Where I found Red Gate Farm.
I'd been in a bit of writer quicksand. Several books that are works in progress got stuck in the messy middle. I needed a palate cleanser. What to do?
Agent Carter stories are always fun to write, and I often drive past an old, abandoned monastery outside of a town near me. When I put my fingers to the keyboard to do research, something didn't sit right with me. After mulling over the problem, I realized what was bothering me. I was taking something that had been dedicated to God and turning it into a paranormal ghost story. Now I love paranormal. I love a ghost story. But this building needed more from me.
I sank into research. Saint Paul’s Abbey was originally a place called Red Gate Farm. In the 1800s and was owned by a man who also ran two local newspapers. My imagination took off. 
There's been a lot of tongue wagging about several topics I touch on in the story. Eminent domain is one of them. Is your property really your property? News. When does it cross over from relaying information to being a commentary? Political influence and how it shapes our lives and community, and the people it hurts.
I'm not promoting any side. Truly. Both sides are guilty of influence peddling in my opinion. 
What I want to express is what happens to regular people when these things converge upon them. My writing is relational, not out to prove a side. About how we can make a difference in the lives of others. How faith can comfort and guide us.
There are a lot of experiences from my past that I've folded into the story. Life on the farm. Having horses. Being involved in animal rescue with dogs and cats. I also added one of my favorite animals, goats. It also brought to mind things that I'd nearly forgotten from my years living on a farm. If you've been following me, you know that I utilized my local farmers' market. I've canned and frozen a lot of fresh produce.
As of this writing, the property surrounding it is being excavated. Many of the Christmas trees that have been grown and nurtured for the past one hundred years are gone, replaced by dirt and equipment.
The stone and brick structure built in 1924 still stands, its beauty pushing through the broken windows and overgrowth. Traditional, early 20th-century architecture shows arched windows, multiple wings, and a chapel steeple, hailing back to a time when buildings were also art.
I’ve attached a picture of St. Paul’s and my book cover that my imagination decided it would have looked like when it truly was a farm. 
Grab a copy today
​https://books2read.com/u/ml08j9

I recently treated my hubby to a train ride through the mountains near Jim Thorpe, PA. The actual town is quaint with unique shops and restaurants. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled across this candy store. The resemblance to my new cover for Rainbow Sprinkles had me running inside  Rainbows End and introducing myself. Check out all the shops at www.poconomountains.com/jim-thorpe/shopping/

WOMEN IN THE REVOLUTION
History is written by the victors…most of the time by men.
So it is hardly surprising that women are given little mention in the telling of the founding of our nation. If students are taught about any women famous for this time, they may have learned about Betsy Ross, who’s given credit for sewing the first flag for the new country. Or if they had a particularly insightful history teacher, they may have learned how Abigail Adams, devoted wife of John Adams, became the advisor and confidant of this revolutionary and second president. But that’s about it.
The truth is, we know very little about the role women played in the American Revolution, in part because men were recording the events. Of course, women were holding down the homestead, working the farm and raising the children, while their husbands were gone for months or even years fighting battles. But historians are confident women did more, much more. And scholars have been able to uncover details about a few. 
One of the most remarkable tales is of Deborah Sampson. Deborah enlisted late in the fight (1782) and did so as a man, Robert Shurtliff. She served in the Massachusetts 4th Regiment for about seventeen months. She cut her hair, bound her chest, and adopted male mannerisms so she could pass muster. She performed camp duties, guard duty, and marched with her unit, fighting in some frontier skirmishes. She was only discovered when she was wounded, a musket ball in her thigh. She received an honorable discharge and even a military pension—though that took her twenty years of petitioning. Quite a woman.
Another woman in the historical records was Margaret Corbin. Margaret, or Molly as she was called, performed a role that many a wife and girlfriend did. She accompanied her husband, John Corbin, an artilleryman, from camp to camp and battle to battle. She assisted her husband, carrying supplies, caring for the wounded, and even helping to load and fire a cannon. Her story is recorded because she was beside her husband in the battle at Ft. Washington, one of the most disastrous battles for the patriots. The colonial army  of about 3000 was attacked by 8000 British and Hessian troops. All colonials were killed, wounded, or captured. Margaret’s husband was killed in the action, and accounts tell of how she took her husband’s place at the cannon. In the end, she was captured and later released in a prisoner exchange. She, too, was awarded a military pension.
And then there is 355. 
We don’t know her name, only her number. 355 was a member of the Culper Ring, George Washington’s super spy ring. Her number comes up in recovered correspondence between agents in the ring, so we know some of the secrets she helped uncover, like the British scheme to flood the colonies with counterfeit Continental currency. Without a name or background details, historians have argued about her identity, positing several theories. Although they cannot agree on her social status or how she gained access to the secrets, they remained certain that her actions contributed to winning the war. That’s why I chose to give her flesh and blood as my title character, ABIGAIL TRENCH, in my new historical thriller, launched this month (6/9/26), published and distributed by Diversion Books and Simon & Schuster.
As a long-time educator, I spent much of my career working with women and have developed a true respect for the great work they do as teachers, making a difference in children’s lives, often with no one noticing. 
Much like my Abigail Trench of 1776. 
Women seldom get the credit they deserve. It was true in 1776 and is still true now, though not as much. My new novel, ABGAIL TRENCH, A NOVEL OF WASHINGTON’S SPY RING, is my homage to consequential women who change lives, sacrifice their own needs for others, and make life better, whether anyone ever notices or not. With the national celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this summer, now would be a great time to check out my story of 355. You can get all the details here. https://www.authorrandyoverbeck.com/books/abigail-trench

