Anything and Everything.

Every year in my family, we have a tradition we stick to (and have for over 30 years). It's to draw a name at Thanksgiving and you make a gift for that name. On Christmas Eve (or Christmas Day as it's moved to now), we present our handmade gifts. It started out with four family members and grew to include spouses, and a couple years back the kids were old enough to join in, so now there's ten of us. It's probably the most exciting part for our family - to see what the others have crafted and created with their own hands.  Over the years, there have been so many unique handmade gifts -- housecoats, chess boards with golf players for pieces, under the bed storage units, wedding scrapbooks, string art designs and so much more.  This year, I drew my youngest's name and struggled with what to make him that A) he wouldn't see me creating. It is supposed to remain a secret until the big reveal and B) something that was sturdy and can withstand a tough play...

Keeping It Casual by Emma Tharp Now available for free!  Amazon UK: http:// amzn.to/2A40Khu   Amazon AU: http:// amzn.to/2A4LUHX   Amazon US: http:// amzn.to/2AufaIy   It started with a proposition: one night. But Reid Livingston’s steel eyes, hot as hell body, and alpha  male attitude tempt Mia to accept his second proposition.  A no-strings attached relationship while he’s in town. Mia thinks she can do it. She’s in no position to start a new  relationship anyway. But when she starts seeing his sweet,  thoughtful side, the one that takes care of her and starts  healing her, she knows she’s falling for him. Who’s  going to be there to pick her up when he leaves town - and her - behind? Mia thought she was strong, thought she could keep it casual.  Turns out she was wrong. Follow Emma Tharp on:  Amazon Facebook Goodreads Twitter Hot right? Be sure ...

It started with a standalone ( Duly Noted) , a story about a girl-Aurora, her prescription drug addiction, and her fear of cars that gave her vehicular PTSD. I thought was over when I got to the final page.  Turns out I was wrong.  Something inside my brain was tickling that I hadn't told the whole story. In a whirlwind, That Summer fell out of me. It explained so much more, and delved even deeper into Aurora's PTSD but the end result was that it also made her question so much more. Hmm... what to do?  It took a while longer, but finally the rest of the story came to light. And it made so much more sense. It explored her addictions, and her need for something stronger. Her new drug became something else she hadn't expected, but it turned her life around and gave her hope. The final pages of If You Say Yes  showcase her true happiness, something she never expected to find.  It took three stories spanning seven months to show her complete growth, from s...

Seems to be a trend, where curious readers want to know what you were listening to when you wrote your book, maybe to get a general feel for the mood and tone. For the last book in the Aurora MacIntyre Trilogy - If You Say Yes - there were plenty of romantic moments, and accordingly, a lot of music played into that. Here's a brief list of some songs that captured certain scenes. James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go Shawn Mendes - Mercy Taylor Swift - Love Song Christina Perri - Human Rachel Platten - Fight Song Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud  Taylor Swift - Stay Stay Stay Evanescene - My Immortal   Shawn Mendes - Treat You Better Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars Pink - Just Give Me  A Reason   Christina Perri - Arms Taylor Swift - All Too Well  Any favourites in the list? 

It's November 1st, which for many authors (myself included) is the start to NaNoWriMo --National November Writing Month. The goal is to get 50,000 words down in one month. It's fun, exhausting but completely amazing. But that's for next month's blog post. ;) October was a whirlwind month, mostly as a month spent behind the scenes. Promo spots are booked for the upcoming release  If You Say Yes ,  coming out Nov 17th. A few wonderful authors ( Magali A. Frechette , Emma Tharp , Em Shotwell   <- give them some love!)  are going to help me out too. How great is this community of writers? It took a bit of back and forth, but I got a cover designed nineteen days before release. So much for a slow cover release, eh? Oh well, lesson learned for the next one. But she did a great job, wouldn't you agree? And speaking of next one, a short story turned novella turned short novel fell out of me in October. It's sitting around 50K (before any editing), and feat...

