I’m a multi-published author and I didn’t understand what this meant when I started writing. I considered it a way of limiting where my creative flow would take me.

To my way of thinking, research wasn’t the same a knowing from life, although I did a ton of research on my historical romances. Annie’s Heart takes place in post-Civil War Kansas while Another Love is set in New England in 1892.

My paranormal romances came from my darkest nightmares and fears. Ancient Awakening and Ancient Blood are set in New England.

Journey of the Magi

So my new release, Journey of the Magi, came from bits and pieces of my life.

I had fun writing this holiday romance. I revealed my soft heart and love of stray animals, small children and tall, dark and strong men.

I took a number of personal experiences to write the plot. I breast-fed my children like Noel does her baby and drove a clunker of a car for years. Minnesota during November came from my son’s wedding to a girl from that area. The snow was deep and the temperature deeper. The parking lot in the motel had a warning not to leave your vehicle if the bears were in the parking lot. The people were among the friendliest I’ve ever met.

My house burned and we lost everything. A period in my life I’d rather forget.

There is nothing like Christmas in Connecticut. We all gather to decorate wreaths to sell on the Christmas tree farm. My husband and I dress up like Santa and his wife to entertain the kids and hand out candy canes.

I also bake pies like my heroine. I have a recipe I’ve used for so many years I can do it from memory.

Barbara’s Pie crust recipe

2 cups pastry flour or 1 3-4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

Add 2-3rd cup shortening or lard

Cut with a pastry blender until the mixture is even pea-sised bits

Sprinkle one-third cup ice water over flour by tablespoon-fuls, stirring with a fork until enough has been added to pat dough into a ball. Handle dough as little as possible and do not knead it. Wrap the dough in wax paper and chill.

Enough for a 9-inch two-crust pie or a one-crust pie and some tarts.

Journey of the Magi blurb:

Widow Noel Martin never breaks promises, and she promised her kids they’d have Christmas at her childhood home in Connecticut. But driving across country takes money. Noel is broke when a snowstorm blows them into a tiny Minnesota café owned by a man who can change her mind. She accepts his offer of a job. Despite her attraction to him, she makes it clear she is only temporary help.

Dan Longstreet isn’t adopting any more strays, but he needs a waitress. Dan works so hard to make his café a success, he doesn’t have time for love. Though Noel’s slender blonde beauty stuns him and her two adorable children tug at his heart, he denies how they threaten to change his life.

When tragedy strikes, their new-found love is the first victim. Noel can’t stay and Dan can’t leave. Will their journey be the gift that reunites them?

Excerpt from Journey of the Magi:

Thanksgiving dawned with the bang and clatter of roasting pans. Noel followed the sound of Dan swearing downstairs. It was barely five and both children slept through the racket.

“I thought you were closed today,” she said. The dawn light glinted highlights off his dark brown hair. Her lips twitched when his heavy brows snapped together.

“We are. I’m cooking turkey for a few friends. It’s kind of a tradition.” Her mouth dropped open when he lined up six turkeys on the counter and proceeded to fill each one with a different stuffing. Her teeth clicked when she closed her jaw.

“You must have been up for hours,” she said. “That’s enough for a crowd.”

Her heart swelled with admiration for his sharing. She wanted to grab him in a big hug. Her grandparents had invited friends over, too. It was a tradition she planned to continue when she returned home.

“I’m not sure how many. It’s gotten bigger.” He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “People need friends. Everyone brings a dish, so it’s potluck.”

“What can I do to help?” she asked before she tied an apron decorated with dancing elves over her sweater and jeans.

“Not much, unless you can bake a pie?” His lifted brows and wide brown eyes reminded her of his hopeful stray standing over the empty dish.

“I do a killer crust,” she exclaimed while mimicking rolling out a pie crust. Dan wasn’t the only one who appreciated the chance to contribute.

“Got everything for apple, pumpkin or mince,” Dan said before he laughed and waved at the cooler. “Take your pick.”

“Hey. My grandma taught me how to make those. We have time to do them all.”

Journey of the Magi is available here: http://amzn.com/B00ES5DZEQ

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