The “Real Deal” Gallery

There’s a company that advertises on television, known as “The Real Real.”

This blogpost has nothing to do with that company, but I do like the name. It reminds me of another, similar phrase, “the real deal.” And, in turn, both of those make me think of a question I used to hear when I worked the front desk at our motel, or even now, at book signings where I meet visitors from all over.

“What’s it REALLY like to live here?”

Or this statement, followed by a question. “This place is paradise. Isn’t it?”

Hatteras, like any place, has its glorious moments, but also has those that fall short in the weather department. But there is no doubt, on a summer day with plenty of sunshine, warm breezes, and a calm ocean, it’s hard to beat. That Hatteras is what I’ve always enjoyed capturing with my photography.

Make no mistake, I’m an amateur. But my father was an artist and an exceptional photographer. I’d like to think I learned a few tips from him as I watched him curate photos and slides over the years. I often think he’d be absolutely amazed at the images you can now take with an iPhone. I’m sure he’d find AI both a blessing and a curse, as I do.

I’ve lived on the island now for eleven years. In that time, I have taken literally thousands of photographs. Running the social media for the motel, I tried to post every single day. Some days that was really easy to do. A walk along the beach would present any number of great shots. On other days, when the ocean decided to make its way through our parking lot, across Highway 12, and onto the sound-side, it was more challenging. But I believed then, and I still do believe, that visitors and folks who don’t know the Outer Banks – and especially our island – need to see it in all of its moods and phases. You can’t really gain an appreciation for those gorgeous picture post-card summer days without knowing that there are nor’easters and tropical storms and hurricanes that bring storm tide and misery.

Which brings me back to the “real deal.” I’m going to add a gallery section to this website. To start with I will feature some of my favorite shots of the island over the years. But if, and when, we have less-than-optimal conditions, I’ll share those as well.

For readers who have visited here or for those who actually live here, I am sure these shots will resonate with you. And for readers who have never been, perhaps it will help you envision what Susan, JoBell, Dare, Jenni, Caleb, and all the other characters experience throughout my novels. It is my hope that in the gallery you will be able to experience Hatteras Island as it is year ‘round. In other words, you’ll see “The Real Deal.”

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Remembering Gee Gee

This was not how I envisioned my second blog.

I thought I’d be continuing my conversation with you, my readers, about amusing topics and light-hearted takes on writing and self-publishing. Instead, I am writing a heartfelt tribute to Gee Gee Rossell, the founder and owner of Buxton Village Books. Gee Gee passed away suddenly at the end of January. It is a loss that is not only felt by me personally, but also is being grieved by all of Hatteras Island and beyond.

Gee Gee was an independent person, and an independent bookseller. I somehow feel the two go hand in hand. Her spirit and passion for her books, and the people she connected with those books, was seemingly never-ending. I first met her while vacationing here. Then when I would visit with my parents – who had moved to Hatteras Island in their retirement – Buxton Village Books was always on my mom’s to-do list of things she and I would share together. It was the same when my sister-in-law and nieces visited. Going to Buxton Village Books and having a chat with Gee Gee was just part of what we did, what we looked forward to, and what we’d talk about after our visits, while reading our new books.

Gee Gee mentored my mom in her journal writing, so it’s hardly surprising that after I moved to the island permanently and told Gee Gee I had an idea for a book, she took a keen interest. She made suggestions and provided plenty of encouragement. When “Storm Season” hit her shelves, she was an enthusiastic supporter, and we shared in the book’s local and regional success. 

She connected me with other booksellers on the Outer Banks. She asked me to participated in Zoom calls with other indie booksellers nationally about how I got the word out about my books, since being self-published that is sometimes a challenge. And she was sure to include my books in all of her own advertising. She placed my titles on her outdoor chalkboard, a gesture that meant more to me than you can imagine. She called me throughout the summers to sign more books, and we would celebrate each new order with laughter and friendship. When “Tangled Lines” came out and jellyfish played a role in the story, she bought me a jellyfish pin – something I now cherish. 

My books became some of her bookstore’s bestsellers. She was a constant that bolstered me when I had self-doubt. And she never shied away from constructive criticism which I thoroughly appreciated. 

There are others on the island who knew her on a personal level far better than I did, or knew her for much longer a period of time. But the impact she had on me was deep and rich and meaningful. I am grateful to have known her and to have worked with her. I hope that her spirit will continue to guide me with whatever writing is in my future.

Godspeed Gee Gee. Thank you for everything!

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Readers and Website and Blogs – Oh My!

It’s hard to wrap my head around how I got from an idea for a story back in the Fall of 2022, to a website that celebrates and promotes my novels! Yep – my novels. Four of them! But here we are, and I couldn’t be more excited about sharing my thoughts about writing, and living, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina with all of you in the weeks and months ahead.

Maybe the best place to start is with the answer to a question I am often asked. “How did you start to write?”

There’s a short, easy answer, “I have always been a writer,” and then there’s one that’s a bit more nuanced. 

I have written things my entire life. As a little girl just learning to read and write, I made up stories of my own and shared them with my family and teachers. I am of the belief that reading and writing go hand in hand. The more I read, the more I wanted to continue to write – stories, poetry, items for the school newspaper, the high school yearbook, test essays, or my diary – it didn’t matter. When I had a school assignment, or later, a college paper, to write, I was in my element.

When I was raising my family, my chances for writing for pleasure were more limited. But as a television journalist, I wrote for a living. When that career came to a close, I found myself writing technical papers, reports, and even speeches in my work for the YMCA of the USA International Division. When I moved to the Outer Banks in 2015, I began writing advertising copy and social media posts for the Cape Hatteras Motel. But in all that time, I never thought of writing a novel, and certainly not a romance novel.

In October 2022, I was preparing myself mentally for knee replacement surgery in early November. I was having trouble sleeping through the night.  It occurred to me that if I made up a story, it might keep my mind occupied, and perhaps I’d fall asleep. Soon the ideas which eventually became “Storm Season” were not only in my mind at 3 am, but also during the day. As my husband Dave and I would walk along the beach, or, ultimately, as I was recovering from the surgery I’d tell him my ideas. As I shared the story with Dave each morning when I had “added” a new chapter in my mind, he became engrossed in the plot. It was his encouragement, his saying over and over, “You need to write this down,” that pushed me to the computer. “Storm Season” was born.

I was, truly, just going to run off a few copies at Staples and share it with those closest to me. But through a wonderful coincidence, my massage therapist Robin Kukiel connected me with author and knowledgeable self-publishing expert Kim Perry. Kim formatted my work, found me an editor, and designed all my covers. She held my hand every step of the way. I can honestly say that, without her, you would never have read any of my books.

But writing that first one, and having it so well-received, I developed the confidence to write the other two books in the trilogy – “Hooked on You,” and “Tangled Lines.”  And now I am about to release a new romance, “Building a Little Love,” with new characters and a new underlying theme. 

I want to explore all my underlying themes, and much more, in future blogs. 

Right now, I am just marveling at the fact that my original bedtime story has taken me this far. It’s been a whirlwind of meeting bookstore owners, conducting book signings, speaking at book clubs, being interviewed by radio, TV and print journalists, and sharing with wonderful readers like you. 

Another question I am often asked is, “Have your expectations been met?”

Given that I absolutely had none to start with, the answer is surely a resounding “Yes!” 

I can’t wait to see what happens next!

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