I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember—but for most of my life, my work lived quietly in a drawer. Between raising a child as a single mom and building a demanding career, writing was something I squeezed in when I could… and then set aside for “later.”

That career took me all over the world and through more than twenty moves. Along the way, I lived in a tiny cottage in rural England, a historic National Trust–listed building, a marble palace in North Africa, and a modern townhouse in Houston, Texas. No matter where I went, I was always drawn to homes with character—places with stories to tell.

To me, a house has never been just a structure. It carries the lives of the people who’ve been there before. In every place I lived, I added my own touches—layers of color, texture, photos, and memories—hoping to leave something good behind for whoever came next.

On my travels, I spent a lot of time on my own, but I was never lonely. I became an observer of people and places, jotting down thoughts in journals, on the backs of Dairy Queen bags, and in old notebooks. And yes… all of it went straight into that same drawer.

When I finally retired, I knew I wasn’t cut out for a life of just watching TV (although I’ll admit, I’m pretty good at that too). My job had given me years of experience traveling the world and inspecting hotels—staying in beautiful places where everyone tried their best to make things perfect. Not a bad gig!

I decided to try something new. I bought a craftsman house and barn in a small Texas town and turned it into Wrigley House Bed and Breakfast. It was an adventure, to say the least. Some days were wonderful, some were chaotic, and some were downright funny (those stories might need their own book someday). It became the top-rated B&B in the area—but after four years, I was ready for a break. Turns out, success can be a little exhausting.After about a month of relaxing in my garden, I got restless again. Friends and former guests had always complimented my decorating style, so I started helping others with their homes and opened a design and staging business. 

I even had a booth in a local shop where I sold repurposed furniture and unique finds.

And then one day, with a little extra time on my hands, I opened that drawer.

Inside were years of notes, journals, and half-finished ideas—everything I had been meaning to come back to. This time, I didn’t put them away.

The Breton Hill Series first book, Staged For Success, is what came out of finally sitting down and writing the story I’d been carrying around for years. The second novel in the series, The Best B&B in Breton Hill, is almost ready for publication.

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed finally bringing it to life.