Do you have to read the books in order?

No. Each book is meant to stand on its own: it has its own beginning, middle, and end. But the books often refer to events or characters that have been in earlier works so it can be beneficial to read them in order. 

Currently there are three completed books in the following order: 

What are your books about?

My books are mysteries, but not murder mysteries or even whodunits. Instead, they're more adventure-mysteries, featuring amateur/accidental sleuths, focused on challenges of adulthood, and exploring how friendship and community can help us through various unexpected life situations. 

Will your books always be about the same character? 

My "Seeking Connections" series focuses on a fairly large and diverse set of characters and the community they build together. Each book is written from the perspective of a different character. Book One features Flossie; Book Two features Caroline; Book Three features Ramona; and Book Four (forthcoming) features Lorraine. Currently, my plan is to feature Lu in Book Five. 

What are some influences for your books?

Looking back, I first found a joy of reading in two series: Nancy Drew and the Baby-Sitters Club. I read and reread those books so many times! Now, thinking about them as an adult, I realize that it was the feeling those books gave me that got me hooked. My imagination was stirred by the adventures; I wanted to be those characters, living those different lives, having all those talents and smarts. 

For me, that's the beauty of pleasure reading and it's my goal in writing. I want to craft a story with characters readers care about. I want readers to feel something, be it sadness, excitement, suspense, whatever. 

I started writing these books because while I made friends easily as a younger person, it's gotten harder and I'm a little nostalgic for those days. My books center genuine friendships, which help the characters through some difficult times. I hope readers will enjoy escaping into this little world of community, friendship, a touch of romance, and some unexpected mystery with accidental detectives. 

Are your books "clean"?

No, they are not clean. While there is not explicit sex or violence in the books, they center many heavy adult themes and social issues. Additionally, you'll find occasional swear words. I don't want anyone to read my books and feel upset, so if you want clean books, I'd recommend looking elsewhere.