Hey y’all.

I’ve hinted at some news for quite a while. For the last year, I’ve wrestled with whether I wanted to continue in a long-time contract I’ve been in that brought a decent wage and that I thoroughly enjoyed until the last few years. Many changes happened at this 11-year job during that time.

I'm sometimes loyal to a fault, I geniunely liked the people I worked with, and I remembered how much I once loved the job. I was going to end the contract last year, but decided to stay. Unfortunately, a final change came about recently that forced me to finally make a decision. The company is going to have AI write articles and wanted the copywriters to essentially work with the generated AI (aka, also train their AI models).

I could go into all the reasons this was abhorent to me as a writer of 30+ years, and the many ways I believe it will harm the company in the long run, but I won’t. Instead, I’ll say that I truly appreciate the experiences I had there. I will miss my coworkers and the job it once was. I will miss the income for sure. I learned a lot while there. At the end of the day, if we don’t keep to our principles, what do we really have? I made the very tough decision to leave.

I have to give a shout out here to my good friend JoAnn Durgin for listening to me endlessly wrestle with this decision and always being in my corner, praying for my decision and encouraging me. And Lisa Prysock also lended an ear and answered my questions about some fiction writing moves I’m thinking about making. I am so blessed to have such good writer friends.

It was emotionally, professionally and financially difficult to make this move. I appreciate all your thoughts and prayers as I navigate the journey of turning the page and beginning a new chapter. You could also buy my stories to help convince me it wasn’t a mistake. LOL

What Does the Next Chapter Hold?

So, what will I be doing with this newfound freedom, you might ask. First, I do have clients I’ve kept for years through my SoardPro business (recently renamed). I’ll continue working with them. I also have a local freelance contract that I enjoy very much and is a different type of work that doesn’t exhaust the creative side of my brain. It is with a company I worked at years ago, so I know some of the people there and enjoy working alongside them on their mission.

The main change is that I will be spending more time on my fiction writing. Making the decision to leave my long-time contract instantly freed my creative side. I believe God sends me many of my ideas. He is the greatest creator after all, so it makes sense He would feed us ideas.

You’ll see new books, new epistolary letters (two done and another in the works, but I have to pause for upcoming releases that need final edits and formatting) and new short stories for Clean Fiction Magazine.

I hope you love these tales as much as I do. I try to pray for the one reader God wants to reach with each story. If it touches more hearts than that, then I am thrilled.

Fairy Tales

As I turn the page into the next part of my story, I was excited it happened while I was on vacation at Disney World. Those of you who follow me know that I enjoy taking regular trips to the parks with my family. I took a trip with my little grandgirl this time. I’m not sure what it is, but I am a different person there. It brings back the nostalgia of childhood and all the happy memories of growing up and believing that impossible things could happen. It is also a place where I honeymooned, where I took my children and now my grands.

I have always loved fairy tales, and I like the way Disney puts a unique spin on these old tales. Last year, I released a story titled Meringue Melody, that was inspired by The Little Mermaid story, and the core of that tale about longing for another world and finding your place. This year, I finished my first fairy tale inspired story for my epistolary series Fairy Tales. Here is a trailer so you can see a little of what it’s about.

I just got in the most gorgeous bookmarks that will go out in letter 2 with each series. I can’t wait to share them with my subscribers. You’re going to love them. You can purchase the letters here: https://mailboxmonologues.com/stories

I can’t wait to introduce you to my next epistolary story, but it will have to wait until fall as I’m deep in formatting for Mildred Wiggins, book 1 and final edits on Gunpowder and Promises. The books release July 6th and August 11th. You can buy both right now at a discount on pre-order.

Preorder Murder on Mulberry Lane

Preorder Gunpowder and Promises

Speaking of the mail-order brides series, all the books are on preorder for only $1.99 for a few more weeks.

Check out the Series!

Live Chat Coming in July!

I announced previously some of the things I’m adding for any paid subscribers on Substack. I’ll be starting a monthly live chat in July. I may open it to free subscribers, too, at least for a while. So, if you are on Substack, I’d love to have you join me. If you aren’t on there, come hang out. It’s free.

