Welcome to my writing desk...
In 2024, I moved us for the second time in two years, our 13th house in 27 years, transferred into this Master Gardener group and actually made a few friends (finally!), I'm deep into Sarra Cannon's Publish & Thrive course, and I took three other online conferences, I maintained my corporate editing clients (which definitely helps), and I have my planner lineup worked out for 2025 just in time... I got the last one finalized last night. I love planners and always have too many, then get overwhelmed trying to keep track of all of them, and remembering to write in all of them... OMG. ADHD is super fun.
BUT.... I am starting off the new year with finishing the first book in my new series, with many, many more books planned. And I feel really good about the overall feel of all of these books — plenty of magic, family & friends, love, heartbreak, babies, grannies, curses, ghosts, plus healthy doses of smashing the patriarchy, destroying the cycle of generational trauma, and tons and tons of female power. Brooms up, ladies!!!! Grab your jars, because we're spending the year stuffing enemies inside and screwing those lids on tight!
All of the books are connected, with many layers and connections running through them, and they're all set in the PNW, which is where I wish I was right now, so it will be wonderful to lose myself in the misty forests, moss-lined paths, and lush green valleys of NW Washington.
With insane love,
Cynthia
BUT.... I am starting off the new year with finishing the first book in my new series, with many, many more books planned. And I feel really good about the overall feel of all of these books — plenty of magic, family & friends, love, heartbreak, babies, grannies, curses, ghosts, plus healthy doses of smashing the patriarchy, destroying the cycle of generational trauma, and tons and tons of female power. Brooms up, ladies!!!! Grab your jars, because we're spending the year stuffing enemies inside and screwing those lids on tight!
All of the books are connected, with many layers and connections running through them, and they're all set in the PNW, which is where I wish I was right now, so it will be wonderful to lose myself in the misty forests, moss-lined paths, and lush green valleys of NW Washington.
With insane love,
Cynthia
Coming up in late 2025: editing, dolling up, and republishing the first three of Elliot's series, then publishing the fourth in April!
The above covers are the old covers... there are new covers and new titles in the wings. Stay tuned!
The above covers are the old covers... there are new covers and new titles in the wings. Stay tuned!
Look who's writing again!
More behind-the-scenes book info:
I published six books years ago (eons, really) and they have been cooling their heels on Amazon in KU forever, but their little holiday is coming to an end. I will finally be completing my Elliot Lake Mystery Series with the publication of Elliot's fourth book in late 2025. The series is getting new titles and covers, and like the rest of my novels, all will be published under my new company name: Forsythia Cottage Writing & Design LLC. Elliot Lake is a reporter in Alder Bay, Oregon, a town based on Tillamook, Oregon, and all he wants is to be left alone by the world, but the world just can't seem to leave Elliot alone.
Six Dates with Jenna and Finding Mallory are my two standalone romances. Jenna is a YA novel set in a fictitious town based on the green mountains of ZigZag, Oregon, at the base of Mt. Hood -- and tells the tale of star-crossed young lovers who meet only six times over the a handful of years, but in those six brief encounters they live an entire lifetime, and will only survive by sticking together. Finding Mallory is a contemporary romance set in a town based on Tillamook, Oregon, and we see Mallory fleeing one life, but has she found safety in the arms of the local sheriff? His two young boys certainly hope she stays, but her ex has a very different idea about Mallory's future!
My sixth book is The Misadventures of the Emerald Thief, a middle-grade magical adventure set in Seattle. The first book in my planned The Keepers of the Emerald Cave Series, starring siblings Denim and Ravenna, and their entire magical family who's only job is to protect the Emerald Cave -- even when it's their uncle who is after the magical gems.
COMING SOON:
Excerpts from all of my novels!
New covers!
Direct sales from this website!