​

​Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, bestselling author, popular podcaster and speaker in much demand. After serving children for almost four decades as teacher, college prof and school leader, he used those experiences and skills to craft captivating mysteries, thrillers and historical suspense. His novels have earned more than a dozen national awards including Thriller of the Year, Best Book Award, the Gold Award and Mystery of the Year and have garnered hundreds of five-star reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and BookBub. 
His newest novel, ABIGAIL TRENCH, is a historical suspense about the Revolutionary War, released June, 2026 by Diversion Books and distributed by Simon and Schuster. 
Dr. Overbeck is also the host of the popular podcast, Great Stories about Great Storytellers, which reveals the little known backstories of famous authors, directors and poets and ranks among the top 50% of all podcasts in the US. When he is not writing or podcasting, he is in much demand as a speaker, sharing informative and entertaining programs to more than 300 groups all over the country.

​

Sworn to Collide
by
Maria Imbalzano    

Release Date June 1, 2026
Contemporary Romance
  

About Sworn to Collide 
     After devoting eleven years of marriage to Ben, her high school sweetheart, and stepping off the corporate ladder to raise their three children, Denise is ready to seize the reins of the career she always dreamed of.  But as soon as she commits to step back into the professional world, Ben drops a bombshell that disrupts everything.
     Suddenly, this once rock-solid couple finds themselves in a battle over ambition, identity, and whose turn it is to shine. As personal choices draw them further and further apart, they must confront their widening rift—a threat to the love they thought was unshakeable.
     Can they rediscover the passion they once shared, or will their divergent paths pull them apart for good? 

Preorder your copy today
​www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0GLHKF627
Series
www.amazon.com/dp/B07RPCKFDM

​Bio
Maria Imbalzano is an award-winning contemporary author who writes about strong, independent women and the men who fall in love with them. She recently retired from the practice of law, but legal issues have a way of showing up in many of her novels. When not writing, she loves to travel both abroad and in the States.  Maria lives in central New Jersey with her husband--not far from her two daughters.
For more information about her books, please visit her website at mariaimbalzano.com
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Before you leave, I'd love to tell you about New Jersey Romance Writers, of which I am the VP of Programs. 
The mission of NJRW since 1986 has been to advance the professional interests of career-focused romance writers by providing support, educational information, and resources to both published and unpublished authors. Check it out at www.njromancewriters.org/join-us.htmlBonus! You don't have to live in New Jersey to reap the benefits of membership. Our programs and meetings are on Zoom. 