Reader Appreciation

I hope you all know how much I love each and every one of you. I have several new subscribers, and I’m looking forward to getting to know you better. Please drop me a comment, reach out and let’s chat like the old friends I know we’ll become.

As a thank you, I am going to hold a contest. If you make a comment on this post/newsletter, I will enter you for a chance to win a signed paperback copy of Murder on Mulberry Lane when it releases. I’ll also throw in one of these gorgeous bookmarks and some other goodies.

If you aren’t on Substack, you can just reply and send me a short note about yourself. Tell me what you like to read, your favorite dish at your favorite restaurant, or your most beloved fairy tale.

Until next time!

Hey y’all!

I hope this note finds you with a good cup of something warm, a quiet corner and maybe a few minutes to breathe before the next thing asks for your attention. It’s been nonstop raining here in Southern Indiana for about 10 days straight. Although everything is a brilliant green, it is soggy. I am a person who enjoys sunshine, so I’m looking forward to a break in this weather. If it doesn’t stop soon, I may have to build an ark.

First, I have a fun announcement.

The winner of the Mildred Wiggins book giveaway is Susan Holcomb! The book releases on July 6th, so watch for an email with the prize attached.

Congratulations, Susan. I hope Mildred, her small-town sleuthing and Sir Alphonse Beauregard Clucksworth III bring you plenty of smiles. Thank you to everyone who entered. I always love seeing readers get excited about my fictional worlds, especially when those worlds include opinionated roosters, suspicious neighbors and the kind of small-town secrets that never stay buried for long. I so appreciate every word of encouragement you send my way. It means the world to me!

Speaking of stories that arrive with a little extra charm, I also wanted to remind you about Mailbox Monologues.

This project has become such a bright spot for me creatively. The idea is simple but delightful: stories delivered in a way that feels slower, richer and more personal than another message flashing across a screen. Think letters, clues, keepsake-style inserts and stories you can experience one envelope at a time.

I’m currently offering two story worlds for Mailbox Monologues: one tied to Mildred Wiggins and her cozy small-town mysteries, and another with a more romantic, enchanted feel. The first lineup in that series is inspired by my favorite fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast. Of course, I have quite the twist to the tale, though. My hope is to create something that feels like opening a secret door in your mailbox. A little escape. A little mystery. A little beauty tucked between the bills and grocery ads.

I’ll be sharing more details soon, but for now, you can expect stories that feel collectible, cozy and just a bit magical in the old-fashioned sense of wonder.

On the life front, things here have been full and a little scattered, which probably describes most writers’ lives if we’re being honest. I’ve been juggling writing projects, family, deadlines, ideas that show up at inconvenient times and the ordinary little tasks that somehow multiply when you turn your back.

But in the middle of all that, I keep coming back to the same truth: stories matter. The stories we share with our cherished friends, the bedtime tales told to a grandchild, the family memories wrapped in storytelling, and the shared moments on social media or spoken over breakfast with a good friend.

Sometimes writing looks romantic from the outside. A desk. A candle. A perfect sentence appearing as if it floated down from heaven on a feather.

In real life, it often looks more like reheated food, scribbled notes, laundry buzzing in the background and a character refusing to behave or refusing to leave me alone until I tell her story (Mildred, I’m pointing at you).

And yet, that is part of what I love about it. I had almost forgotten how writing changes who I am in the world. How it resonates in my soul. I made some tough decisions recently about things taking up a lot of my time and the next day I had at least 11 good ideas I had to jot down or record into my notes on my phone. I would no sooner tell Siri to take a note than another idea would drop into my brain.

Writing lets me gather all the small things: the front porch conversations, the funny church-lady comments, the back-road memories, the tender moments, the grief, the laughter, the strange little details people miss when they’re moving too fast. Then I get to tuck them into stories and offer them back to readers in a way that says, “Look. There’s still beauty here.”

That’s the kind of writer I want to be.

I want to write stories that feel like coming home. Stories with faith, humor, hope and people who are still learning how to forgive, love bravely and notice grace in ordinary places. I want to touch your hearts, make you feel better about a tough situation, and let you know you aren’t alone in this big, crazy, achingly beautiful world.

Thank you for being here with me as I build these worlds one page, one letter and one slightly suspicious rooster at a time.

