I love writing stories about the people in my Blessings, Georgia series. SAVING JAKE is the most recent and is an October 4th release. I’ve been trying to narrow down my favorite characters in this story, but I’m about to give it up because they’re all so important to the story that I couldn’t separate a one. Having said that, if I had to pick: Favorite characters: Bonnie Carol and her pet chicken, Lavonne. Worst villain in a Blessings book: Truman Slade Best secondary characters always: Ruby Dye and her girls from The Curl Up and Dye. Unsung hero in Blessings: P.Nutt Butterman, Esquire Best place to gather: Granny’s Country Kitchen Lessons learned: The past does not define our future. From me to you… here’s another story from the best small town in the south – Blessings, Georgia. I’d love to know how my readers would fill these out: Favorite Character: Worst Villain from any Blessings book: Best secondary character: Unsung Hero: Best Place to Gather: Lessons Learned: Tell us below and you’ll be eligible to win a copy of the first two Blessings, Georgia novels (YOU AND ONLY YOU and I’LL STAND BY YOU). Blessings, Georgia You and Only…

The #HoldOntoTheLight campaign has asked authors to share openly about depression and since I’ve struggled with it all my life, I was asked to participate. The good news is that I’m so much better than I was before. In fact, every day is a joyous smile of yes, yes, yes! And yes, I’m lying. The truth is that every day is NOT a glorious wave of internal joy, but on the whole, it’s way better than it was before. Depression is hard and thoughts of suicide are real. I know, I’ve been there. Guess what was the most important thing I learned about my depressions. Johnny Depp did not cheer me up. Even his 21 Jump Street reruns. Depression is a cycle. Sure I’ll get depressed again. Maybe even linger on (obsess about) suicide. But I climbed out the last dozen times, and I’ll climb out this time, too. That’s a certainty. I just have to hold on until it happens. The only one putting pressure on myself is me. That means I can remind myself—a thousand times if necessary—that it’s okay to miss a book deadline, soccer game, or PTA meeting. (In fact, I’ve only attended one PTA meeting…