Like most authors, I’ve always written stories. And as a young child, my sister and I played Librarian because books and our library were a big part of growing up. In the mid-80’s I wrote my first children’s story, sent it in to Highlights for Children and sold it. “This is a piece of cake,” I foolishly told my husband. As I now say, I’ve had a lot of pieces of humble pie since then. After selling a couple of short stories, I decided last year to self-publish, and I’m so happy I did!
I love writing novels about strong women facing challenges and finding love along the way. BABY TALK, my eleventh book (four for kids and seven for adults) came out in October. After reading The Hartwell Women Trilogy – The Talking Tree, Sweet Talk and Straight Talk–readers wanted more stories about these women. I listened to them and wrote BABY TALK. Now they want more again. In the future, Crazy Talk and Tough Talk will be written for them.
I’m happy to write sequels to books because I, like my readers, love my characters. I’m presently working on SASSY SATURDAYS, which is a follow-up to my novel FAT FRIDAYS.
Readers want more about the characters in Breakfast at the Beach House Hotel, and after Sassy Saturdays is out early next year, I will begin Lunch at the Beach House Hotel. So you can see I’m very busy, but I love making my readers happy. The connection with them is priceless.
On a clear, warm June day, I stood on the front porch of the house I now owned, staring out at the Maine coastline with a sigh of gratitude. I did this as often as I could. For me, taking a moment to appreciate all I’d been given had become a morning ritual I treasured.
In front of me, the blue-gray water met the sandy shore with a moist kiss, reared back like a shy lover then, tempted for more, embraced the shore again. Gulls cried out, swooped down and lifted up in the air in unending musical acrobatics. A few large rocks, precursors of the rockier coastline down east, protruded from the water’s surface like sea creatures wanting a peek at the world.
Almost two years ago the sandy beach had hosted one of the most important events of my life. Even now my pulse quickened at the memory of Brad saying “I do” and sweeping me into an embrace that drew applause. The simplicity of the ceremony had touched the hearts of everyone. What a wonderful day that had been! I still felt the thrill of belonging to his family and mine—the family I’d discovered after a lonely childhood. Thinking of the group gathered there, I thought how lucky I was and smiled up at the sun, letting its warmth wash over me.
Thank you for allowing me to share a bit of my story.
Readers of the Hartwell Women Trilogy asked for more. I listened. Baby Talk is Book 4.
When Marissa Crawford and her husband Brad decide to start a family, Marissa has serious doubts about her ability to be a good mother–she was raised by one of the worst. Torn between telling Brad the truth and hoping she doesn’t get pregnant, Marissa’s life is completely upended when a baby girl is left in a basket on the front porch of her large home in Maine. Caring for the baby given specifically to Brad and her, Marissa must decide what her role in life is all about. Attempting to overcome her past, she’s faced with agonizing decisions. As she opens her heart to those who need her, she is challenged in unexpected ways and discovers a joy greater than she’s ever known.
My website: http://www.judithkeim.com/
My Amazon Website is: http://www.amazon.com/Judith-Keim/e/B00THNL4VA/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
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