Until next time,

Lori

P.S. If you’re excited about Mailbox Monologues, keep an eye out. I’m trying to figure out how to offer these to my international readers in a way that makes sense for them and me and is affordable. I’ve asked for some additional feedback from some dear readers and am hoping to figure out the best method.

P.P.S. I head to my happy place soon with my little grandgirl, so stay tuned for photos and updates.

P.P.P.S. I love you all. God adores you. The very hairs on your hairs on your head are numbered. He watches over the sparrow, so I know He watches over each of you and me.

Hey y’all! Everything is coming up Mildred these days. If you follow me on Substack or Facebook, you’ve likely seen memes and heard her name a few dozen times recently. When I first started the Mildred Wiggins stories, she would not leave me alone. While I enjoy ready cozy mysteries, it was never on my radar to write one. I love my Christian and sweet romance novels, after all. But Mildred had a story that she wanted told.

When I say a character won’t leave me alone, she seems to arrive in my imagination full blown. She will pop up when I’m supposed to be doing other things. Pastor giving a sermon that gets a bit dry? Mildred is there to remind me of some snarky comment she has about pastors talking too long to hear themselves.

The person in front of me at the grocery store is being rude to the cashier? Mildred has some thoughts on that, too. She is one of those characters that is bold and brazen and quite unique. I like to say I put a bit of myself into each of my characters. Well, Mildred is the Lori I keep hidden in a closet so she doesn’t scare people away. She represents some of my inner thoughts I don’t dare speak out loud - but Mildred does.

She’s been such fun to write, down to her quirky pet rooster. She has quickly turned into an entire franchise. Over the next couple of years, you’ll see me release at least 10 Mildred books. The first several are completed and in various stages of editing. The other seven are plotted. The covers for all are ready. Here are a few to give you an idea.

My brilliant cover artist, JoAnn Durgin designed these. We chatted quite a bit about Mildred and she brought her to life for me.

But Mildred wasn’t done there… Oh no! This exasperating woman had plans for an epistolary story that goes out via mail over a year. Two letters a month and one ongoing mystery you have to help her solve. Although I’ve always written letters and even read Jane Austen’s epistolary novel and, of course, Dracula, I had to research this form of writing, the artifacts and how it all comes together.

My subscribers can sign up for the Mildred Wiggins mystery letters for a monthly subscription that won’t go on the site until later. Here are the details about the series and a monthly subscription link only available to you. It will be a week or more before the monthly option goes live to everyone. Right now, they have to purchase the full series, which you can do for a discount, of course.

Learn More About the Letters

A quick note. I am in the process of adding a monthly subscription option for the letters, which can be canceled at any time. If you prefer to utilize that option, you can sign up here, but this link is not yet live to the general public.

Subscribe to the Letters

Mildred also has plans for an audio option for these stories, some meetups and who knows what else she’ll be up to. You can also preorder the first book in the series at a discount right now. The price goes up after release on July 6th.

Preorder Mildred

As you can see, Mildred is something else. I can’t wait to see what she gets up to next. In the meantime, though, I am in edits for a mail order bride romance/mystery and putting the finishing touches on a rough draft of a novella set in South Africa for the Our House series.

On a personal note, I’m heading to Disney with my grandgirl here soon and very much looking forward to that trip. I’ll have photos and news to share when I return. I’d also love to do a few newsletter swaps with other authors, so reach out if you have new clean or Christian releases and want to trade and highlight each other. I’m a big believe that there is room at the top of many. We only have to lift one another up.

If you could please pray for me this month about work decisions. I have some things I need to decide and none of the choices are easy. Writing can be such an uncertain line of work these days. I have a passion for it and will continue on, but want to be wise about how I do so, too. God knows. I’ve been in prayer for a while about this topic. So, if you would just pray in general that I am wise, measured and that He opens doors, I would so appreciate it.

One more bit of news! I’m adding some things to my agenda this summer on Substack. Some will be open to my free subscribers, but others to my paid subscribers. If you want some cheap entertainment and learning for the summer, I’m running a special for a short time, but once you’re in on it, your membership stays the same until you unsubscribe.

Summer Sale!

33% off!!!

Just $6 and some change. About the cost of a large latte or a cheeseburger.

