The Insecure Writer’s Support Group and Chimney Rock & Biltmore

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

May 6 question - What was the most inspiring feedback you received from readers, including agents, editors, and beta readers?

I have one special young woman in mind. She came to an appearance in South Carolina and got Book I of my series. She came back and got Book II. Then, when I was in Ohio for some appearances, she came to get the third book (she lived there) and told me my books had so inspired her she had made some big changes to her life and was happier than she’d ever been.
The real icing on the cake – I posted a picture of her with one of my books on my website, and a man contacted me saying he’d known her in college and could he get in contact with her. She said yes to sharing her email with him. The following year she let me know – they’d rekindled a lost love and were getting married! Such an incredible journey for her and an inspiring story!

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With airline tickets through the roof, we did not make it to The House on the Rock for our anniversary. We did visit Chimney Rock (which suffered severe damage from Hurricane Helene in 2024) and The Biltmore, America's largest private residence at 178,000 square feet. We’d never been to either and knew that area needed our dollars.

The Biltmore and gardens are a bit overrated (especially since I have seen the mind-blowing Windsor Castle in England and Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island) but it was cool to see.

Chimney Rock was excellent and we parked in the lower parking lot and hiked the trail and then stairs-stairs-stairs all the way to the top. Glad I’d trained for that 5k!

Enjoy some photos, including one of the devastation in Chimney Rock – but they are recovering and rebuilding!

The view from our stay – The Lodge on Lake Lure:

Chimney Rock:

Wine tasting at Parker-Bimms Vineyard:

The Biltmore:

What’s the most inspiring feedback you’ve ever received? Ever been to Chimney Rock or The Biltmore?

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group and More Charcuterie

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

April 1 question - If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?

I had a large playlist for my series The Circle of Friends consisting of a lot of love songs (since there is a lot of romance in the stories) and most of them from the 80’s and 90’s. I never did make a playlist for my In Darkness series though.

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Cathrina Constantine has joined the IWSG admins and we welcome her to the team.

Her positive attitude and joyful spirit will be a blessing to all.

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A recent Charcuterie board for a meal – lots of sandwich fixings!

What’s on your playlist?

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group and 5K at Sixty

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

March 4 question - What elements do you include in your book launch? Or what do you have in mind for your future book launch? Or what advice do you have to offer to others planning to launch a book?

Research, research, research! (Exactly what I say in How to Publish and Promote Your Book Now.) Every genre is different and the landscape continues to change. Ultimately, you must reach your target readers. How do you do this? Through Facebook? TikTok? In person? It used to be so much easier but now an author has to work ten times as hard to reach his or her audience.

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I turned sixty last month! Unbelievable. This year was low-key compared to last (lunch with almost 30 friends) - some cool gifts, went out of town, and dinner with friends. (As always, some cool stuff for the garden and kitchen but this year’s theme was noodle cat!)

And…I signed up for my first ever 5K run! I pulled a glute four weeks ago, which set me back a bit. (I had just dropped under 38 minutes for a 5K, too.) But I am determined to build up my strength and endurance and be primed for April and this run. Wish me luck!


What would you suggest for a book launch? Have you ever run a 5k?

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Snowmageddon, Charcuterie, and Turning 60

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

February 4 question - Many writers have written about the experience of rereading their work years later. Have you reread any of your early works? What was that experience like for you?

I have re-read my first series, The Circle of Friends. While I would like to do major rewrites and editing, I will admit, the stories still move me. Especially Sarah, Book II. I sent it in to a Writer’s Digest contest and it received high marks for character development.

Getting a chance to re-read and edit the stories for my In Darkness series before its release was priceless. Love it!

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Snowmageddon, Charcuterie, and Turning 60

Yes, it was a pretty snowy morning on Sunday. We got over 10 inches. However, note the bottom left photo. That pile in the snow is my gazebo which had bamboo lattice on three sides with three vines and multiple plants inside. Flattened. We managed to get it up, saved the plants inside, and tied it off. (Other bottom photo.) New metal arches arriving this week to help prop it up. Then we start removing all the shattered metal pieces from the top and bamboo pieces from the back.

The final charcuterie boards for a while as one of our game night friends is having knee surgery this week and we won’t meet again until March.





And, I turn 60 on the 16th. For my 50th, we went to Universal Studios. Would love to go back since they have a new Minion ride, however – the $4,000-5,000 price tag really put me off.

So, instead, we are getting a walk-in shower next month and later on, I get a trip back to The House on the Rock!!!! If you have never been (or ever heard of the place) it is amazing beyond words. Saw it in 1989 and was simply enthralled. Housing the world’s largest carousel (underground!), an infinity room, an organ room, a room with 250+ dollhouses, etc., it is just incredible. Visit the site for more info. For some really great images though, Google what visitors have posted online as the site itself shares few photos.

What is your experience reading over earlier work? Experienced some serious snow this season or ever visited The House on the Rock?