Maggie’s Musings

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Monday Mayhem – Onward!

I did it! I typed THE END this weekend!

It’s been a long time. Over 18 months, since I finished TO MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE. I’ve started and stopped three other novels since then, but nothing stuck. Time and again, I dove in again. Over and over I hit a wall.

I thought very seriously about quitting. After all, there’d be no shame in that. I’d written forty complete works. I’d signed with my top pick of literary agents. I’ve been contracted by a half-dozen publishers, earned starred reviews, and had a book named Amazon book of the month.

I knew I could write, I just couldn’t…write.

By the middle of 2019, I’d stopped even attempting. Then I stumbled across some YouTube videos produced by author coach, Becca Syme. Everything she said clicked with me.

In February, I met with my agent while at my agency retreat and we discussed possible projects. I could tell none of the ideas I pitched were working for her, but she knew I was ready to dive back in, so I started toying with one of the ideas. But all the while, I was wondering if I was done.

Then she asked if I wanted to write something completely different. An opportunity to submit a proposal to Harlequin Romance’s Intrigue line. For those of you not familiar with the line, Intrigue specializes in gritty romantic suspense – something I’d never attempted before.

I had a vague idea for a story, so I ran with it. I wrote two chapters and a detailed proposal for three books in a series that would revolve around small town law and justice.

Three weeks later, I had an offer and a contract.

And as of Saturday, I have a completed manuscript.

Screenshot of actual manuscript. 🙂

There’s still a lot of work to do, but for the first time in a long time, I’m excited. I hope you will be too!

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Monday Mayhem – Confessions of a carbohydrate addict

Caution: Food porn ahead

I baked another loaf of bread yesterday. I think I may have a problem.

It’s nothing fancy, and I certainly don’t make ’em pretty, but yum!

It’s an easy white bread recipe I found online. I think it’s even titled ‘Easy Homemade Bread‘. We’re totally hooked. As soon as it cooled the teensiest bit, we sliced into that loaf and slathered our victim with softened butter.

My only regret is that I’ll never be able to enjoy a slice of gold old Wonder bread again.

Nah. I take that back. Je ne regrette rien!

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Monday Mayhem – Back in the saddle again

Hello, friends. How are you? I am well and hope you and yours are too! If you’ve been wondering where I’ve been, you’ll be glad to know I’m back in the saddle again.

That’s my daddy on that pony!

Except my saddle is a desk chair, and I’m trying to rein in the first book in my upcoming series with Harlequin Intrigue. I’m closing in on the last 10k or so words and boy are things happening! This has been such a fun experience for me.

Contributing to the fun aspect of cranking out a whole new book in just a couple of months is the 30 for 30 challenge issued by Better-Faster Academy. Becca Syme and her team challenged us all to spend thirty minutes per day working with our manuscripts for 30 days in a row.

Well, you know Team Awesome was all over that.

Team Awesome

Jewels and I love a competition, and if there are prizes, well…watch out! We’re 20 days in and churning out the words like maniacs.

Hey, did you remember that To Make You Feel My Love is out there in the world looking for some love? Grab a copy today! If you already have your copy, don’t forget to leave a review on Amazon, GoodReads, Book Bub, or wherever you feel comfortable sharing your thoughts.

It’s a tough market these days, and my algorithms need all the help they can get!

Finally, we’ll be wrapping up the Hometown Hope collection giveaway. Last week, this collection of seventeen full-length novels (including my Home In Heartsfield) was the #1 free download in its category on Amazon. If you’re looking for an easy way to find some new-to-you authors, grab a copy now!

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Monday Mayhem – New release and exciting news!

TO MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE is live on all platforms! Don’t forget, you can order digital copies directly from me by clicking the Buy Direct button on the menu above. Use this coupon code to get 25% off your direct purchase: 25OFFMAGGIE

Brittany Owens is a young woman on the brink. 
As Brit’s career soars past up-and-coming and hurtles toward the stratosphere, she feels like she doesn’t have any control over its trajectory. Her grandfather is country music royalty. Her momager is determined to get Brit to the top at all costs. And then, there is the man she fell for when she was far too young to know any better.
Cash Dorsett once had stardom within his grasp.
But the excesses that come with a life in the spotlight had him landing flat on his face when he reached for the success he craved. Clean and sober now, he doesn’t let himself think about the blue-eyed girl he left in the wreckage of his career. Much.
A chance encounter leads to an intense collaboration.
But can Brit and Cash find a way to make beautiful music together without allowing her rising star to burn their love to the ground?