Sign up for a paid subscription this summer and gain access to short stories, bonus chapters, courses and access to me.

Throughout the summer, I’ll be adding:

*A chapter by chapter novel you can watch me rewrite in real time.

*Three courses for aspiring writers. (writing the novel is one)

*More short stories.

*Sneak peeks into Mildred Wiggins world.

*Audio books

*Videos

*Private workshops with me

Sign up here: https://lorisoard.substack.com/summersale

This newsletter is no bi-weekly. If you’ve read this far, then you know I often put things at the bottom of my newsletter for those who absorb it all. I will have a prize drawing and give away a copy of Mildred Wiggins Murder on Mulberry Lane, Book 1. To enter, drop me a note that says, “Mildred Wiggins did WHAT?”

Until next time,

I love you all. Stay safe and sane.

Hey y’all!

It’s been a bit since we had a visit on my front porch. Come on up. There are extra rocking chairs to the right and the porch swing is empty. It’s a little early in the year for lemonade, but I’d love to grab you a cup of hot tea to keep you warm while we chat. The air is still a bit brisk here in small town Indiana.

I have a ton of news, so let me get right to it. I moved my newsletter to Substack. If you only want emailed newsletters, you don’t even have to sign up for yet another platform. It will come to your email inbox just as it always has. I am going to a bi-weekly newsletter, because I have a lot going on this year. Every other Monday, you’ll get another newsletter from me. If you are interested in Substack, I’m posting there weekly - articles, notes and more. Totally up to you, but I hope you’ll stay part of my newsletter for writing news and continue to get my emails.

Upcoming Books

I have two books releasing this summer. Both are up for pre-order now. My new Mildred Wiggins cozy mystery series released July 5th. The first book is Murder on Mulberry Lane.

Mildred Wiggins isn’t nosy․

She just… pays attention․

It's been fifty years since Mildred moved to the small Indiana town of Maple Hollow․ She knows her neighbors by name‚ their habits‚ and when something isn’t right․ The man living near her on Mulberry Lane has been setting off every alarm she has․

Pre-order Murder on Mulberry Lane for only $1.99 until release day. The price goes up to $3.99 after release.

Hurry! Get Discounted Price!

On August 11th, my historical mystery romance releases as part of the Mail-Order Brides Undercover Series. Gunpowder and Promises is a sweet‚ clean historical romance of quiet bravery‚ buried secrets‚ and a love that must stand on truth or not at all․

I’m so excited to be part of this series with some truly talented authors. A special thank you to Lynne Lanning for trusting me to fill her shoes on this project. It isn’t an easy thing to do, since she is so talented, but I love the storyline I came up with and am deep in edits on this one at the moment, waiting for some additional feedback before doing the rest of the edits and some line edits.

This book is also discounted to $1.99 but only until the series begins releasing this summer. Order now for the best price and it will hit your Kindle on August 11th.

Pre-Order for Only $1.99

Dogwood Creek Matchmakers Series

Have you had a chance to read the Dogwood Creek Matchmakers series yet?

Read the Series

This week, book #9 in the series released. Rescuing the Hero by Dawn Kinzer is the latest installment, set in Dogwood Creek, Tennessee. Ooh la la, there is a fire fighter hero in this one. In my book Dandelion Serenade, the town suffered a flood. Now, there is a fire that ravages one of the shops in town. Grab your copy of Rescuing the Hero now and then read the other books in the series.

Order Book #9 Now!

I have more projects planned for the fall of 2026 and others into 2027. Stay tuned for more news, including an exciting project I’ve been hard at work on for the last couple of weeks. I can’t wait to share the details with you. I’m hoping in the next newsletter. Remember, I’ll be in touch again in two weeks. Until then, have a blessed and beautiful May filled with blooming flowers, God’s grace and lots of captivating stories.

You can imagine how happy I am now that spring has arrived. The birds are singing, the trees are blooming, the grass is green, and all is right in my world again. I’m shaking off the last vestiges of winter and ready for warmer weather.

I also find myself planning more this time of year and taking on the projects I’ll complete. Upcoming summer releases include the first book in my Mildred Wiggins mystery series and Gunpowder and Promises, a historical romance mystery that is part of a multiple author project.

