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Rita’s 2025 Year in Books

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Rita M. Reali

Goodreads Author

Born

The United States

Website

https://www.ritamreali.com

Genre

Fiction, Romance

Member Since

February 2008

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/ritamreali

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International award-winning novelist Rita M. Reali grew up in the ’70s captivated by radio. Bitten by the “radio bug” at age nine, this onetime DJ, music director and news director set her seven-volume Sheldon Family Saga against the backdrop of a fictional Connecticut radio station. Join the various members of the Sheldon family as they grapple with life and love, betrayal and loss, treachery and redemption.

A national award-winning journalist, Rita is also an award-winning essayist, parody songwriter, visual artist and photographer. A native and longtime resident of Connecticut, she and her husband and two cats now live atop the picturesque Cumberland Plateau in rural Tennessee, where she works as a professional editor and interior layout ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Rita M. Reali I've heard several suggestions for dealing with writer's block. My favorite is to envision an empty pitcher – and then fill it up with words. The only…moreI've heard several suggestions for dealing with writer's block. My favorite is to envision an empty pitcher – and then fill it up with words. The only empirical evidence I've had regarding its practical application was when a friend of mine tried that... but instead, he filled his imaginary pitcher with tasty lemonade and promptly drank it... then spent the rest of the afternoon running to and from his imaginary bathroom to get rid of it. So there's that.

That said, I don't consider it writer's block as much as periodic bouts of uncooperative characters. IF you think about it, there's always something to write about – whether it's a scene in your story or your concern over that busy intersection in town where there've been a few too many serious crashes lately.

I sometimes tell this story when I speak at writing conferences: Some years ago, Gary, one of my main characters, was being petulant and childish when I needed him to have a serious conversation with his boss. He was acting uncooperative because he was mad at me for having been within earshot when he divulged his deepest, darkest secret to his best friend some days earlier. The big idiot (and I say that with the greatest of love) didn't seem to realize I already knew that particular secret because I'm the one who wrote it into his character. So he refused to cooperate.

After about three days of this, I put on my "meanest writer in the history of life" hat and said to him, "Okay, pal. You don't want to play nice? Let's see what you do with THIS!" And I plunked him into the anteroom of his wife's oncologist's office to await news of whether her latest round of chemo worked.

As soon as I did that, Gary scrambled like crazy to get out of there and couldn't wait to have that conversation with his boss!(less)

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What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Rita M. Reali It's got to be connecting with readers! I love it when people say they were able to relate to a particular character, or to a situation that happened …moreIt's got to be connecting with readers! I love it when people say they were able to relate to a particular character, or to a situation that happened in one of my books, because it means my words – my writing – reached them in a specific way that was important to them. I even enjoy it when a reader says, "I hated this character!" because someone I created evoked real feeling in them. As a writer, that's the ultimate compliment! (And yes, that happened recently – a beta reader despised my protagonist.)(less)

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Rita M. Reali’s books

Average rating: 4.8 · 40 ratings · 23 reviews · 9 distinct works

	Glimpse of Emerald (Volume One in the Sheldon Family Saga) 4.80 avg rating — 10 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Diagnosis: Love 4.89 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 2015 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Second Chances 4.86 avg rating — 7 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Unintended Hero (Sheldon Family Saga, #3) 4.60 avg rating — 5 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Brothers By Betrayal (Sheldon Family Saga Book 6) 4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Tender Mercies (Sheldon Family Saga, #5) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2022 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Purringest Kitty Finds His Home it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Unintended Hero (Sheldon Family Saga, #3) 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Align With Your Divine Design: A Study In Proverbs to Build Scripture Inspired Prayers for Your Mind and Body by Shawn Elizabeth George, Rita M. Reali (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Loral Pepoon (Editor) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Rita Reali liked Cheryl A's review of Second Chances: "This is the first of Rita’s books I have read, and definitely will not be the last! Rita is a master of including details and dialogue that draw you into the story. This book was a roller coaster of emotions and I felt all of the characters anguish a" Read more of this review »
Apr 21, 2026 08:39AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Second Chances by Rita M. Reali. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Second Chances by Rita M. Reali <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Rita Reali liked Emelia Hendrix's review of Second Chances: "I picked this up not really knowing what to expect, and honestly it surprised me. Rita Reali doesn't sugarcoat anything, Gary's journey from discovering he has a daughter to fighting a brutal custody battle felt raw and real. I found myself genuinely" Read more of this review »
Apr 21, 2026 08:37AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Second Chances by Rita M. Reali. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Second Chances by Rita M. Reali <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Rita Reali rated a book really liked it Restaurant Wars (Emerald Bay Chefs, #1) by Daphne Dyer (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Interesting story; needs better editing The premise was clever and the characters mostly likeable. Delia was my favorite character, as you always knew where you stood with her. However, the book could have benefited from more careful editing, as exce ...more
Jan 04, 2026 07:19PM · like · see review
Rita Reali rated a book it was amazing The Park House by Kacie Foos (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This was a lovely debut effort from an engaging new novelist. Kacie Foos has written a captivating story, peopled with endearing characters in unusual situations. I found it difficult to put down, and finished it within about four days' time. Can't w ...more
Mar 08, 2025 03:42PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Park House by Kacie Foos. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Park House by Kacie Foos <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Rita Reali is starting The Park House The Park House by Kacie Foos (Goodreads Author) progress:	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 08, 2025 03:41PM · like · see status · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Park House by Kacie Foos. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Park House by Kacie Foos <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Rita Reali has read Mistletoe Kisses by Marnie Blue	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 23, 2024 09:36AM · like
Rita Reali liked Dee Lynk's review of Draw Every Little Thing: Learn to draw more than 100 everyday items, from food to fashion:
May 10, 2024 09:29AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Draw Every Little Thing by Flora Waycott. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Draw Every Little Thing by Flora Waycott <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Rita Reali and 1 other person liked Sue LeDoux's review of Brothers By Betrayal (Sheldon Family Saga Book 6): "Rita Reali pulls no punches when she leads her readers through the Sheldon family’s most recent crisis. Her latest novel, Brothers by Betrayal, kept me turning pages long after bedtime, with characters so real, I wanted to give them advice! A satisfy" Read more of this review »
May 02, 2024 02:59PM · see review