“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.”
― Douglas Adams, The Salmon of Doubt: Hitchhiking the Galaxy One Last Time​

Hello Readers,

For any of you that may be suffering in the California wildfires, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your families. I hope everyone gets to safety and that these terrible fires are extinguished soon.

My area of the world was challenged by the exact opposite of fire, ice. When kids were supposed to be going back to school and I was supposed to be starting my new job, we were hit with a massive ice storm that knocked out power for thousands for days. I woke up last Monday morning to get ready for my first new job in nearly 20 years and within about 10 minutes of getting up, the power went out. And it didn't come back on for about 37 hours. Not nearly the tragedy of the California wildfires but it was not an ideal start to the new year. Thankfully, we are back to normal now, but I'm hoping it is not a foreshadowing of what is to come this winter.

As I said, I started a new job last week. I worked for the same company for nearly 20 years. When I started, my husband and I were newlyweds with no kids living in a small two-story, two-bedroom townhouse. Thinking back on it, I can't imagine what we had to be stressed about in those days. At the end of 2024, I decided to make a change and left that company. I started a new job last week and am trying to learn all new processes, people, and work. So, that is my longish excuse for announcing that I will not be able to publish Something to Fight For on Valentine's Day as I had planned. I will publish it this year but I don't have a new deadline yet.

In the meantime, I will keep you updated on progress in The Hoot, on the Night Owl Stories Facebook page, and on my author site, www.nightowlstories.com.

The Bookshelf

Please help support my fellow indie authors. The Hoot is featuring the books below to keep you entertained during the short days and long nights of winter. You will find a variety of books featured, some naughty, some nice, some action and adventure, some mystery, all of them created by authors working hard to get their stories out there for readers like you to enjoy.

​Welcome to Serenity Springs: A Small Town, Age Gap, Vacation Romance (Vacation Romance In Serenity Springs Series) by Bertie Stein​ “The moment I stepped into Serenity Springs, I knew...”​ ​ Serenity Springs, the perfect place to escape the chaos of city life. It was until my vacation was quickly disrupted by the charming yet grumpy Jack Robinson. From the moment we met I knew I had to break the exterior of this hardened, unkempt, yet infatuating gentleman. When Jack mistook me for a business investor I decided to play along hoping to learn more about him. ​ One thing was for sure… he wasn’t going to willingly give me an in. But did I take the game too far? I didn’t realize his fears and trust issues ran so deep, and my sleuthing into his past may have just cost me the first meaningful relationship I ever had. It’s up to me to fix our relationship no matter the cost. ​ I love Jack and want a future with him, I just pray it is not too late for us. ​ ​Welcome to Serenity Springs is a heart-warming, closed-door, stand-alone romance and the first in the Vacation Romance at Serenity Springs Series. Emma and Jack’s story is one of second chances and overcoming demons of the past to get to their HEA. Buy Now

Crossroads Diner Menu

​Snow Ice Cream​ Created by Lil'MadSavy on Allrecipes.com​ In honor of the winter season, try out this simple recipe for snow ice cream. Fun and easy and something that can be done when the power is out! Get Recipe