Tag: Writing

Author's World, Bookshelf, Excerpts from my Novels, Favorite Reads, Gardening

More Beyond Diamonds

Veronica Mahara

Hello Everyone,

A watercolor I did of sweet peas.

How are you all doing? Depending on your part of the world you are enjoying summer, sun and warmth or the worse cold you’ve know so far. We in the Pacific Northwest are kind of in between. Spring is hinting its arrival. I have buds on my trees and daffodil spears coming up in pots around my garden. Still cold and cloudy, but hopeful with the few sun breaks we’ve been getting. I long to work in my gardens again!

My next novel, entitled Beyond Diamonds has been great fun to write and is getting me through the winter doldrums. I’m halfway done and my protagonist, Jane is finding life’s challenges not only lie in the struggles on the sheep farm, far from her life in Cincinnati’s society, but in her marriage to Martin whose devotion to their land takes precedence over Jane. As a result, feelings between his cousin, Harry and Jane are allowed to heat up.

Her wealthy inheritance buoys her from the daily routine of country life with escapes to San Francisco society and a home unlike any in the area. But what will happen if she losses her fortune? And how will she manage without the household help and her trips into the city across the bay?

Stay tuned. Beyond Diamonds is set to publish in early 2023. In the meantime you can read my trilogy beginning with Traveled Hearts. Spoiler alert – Jane makes an appearance in the second book, Sacred Terrain.

Have a wonderful day!

Peace and Love,

Veronica

Artist's World, Author's World, Bake and Cook, Bookshelf, Card Crafting, Seasonal Delights, Uncategorized, Watercolor Life

Season’s Greetings

Veronica Mahara

Hello Everyone,

It’s been awhile since I posted. Life is busy for us all now that we are able to get back to some resemblance of normal. I’m so looking forward to this holiday season. Thanksgiving is coming up in our country and it will feel good to get together with family and friends. I’ll be preparing to bring to my daughter’s home the usual — stuffing and pies. The stuffing recipe is my Dad’s and is his version of an English recipe. It includes potatoes with the bread cubes, onions and celery and a good amount of poultry seasoning. Everyone loves it.

I’m in the middle of writing my fourth book. It takes a character from Sacred Terrain, the second in my Traveled Hearts series. Jane Cabot is her name and if you’ve read the book you know she has her eyes on Caleb. Caleb is true to Jessica even though she hasn’t been found yet. Everyone is losing hope except Caleb, but Jane is a tempting diversion.

As a character I found her so interesting but had to cut most of her life out as it didn’t pertain to the story at hand. I’m having a great time writing this and can’t wait to come to the part where she meets Caleb and we get to experience her side of that episode. For the most part it will be about her life as a wealthy woman losing what she thought was valuable to find something more real and lasting. Look for it in 2022/23.

Loads of card making. Love this hobby and all that goes with it. Still watercoloring and teaching my grandchildren art once a week. My love for reading takes its place at night cozied up to my husband who reads also. I just finished the second book in a series by Susie Murphey. A Matter of Class and A Class Entwined. If you’re looking for some good historical fiction with heart this series fits the bill. A page turner.

Until next time– Have a wonderful day (or night depending on where you are)

Peace and Love,

Veronica

Author's World

Writer’s World

Veronica Mahara

Good Monday Morning!

snow capped mountains under the cloudy skies
Photo by Stephan Seeber on Pexels.com

Rise and shine! It’s a new year!   Ok … it’s still winter … but spring is just around the corner!! Or a couple of corners, a right turn and down an icy path … we’ll get there!!

This year I’ve enter The Traveled Heart, https://amzn.to/2NLMjkY,  in three contests. I’m excited because I want to get my book out there to readers. I have no idea about my chances of winning, but I have to try!

I don’t make New Year Resolutions but there is always room for improvement – body, mind and spirit! It feels good to start another year with that in mind.

Hope 2019 brings gladness and success to you and yours!

Love and Peace,

Veronica

 

 

Author's World, Seasonal Delights

Christmas Eve

Veronica Mahara

Happy Monday!!

cold snow holiday winter
Photo by Public Domain Pictures on Pexels.com

I’ve written this in advance because – it’s Christmas Eve!! For all of you who celebrate this holiday you know the excitement and anticipation it can bring and the all the prep. Anyone reading this who has no one on Christmas — You have me!!! Happy Christmas! Make yourself something good to eat, watch a great movie or read a good book and reach out to a neighbor or someone else you know who might be alone at this time. I will be thinking of you 🙂 whoever you are.

For Christmas this year I wanted my book The Traveled Heart to get re-published in time to send it off to three different contests I had it entered in. (Follow future posts to see how I do in the contests) I had a few glitches with the first release and had to pull it. (Update- It is once again out in the world!! and better than before!!) Phew!! Writing is a fluid occupation!

Later today my daughters, their husbands and my five grandkids will be here to celebrate our togetherness. The bows and wrapping paper will fly, a few cups of juice will spill, my daughter may bring her violin and play Christmas tunes for us, there will be lots of laughs and the kids will run around my house as if they are outside and eventually every one will say they’ve eaten too much. It’s so much fun!

selective focus photography of angel ornament
Photo by Susanne Jutzeler on Pexels.com

Mostly, we take time out of our busy lives to be together and to me that is the best present of all.

Peace, Love and Merry Christmas,

Veronica

 

 

 

 

Author's World, Bookshelf, Favorite Reads

My Book shelf

Veronica Mahara

Good Monday Morning to you!

Is it time for turkey yet? I’m mostly vegetarian and have been all of my adult life, but I cannot resist a good ol’ fashion Thanksgiving dinner!! Well, this post isn’t about that … ok V focus!!

I will be sharing some of my good reads with you. I like history… a lot… so I love reading about the lives of those lived in other centuries.  And it’s always so great to read the author’s notes and find out that the person or persons in the novel were based on actual people.

That was the case in my latest read: Confessions of a Courtesan by Deborah Hale, writing as Elizabeth Charles. Talk about a page turner. It could be found under Historical Fiction, but also I would add Historical Romance too.

It’s about a young woman in 18th century who rises up from living on the filthy streets of London to become one of the most sought after courtesans in England. Her struggles make you think of how awful is was for women back in the day before we stood up for our rights. And I questioned what I would do to survive given the same circumstances.

It’s steamy, sexy, gritty and so compelling. I rooted for Lizzy and at times wanted to sit her down and give her some sane advice! That’s good character development!

The plots are riveting and I couldn’t put it down. If you like this type of novel- check this one out.

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Have a good day and a great week!

Peace and Love,

Veronica