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# Michele Mathews

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://michelemathews.com/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [My Sweet Small Town Beach Romance Releases Today](https://michelemathews.com/mending-hearts-sweet-small-town-beach-romance/): Mending Hearts, my debut sweet small town beach romance, is finally here.
- [A Sweet Romance Book Launch Countdown Begins](https://michelemathews.com/a-sweet-romance-book-launch-countdown-begins/): A book launch countdown has a different kind of energy. It's equal parts excitement and "is everything actually done?" And right now, I'm living right in the middle of it.
- [My Birthday Is Coming — and So Is My First Book](https://michelemathews.com/my-birthday-is-coming-and-so-is-my-first-book/): My birthday is coming up in a couple of months, and I’ve got a plan. First, I need to finish the edits of Mending Hearts, and I’m starting to see the end of the editing. I’ve been making my way through the book chapter by chapter, and while it’s a tedious process, I am making this book the best it can be. After all, it’s the first book of the Sunrise Beach series.
- [What the Book Editing Process Really Looks Like](https://michelemathews.com/what-the-book-editing-process-really-looks-like/): Right now, I'm deep in the book editing process, which means Rachel and Greg's story is almost ready to be in your hands. Every time I sit down at my desk with Jessie and Belle curled up nearby, I'm reminded that this book has been a long time coming. And that feels really good.
- [Later in Life Heroines Are My Favorite to Write (and Here’s Why)](https://michelemathews.com/later-in-life-heroines-are-my-favorite-to-write/): But reading romance? That makes it more fun. It reminds me that there's still possibility out there, still hope even if I'm not living it myself right now. And maybe that's exactly why I write the women I do—women finding love later in life.
- [Why Dogs are in My Romance Novels](https://michelemathews.com/dogs-in-romance-novels-author-perspective/): Right now, as I'm typing this, Jessie and Belle are both curled up on their beds next to my desk. These two bring me so much joy every single day. They're my constant companions, my writing buddies, and I can't imagine my life without them. They're also the reason dogs in romance novels—especially mine—are so important to me.
- [Welcome to Sunrise Beach, South Carolina](https://michelemathews.com/welcome-to-sunrise-beach-south-carolina/): I thought I'd share a little about Sunrise Beach—a little about its main street and a few of the shops. So, let's get started!
- [Back to Blogging: Sweet Small-Town Romance and Dogs](https://michelemathews.com/back-to-blogging-sweet-romance-and-dogs/): I'm back to blogging! Thanks for stopping by and spending a little bit of your day with me. Whether you’ve read my stories before or just wandered in because you love sweet romance and dogs, you’re in exactly the right place.
- [Jessie’s Girl: 40 Years Later and Still Going Strong](https://michelemathews.com/jessies-girl-40-years-later-and-still-going-strong/): 40 years.
- [October: 4 Ways I was the Most Productive This Month](https://michelemathews.com/october-4-ways-i-was-the-most-productive/): October is coming to a close this week. That means we’re that much closer to my least favorite season.
- [September: 3 Ways I Tried to be Productive This Month](https://michelemathews.com/september-3-ways-i-tried-to-be-productive/): September is almost over. And I’m sad. I’m not ready for fall. I feel like we barely had summer.
- [August: 3 Ways I was the Most Productive This Month](https://michelemathews.com/august-3-ways-i-was-the-most-productive/): August is almost over. Today is the last day. And what have I accomplished this month?
- [Why Do I Feel So Worthless?](https://michelemathews.com/why-do-i-feel-so-worthless/): I feel worthless. I feel especially worthless when it comes to my writing the past few months.
- [How This Horrible Pandemic  Slowed Me Down](https://michelemathews.com/how-this-horrible-pandemic-slowed-me-down/): This pandemic has slowed me down in more ways than one. My writing has almost come to a complete halt.
- [Why is My Head Spinning Right Now?](https://michelemathews.com/why-is-my-head-spinning-right-now/): My head is spinning. I have so many things rolling around in my head that at times I can’t think straight.
- [First Quarter Goals Provide the Challenge I Need](https://michelemathews.com/first-quarter-goals-provide-challenge/): January is flying by. Isn’t it? I can’t believe we’re almost halfway through this month of the first quarter already. I’m slowly getting back into a routine--a better one than before my two-week break.
- [Christmas and New Year’s: Are You Ready for Them?](https://michelemathews.com/ready-for-christmas-and-new-year/): Christmas is two days away. Are you ready for it? I'm not quite there. I still have to wrap presents, which I put off every year.
- [It’s Okay to be Alone for Thanksgiving](https://michelemathews.com/its-okay-to-be-alone-for-thanksgiving/): Thanksgiving is this week. Other than I’ll be off from my day job, it won’t be much different than a normal day for me. 
- [Have You Found Your Awesome Tribe?](https://michelemathews.com/have-you-found-your-awesome-tribe/): Find your tribe. How many times have you heard or seen that? I know I’ve seen it plenty of times.
- [Great Time to get Things Done](https://michelemathews.com/great-time-to-get-things-done/): Fall break is here, and it’s a great time to get things done. My to-do list is a mile long, but I’m trying my best to get as much done as I can. I would like to have some time to relax and enjoy part of my week at home.