And I have big news!

I have a new book deal! Here are the deets:

Women’s/Romance
Maggie Wells’s Pine Woods trilogy, about local law enforcement, prosecutors, lawyers, and DEA agents who combat drug trade in small-town Southern USA, to Denise Zaza at Harlequin Intrigue, in a three-book deal, for publication in September 2021, by Sara Megibow at kt literary.

I‘m super-excited to dive into writing romantic suspense. I hope you all will enjoy the ride too!

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You guys!!!!!

So this little bit of news dropped in Publishers Marketplace today:

Women’s/Romance
Maggie Wells’s Pine Woods trilogy, about local law enforcement, prosecutors, lawyers, and DEA agents who combat drug trade in small-town Southern USA, to Denise Zaza at Harlequin Intrigue, in a three-book deal, for publication in September 2021, by Sara Megibow at kt literary.

That’s right, I’m diving into the world of romantic suspense! I’m thrilled and terrified, and so very grateful to have you all along for this ride. Buckle up!

Couple on roller coaster

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Monday Mayhem – In case you’ve forgotten…

I have a new release this week! TO MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE will be live on all platforms on Thursday, May 14, 2020. Be sure to mark your calendar or pre-order now! Don’t forget, you can order digital copies directly from me by clicking the Buy Direct button on the menu above. Use this coupon code to get 25% off your direct purchase: 25OFFMAGGIE

Brittany Owens is a young woman on the brink. 
As Brit’s career soars past up-and-coming and hurtles toward the stratosphere, she feels like she doesn’t have any control over its trajectory. Her grandfather is country music royalty. Her momager is determined to get Brit to the top at all costs. And then, there is the man she fell for when she was far too young to know any better.

Cash Dorsett once had stardom within his grasp.
But the excesses that come with a life in the spotlight had him landing flat on his face when he reached for the success he craved. Clean and sober now, he doesn’t let himself think about the blue-eyed girl he left in the wreckage of his career. Much.

A chance encounter leads to an intense collaboration.
But can Brit and Cash find a way to make beautiful music together without allowing her rising star to burn their love to the ground?

****PLUS****

HOMETOWN HOPE is still available!

If you have not downloaded your FREE copy of this collection of small-town romances (including HOME IN HEARTSFIELD), what are you waiting for?

Happy Monday, my friends. Stay safe. Be well.

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Monday Mayhem – On grief

On Friday, our friend Michelle lost her battle with cancer.

This isn’t the first time I’ve dealt with grief. I’ve lost grandparents, both my father and mother, all but one aunt and uncle, a few co-workers and acquaintances, and grieved each and every one of them.

But this one is hitting me hard.

There are a lot of reasons why I may not be dealing well. It happened too soon. The disease progressed too fast. She was too young, too bright, too vibrant, too determined. All of those toos and too many others.

Her family asked if I would write something about her life, not knowing that she was the reason I became a romance writer. She loved the fan-fiction I wrote and was always after me to write something original. She gave me her story, and I gave her a prologue for her birthday in 2009. She read it, liked it, and then pushed me to write the rest of the story which would become the first novel I wrote, Contentment.

Here is the last thing I wrote for Michelle:

Michelle Kelly lived a life filled with passion and unmatched generosity of spirit. Family, friends, acquaintances – no one was immune to her bright smile or the mischievous twinkle in her eye. She had a laugh that drew people to her and used it well and often. Michelle will forever be known as a determined shopper, willing and able volunteer, world-class adventurer, and master of all things organizational. Her wit was stealthy and her humour good-natured. She frequently amused her friends by misappropriating words with intent to tickle. 

But mostly she loved. Michelle loved her family and friends with unreserved gusto. Shakespeare had the measure of Michelle Kelly when he wrote, “And though she be but little, she is fierce.” Our Michelle was the fiercest of women – bright, beautiful, and brave. 

