Nothing Like Birthing a New Book

 Ask any author. There is no rush like the rush of having a new book go live. Today my 53rd book published. It never gets old. Writing is truly a labor of love, or it should be. If it's just a labor, you're either doing it wrong or shouldn't be doing it at all. Writing requires passion and a love for telling a good story. Even though it is work, it should be fun. At least this is my perspective. When writing is no longer fun, when it takes more than it gives back, I'll no doubt stop. But until that happens, I'll keep riding the wave of the rush I get from seeing that next book publish.

And here it is--that next book. Troublemaker is a romantic comedy that's sure to give you a chuckle and maybe even elicit a tear or two.

Cassidy Devlin is good at her job brokering business mergers and acquisitions. She gets the big promotion she thinks she wants, but she can’t celebrate having destroyed someone else’s dream to get there. She walks away and goes to the only place she’s been that gives her a sense of peace. 

Dr. Colton Tillman was a partner in a well-established pediatric medical practice in Philadelphia and engaged to marry. His life was falling into place. Until his fiancée sleeps with his business partner, then the same business partner sells out their practice to a large medical system. Colton returns to his hometown to lick his wounds and let his mother pamper him while he finds a way to start over. 

When their attempts to start over collide, Cass proves to be nothing but trouble for Colton. But it turns out, a little trouble can make life interesting.

Available at Amazon.com and at Smashwords.com

Reader's House Literary Magazine Interview

What a gift it was to get the email notice on Mother's Day of this posted article and interview in Reader's House Literary Magazine (UK). I am over the moon.

"Linda Rettstatt stands as a luminous force in contemporary literature, weaving together tales that resonate deeply with readers’ hearts and souls. As an award-winning and bestselling author, she triumphantly bridges the genres of women’s fiction, romance—both contemporary and later-in-life—suspense, regional historical fiction, and light paranormal storytelling. Her accolades speak volumes, with outstanding novels such as Love, Sam and Ladies in Waiting earning prestigious recognition through the EPIC eBook Awards. Celebrating the remarkable milestone of her 50th published book in August 2024, Linda has firmly established herself as a gifted storyteller whose works explore the profound depth of human emotions, relationships, and reinvention.

What makes Linda’s writing truly exceptional is her ability to breathe life into her characters, crafting individuals with complexities, flaws, and redeeming qualities that mirror the intricacies of real life. Whether it’s the diverse group of women in Ladies in Waiting, each with their poignant secrets and powerful journeys, or the themes of forgiveness and unconditional love masterfully explored in Unconditional, Linda’s stories are a testament to her understanding of the human psyche. Her background in social work and psychotherapy adds a distinctive emotional richness to her narratives, enabling her to artfully delve into the motivations, vulnerabilities, and triumphs of her characters."           

                                               Reader’s House Literary Magazine – 10 May, 2025

Read the full interview here: Reader's House Interview

And Then They Came for the Libraries

 I try to keep my professional social media pages and this blog free of politics. But nothing is safe right now. If you don't want to proceed, then have a great day. It doesn't matter which political position you take, you can't be oblivious to what has been happening in our country. One of the things targeted to get the ax is federal funding for libraries. This, along with the hatchet job on the Department of Education, speaks volumes about the administration's values for education and learning.

Libraries are not just shelves of books to be checked out, read, and returned. Libraries provide a haven for people who need assistance of all types--computer access (and sometimes classes on computer use), social gatherings in book clubs or for arts & crafts programs, opportunities to meet authors who inspire and entertain, and a source of information on resources to improve lives. There's probably much more. In some neighborhoods, the library is a safe place for children to gather and learn and to socialize.

Libraries are mostly funded by city and county taxes. Federal funding helps pay for things like workforce training, supports pilot programs and basic services such as computer and internet access, particularly in rural areas. Eliminating this funding will seriously impact the services available through our libraries.

As a child, I spent many hours in my local public library. It's still standing mostly as it was back in the fifties, but with a new room addition to serve teens and provide services to the community. The love of reading was instilled in me there, as was the opportunity to be a part of a teen community service group that met there. This little library played a big role in shaping who I am today. And it continues to do so in my hometown.

The Brownsville (PA) Free Public Library

Now, I can't begin to explain this war on education and learning. Nothing makes much sense to me right now. So, what can we do? Get involved. Support your local library. Write and call your representatives and senators and plead--no, demand--they work to protect libraries. To me, at least, the public library stands as the last bastion of civility in our society. Don't let this be taken away from us, and especially not from our children.