Duke woke just after daybreak, but when he heard rain on the roof, he knew morning chores were going to be messy. He rolled over on his back and began mentally going over the tasks for the day. He’d still been up when Hope came home last night, and he knew today was her day off, so she was likely sleeping in a bit. Jack tried to be protective of Hope, but she was just as strong-willed and independent as her sister, Mercy, and somehow that became what was most special about her. Lord knows, Jack was forever smitten. Duke sighed. He really didn’t want to grow old alone. He wanted to be smitten, too, but for whatever reason, he’d never found that certain someone. And the very next thought that went through his mind was of Cathy Terry. He wondered if she’d been able to sleep much last night and if she needed help with anything. He’d left his number with her, but he knew she wouldn’t call. That left the next move up to him, so he got up, showered, shaved, and dressed, then made his bed before going downstairs to start breakfast. Because of Hope’s work schedule,…

When I decided to write a book about a bestselling author who is way past deadline and struggling with writer’s block, let’s just say that I didn’t have to look too far for inspiration. It’s something I’ve dealt with ever since I sold my first book fifteen years ago. Writer’s block is one of those frustrating things that once you have it, you get caught in a downward spiral you can’t climb out of, all while some well-meaning person tells you that there is no such thing and you should just write through it. Unfortunately, for many of us, that simply doesn’t work. So what does? For me, it was getting brave enough to look at what was stopping me from writing. Turns out it was a whole lot of limiting beliefs and a fear of being discovered as a fraud. Even writing this post is nerve-wracking in case someone thinks I don’t know what I’m talking about, or that it’s self-indulgent to even bring it up. Weirdly though, it’s being able to accept the idea that some people will definitely think those things, which has helped me. Truth is that we can’t change what anyone else thinks, and it’s…