​Hi everyone!
After four months, I am back in New Jersey. We left in the snow and returned in the rain. For those who don't know, Peter and I leave on New Year's Day for Florida. Pete was the recreation director at the Perry KOA, and I was his "wing" woman. For the arrival, we were greeted with a week of sun and 80-degree weather. That didn't last long. For most of January, like most other places, it was abnormally cold, even dropping to 17 degrees one night. Oh, and it snowed. But life goes on, and so did we. 
Above are a few pictures from our time there.
~~~
May is a busy month for me. First up. I joined other authors at Brook Hollow Winery for the annual Day of Wine Romance and More. 
Then, on May 14th, it will be my 32nd Anniversary.
On the 30th, my birthday will roll around again.

D. V. reviews
Abby's Gift.
by
Kim Janine Ligon
 
Janet Marshall knows what it was like to live in the social service system. Except for the people in her life, she may have become another statistic. Finding her way home to the small town and a new way of life, she still fights the nightmares of her younger years.
Then one day she receives a call from an old friend, and a new nightmare begins, only this one is more deadly. In one day, she becomes a mother, a suspect, and a possible victim.
I highly recommend this story, which brings together a small town, clean, heartwarming, inspirational, and family‑centered fiction.
The story can be appreciated as it unravels, bringing together endearing secondary characters and a whodunit-and-where-is-it plot that spans several years.
Fans of Karen Kingsbury and Debbie Macomber will enjoy Abby’s Gift.

For more information or to preorder your copy today
https://mybook.to/AbbysGift 

I was gifted this book as an ARC reader.

I also saw my first alligator in the wild. And some owls at a North Florida Wildlife Sanctuary.

None of this is to say I haven't been working. I released Red Gate Farm in February to amazing reviews. In March two of my books, Rainbow Sprinkles and Rock House Grill had the rights revert to me. This means I can put Rainbow Sprinkles into an actual physical book. Both are now on Kindle Unlimited. Also all my books are now available in physical form on Barnes & Noble. 

I'm also keyboarding away on Honky~Tonk House. Here's the blurb...
               A honky‑tonk owner with a past he can’t outrun. A firefighter refuses to back down.
After a gunshot nearly ends former police officer Nick Bianchi’s life, he trades the badge for a second chance. Honky~Tonk House is the dance club that has fulfilled a dream and become a refuge, but trouble follows him like smoke. Violent gang members he’s put away hold grudges and circle like crows, and a firebomb nearly destroys the fragile peace he’s built.
Firefighter Lieutenant Kateri Swiftwater has fought her way up the ranks to lead a team with grit and heart, earning respect along the way. On her time off, she plays a mean fiddle and sings with a voice as warm and fulfilling as biscuits and gravy. Filling in for a friend's band at Honky~Tonk House, she meets a man with T-R-O-U-B-L-E written all over him. Though something about him pulls at her in ways she didn’t expect.
Threats escalate, and gang tensions burn, as their lives become dangerously intertwined. She’s trained to run into burning buildings. He’s spent years trying to escape the flames of his past. Together, they might just find the courage to face what’s coming—if the firestorm doesn’t consume them first.
There’s a spark between the two that could save them—or burn everything to the ground.

                                               Do you want a peek at the cover? You do? Okay.

So I haven't been sitting on my laurels. Does anyone say that anymore? We'll be leaving here in a very short while and traveling back to NJ. But this doesn't mean the adventures are over. Stay tuned. The annual Day of Wine Romance and More is coming up May 2nd and 3rd. I'm working on other possible local signings as well. Until next time remember...
                         "Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." – Albert Einstein

Welcome back to my fire. I've been crazy busy these past few weeks. A book release, getting my rights back to several books and republishing them, trying to work on my website, and getting a few words in on Honky~Tonk House. Meanwhile, we've been working at the Perry KOA in Florida as recreation staff. Community Campfires, penny bingo, dominoes, movie nights, a chicken party, book club, and painting. This week is St. Patrick's Day, and the camp is providing corned beef and cabbage. My contribution will be mini Shepherd's Pies. Oh, did I mention I made paella and flat bread for a group of friends? Okay, I just tired myself out so I'll give today's guest the floor. Darlene and I worked together a few years ago on the Mortar & Pestle series. It's nice to see her again.

About the author.
