I am thrilled to announce the publication of my first novel Weird Coincidences. It starts out with teens racing in the Irmo SC area. Through a series of strange and sometimes impossible coincidences, they find themselves directed to turn a Mustang into a track-legal car and then challenge far more experienced drivers plus Daytona's sports car track in a 200 mile race.

I am excited to announce the release of two books this fall—a collection of poetry and a children’s book! I am relatively new to publishing (both books being “firsts”), though I have been publishing poems and essays here and there for the past few years. I have lived in Hilton Head with my family since 2012. 

My poetry chapbook is called Fallen Love, which is available for pre-order until 11/22/24 on Finishing Line Press’s website. Fallen Love explores the ways in which love can build, break, and restore the spirit. Fragments of memories establish the structure, with carefully sequenced poems that create a journey through the phases of love. In an attempt to reconcile love’s simple, yet complex nature, Fallen Love reveals a deeper understanding about love’s transformative power. 

My children’s book is called Weathering the Storm (Palmetto Publishing), and it will be available in a few weeks! This story is a heartwarming tale about friendship, courage, and overcoming one’s fears. As the tale unfolds, Hank, the protagonist, and his friends Dorothy the dragonfly, Freddie the frog, Earl the earthworm, and Old Green Eyes the snake eagerly await their favorite activity - playing in the puddles after the storm, none of which would have been possible if Hank had not braved a summer storm one day. The beautiful illustrations in Weathering the Storm will take readers on a whimsical journey as friendships develop through life’s challenges. What started as a bedtime story has become a story for all ages!

Please check out my website for more info: https://amuseofonesown.com and follow me on Instagram @deirdregarrjohns. 

I am thrilled to announce that the latest chapter in my unfolding saga of Knotweed County, Carolina is in the Spring/Summer Issue of moonShine Review. My short story, "Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover," was birthed in  the Virtual Fiction Group . Hope my buddies there and elsewhere will enjoy the adventures of the fried-Snicker-eating, rule-breaking, plastic-hating Nutmeg Butterkeg and her not-so-sweet Mama, Mabel. 

https://moonshinereview.com/

I'm thrilled to share that my short story, "A Feast to Die For," has received an Honorable Mention in the 2024 Bethlehem Writers Roundtable Short Story Award! ✨

Set against the backdrop of a US Thanksgiving, this humorous murder mystery weaves together the intriguing dynamics of Southern and Canadian families, both of whom celebrate Thanksgiving. It's also my first attempt at using accents in a story—Southern, Canadian, and French Canadian.

I'm incredibly honored and grateful for this recognition. Thank you to the South Carolina Writers Association Short Story group for all your support and encouragement, and a special thanks to the Bethlehem Writers Roundtable for this amazing honor!

I have been a nurse for 35 years, working diligently to serve the people of the Lowcountry. When I turned 50, I decided it was time to chase my dream. It took me 2 1/2 years, but I self-published my debut novel, Home Cries the Soul in January 2024.

I will admit, I have no clue what I am doing. I am a nurse trying to be an author. It is much easier for me to deal with a bloody wound, or a distraught family then it is to market and advertise myself. But here I am, being brave.

My book has a current rating on Goodreads and Amazon of 4.6 out of 5 stars. I have done my best to capture the soul of the south with characters, places, and food. Based in a small-town of Venice, MS my story follows the second daughter of a prominent family, Laura Lynne. I hope she captivates you as she uncovers a past she thought she knew, along with skeletal remains.

It is a pleasure to be a part of your group and I hope you will consider taking a chance on me.

In grits and gratitude,

Leah Dawkins

I'm a new member who has published 18 novels including two cozy mystery series. I like to include cats in all my books. I've won awards from the Cat Writers' Association including two Muse Medallions. I also won a silver medal from Readers' Favorites for my standalone mystery thriller, Sea Scope, that's based in South Carolina and features a murder at a lighthouse. 

My latest mystery is the fourth Buttercup Bend cozy mystery, The Case of the Whale Watching Wedding Planner. This book is currently on tour with Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours through June 9.

I am absolutely thrilled to announce I won the NC Writers Network 2024 Randell Jarrell Poetry Contest. I am humbled and honored .

https://www.ncwriters.org/news/network-news/charlotte-writer-wins-randall-jarrell-poetry-competition/

I'm thrilled to announce my poem "Night Owl Dream Woman" has just been featured in The Sunlight Press. https://www.thesunlightpress.com/2024/04/18/night-owl-dreams-woman/

My "Three Poems of Envisioning"  along with my audio recordings of the poems are in Please See Me: Acceptance. https://pleaseseeme.com/issue-14-acceptance/three-poems_psm14_poetry-mary-alice-dixon/

And my true story, "From Mudville to Joyville" is in the latest Personal Story Publishing Project Anthology, Now or Never. My recording of the story is also live on the PSPP site.https://www.randelljones.com/6minutestories/2024/4/9/from-mudville-to-joy-ville-by-mary-alice-dixon

My good friends in Virtual Fiction have my eternal thanks for their support and their own fine, fine writing, from which I always learn.

Exciting News! My poem, "Antarctica Wedding," has been featured on the Silk Road Poetry Blog—an amazing platform that connects cultures and spreads poetry across the world, reminiscent of the ancient Silk Road. An anthology is to follow later this year.

This poem holds a dear place in my heart as it was inspired by our own wedding in Blind Bay, Antarctica, on Christmas Eve 2022. It's truly an honor to be a part of this literary journey.

https://www.bardconvirtual.com/silk-road-poetry-blog/antarctica-wedding-ac-blake

I'm thrilled to share that four of my poems were published in Anthologies this Spring by Moonstone Press, along with the opportunity to record my readings of them. I owe a huge thank you to my online short story group, as much of my work begins as a poem, then evolves into a short story, and these selected works were ultimately refined back into poems:

• "In the Garden of Audre's Legacy," Remembering Audre Lorde
• "Whispers in the Woods: An Ode to Frost," Remembering Robert Frost
• "Circus of Shadows," Traitor Patriot, a poetic reflection on January 6th
• "Sonnet to the Muse of Poetry," World Poetry Day, 2024 Anthology
  

I'm grateful for the continued inspiration and support from my writing community.