A Family Gone Haywire
You want to read about them, right?
I love this excerpt from a trade review of my forthcoming psychological suspense novel, Anyone But Her:
“Suzanne’s story, both past and present, is an unflinching portrayal of a family gone haywire, when, in the face of tragedy, communication lacks and secrecy builds.” —BookLife
It got me thinking about the etymology of “haywire.” According to Merriam-Webster, the word haywire evolved from the literal meaning of wire used secure hay bales. This wire comes in a coil which, if uncoiled, turns into a mess—a “haywire,” if you will. This evolved into an adjective meaning “out of order.”
Merriam-Webster further states, “The ‘emotionally or mentally upset or out of control’ sense of haywire may have been suggested by the tendency of the relatively weak and rust-prone wire to fail at inopportune times, or to get tangled around legs...”
I mean…you want to read about a family described this way, right?
While the world might feel a bit haywire right now, I hope my deep dive into “fictional haywire” also makes for a page-turning read. Initial reviews, including those on Goodreads (4.30 average rating to-date) suggest that it does—and I can’t wait for you to add your thoughts!
Anyone But Her releases on September 17th and is available for preorder in print and ebook—click here for links. Audio is coming soon—stay tuned!
Can’t Wait That Long? How About a Giveaway?
I’m currently running a Goodreads giveaway for 5 print ARCs (advance reader copies) of Anyone But Her. Hop over to Goodreads and enter!
In the coming weeks, I’ll also be doing a subscriber-only giveaway here in The What If Journal. To ensure you’re eligible, make sure to subscribe!
What If We Write? What If We Read?
You might recall that I’ve committed to writing 500 words a day of my in-progress 4th novel. It’s coming along well…here are current stats:
Although the book is in infant stages, I’m as thrilled about it as I am about Anyone But Her—and I can’t wait to share it with you someday.
I’m also excited about forthcoming titles from two of my favorite authors, Amy Mason Doan and Nancy Johnson. Amy’s new novel, The California Dreamers (releasing 04.08.25), is about a surfer family, the iconic 1980s photograph that defines them, and a past they later must reckon with. Nancy’s latest title, People of Means (releasing 02.11.25), tells the tale of a mother and daughter seeking justice in 1960s Nashville and 1992 Chicago.
I’ve preordered these books from two favorite indie bookstores, The Bookies in Denver and Mountain Shire Books in Winter Park, CO (one book from each store). Please put both novels on your to-read list—you won’t regret it!
What are you reading? Let us know!
What If We Step Out?
I’m excited to be visiting family in New York this month. I grew up about an hour north of New York City, and it’s always great to get back—both to the Hudson Valley and to the City, and I’ll be doing both.
I look forward to sharing pics of my travels via Instagram—make sure you’re following me there!
As I mentioned in the last issue of The What If Journal, the calendar of Anyone But Her release events is set. For event info, click here. I hope to see you at an event this fall!
As Summer Winds Down…
Many of us in the U.S. are focused on the upcoming presidential election. I want to state my unequivocal support for Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid to become the 47th U.S. President. I’m excited about what she brings to the table and her inclusive, forward-thinking vision for all Americans.
There are those who believe that authors shouldn’t “be political” in public spaces. But remember that “author” is only one piece of our identities. My own identity includes—among others—human, female, mother, and citizen. “Author” comes after all of these—which is why, at this moment in our shared history, I will not stay silent.
I’ve joined forces with a group of authors to support Harris. We’ll be doing some fundraising soon, including awesome author- and book-related goodies that you can score in exchange for offering your support to the Vice President. Keep an eye on my Facebook and Instagram accounts for details.
Enjoy this last month of summer, and happy reading!
