Absence makes the heart grow founder. That’s what I’ve heard. I hope that’s true because I’m eager to reconnect with all of you. It has been quite a while but I did promise not to fill your inbox with too many posts.

So, who are we? Well, me of course, and you’ll have to keep reading to find out who else.

I had some exciting writing news this year when Writers Digest informed me my essay Threads of Life, was awarded Honorable Mention in the Memoirs/Personal Essay category of the 93rd Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition. There were 3,571 submissions in this year’s competition, spanning 44 countries! I was pretty pumped.

A few days later, I learned my last novel, Burning Embers Book One, Spark to Flame, won second place in best fiction in the Missouri Writers Guild Annual Contest. If you haven’t had a chance to read it, the eBook is free for those with Kindle Unlimited. It is also available in paperback. Here’s a link https://www.amazon.com/Spark-Flame-Burning-Embers-Book-ebook/dp/B0CJDBBGJS

Although I’ve spent most of the year writing, I did manage to squeeze in a two-week trip to Europe. What an amazing and educational journey! My daughter and sister-in-law joined me and we flew to Rome where we spent a few days touring the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s square. Of course, we also walked inside the Colosseum! Wow!

From Rome, we boarded a Carnival cruise ship which took us to Kusadasi Turkey, four ports in Greece (Mykonos, Santorini, Athens, and Katakolon) and then onto Messina Sicily, Pompei Naples, and back to Rome. Here’s another pic from Santorini.

Five hundred and eighty-eight steps to get to the top. Fortunately, they have a cable car too.

I could fill this newsletter with dozens more photos from my trip, but instead, I want to stay focused on my big news. The “We’re back” part of my title.

Fans of The Dahlonega Sisters voiced disappointment when the series ended. Well, guess what? Mutzi, Marge, and Rose Ellen are returning in a new series titled Skipping Stone Lodge, New Beginnings.

You are the first to hear about it and if you read further, you’ll get a glimpse of the beautiful cover. Here’s a little hint what the story is about.

Chuck Hansen is ready to pay it forward. Only three years earlier, fresh out of prison and stuck in a downward spiral, his long-lost sisters Rose Ellen, Marge, and Mutzi appeared, giving him hope and a new life. Chuck is determined to repay their kindness and prove to the town of Dahlonega who he really is. His sisters rally to support him when he proposes creating a peaceful sanctuary called Skipping Stone Lodge.

But one impulsive decision to help a troubled young man puts Chuck right back where he started—behind bars. In a flash, everything he’s worked for is on the line. Can he count on his newly found sisters to help him rewrite his future, or is this one mistake too many?

Here is the cover. Wouldn’t you love to spend a little time there? I’d never want to leave!

My original release date of November 1, 2024, may be delayed until December 1, 2024, but I’ll keep you informed.

If you’ve read this far, please take another minute to leave a reply. Even a thumbs-up keeps me motivated and might win you a copy of Spark to Flame!

Thanks for following me and giving me a reason to continue writing. I’d love to hear what has kept you busy all summer. Drop me a line on the blog or on Facebook! I always take time to respond.

Diane