May flowers

I sent out my Sunday newsletter yesterday with a typo. Please forgive me! I know April showers should bring May flowers (not may flowers).

Also, I sent out my Sunday newsletter yesterday without any news. Just blog posts and promos and author swaps. Again, I beg your pardon. April was a month of rollercoaster emotions, personally and professionally. Today, starts a new month. I hope it is full of loveliness for you and yours.

It is the month that When Ivy Met Adam truly will launch! So, there’s that to look forward to. (Now, I’m ending sentences with prepositions!) Please pre-order When Ivy Met Adam so I have no choice but to launch! 😂

Here’s a little excerpt to keep you thinking about this contemporary romance living rent-free in my brain:

Adam

Early the next morning, I stop by a flower shop so I can put Nelson’s excellent advice to use. 

I quickly find an open-ended maile lei. The shopkeeper explains to me, “For many centuries, leis made from the fragrant leaves of maile have been used to communicate love, respect, enduring devotion.” 

“Enduring devotion sounds about right,” I say to the ancient florist. She’s beautiful in her wisdom and her wrinkles and her muumuu with her graying hair up in a bun. 

“It is customary for the recipient to join the open ends to symbolize the love that weaves you two together,” she says. I must just scream mainlander to this woman—she’s explaining everything to me. But I love it. 

“Mahalo for the lei and for the advice,” I say as I pay for the gorgeous shiny string of leaves. 

“When she is finished with her maile, teach your friend to return it to the earth,” she says. “Many people like to hang it from a tree.”

“Oh, I’ve seen them. Now I know what I was looking at. That is a lovely sentiment. I’ll be sure to tell her.”

“When you tell her you love her, tell her how much you need her in your life going forward. Do not focus only on the past.”

My jaw drops. “More excellent advice,” I say after a long pause. “Mahalo nui.”

“Aloha. Bye bye.” She shoos me out of the store. Guess she gave me all the advice she had. Huh.