- [Journaling Clears Your Mind and Gives You Peace](https://michelemathews.com/journaling-clears-your-mind/): I told myself I would write and post two of these a month. And I let myself down when I didn't do the first blog post of the month. But journaling helped with ideas.
- [Brave and Focused on my Goals Right Now](https://michelemathews.com/brave-and-focused-on-my-goals-right-now/): Like my word of the year, I’m being brave and want to focus on the things that are most important to me.
- [How to get a free book from me!](https://michelemathews.com/how-to-get-a-free-book-from-me/): Can you believe summer is almost over already? I sure can't. Our schools started a couple of weeks ago. That means I’m back to work at the day job. It’s a job I love, but I was enjoying my summer.
- [Why March is Great for Freelancing This Year](https://michelemathews.com/why-march-is-great-for-freelancing-this-year/): Did March zip by, or was it just me? I feel like we just started the month, and now here it is the first of April already.
- [What TV shows are Your Favorites at the Moment?](https://michelemathews.com/what-tv-shows-are-your-favorites-at-the-moment/): What are your favorite TV shows? I can’t pick just one because they are several good shows on the little screen at the moment.
- [February was the Best Month for Me](https://michelemathews.com/february-was-the-best-month-for-me/): It’s the end of February and that time of the month when I share how my writing has gone. And I can honestly say this month has been one of my better months in the last few years.
- [Why Does Valentine’s Day Get so Much Hype?](https://michelemathews.com/valentines-day-get-much-hype/): But every year on February 14, Valentine's Day comes and goes whether I like it or not. The holiday has never really meant anything to me even when I was married. Other than our first Valentine’s together when we were dating, I was lucky to get dinner out.
- [How Do You View Pets in Your Life?](https://michelemathews.com/how-do-you-view-pets-in-your-life/): How do you view your pets in your life? Are they simply creatures who depend upon you to take care of them? Or are they considered family?
- [Do You Enjoy Awesome Reading Books About Travel?](https://michelemathews.com/do-you-enjoy-awesome-reading-books-about-travel/): Do you love to travel? Do you want to relive places you’ve been? Have I got some books for you!
- [Why am I still single another year?](https://michelemathews.com/why-am-i-still-single-another-year/): I’m still single at the beginning of another new year. It’s nothing new. Honestly, I’m okay with that. But why am I still single?
- [2018 is My Year to Crush My Goals](https://michelemathews.com/2018-is-my-year-to-crush-my-goals/): Another year has gone, and another year has come. While 2017 wasn’t as bad to me as some previous years, I’m ready for 2018.
- [What Does Christmas Do for Me This Year?](https://michelemathews.com/what-does-christmas-do-for-me-this-year/): Christmas is a week from today. Can you believe that? I can’t believe how fast this year has gone. When I was younger, people used to tell me to enjoy life because the older you get the faster time goes. And at first I didn’t believe them. Now I do.
- [Celebrating 15th Anniversary of Big Life Decision](https://michelemathews.com/celebrating-15th-anniversary-big-life-decision/): This week I celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of the biggest decision I’ve ever made in my life. I filed for divorce.
- [How My Awesome Blog Will Change for You](https://michelemathews.com/awesome-blog-will-change/): I’m back! I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving if you celebrate this holiday. I apologize for my missing in action in regard to this blog. In mid July, my summer turned crazy.
- [How I Celebrate a Special Birthday Through Estrangement](https://michelemathews.com/celebrate-special-birthday-estrangement/): It was June 25, 1996, that I became a mom for the first time. Yesterday my daughter celebrated her twenty-first birthday without me. You may not think that it’s any big deal — that she is celebrating with her boyfriend or friends or whoever.
- [Have You Ever Had a Great Feeling of Accomplishment?](https://michelemathews.com/have-you-ever-had-a-great-feeling-of-accomplishment/): Have you ever had a great feeling of accomplishment? Finishing Camp NaNo gave me that great feeling of accomplishment. But an even greater feeling came from finishing a rough draft of Second Chances, the third novel of The Divorce Trilogy.
- [What does a wonderful beach trip do for your mind?](https://michelemathews.com/wonderful-beach-trip-mind/): A beach trip is a great way to get away and take a break from the winter months. Even though the winter wasn’t as bad as it was supposed to be, getting away for a couple of days did my mind good.
- [What is One Place You Would Return for a Visit?](https://michelemathews.com/one-place-return-visit/): Have you ever traveled one place, and when you leave, you tell yourself you’ll return to that place someday? I have. In fact, I’ve done that with several places I’ve visited over the years.
- [Rick Springfield Performs High Energy Concert for Fans](https://michelemathews.com/rick-springfield-performs-high-energy-concert-fans/): Rick Springfield rocked the Lawrenceburg Event Center on Saturday, February 4, 2017. I hadn’t seen Rick in concert in almost three years, and it was worth the ticket price to see him again.
- [What Did I Want to be Growing Up?](https://michelemathews.com/what-did-i-want-to-be-growing-up/): Growing up, I originally wanted to be a teacher. But the writing bug bit me hard in high school when I took a journalism class my sophomore year.