Today -- October 5, 2017 -- marks a halfway point in my life - a line divided into the Before Hubs , and After Hubs . It's a tipping point for one day only. As of today, I have been with my husband for half my life. HALF MY LIFE!! Who knew when I asked that cowboy, after a night of dancing at Esmeralda's to come to my birthday party at my parents, that it would turn into something more? If he never came to the bar that night, would the future have turned out the way it did? Would we ever have gotten together? It's fun to think about, although I'm glad it worked out the way it did. Half my life ago, I was someone completely different. I was single, and working at the Science Centre, where my hourly earnings were $8 ish per hour (and I thought that was HUGE money). I lived on my own in a basement suite where rent was $300 a month. What?? I know right?? A few things have changed since that point. I've had many jobs in many different fields (Cust...

It's funny how six years ago on this day -- Friday September 30 -- I can recall without fail exactly what happened. I'll save you the details, and give you the Cole's notes version. I dropped my youngest off at preschool, and went to visit my BFF who was ill in the hospital. She and I had been friends for the better part of twenty-five years . I can still hear the rasp in her voice when she struggled to say hi, and can still remember her less than stellar colouring - she looked and sounded very sick. We visited for a bit and when I left, I told her how much I loved her and that I'll see her tomorrow. As I left and stood at the entrance to the Grey Nuns Hospital, a horrible feeling settled over me that I could not shake. I prayed for my friend. I prayed for her family. I prayed for healing, although it felt like a tall request. I picked up my youngest, and prayed some more. That feeling--that one like something isn't right in the universe--refused to leave. It ...

Mark Your Calendar --- After some hesitation (all on my part), I have a release date set for If You Say Yes - the third and final novel of the Aurora MacIntyre trilogy, following Duly Noted and That Summer. I'm so excited to share this with you.  With the help of her best friend Lucas, and a summer of battling her anxieties, Aurora finally thought she'd found Happily Ever After.  She lost the love of her life in Nate once before due to her PTSD and painkiller addictions, and wasn't going to lose him again. But was he ever really hers? She thought being able to ride in a car after the accident that sacrificed her momma and sister would be enough for him.  She thought keeping her prescription drug use at the recommended dose would be enough for her.She thought juggling her romance with Nate and her friendship with his brother Lucas would be enough for everyone. But in Aurora's world, Happily Ever After is just the beginning.  If You Say Yes con...

I'm struggling with the back cover copy of If You Say Yes  - the third and final story in the Aurora MacIntyre trilogy. I have two blurbs, but can't decide which is more appealing. Which one of these would get you to buy the book? Which is the most intriguing? #1 This:  Aurora never believed in happily ever afters until she reunited with Nate. Now she has her man back, a new best friend and her drug addiction is in recovery. Hell, even the PTSD has taken a backseat. Finally, everything is roses and sunshine. Until… Aurora has a little accident with big consequences. That shot of morphine she gets in the ER? It fans the embers of addiction and she easily gives into her cravings. But it doesn’t matter, because she’s totally in control and can stop whenever she wants to. It’s just not going to be anytime soon. Especially if Nate says yes and signs the contract for his dream opportunity. One that would fulfill a lifetime of wishes but would change their future dra...

For readers of Ask Me Again... Here is a little bonus for you.  The following is a removed chapter, as it slowed the pace of the novel and was deemed unnecessary by the powers that be. It flashed back in time to Sophie’s birth. It gives a deeper insight into the relationship of Charlotte and Jack, and also shows the motherly bond between Madre (aka Claire Harrison) and Charlotte. I hope you enjoy. BTW – it’s raw and unedited so there will be a few mistakes. Warning - it deals with traumatic birth. Read at your own discretion.  Copyright 2015 -- H.M. Shander No portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without express written permission from the author.   ASK ME AGAIN – BONUS CHAPTER Last June Charlotte staggered down the hall, attempting to be as quiet as possible, to the spare bedroom where her guest slept. K...