I’m so excited, guys! Today is a big day! I’m revealing the cover for The Secrets They Keep, and my mailing list is up and running! First things, first, here is my beautiful cover, created by the amazingly talented Germancreative! Release date: March 26, 2019. Pre-orders will be opening up this week. To celebrate my cover, and the launch of my mailing list, I’m holding a giveaway! Sign up for my shiny new newsletter, and you’ll be entered to win a prize!

Your character wakes up in a hospital, machines beeping, bright lights, but where are they? WHO are they? And who can they really trust? As time goes on, bits of memory flit through their mind. Confusing flashes that are frustrating, disorienting, and scary. Like Concussions, amnesia is a favorite tool for writers. It makes sense; it’s a great way to spur conflict, create a quest or journey, and help us get to know the character, as they re-learn about themselves.

You have a character who is dying or has a disease/condition that puts their life at risk. Maybe cancer, ALS, or even just getting on in years. Whatever the reason, they may have decided they don’t want life-saving measures performed if they get worse. This could include CPR, defibrillation, intubation, feeding tubes, IVs, certain medications, etc. Or maybe, your character is the nurse/doctor caring for this patient. How does the healthcare team treat patients who are DNR (do not resuscitate)?

Your character got a bad knock on the head; happens to the best of us. Although tempting to write the following scenario, DON’T! Your character is punched. They’re unconscious for several minutes before waking up with a headache, maybe a bit out of it/acting silly. A week later (or worse, later that day), they are back to their plucky selves, fighting crime, getting into mischief, what have you.* Unfortunately, if you’re going for a realistic story, that ain’t happening.

Most of you know I’m a nurse and love all things health. It’s a huge pet peeve when I read books, and the situations that characters go through either should have killed them or at least incapacitated them. Instead, they carry on with their day to day activities. As authors, we do SO much research; it’s easy to see how this can fall through the cracks. So, I’m here to help!