Postcards from Sicily

I’ve been a little quiet on the posting front lately — that’s because I’ve been tucked away on a beautiful, sun-soaked island, chasing inspiration and eating my way through a few excellent pastry counters.

Sicily gave me everything I was hoping for: time to write, places to wander, and stories whispering from every ancient stone. And the pastries at La Martorana in Palermo? Tiny works of art.

A few favorite moments:

• Got wonderfully lost looking for wine, and ended up at a stranger’s table with salami, focaccia, and eight new friends. Sicily’s like that.
• Roamed Palermo’s golden chapels and buzzing markets, collecting scenes for future stories.
• Finished a first draft (!) and toasted it with local vino and a big exhale.

Some of you followed along on Instagram and Facebook — thank you for all the comments and sweet messages! If you missed those posts, I’ve included a few favorites below (click on each for the full post).

What’s Ahead …

I just hit “send” on the very first draft of Twix — the story that started scurrying around in my head (and heart) years ago, and really came to life during these past few months. It’s now safely in the hands of my wonderful editor, Kristin Rens at HarperCollins.

While Kristin reads, I’m taking a tiny breather… clearing off my desk, catching up on emails, and sipping endless cups of Darjeeling. But soon, it’ll be time to roll up my sleeves and dive into the revision process. This first draft of Twix is just that — a first draft. It’s rough, it’s raw, and there’s a lot of work ahead to shape it into its final form.

That said, this story has been living inside me for a long time, and now it feels so very real to me (watch my video for the details). Twix is a sweet, funny, anxious, deeply loyal little rat who’s found himself on a perilous journey all over (and under) New York City to save his big brother — and I just adore him. I’m looking forward to getting his story polished to perfection, and then I hope you’ll come along for the ride!

In The Shop: More from The Tea Rose Saga

If you’re a Tea Rose Saga fan, and you haven’t yet read the Rose Petals, now’s a lovely time to curl up with one.

Both Molly’s Letter and Where Roses Fall — my novella-length stories that dive deeper into the world of The Tea Rose and The Winter Rose — are available in hardcover and paperback wherever you like to buy books. And if you order from my online shop, I’ll sign them for you!

These stories have been such a joy to return to. I’ve missed Fiona, Joe, Sid, India, Willa, Seamie, and so many others — and I’m just now starting work on the third Rose Petal, which takes us back into the world of The Wild Rose. I can’t wait to share more soon!