A Place Called PLANTATION HILL🍊

I believe love should be cherished and appreciated every day, like a priceless Van Gogh displayed on a pedestal in a grand museum. It’s our most precious creation—a delicate work of art that requires careful nurturing, constant attention, and unwavering dedication to truly flourish. And while love can be as unpredictable and changeable as weather sweeping across vast landscapes, I don’t believe it’s merely a matter of chance or luck. It’s neither a frivolous game played with reckless abandon nor an all-consuming force that devours one’s entire being like an insatiable Pac-Man chasing power.

Each person’s love story is as unique and intricate as a fingerprint—a narrative woven from personal experiences, dreams, and emotions. Sometimes it shines brightly and unmistakably, like a neon sign illuminating the darkest night; other times, it feels like a vast, empty room waiting to be filled with the warmth of shared moments and tender affection. And despite the passions and interests that color our lives in countless hues, my greatest joy and fulfillment comes from exploring and writing about the multifaceted nature of love—the craving that fuels our souls.

I’m not yet where I once hoped to be on 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 night. Perhaps I’ll always be searching for more, always striving to improve and evolve as a writer. Breaking into publishing is undeniably challenging—it’s like trying to crack an intricate code while navigating a labyrinth, tongue-tied. When I began my fiction writing journey in 2000, my goals were as ambitious and far-reaching as they are today, fueled by unwavering passion and determination. I felt drawn to this calling—to this creative force I’ve come to describe as “downloads from God,” moments of inspiration that seem to flow from a higher source. At first, I clung to a perceived safety net, a comfort zone that ultimately stifled my creativity and slowed my growth. I found myself swept into a whirlwind of chaos and inner conflict, a tumultuous state that mirrored life’s unpredictability. In time, through perseverance and self-reflection, I realized writing wasn’t just a hobby or a career path—it was 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 many hurdles in the often unforgiving landscape of publishing. I’ve also learned that hope is delicate: it can bloom into beautiful possibilities or wither in the face of adversity.

Through this transformative journey of self-discovery and artistic expression, I’ve unearthed profound inner truths, weathered storms of heartbreak, and found new wells 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 difficult curse. The harsh reality is that family members, despite their love and good intentions, don’t always prioritize—or fully understand—the depth of our dreams and aspirations.

Throughout my writing career, I’ve shed countless tears and faced trials that tested my resolve and commitment to my craft. Yet through it all, writing has been my anchor, giving me a deeper sense of peace and a clearer understanding of who I am. Some people live an entire lifetime without ever truly finding themselves. It’s like peeling an orange. And you will find the nectar.

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Come the front door is always open.

Even in the darkest and most challenging seasons of my life—through the devastating losses of my beloved son in 2017, my dear mother in 2018, and my cherished husband of 40 years in 2024—writing has been a steadfast pillar. It has kept me grounded and offered a much-needed refuge from waves of grief and doubt that threatened to overwhelm me. In the characters I’ve created and nurtured, I’ve found not only solace but also profound wisdom. They have become my teachers, offering life lessons and helping me better understand the complex tapestry of human existence. Through the power of the written word, I’ve confronted deeply buried secrets and personal struggles, transforming pain into purpose and sorrow into strength. I’ve learned that resilience takes time to build.

A poignant saying my grandmother often shared about “airing one’s laundry” has become a rich source of insight and life lessons. Though she never learned to write, my grandmother was a wellspring of wisdom, sharing profound truths through 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 hearts 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.

Airing your laundry of affection or sorrow—sharing your most intimate experiences and emotions—will never tell 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 a literary endeavor—it was a profound test of faith that revealed countless truths about life, love, and the human condition. When I finally gathered the courage to share it with the world, I did so hoping readers would not only appreciate its craftsmanship, but also connect deeply 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 grapples with weighty and often difficult topics, it ultimately stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit—our capacity to endure, to heal, and to find beauty even in the darkest of circumstances. I hold firmly to the belief that love, in all its forms, is not merely essential, but the cornerstone of a meaningful existence. It should be cherished, nurtured, and cared for with devotion—treated as one’s most prized and irreplaceable possession. Even in the most heart-wrenching moments of my life, I have found solace, purpose, and a profound sense of peace in 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."

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