Here in Southern New England, April ended in true April fashion: lots of showers. But last Saturday, the weather warmed and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. It was a perfect day for the Branford Book Festival.
The concept was fantastic. Thirty stores along the center of town each allowed one or two authors to room to set up a table on their sidewalk. I was in a little shopping plaza, so I set up on the end, away from the stores, but smack where everyone passing on Main Street could see me.
I set up outside a beautiful salon with the most gracious hosts. They offered to help me set up (and offered to help me tear down at the end of the event). They kept offering me coffee, tea, and water. When my kids came to visit, they gave them lollipops. When the weather got a little too hot, they offered me an umbrella. When I declined, they offered me aloe for my sunburn.
The event began at ten, and I finished setting up a few minutes after that. But it had a slow start. I took advantage of the downtime in my super comfy camping chair. In fact, I enjoyed the chair so much, I may bring it with me to every author event, even the indoor ones. It's so much nicer than a folding or banquet chair.
Eventually, foot traffic increased, and I made some sales. Overall, the event was fantastic, and I had a lot of fun. And the weather was gorgeous. A little too nice.
I left with a severe sunburn. Nearly a week later, I am still red and even sore in some places. I started with aloe and have since moved to moisturizers. A friend of mine recommended vinegar, but I was glad I didn't have any. I was too scared to try it.
However, since I know no matter how many resolutions I make, I am bound to forget sunscreen again. So my question this week is
what are your favorite ways to treat sunburn?
Choose Your Own Path Story
I first started this Choose Your Own Path game as a fun way to interact with you, my readers. And I love doing it.
However, writing three scenes every other week in addition to my other stories takes a lot of time. Unfortunately, with summer approaching, time is a precious commodity.
Therefore, I need to make a decision. Should I continue these stories every newsletter? Or put them aside until fall? Or are you getting bored and would rather these go away for good?
There is also a fourth option. I could make these stories a separate newsletter. I would continue writing over the summer—possibly an episode a week, possibly an episode every three weeks—and you would receive the story in your inbox as normal. But it would be separate from this newsletter and not contain any other information.
Hartfield Chronicles
Season 5 of Hartfield Chronicles is here!
Melinda loves Pat, but sometimes she wishes he had friends of his own. When he starts spending time with her dance partner, however, Melinda can't help the feelings of jealousy that surface, especially when he starts choosing him over her. Will their relationship survive Pat's new bromance?
Hartfield Chronicles follows the lives of Melinda, Pat, and their friends as they navigate their way through boarding school life. Each episode features two stories, one from Melinda's point of view and one from Pat's, along with an excerpt from Melinda's writing journal. New episodes are published every Friday.
As a thank you, you will receive access to bonus chapters from the Hartfield Chronicles.
Announcing the New Hammerhead Club
Membership benefits:
Read new episodes 4 weeks in advance
Receive new episodes directly in your inbox
Access to new bonus chapters every season
Each month you are a member, $1 is added to your club credit. This credit can be used to purchase e-books and signed paperbacks at the Ashleigh Stevens Bookstore. Credits never expire.
Free Books
Singling Lizards
A Mystery Adventure
Bridget never wanted to travel to Africa
... until her sister disappeared.
Add in the part where we are angels too.
Insert freak out here!
22-year-old Bridget Reinhold is not exactly the adventurous type, but when her sister Claire disappears in Southern Africa, nothing can hold her in England. Bridget throws herself into the search in the country of Botswana and encounters obstacle after obstacle. She learns the basics of the native language and culture and soon moves to the capital city of Gaborone. Soon, her mission is plunged into turmoil as everything seems to be going wrong.
Just coincidence or is there something more sinister at work?
Chasing the Wild Sparks
A clean, second chance romance short read set in an alluring Greek island
Throwing down the guantlet has never been so wild.
Throwing down the gauntlet has never been so wild. Just ask Hadley Beckett.
Marriage. That word drives my nuptial-phobic boyfriend of three years, Finn Wilder, who is Richmond’s sexy, golden boy daredevil sportscaster, to the brink of madness. While the daredevil thrives on adrenaline and danger and eagerly professes his love for me, he’ll walk on the wild side and not down the aisle. Furthermore, Finn Wilder is single, according to his coworkers and viewers—Finnatics. I don’t exist.