How do you say goodbye to someone who altered your life in such a profound way? Someone who shared your highs, lows, passing enthusiasms, and enduring loves?

The truth is, I have no idea.

So I’ll just sit with it a while. Feel all these feelings, and cry all these tears. The only way forward is through, right? I do know one thing for certain. Kelly Clarkson was right, my life will suck without her.

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Monday Mayhem – Fail

I’ve been trying to bake bread. The operative word in that sentence is trying. I made a couple of passable loaves of white bread last week, then used some sourdough discard to make cinnamon bread, and then my new dutch oven arrived and the big day came.

Hours. I spent hours mixing and letting that damn sourdough rise. I preheated my cast iron dutch oven, and then this happened.

Yeah so…I’m back to feeding my starter and trying to figure out where I went wrong. Maybe I’ll be brave enough to try it again next weekend.

How about you? Are you trying new things these days?

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Monday Mayhem – Strange Days Indeed

How are you? Are you and yours safe and healthy? These are strange days indeed, my friends. In my day job, I work with railroads, so we are considered essential employees. It’s most peculiar, being designated as essential when I’m not doing anything to aid on the frontlines of this pandemic, but there you are.

These are strange days indeed.

I’ve been doing my best not to let myself fall face-first into the news. It’s a challenge for me because my #1 strength according to my Gallup Strengthsfinder is Input. I want ALL the information. So, like many of you, I am doing my damndest to distract myself.

Saturday, I received a proof copy of the paperback edition of TO MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE.

Sunday morning, I wrote the first 2000 words of Scary New Story. As I type this Sunday afternoon, I have bread dough rising in a bowl, a sleeping labrador on the loveseat, and The Cure (Pictures of You) on the stereo.

As you read this, I will be back at the day job, being essential. Don’t worry, my co-workers are keeping as much distance between us as possible. Even Princess has become adept at social distancing. Now, she supervises me from afar.

So, how are you doing? What are you doing to keep yourself distracted from the strangeness? CONTENTMENT is free for Kindle today if you need something to read.

Please know I am holding all those who are on the frontlines of this battle, suffering the effects of the virus or struggling with loneliness and isolation in my heart. Be well. Stay safe.

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Cover reveal

I did a cover reveal for my upcoming release. Did you see it? If not, it’s because you are not in my reader group. Why aren’t you in my reader group? I only send newsletters once or twice a month, and there’s usually a giveaway.

I’m ponying up a gift card in the one that just went out. Ten whole American dollars to spend at Amazon.

Definitely worth one more addition to your inbox, don’t you think? If you haven’t signed up, you can do so by entering your email address into the sidebar and I’ll catch you next time.

If you did receive my email and have not opened/responded, why not? Don’t you like free money? You can buy books with that, ya know… 😉

Anyhoo…

I hope you are well. I pray your families are healthy and you are finding ways to cope with the turbulence in our world.

Last weekend, I spent a good deal of time trying to look forward. Sunny days are coming. Flowers will bloom. We’ll feel hopeful again. I’m so convinced that we will, that I have a new book that will make it’s way into the world this spring, so how about that cover reveal?

Wanna see the art for TO MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE?  

TMYFML ebook cover

This time I decided to do something a little different and use two different images from the same session for the ebook and print editions.

TMYFML print wrap

So there you have it. I hope you like them.

Brittany Owens is a young woman on the brink. As Brit’s career soars past up-and-coming and hurtles toward the stratosphere, she feels like she doesn’t have any control over its trajectory. Her grandfather is country music royalty. Her momager is determined to get Brit to the top at all costs. And then, there is the man she fell for when she was far too young to know any better.

Cash Dorsett once had stardom within his grasp. But the excesses that come with a life in the spotlight had him landing flat on his face when he reached for the success he craved. Clean and sober now, he doesn’t let himself think about the blue-eyed girl he left in the wreckage of his career. Much.

A chance encounter leads to an intense collaboration. But can Brit and Cash find a way to make beautiful music together without allowing her rising star to burn their love to the ground?

To Make You Feel My Love will be live on May 14, 2020!

In the meantime, be well, be safe, and be kind to one another.

xoxo Mags