Ireland’s Black Valley

Ireland’s Black Valley is one of our favorite spots to hike on our many visits to this beautiful part of the world. When I came up with the idea for my next Sharpe and Donovan installment, I knew part of it would be set in the Black Valley. Tentatively titled Return to Declan’s Cross, it doesn’t have a pub date yet but I’m working on it. I’ll be offering a “sneak peek” in the coming weeks.

Here’s a photo I took on our first hike in the Black Valley. The cottage ruin is a well-known site on the Kerry Way, a marked hiking trail we crossed on our own route. … Read More

The Elusive Finian Bracken

Creating and now working with the characters in my Sharpe & Donovan suspense series has been fun, difficult, exciting, exasperating, creatively fulfilling and…interesting.

Yes, interesting!

Take Finian Bracken, an Irish priest and whiskey man who appears in every Sharpe & Donovan tale. Writing about him has meant I’ve learned more about whiskey, sheep in Ireland, Maine bean-hole suppers, early Irish saints and so much more.

Finian came together and started to feel real for me during a writing getaway to Ireland. One afternoon, I took long walk to a historic cemetery on the sout… Read More

Recipe: Strawberry/Berry Meringue Roulade!

It’s not yet our local strawberry season but good strawberries are available in the grocery store, and I’ve decided to prepare strawberry meringue roulade for Easter. With two young grandchildren with celiac, I’m always on the lookout for naturally gluten-free recipes. This is a favorite. See below and print out the recipe here.

We first had meringue roulade in Ardmore on the south Irish coast, a key setting for my Sharpe and Donovan series. Here I am in my orange Irish raincoat a few years ago on Ardmore’s famous, and beautiful, cliff walk.

Strawberry Mer… Read More

“Rock Point” now in audio

Audio lovers, I have great news. “Rock Point” will be in audio on April 19. You can pre-order your copy now. It’s the prequel novella that introduces Irish priest Finian Bracken, a beloved character who appears in every Sharpe and Donovan novel. (He plays a key role in the next story in the series, too. More on that soon.)

I’m delighted that Carol Monda is the narrator. She’s been the voice behind almost all my suspense novels, a remarkably talented artist and a favorite with audio listeners.

Many thanks to Recorded Books for making this happen.

Enjoy!

 … Read More

Back home in Vermont from Ireland

We’re home after almost a month in Ireland. We’re back to weeds in the gardens, fuzzy stuff in the fridge and gorgeous New England fall weather and foliage. We stacked a cord of wood delivered on Saturday and have a visit in the works with my mother. And I had a great chat with my fabulous agent on Monday.

Hard to believe last week we were hiking the Irish hills!

Tomorrow (September 30) is the final day to enter my Sharpe & Donovan 10th Anniversary Giveaway. In addition to signed copies of the entire Sharpe & Donovan series, one lucky winner will receive Irish beeswax cand… Read More

A gift from Ireland

Hello from Ireland! Joe and I just arrived at a small cottage on the southwest coast, within walking distance of some great restaurants and shops. It’s a great place to write! Of course we’re doing lots of walks and hikes, too.

Yesterday I found a great little gift to add to our giveaway celebrating the tenth anniversary of the launch of my Sharpe and Donovan series. A pair of Hanna’s Bees small Irish-made pillar candles: “These beautiful hand-rolled beeswax candles burn with a gentle flame and release a sweet and comforting scent of honey and beeswax.”

Here’s a photo I took at our cottage:

Have y… Read More

A special giveaway to celebrate 10 years of Sharpe and Donovan!

We’re breaking out the Irish whiskey here and hosting a special giveaway to celebrate the tenth anniversary of my Sharpe and Donovan series. Saint’s Gate hit stores on August 23, 2011. It’s the first book featuring Emma Sharpe, Colin Donovan, their families, colleagues and friends. They’ve gone on to many adventures since then, taking us right along with them.

Be sure to enter the giveaway by the end of September for a chance to win signed copies of all the books in the series so far, as well as goodies from Boston, Maine and Ireland. I’m still in the process of selec… Read More

Running, Writing and June Book Deals

May was a whirlwind and now it’s mid-June. Almost summer! It’s a great time to be on our hilltop in Vermont. I just chased a woodchuck out of the rose garden and watched a hummingbird flutter among the flowers. I was on a quick break from writing.

Yes, I’m writing!

I know it’s been longer than usual between book releases, and I appreciate the notes from readers wanting more books. It’s happening! I’ve been in “deep work” mode, as well as spending quality time with my ailing mother and my young grandchildren.

And training for my two half-marath… Read More

April Flowers and April News

Happy April! I love these early spring days. Daffodils and tulips are popping up here on our hilltop in Vermont, near Quechee Gorge. Tulips are risky with the critters but fingers crossed. I’ll report back.

I’m writing, as always, and look forward to finally talking more about what I have in the works. Yay!

I do have some news. Print-lovers, Finding You will be back in paperback on October 26. It’s one of my early single-title romantic suspense novels. Jayne Ann Krentz called it “A delicious read. Bright, sassy and romantic.”  You can pre-order your copy toda… Read More

RIVAL’S BREAK in paperback today!

Love paperbacks? Rival’s Break is in mass market paperback today. Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan are back home for a family wedding, but life is never quiet for long for them and their friends. Enjoy!

 … Read More