Despite his marriage fears and questionable relationship status, Finn pressures me to move in with him. Still, traditional by today’s standards, I want to marry first, adhering to my beliefs, just as he desperately clings to his, regarding not starting a family with me.
As much as I love Finn, I’ve reached my limit with the lies, secrets, and his irrational fear. Something has got to give. We’re forever at a standstill, a faceoff which one of us will lose. Everything.
Dark Secret Lie
A Twisting Psychological Thriller
Emma’s life turns upside down after finding her husband murdered at their home. With no evidence left at the crime scene and no known motive, Emma is determined to find the person responsible.
However, her husband’s death uncovers a secret that leaves her questioning everything she thought she knew about him.
Emma believed she was in a loving and trusting relationship with Kendrick.
She thought of them as just another couple living a normal life.
However, Kendrick had a dark secret, one that got him killed.
Detective McKinley is working the case, as he continuously communicates with Emma throughout his investigation, he pleads for her to stop trying to play detective, as every clue she finds puts her life and those around her at risk.
He wants her to trust this murder case to the police before it’s too late.
Emma understands that her life is at risk, but she can’t quit now. She must find out who Kendrick was and why he got killed.
She needs answers and she is willing to put her life on the line to uncover the truth.
Would you like some free books in exchange for an honest review?
Want more free books? Check out these giveaways!
Do you have Kindle Unlimited? These books are free for you!
Other Books on Sale
Popularity
A Growing Up Girls Book
Is Popularity everything it's cracked up to be?
Melinda is the shy, awkward high school girl who sits in the shadows drawing what she sees from afar, while longing to experience it. Focused on "The Glam Squad," she sees how their lives seem to sizzle and glitter with excitement, boys and the adoration and envy of the entire school - everything that goes with popularity.
When a strange twist of fate grants the new "Mel" access to the fabulous world of the popular crowd, she experiences both the advantages and disadvantages of the group from the inside, while trying to keep one foot in her old life. But when the two worlds collide and people start to get hurt with bullying and cyberbulling, will she be able to straddle the two or must she choose? Will she find popularity is all she hoped for, or is it just another teenage prison, binding to certain roles?
Trapped with a Billionaire
An Enemies to Lovers Romance
Have you ever been trapped in a small town with a dangerous, grumpy billionaire?
No?
Well I have...
CASSANDRA
I thought running away would help me feel like myself again.
Instead, I met Gary.
This ex-navy seal, arms dealer is so grumpy and rich. So hot.
I can’t stand him.
Now I am stuck in this town working for him.
Even with his gruff tone I am drawn to him like a moth to a flame.
GARY
Who the hell is this pretty thing snooping in my office?
I yell at her to get out, the phone rings.
The thoughts of this bad deal flood into my mind.
After she left, I couldn't stop thinking of her beautiful features.
No, stop, remember what happened the last time you let someone in?
Just as I get her out of my mind, she’s kidnapped
No one takes what’s mine…
The Secret Terror Beneath
A Small Town Cozy Hotel Murder Mystery
Within the recesses of the Terrowin Hotel lie hidden secrets, lost treasures, and an ominous sense of danger.
Jamie Sharpe, the latest heir to the Sharpe legacy, becomes entranced by the mystifying allure of her inheritance. But as she ventures deeper into the Terrowin’s dark history, she soon realizes that the depths of the hotel may be harboring a much more sinister and deadly presence.
After the discovery of a historical artifact found in the secret passageways beneath the hotel. Archeologists and historians have stormed the hotel in full force, searching for other relics from the past.
And when Jamie and her friend, Paige, find the dead body of historian Hubert Fillmore hidden away in one of the hotels underground tunnels, it’s time to start investigating.
The duo unveil a shrouded connection between Jamie's family and the hotel’s darker past along the way, and discover that the killer didn’t act alone.
Jamie and Paige are in a deadly pursuit to uncover the murder’s intentions and stop them before another innocent life is taken.
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