Darlene Fredette is a multi-published author of contemporary women’s fiction that celebrates resilience, romance, and the small-town magic woven into ordinary days. Step inside her world for heartfelt stories, character-driven moments, a touch of charm, wit, twists, and just enough intrigue to keep you turning the pages. Residing on Canada’s scenic Atlantic Coast, where summers are too short and winters too long, she finds inspiration from family, nature, and the quiet moments that ignite the imagination, and enjoys life with her husband, daughter, and two oversized, loveable dogs.

​Social Media
Website: http://www.darlenefredette.com/
Blog: http://findingthewritewords.blogspot.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlenefredette1/
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/darlenefredette.bsky.social
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Darlene-Fredette/author/B005NAF660

I do love an evening around the fire! Thanks for letting me come again, D. V. I brought some rice crispy treats to share. They’re gloriously sweet and sticky.
Every time I release a book that was formerly with a publisher, I feel like I do when I buy a new puffer jacket. I get a new one every few years, with very few differences beyond color and the brand that’s on the tag in the back. But I love them, and I wear them until they aren’t warm enough anymore. Then, with every intention of finding something else for my go-to jacket, I buy another one.
With the book, I think I should be releasing something altogether new, but Pieces of Blue, first released in 2024 and the victim of publisher closure soon after, ended up being Book One of a series: Colors, the Harper Loch Trilogy. I was afraid by the time Books Two and Three came out, Book One would have been forgotten. While they stand alone, the tidy part of me—which is mostly imagined, by the way—thinks they should be read in order.
So I re-released it. It has a pretty new cover by Nancy Fraser that, like my puffer jackets, it’s different, but still representative of the Burl, Maggie North’s big house on Harper Loch.
D. V. mentioned that I should give my top three reasons to read Pieces of Blue.
Only three? But there are so many! 😊
First and primary to me is that Maggie North is a combination of all the favorite women in my life. Sister, sisters-in-law, and old friends. She has a bit of Anne Shirley in her and a stubborn chunk of Jo March as well. I like her. I like her a lot.
Second? The people at the lake. There are only 86 of them, and although I didn’t introduce them all, I admit you’ll meet quite a few.
Third, there’s Sam. I’ll let you decide for yourself what you think of him. I will say he’s warm and comfortable and … oh, wait, no, that’s my jacket. Anyway, be sure and let me know!

Life comes in shades of blue...
Self-imposed loner, Maggie North, has worked for bestselling author Trilby Winterroad her entire adult life, starting as simply his assistant and ending up as his ghost writer. Through ups and downs--including a divorce from an abusive husband--he has been the one person on whom she could always rely. So when Trilby dies suddenly, Maggie finds herself adrift, not sure what she’ll do or where she belongs in the world any longer. And the confusion continues when she discovers he’s not only left her his beloved dachshund, Chloe, but a house she knew nothing about, on a lake she’s never heard of.
It only takes one visit for Maggie to fall in love with both the house and the small lakeside community. The longer she’s there, the safer she feels and the more her life begins to expand...as do her feelings toward her friend and Trilby’s attorney, Sam Eldridge.
But is she really safe? Or are the glistening pieces of her new life about to shatter as an old danger returns?
​Get your copy today!
Amazon   D2D
​

About the Author.
Liz Flaherty has spent the past several years enjoying not working a day job, making terrible crafts, and writing stories in which the people aren’t young, brilliant, or even beautiful. She’s decided (and has to re-decide most every day) that the definition of success is having a good time. Along with her husband of lo, these many years, kids, grands, friends, and the occasional cat, she’s doing just that. Find her on Facebook or her blog, Window Over the Sink. A girl just can’t have too many friends! She’s at other places, too—find her via https://linktr.ee/lizflahert

​SECRET RECIPE
 A Redford Falls Story – Book 4
By
Darlene Fredette
 
       About  
In the heat of the kitchen, one woman’s secret recipe blends danger, deception, and desire.
 
Jess Robinson is desperate for a fresh start, but an unexpected call drags her back into the dangerous world she thought she’d escaped. With a missing bag of stolen jewels at stake, Jess must execute the perfect con.
Between two jobs and family obligations, firefighter Travis Cooper is stretched too thin. The last thing he needs is an unqualified baker who stirs up more questions than answers. Something about Jess feels familiar, and while Travis is drawn to her, he’s convinced she’s hiding more than a few secrets.
