what they’re both missing?
After a streak of bad luck hits Windy Knoll farms, Alison finds herself without a horse, and the Silver Stirrup Riding Club is without a trail master. While Alison expects foul play where the disappearance of her horse is concerned, she can’t prove her ex had anything to do with it.
Josh Anderson vowed he’d stay out of trouble after a few bad decisions put him in debt to his brother-in-law, but he owes a bigger debt to Alison for walking away from their relationship years ago without an explanation. Josh volunteers as the new trail master while using his connections through the Silver Stirrup Horse Rescue to help find Alison’s horse.
All the evidence leads to Josh’s guilt, but can Alison trust him enough to let a horse lead them down the right trail?
Silver Stirrups will be available on November 26th. You can ensure your copy on release by clicking here.
As a special treat for the release, book 1, Forgotten Reins is FREE this weekend and Book 2, Unbridled is only 99 cents!
The post Silver Stirrup Releases this week! appeared first on Susan Lower.
November 14, 2019
Make Time To Be Thankful
Sometimes in life, it is easy to take many things for granted. We do it every day without thinking about it. We come to expect things from people and places that have always done what they do for us without ever considering that those things are not a given. They don’t have to be there or do what they do.
There are so many times we exhaust ourselves trying to do for others until we get burnt out. The fuel to keeping us going isn’t always rest or monetary value. It can be as simple as words of appreciation and gratitude.
The other day, I had too many places to be and things to do. One of my children stepped up and took care of preparing supper. They didn’t ask if I wanted help, they asked where to find what they needed and did what was needed to make a meal. That child told me that I go out of my way so much to make sure they get where they need to go and they wanted to show their appreciation by helping me out. Otherwise, supper would have been late and rushed and I appreciated that extra hand of help immensely.
How many times have you told someone thank you for doing what they do every day? How many times have you done something that needs to be done on your spouse’s or family or friend’s list to be a blessing in their day? Could they have done it, of course, but doing it would give them one less thing on their list or an extra five minutes to be still.
We try to teach our kids grace and appreciation at the same time as teaching them not to allow someone to take advantage of them or vise versa. In our busy world, it is easy to go along our day without noticing others or the little details that are combined for the bigger picture.
This time of year we get plenty of reminders to counting our blessings. We start gratitude journals, and like New Year’s resolutions, they get put to the wayside as other things overtake the priority of our mindfulness.
Taking the time to be thankful shouldn’t go to the wayside after November. What if we all try to be mindful of the little things and take the time to be thankful every day rather than just for the holiday? I’m cutting down on my schedule to take it slower and notice more things around my world.
How about you? How will you make time to be thankful for this day forward?
TWEETABLE
Don’t forget to tell someone Thank You today. @susanlower (Click to Tweet)
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