STILL TO COME: A NEW 12-BOOK SERIES
I cannot wait to start releasing my Birdsong Bay Series! Set in the Pacific Northwest, my Birdsong Bay series is a small town contemporary drama, with plenty of romance, mystery, and a little bit of magic. If you love The Gilmore Girls, The Good Witch, Sweet Magnolias, Hart of Dixie, Practical Magic, and Cedar Cove... you will love spending time in Birdsong Bay.
AAAND.... MORE BOOK NEWS
While I was writing all of these endless notes on my Birdsong Bay Series, ANOTHER set of books starting swimming around in my brain, complete with a whole line-up of new characters and their backstories, everything, and all of it now ties to the Birdsong Bay Series, so while writing Birdsong books, I will also be building my Candlewick Valley Series. My plan for 2025 is head down, fingers tapping, bike-riding breaks, and regular adjustments at my chiropractor to make all of this possible.
ALSO NEW:
My plan is to release a new book ever other month, starting around June or July of 2025, and so on the off months, I will be releasing short novelettes, short stories, or a collection of smaller fiction (or nonfiction), as well as offering exclusive content to my newsletter cottagers. I am moving my main source of communication from a subscription service to Substack, with all updates about my publishing free forever. That is the plan, anyway, but we will see what sticks in 2025.
I published six books years ago (eons, really) and they have been cooling their heels on Amazon in KU forever, but their little holiday is coming to an end. I will finally be completing my Elliot Lake Mystery Series with the publication of Elliot's fourth book in late 2025. The series is getting new titles and covers, and like the rest of my novels, all will be published under my new company name: Forsythia Cottage Writing & Design LLC. Elliot Lake is a reporter in Alder Bay, Oregon, a town based on Tillamook, Oregon, and all he wants is to be left alone by the world, but the world just can't seem to leave Elliot alone.
Six Dates with Jenna and Finding Mallory are my two standalone romances. Jenna is a YA novel set in a fictitious town based on the green mountains of ZigZag, Oregon, at the base of Mt. Hood -- and tells the tale of star-crossed young lovers who meet only six times over the a handful of years, but in those six brief encounters they live an entire lifetime, and will only survive by sticking together. Finding Mallory is a contemporary romance set in a town based on Tillamook, Oregon, and we see Mallory fleeing one life, but has she found safety in the arms of the local sheriff? His two young boys certainly hope she stays, but her ex has a very different idea about Mallory's future!
My sixth book is The Misadventures of the Emerald Thief, a middle-grade magical adventure set in Seattle. The first book in my planned The Keepers of the Emerald Cave Series, starring siblings Denim and Ravenna, and their entire magical family who's only job is to protect the Emerald Cave -- even when it's their uncle who is after the magical gems.
COMING SOON:
Excerpts from all of my novels!
New covers!
Direct sales from this website!
STILL TO COME: A NEW 12-BOOK SERIES
I cannot wait to start releasing my Birdsong Bay Series! Set in the Pacific Northwest, my Birdsong Bay series is a small town contemporary drama, with plenty of romance, mystery, and a little bit of magic. If you love The Gilmore Girls, The Good Witch, Sweet Magnolias, Hart of Dixie, Practical Magic, and Cedar Cove... you will love spending time in Birdsong Bay.
AAAND.... MORE BOOK NEWS
While I was writing all of these endless notes on my Birdsong Bay Series, ANOTHER set of books starting swimming around in my brain, complete with a whole line-up of new characters and their backstories, everything, and all of it now ties to the Birdsong Bay Series, so while writing Birdsong books, I will also be building my Candlewick Valley Series. My plan for 2025 is head down, fingers tapping, bike-riding breaks, and regular adjustments at my chiropractor to make all of this possible.
ALSO NEW:
My plan is to release a new book ever other month, starting around June or July of 2025, and so on the off months, I will be releasing short novelettes, short stories, or a collection of smaller fiction (or nonfiction), as well as offering exclusive content to my newsletter cottagers. I am moving my main source of communication from a subscription service to Substack, with all updates about my publishing free forever. That is the plan, anyway, but we will see what sticks in 2025.
Washington State
