A Collection of Barbies

Barbies hanging out together on the French Riviera

Imagine how I felt when I came across these Barbie dolls (and a few Kens) sitting or lounging on a vendor’s table, just steps from the Mediterranean Sea in the south of France while I was there during a holiday weekend in May.

Quelle trésor! (What a treasure!)

No, I’m not a Barbie collector, but a character in my new thriller THE BARBIE KILLER is–sort of. The Barbies in the photo were taken out of their original boxes long ago, I suspect. However, they look newer than the Barbie (and the Skipper and Midge) my sister and I played with when we were young. Like the ones my daughter had when she was little, they are wearing a variety of outfits, lots of different hairstyles, and lots of pink. But none have on the slim houndstooth skirt or red shoes worn by the Barbie on the cover of my novel.

THE BARBIE KILLER was published on March 31, 2026 in print and on Kindle by Red Adept Publishing, and is also available in Kindle Unlimited. Its launch at my local bookstore, Story & Song, was a smashing success: We had a packed house, and the store sold out of books that day. You can order copies there or at any bookstore, and once you pick it up, you won’t be able to put it down–I promise.

A recent reviewer described it as “a fast-paced psychological thriller that blends small-town paranoia, buried secrets, and serial-killer suspense into an entertaining, highly readable mystery.”

Another said: “The suspense grabs you from page one, and the tension steadily builds as the narrative shifts between the tortured thinking of the killer and the creepy coldness of the men and women who inhabit the superficially ‘normal’ Midwestern town where the book is set.”

Although pink isn’t my favorite, I love color, as you can tell by the dress I’m wearing here. And color is everywhere in the south of France, especially during the month of May. I don’t think the collection of Barbie dolls in THE BARBIE KILLER includes a French one, but I could be wrong. But I do know that there’s an assortment of them, new and old.

To find out why, well, you’ll just have to read the book!

May 22, 2026 1

A small town’s dark secret, and the truth about publishing

They may sound unrelated, yet on Saturday February 28, I’ll be speaking about both at this year’s Amelia Island Book Festival, held at Fernandina Beach Middle School in Fernandia Beach, Florida — and I’ll connect the dots.

That morning at 10:00, I will participate in a panel titled “Demystifying Today’s Publishing Options” moderated by Linda R. Sexton, author of The Branches We Cherish: An Open Adoption Memoir. Then, that afternoon from 1:00 to 2:30, I’ll appear along with other members of writers’ organization Amelia Island Writers, a chapter of Florida Writers Association, to talk about my upcoming thriller The Barbie Killer and sign copies of my other novels.

Here’s a short description of my new novel, which will be released on March 31 and is currently available (and “sale-priced”) on Preorder in Kindle format on Amazon:

“A job transfer uproots Dolly Garner’s family from Atlanta to the sleepy, small town of Huntington, Kansas, where safety seems like a given. But weeks after their arrival, a violent crime shocks the community, and the town’s dark secret is out: A serial killer lives in their midst and has been preying on the women of Huntington for decades. As paranoia surges and the line between neighbor and predator blurs, Dolly realizes she can’t trust anyone in this town. Inspired by true events, this twist-filled thriller will leave you breathless until the final page.”

If Kindle isn’t your thing (or even if it is), please attend my Book Launch at Story & Song Bookstore and Center for Arts and Culture on Tuesday March 31 at 4:00, where I will discuss the novel and answer questions about it. The event is complimentary, and wine and snacks will be served.

Back to the festival, where I will appear on the panel along with authors Linda R. Sexton, Jane Buyers, Ralph DeFalco, and Tom Hitchcock to give you the skinny on the publishing industry and describe our own paths to publication. We will talk frankly about the pros and cons of today’s publishing options, offer clarity and insights, and share the lessons we have learned along the way. Don’t miss it!

February 15, 2026 2

Book Launch of The Barbie Killer

The official book launch of my new thriller The Barbie Killer will be on its release date, Tuesday March 31, 2026, at Story & Song Bookstore and Center for Arts and Culture in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Please join me there that day at 4 pm for a discussion about the novel and to pick up a signed copy. The event is complimentary, and wine and snacks will be served.

When Dolly Garner’s husband is transferred to the small town of Huntington, Kansas, she hates the thought of uprooting their young family and starting over a thousand miles away. But after a year of living on savings and credit cards after Tim’s previous lay-off, refusing to move is out of the question. So they sell their home, pack their bags, and focus on the positives: wholesome Midwestern values, a lower cost of living, and less crime.

But Dolly’s first impressions are not good. The people seem standoffish, unfriendly, and tight-lipped. The women she meets are materialistic and obsessed with status. More unsettling, Dolly learns that years ago, a brutal murder took place on the property where her family’s home now stands, and the case was never solved.

When a violent crime shocks the community, the town secret is out: A serial killer is on the loose and preying on the women of Huntington. As paranoia surges and the line between neighbor and predator blurs, Dolly realizes she can’t trust anyone in this town.

Inspired by true events, this twist-filled thriller will leave you breathless until the final page.

February 5, 2026 0

My Upcoming Novel Moves Closer to Publication

What happens when a family moves to a Midwestern town where no one breathes a word about a serial murderer on the loose? THE BARBIE KILLER

My next thriller will be published by Red Adept Publishing early next year. Inspired by true events—much more so than any of my previous novels—this book took longer to write than they did. As its release date approaches, I couldn’t be more excited or prouder of it. Here’s an update about what’s been happening and where things stand:

Several weeks ago, I finished working with my Content Editor to revise and polish the novel. This collaborative process involved focusing on elements like pacing and plot twists, and reimagining key scenes, characters and their relationships. Because of my editor’s spot on suggestions and expert direction, the finished story is much stronger and more compelling.

Then I was contacted by a talented cover artist at Red Adept, who sought specific input from me about the cover design. She explained the entire process, asked for my ideas and preferences, and soon shared a draft cover design for my review. The final cover hasn’t been decided yet, but I look forward to seeing it and sharing it with you.

The next step is the Line Edit, a detailed process to polish the prose and eliminate any errors. That process will be followed by proofreading, the last editorial step before publication. I’ll share more updates as the release date draws closer, including cover reveals, sneak previews, and all the details about launch events. Stay tuned!

September 28, 2025 0