Month: May 2026

Blog

Warning Sounds

ellenparkerwrites

May in the American Midwest means many different things.

In among the various Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and graduation celebrations are other, less noticed dates. Various crops or flowers are planted, or in the more Southern portions, gathered for bouquets.

The month also brings storms. The year I was eleven, a tornado came through on a sunny Saturday and damaged much property. (No people were injured.) More recently — a tornado damaged portions of St. Louis. (Unfortunately, people did die.)

So during May, keep your ears tuned. Unlike when I was eleven, many communities in the Midwest now have warning systems — often sirens — in addition to alerts sent to your phone.

Fog Horns

Audio warnings are not new. These fog horns at Split Rock Lighthouse in Minnesota were activated at the times the light may not have been visible. “Stay off the rocks. You’re getting too close to shore.”

Dogs provide a different sort of warning system in the fictional village of Crystal Springs. Visitors to Big Cat Farm are announced by one or more German shepherds in the wholesome romance, SEED OF DESIRE. The animals also demonstrate a good indicator of the visitor’s character. Check out the book at the link: https://amzn.to/2RDFgxH

Blog

Going Home?

ellenparkerwrites

Two words. Rather simple. Both are words in an early reader’s vocabulary.

But they are far from simple.

How do you say them? With joy? Dread? Where’s home? Is is the place you currently live? A home you grew up in? A place? Or a group of people?

Often, when I meet a new person, they will ask where I’m from. Do they want to know where I live now? Or where I grew up? Are they the same?

When I first became serious with my writing, I remembered the advice to “write what you know.” This turned into digging into memories of my childhood and combining them with more current aspects gained from visits “home.”

If you enjoy small-town stories — perhaps because you have good memories from one or more — you may enjoy this trio of sweet romance. Visit Crystal Springs, Wisconsin (you won’t find it on a map) and discover hard-working people in a variety of occupations.

Here’s a link to the first one published: Starr Tree Farm. https://amzn.to/2zqIQEw

Blog

All Together

ellenparkerwrites

Does your family do reunions? Are plans made for everyone, local and from a distance, to gather in the same place at the same time? Perhaps a picnic in a park with a reserved shelter near a playground, or lake, or softball field.

Today I present a different sort of reunion, represented in the photo below.

Six titles published via The Wild Rose Press over a decade. Looks like I missed the goal of one each year. On the other side of that statement — I believe each book contains an interesting story. St. Louis romance with a drop of suspense? Check out Stare Down at the following link. http://amzn.to/1LXiTwP

Are you looking for seasoned, or mature, characters? Check out the trio of Morning Tryst, Comfort Zone, and Fine Lines.

Or perhaps you’ve been hankering for an American historical. How does an Illinois river town in the 1850’s sound to you? This was a time of great change due to immigration, arrival of the railroads, and tension centered on slavery. I suggest either New Dreams or Stitching a Dream. Here’s the link to the first: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

If you live in or near St. Louis, look for me and this selection of titles at selected craft shows — exact shows will be highlighted on my FaceBook page close to the event. All titles are available 24/7 at your favorite on-line retailer.

ENJOY!!!