Month: January 2020

Book Review – The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley

Some books envelop me in their own distinctive atmosphere and they are the ones I love the most. I recently discovered a new (to me) author, Susanna Kearsley. Her book, The Firebird, wrapped me in its warmth from start to finish like a beloved quilt on a cool winter day. Nicola, the protagonist, is a modern woman working as a fine art dealer. She has a secret. She sees visions of the past when she touches an object. Afraid to reveal her psychometric ability, she works hard to hide her gift and appear normal. Until one object and its owner stirs her heart. She wants to help the woman but doubts her ability to trace the provenance on her own, so she enlists the help of Rob, a former boyfriend.

The book takes Nicola and Rob on a journey through time to places where the original owner of the art piece lived. Interweaving the modern-day couple’s love story with that of Anna, the woman in Nicola’s original vision, the book gives the reader two love stories to follow.

I must admit that I never enjoyed history classes but found myself riveted to the story of Jacobites in 1710 in Ireland, Scotland, Calais, and later in Peter the Great’s Russia, especially St. Petersburg. Kearsley has a knack of bringing the old cities to life and juxtaposing them against the modern metropolises they’ve become.

I did not want the story to end, and will be reading everything Kearsley has written. I highly recommend The Firebird to historical romance fans.

Have a favorite romance book? Shoot me a reply by email, and I’ll put it on my list of things to read and perhaps review.

Thanks, and as always,

Happy Reading Happy Writing

Shirley Holder Platt

Am I good enough?

Photo by Hello I’m Nik 🇬🇧 on Unsplash

Am I good enough? If you are like me, you’ve asked this of yourself many times. Most of us ask it at one time or another, but creative souls seem to ask at some point during each creation. In the life of a novelist, the question often comes up right around the middle of a story. An idea comes, the first of the story flows, it practically writes itself, you know how it will end, but the middle? It wants to drag or sag. It’s been called the saggy middle by many, and when we hit it, many of us begin to doubt ourselves. We ask questions like: will I ever be able to pull out of these doldrums? How can I keep the momentum of the story going? And the inevitable, am I good enough?

If you suffer from self-doubt, please know that you are not alone. And remember that the answer is, “yes, you are good enough.” I believe that the desire to tell a story is innate in the human makeup. We learn by listening to the tales of those who’ve gone before us. A mystery enthralls us. We can’t take our eyes off a dramatic scene on the screen. The fact that you want to write means you’re probably a natural-born storyteller. If you’re feeling self-doubt, it’s normal. But it doesn’t have to rule you or stop your flow. Here are some ways to overcome those feelings of inadequacy.

  • 1. And this is the biggest of them all – Never compare yourself to another person. We all have individual talents, processes, and timing. You’re unique. Embrace it.
  • 2. Don’t let it stop you. Remember, we all feel this way at times. To succeed, you must feel the emotion but move through it. Either continue writing your story or take a few minutes to write in your journal. Whichever you choose, keep writing.
  • 3. When you realize you are thinking negatively about yourself or your talent, tell yourself to stop those thoughts. Replace them with memories of times you have overcome obstacles, been successful, received compliments.
  • 4. Keep a journal of your successes and open it anytime self-doubt creeps in.
  • 5. Read books and listen to audio presentations that engender optimism.
  • 6. Continue to learn your craft. Study story structure, grammar, pacing, characterization, dialogue. Read books, attend workshops, watch podcasts, or take a class. There are myriad free resources for writers online, at your public library. Take advantage of the tools at your disposal.


Beverly Sills, a woman with a world-renowned singing voice, once said, “You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.”

The world is waiting to hear your unique voice. Don’t let self-doubt paralyze you. I genuinely believe that you are good enough. If you’ve got the desire and have perseverance, you can overcome self-doubt.


If you have had success with other ways to overcome the “I’m not good enough,” voice, let me know!

Thanks, and Happy Reading   –    Happy Writing

Shirley Holder Platt

January 17, 2020

2020 – New Year, New Vision

It’s 2020 – new year, new vision – filled with opportunity and hope. I’m not one to make resolutions, but I do make plans. Before that, though, I take a look back at the year gone by to see what I accomplished and where I can do better. One of the things I did in 2019 was, I published another book in my Lover’s Moon series called Moon Dance. I also wrote the drafts of two more books and a novella: 1. book three in the Sandy Shores series called Return to Sandy Shores; 2. Sea-renity on Sandy Shores is a novella that will be available by the end of this month and; 3 book one in the new Hart Brothers series called Rescuing Zeke.

In 2019, I decided that I’d keep track of all the books I read. Some of you have asked what I read. The answer is, a lot in many categories/genres. My list for last year includes 200 books. I’ll not bore you with the whole list, but thought it would be fun to tell you my favorites in different categories, so here goes:

  • Beach Read: All Summer Long by Dorothea Benton Frank
  • Christian: Ninety-Nine Signs by Elizabeth Haxby
  • Classics: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
  • Contemporary Romance: Moonshine Kisses by Lucy Score and Claire Kingsley
  • Comedy: Shove Your Mince Pie, Harry Christmas by Johnny Parker
  • Cowboys: Lone Star Protector by Jennie Jones
  • Cozy Mystery: Murder on the Road by Adriana Licio
  • Cozy Mystery Comedy: Jammed by Deany Ray
  • Dystopia: Reactance: A DiaZem Novella by Dacia M. Arnold
  • Fantasy: Alizarin Crimson by Erica Millard
  • Foodie Novel: Love Muffin and Chai Latte by Anya Wilde
  • Ghosts and Witches Fantasy: Cauldron Bubble by Wendy Knight
  • History: The Greatest Knight by Thomas Ashbridge
  • Horror: The Pain Colony by Shanon Hunt
  • Literature: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
  • Local Author: Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center
  • Nonfiction: The Hooligans of Kandahar by Joe Kassabian
  • Poetry: Why I Wake Early by Mary Oliver
  • Science Fiction: Nomads, Nicholas Erik
  • Short Story: Once Upon a Coffee by Kait Nolan
  • Women’s Fiction: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
  • Zombies and Ghouls: Road to Babylon series by Sam Sisavath

I sincerely hope your 2020 will be full of love, light, and that you’ll make many happy memories to look back on in 2021.

Happy Reading!

Shirley Holder Platt