For as long as I can remember, I have liked to read and listen to the many stories my mom shared with me. When I got older, I wrote my own little stories and soon found out that my friends enjoyed hearing them. To this day, I always have a pencil and paper close by to jot down my thoughts and ideas. Sometimes I get up in the middle of the night and start writing.  When I retired a couple of years ago, I became serious about writing a book and having it published. My first book, Help came from a Stranger was published in 2008 by Dorrance Publishing and ranked #6 on that publisher's bestseller list within two months. My newest mystery, Weekend Retreat, was just released by Tate Publishing.