As drama simmers and danger closes in, Jess and Travis are caught in a game where every move could cost them everything.
 
A Peek Between the Pages.
Travis pulled Jess into a hug. She molded perfectly against him. Her soft hair brushed his chin, and her hands warmed his chest where they rested.
Her stare dropped to his lips.
He lowered his head until a loud boom rattled his sanity. He released her and walked to the counter, creating distance. “Congratulations on a job well done.”
Her widened eyes met his, and her cheeks flushed. “Thank you.”
The thunder returned, louder than before.
He shook his head, trying to erase the memory of her in his arms. What got into me? He wasn’t a touchy-feely guy. Hugs were usually reserved for his mother. “Would you like to join me for a bite to eat?” What the…? Did those words just come out of my mouth? “My way of thanking you for a great first week.” More unfiltered words tumbled out.
Jess stuffed her hands into her apron pockets. Her lips formed a tight line. “Sure.”
She accepted? Part of Travis had hoped she’d decline. The other half was elated. He needed time to locate his missing common sense.
“Do you have a restaurant in mind?” she asked.
I’m not thinking. He gripped the counter’s edge. “Have you ever been to Kringle’s Lounge?”
 
#SecretRecipe #RedfordFallsSeries #SmallTownRomance #ContemporaryRomance #RomanceMystery
Grab your copy today 
https://www.amazon.ca/Secret-Recipe-Redford-Falls-Story-ebook/dp/B0GHGS52XY
https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Recipe-Redford-Falls-Story-ebook/dp/B0GHGS52XY

Jessie's Passion 
by 
Ida Flowers 
​Historical Romance
​
South Carolina, 1765. A group of wealthy young friends. A colony terrorized by outlaws. A young woman obsessed.

Jessie Maclaine, the youngest of the group of friends from the Carolina Lowcountry, is a spoiled, passionate girl determined to have her own way and marry Robbie Stewart, who still sees her as the tag-along pest of their childhood. Her every waking thought is focused on making him to see her as a woman, and in her dreams, he belongs to her. Robbie Stewart is the eldest of the group and the heir to Brianag, his uncle’s plantation. He is far too occupied with tormenting the agents responsible for enforcing the Stamp Act and helping his deceased father’s family defend themselves against outlaws in the Backcountry to pay any attention to Jessie—except when he finds an opportunity to tease her. As unrest builds in the colonies and the outlaws continue their rampages in the mountains, Jessie learns that the world is bigger than youthful desire and that choices made impetuously are followed inevitably by consequences—some of which are irreparable.
Grab your copy today!
books2read.com/u/m2A8xo

I have a confession. I doom scroll. That means I find myself scrolling through videos much longer than I should. I find most TV and movies no longer capture my attention, and I find myself reading and scrolling interchangeably. The videos that capture my attention, in no particular order, are

• Owls'
• Goats
• Homesteading
• Cooking
• And Families reuniting.

Red Gate Farm has many of these themes in it.
Scenes from my life. Conversations around the fire. People I've met. I hope as you read it you will be able to identify with my characters and their struggles but mostly their triumphs. 

​Red Gate Farm
by
D. V. Stone​
A heartwarming tale of second chances and the healing power of coming home.

​Nestled in the countryside on the outskirts of Lake Unami, Little Flower Ranch is more than just a patch of land—it’s Addie Martin’s whole world. Her dogs, goats, and horses, both rescued and boarded, know her better than most people do. A life built with grit and rooted in compassion. Until Addie’s peaceful life is thrown into turmoil by a man from her past, with a government notice that threatens to take it all away.
Henry Price never planned to come back to Red Gate Farm, but after losing his job and his sense of purpose, the old homestead near Lake Unami calls him back to the place where he grew up surrounded by love and family. But the simpler life may not be so simple when your family introduces you to a woman who has troubles of her own.  
Lake Unami has its own quiet magic, the kind that works through neighbors, animals, and special guardians. As Addie and Henry navigate old wounds and new beginnings, they’ll discover that sometimes the smallest towns hold the biggest miracles… especially when it comes to matters of the heart.

I hope you will enjoy reading Red Gate Farm. It is available for pre-order at 
books2read.com/u/ml08j9
​I hope you enjoy reading Henry and Addie's story as much as I did writing it. If you've been following life in Lake Unami, you'll be happy to see this magical community come together.
Albert's advice below isn't just for Addie. It's something I need to remind myself of from time to time.