I am also going to have a new short story mystery series in Clean Fiction magazine starting this summer, so stay tuned for details on that.

I’ve been hard at work on refining the first line of my upcoming historical mail-order bride/female detective story releasing late summer. I’d love to hear your input. Here it is:

“Evelyn Mercer didn't believe in accidents, not when someone had stolen barrels of gunpowder.”

What do you think? Does it set the scene for you and grab your attention? You’re going to love Evelyn “Evie’s” story.

Pre-Order Gunpowder and Promises Now!

Free Gift

Please enjoy this free printable bookmark as a gift from me. Click on the image to pull up the full size.

I’ll be hard at work creating new stories for you. I love to hear from my readers, so feel free to reach out anytime. I’m on Substack more and more, so I’d love for you to hang out here with me, but you’ll also find me on Facebook and YouTube with occasional visits to X, Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.

Until next time!

Moving to a platform gives me several new options. First, it’s free for me to be here and use this to send out emails. However, I can also jot quick notes for those following me on the platform, people can comment and I can reply, I can start a podcast if I want and I can have live meetups from time to time. I’m most looking forward to the community feel, which I’ve always loved since my first days online where we used news groups to chat with one another, and later AOL rooms.

Setting everything up took some time. I had to watch some videos and poke around the site, but I think I’ve got it all figured out (we shall see when this sends out by how well it goes).

2026 Release Schedule

I’m so excited about all my upcoming releases. Not only do my first Mildred Wiggins mystery series books release later this summer, but I have a historical romance titled Gunpowder and Promises releasing August 11th as part of the upcoming Mail-Order Brides Undercover series. You can pre-order your copy now! A special thank you to the lovely Lynne Lanning for gifting me this gorgeous cover. Isn’t it fun? JoAnn Durgin is the cover designer, and I always love her work. I couldn’t have asked for a sweeter couple. Or are they? There may be a bit of intrigue there. ha ha

Preorder Now!

My next Our House installment, set in South Africa, releases in the fall (book cover to come soon).

And in 2027, I’ll be in two multiple author projects. One is in the third installment of the Mountain Men series, which I’m very excited about, because my mom came from West Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains. I plan to pull on some family history and take a bit of creative license with it for this story.

I’ll also be creating a second installment book titled In Plain Sight for the Mail-Order Brides Undercover series. I’m sure I’ll have other things in the works, but that is on the schedule for now, and I’m quite excited about each project.

If you want to see a sneak peak at my Mildred Wiggins covers, you can look a few posts back on my Substack.

SoardPro

Many of you know that it’s difficult to pay the bills with fiction writing. As much as it is my first love, I have always had clients on the side and written articles and such to make a living. I recently revamped this model because it felt so scattered. It felt as though I was going in 90 direction, when, in reality, it was two main branches of what I do. Many of my long-time web design clients are struggling to keep things going for a variety of reasons, so Promo Warriors won’t be my main gig any longer and hasn’t been for a couple of years. New clients are few and far between. However, my regular clients reach out and refer my frequently to those needing help. I’ll still serve those long-time clients but I’ve consolidated things.

With that in mind, I revamped my business model into two distinct umbrellas. Everything writing goes under LoriSoard.com and everything tech, website and publishing help under SoardPro.com. If you or anyone you know needs something on a website tweaked or self-publishing help, please reach out.

LoriSoard.com Redesign

If you’ve been following me the past year, you probably noticed a change in my tagline and the images I’ve used in my newsletter of porch swings, red barns, old cars and Mason jars filled with wildflowers. It’s become less flowery and romance focused and more small town country charm.

In an effort to make everything more consistent, I rebranded my logo and website look. It was a few years old, and my writing has changed, so it was time. I wanted something that would work for both my Christian romances and the new cozy mysteries I’m writing. At the same time, I chose to put my content writing services under the same umbrella. The result is one I really love. It’s fairly simple but shows my personality with the small town vibe of a swing and books. Feel free to poke around my site and check it out.

Check Out My New Design!

As you can see, I’ve been busy the last few weeks, preparing a number of things. I’ll have more exciting news soon. Thank you all so much for going along with me all these years. I couldn’t complete this journey without you. I truly mean it when I say I love you all—friends, family and readers.

Until next time,

Lori
XOXO