Spring

That is one good thing about this world… there are always sure to be more springs.” – L.M. Montgomery

April in North Carolina is glorious. The mornings begin cool, the sun warms the day, and the humidity is low. It’s nothing short of perfect. The vibrant colors are sensational. My first spring in North Carolina, I texted my mom and sister a photo. The caption read, “My city is draped in wisteria.” When the wisteria fades, phlox bursts onto the scene. Azaleas are next to bloom, and I could drive around the hills and trees for hours mesmerized by all the different colors, shapes, and styles. I can be found crouching down over my flower beds studying the soil, looking for the bulbs and tubers poking out of the ground in April. The growing season is so long here, and the bees and butterflies have found a home in my yard.

When nicolefrailbooks announced a book cover contest and one of the covers had ballet shoes, white dahlias, and butterflies on it, I found myself drafting a story the very next day. I wrote, revised, had several people critique, revised again, and I changed the ending at the very last minute. I submitted my short story and waited. (This is always the hardest part.) I became enamored with my story about an injured collegiate ballerina who spends the summer observing the metamorphosis of a butterfly while falling in love for the first time. I decided that if I didn’t win, I was going to try self-publishing my short story as an e-book.

Last week, I received the fantastic news that I won the cover story contest, and now my life is full of edits, revisions, marketing, advertising the release with mood boards and trope reels, and all the things that go into publishing a short story.

I hope you’ll read my short story, “Northern Blues.” It will be released on June 2, 2026. It’s available for pre-order now for $0.99 in e-book format. https://books2read.com/northernblues

There’s not much in life you can buy for less than a dollar these days. Enjoy!