A Place Called PLANTATION HILL🍊

I believe love should be cherished and appreciated daily like a priceless Van Gogh masterpiece displayed on a pedestal in a grand museum. It's our most precious creation, a delicate work of art requiring careful nurturing, constant attention, and unwavering dedication to truly flourish. While love can be as unpredictable and ever-changing as the weather patterns that sweep across vast landscapes, I don't believe it's merely a matter of chance or luck. It's neither a frivolous game to be played with reckless abandon nor an all-consuming force that devours one's entire being like the insatiable Pac-Man in pursuit of power.

Each individual's love story is as unique and intricate as a fingerprint, a narrative woven with threads of personal experiences, dreams, and emotions. Sometimes it shines brightly and unmistakably, like a vibrant neon sign illuminating the darkest night; other times, it feels like a vast, empty room patiently waiting to be filled with the warmth of shared moments and tender affections. Despite the myriad passions and interests that color our lives in countless hues, I find my greatest joy and fulfillment in exploring and writing about the multifaceted of love. The craving that fuels our soul.

I'm not yet where I once aspired to be in my journey of writing romance novels, but I'm beginning to see glimmers of hope on the horizon like the first rays of dawn breaking through a long, dark night. Perhaps I'll always be searching for more, constantly striving to improve and evolve as a writer. Breaking into the world of publishing is undeniably challenging—it's like attempting to crack an intricate code while navigating a labyrinth with your tongue-tied. When I first embarked on my fiction writing journey in 2000, my goals were as ambitious and far-reaching as they remain today, fueled by an unwavering passion and determination. I felt inexplicably drawn to this calling, this creative force that I've come to describe as "downloads from God"—moments of inspiration that seem to flow from a higher source. Initially, I clung tightly to a perceived safety net, a comfort zone that ultimately stifled my creativity and hindered my growth as a writer. I found myself caught in a whirlwind of chaos and inner conflict, a tumultuous state that mirrored life's inherent unpredictability. In time, through perseverance and self-reflection, I came to the profound realization that writing was not just a hobby or a career path, but my fresh start—a means of rebirth and self-discovery. I needed to write to grow, to flourish like a resilient seed pushing through soil despite the numerous hurdles and obstacles in the often unforgiving landscape of the publishing world. Hope, I've learned through this journey, is a delicate entity that can both blossom into beautiful possibilities and wither in the face of adversity.

Through this transformative journey of self-discovery and artistic expression, I have unearthed many profound inner truths about myself, weathered the storms of heartbreak, and discovered new wellsprings of hope in unexpected places. I've also come to understand that family, much like the intricate plot of my story PLANTATION HILL, can be both a tremendous blessing and a challenging curse. The harsh reality is that family members, despite their love and good intentions, don't always prioritize or fully comprehend the depth of our dreams and aspirations.

Throughout my writing career, I have shed countless tears and faced numerous trials that have tested my resolve and commitment to my craft. Yet, through it all, writing has been my anchor, providing me with a newfound sense of peace and a deeper understanding of my true self. Some people live an entire lifetime without ever truly finding themselves. It's like peeling an onion.

Come the front door is always open.

Even during the darkest and most challenging times of my life—such as the heart-wrenching losses of my beloved son in 2017, my dear mother in 2018, and my cherished soulmate in 2024—writing has served as a steadfast pillar. It has kept me grounded and offered a much-needed escape from the overwhelming tides of grief and doubt that threatened to consume me. In the characters I've lovingly created and nurtured, I've found not just solace, but also profound wisdom. They've become my teachers, imparting valuable life lessons and helping me unravel the complex tapestry of human existence. Through the power of the written word, I've confronted and overcome deeply buried secrets and personal struggles, transforming pain into purpose and sorrow into strength. Resilience, I've learned, takes time to build.

A poignant saying my grandmother frequently shared about the act of airing one's laundry has now blossomed into a bountiful basket of knowledge and life lessons. Despite her never having learned the art of writing herself, my grandmother was a wellspring of wisdom, imparting profound truths through her warm embraces, infectious laughter, and colorful expressions. Her words and actions were a testament to the fact that true wisdom often transcends formal education, residing instead in the heart and soul of those who have lived fully and loved deeply.

With a twinkle in her eye and a gentle smile, Grandma would often say to me, "Young lady, when you're feeling overwhelmed by your own troubles, take a moment to look at someone else's clothes hanging out on the clothesline, and you'll quickly realize that your problems aren't nearly as bad as you might think." This simple yet profound advice has stayed with me throughout my life.

The act of airing your laundry of affection or sorrow—of sharing your most intimate experiences and emotions—will never reveal the same story as your neighbors'. Each person's journey is uniquely their own, a tapestry woven with threads of joy, pain, love, and loss that cannot be replicated or fully understood by another. It is this diversity of human experience that makes life so rich and storytelling so powerful.

My debut novel, PLANTATION HILL, was more than just a literary endeavor—it was a profound test of faith that revealed myriad truths about life, love, and the human condition. When I finally gathered the courage to send it out into the world, I did so with the fervent hope that readers would not only appreciate its craftsmanship but also deeply resonate with its exploration of universal themes: the pursuit of truth, the depths of grief, the chaos of life's unexpected turns, the intensity of human desires, and the weight of family secrets passed down through generations. While the Plantation Hill series undoubtedly grappled with weighty and often difficult topics, it ultimately served as a testament to the incredible resilience of the human spirit—our capacity to endure, to heal, and to find beauty even in the darkest of circumstances. In conclusion, I hold firm to the belief that love, in all its forms, is not just essential but the very cornerstone of a meaningful existence. It should be cherished, nurtured, and cared for with the utmost devotion, treated as one's most prized and irreplaceable possession. Even in the most challenging and heart-wrenching moments of my life, I have found solace, purpose, and a profound sense of peace in the act of writing. Through this journey, I have discovered an immeasurable power in the written word—a power to heal, to inspire, and to ignite the flames of HOPE.

Always With Love,

Welcome Home to Plantation Hill

"A place where money grows on trees."