- [Letter to You: My Hopes and Dreams for 2017](https://michelemathews.com/letter-to-you-my-hopes-and-dreams-for-2017/): I’m so glad to see you here! I hope your new year is off to a great start.This year I have big hopes and dreams with my writing, and I hope you’ll be there to support me along the way.  I have planned out my goals for this year, and I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts with you.
- [What do I want for Christmas?](https://michelemathews.com/what-do-i-want-for-christmas/): What do I want for Christmas? I have many things on my list, like I always do. But I probably won’t see much, if any, of it.
- [End the Year With Free Novel Giveaway](https://michelemathews.com/end-year-free-novel-giveaway/): With the end of the year in sight, my blog here on my author website celebrates its first birthday on Monday, December 12. While I’ve had a blog on this website for over four years, this is the updated, more focused version of it.
- [6 Things I Want in My Next Relationship](https://michelemathews.com/6-things-want-next-relationship/): Are you single, or have you been single sometime in the distant past? If you have, then you know you have to think about the things that you want in a relationship.
- [Halloween Revisits Younger Days Full of Happy Memories](https://michelemathews.com/halloween-revisits-younger-days-full-happy-memories/): Today is Halloween. It's an evening of taking your kids trick-or-treating. It's also a time of going to haunted houses and getting scared by the craziness of what happens there.
- [10 Reasons Why I Love Rick Springfield](https://michelemathews.com/10-reasons-love-rick-springfield/): Back in 1981, I discovered Rick Springfield. I loved his song, “Jessie's Girl,” which hit number one in August that year.
- [Why These 3 Awesome Singers Are on My Playlist](https://michelemathews.com/3-awesome-singers-playlist/): Did you know your favorite writer or author probably has a playlist? Yes, that’s right. A playlist helps us write and get those words out on the page. It helps motivate and inspire us to write those words you love to read.
- [Why the Beach Is My Happy Place](https://michelemathews.com/beach-happy-place/): The beach is my happy place. Seriously. I had no idea until a few years ago how much going to the beach brings out the happiness I long to feel every day.
- [Top 10 Interesting Places I Would Like to See](https://michelemathews.com/top-10-interesting-places-like-see/): Do you ever dream about interesting places you would like to visit? I love traveling so I do dream of places here in the United States as well as a few places far off.
- [What Important Historic Event Has Touched Your Life?](https://michelemathews.com/important-historic-event-touched-life/): A historic event happens every day. We have all seen something big in history that sticks with us for the rest of our lives.
- [3 Reasons my Mom Is a Wonderful Person](https://michelemathews.com/3-reasons-mom-wonderful-person/): Have you ever thought about the one person you can’t live without? If I was married, my answer would be my husband. But I’m not married. The next best person I can’t live without is my mom.
- [3 Famous People I Would Invite to Dinner](https://michelemathews.com/3-famous-people-i-would-invite-to-dinner/): Have you ever wished you could invite your favorite singer or actor to dinner? How about your favorite author? Which three famous people would you invite to dinner?
- [3 Wonderful Ways I’m Like My Favorite Character](https://michelemathews.com/3-wonderful-way-im-like-my-favorite-character/): Have you ever thought about who your favorite fictional character would be? Have you thought about how much alike you are with that character?
- [What Scares Me the Most About Life](https://michelemathews.com/what-scares-me-the-most-about-life/): What scares me the most about life is a topic that I didn’t think I could even think about. I didn't think I could write about what scares me and share it with you, but I’m determined to write about things I’ve never thought about. Push myself to get out of my comfort zone. Live life to the fullest even if something scares me.
- [Exciting New Writing Opportunities for Me Are Coming](https://michelemathews.com/exciting-new-writing-opportunities-for-me-are-coming/): Today is back to school for not only my son but for me. For the first time in three years, I’ll be working in the schools in a permanent job, not subbing. All I want to know is where did the summer go.
- [Have You Ever Thought About the Remarkable Camp NaNo?](https://michelemathews.com/have-you-ever-thought-about-the-remarkable-camp-nano/): Camp NaNo in July has been a success for me. I am pretty pleased with the fact that I wrote a short story this month.
- [Happy Tears of Joy When I Think of Summer](https://michelemathews.com/happy-tears-of-joy-when-i-think-of-summer/): Tears can mean different things to different people. For me, I've been thinking about summer. It's almost over. I can’t believe how fast it has gone, and in a way, I’m glad it’s almost over. It hasn’t been one of the better ones.
- [Author Lands on the Amazing Best Seller List](https://michelemathews.com/author-lands-amazing-best-seller-list/): That year I decided to write something different than I had done the previous two years. For the record, the part about landing on the best seller list isn’t true, but I sure wish it was.
- [What Happens When Two Friends Take a Chance?](https://michelemathews.com/happens-two-friends-take-chance/): Have you ever had friends of the opposite sex and realized you might have more than a feeling of friendship for one of them? I’m sure we all have at one point or another during our lives. I know I have at least once in my lifetime and probably more if I think about it.
- [Spectacular Fireworks are Both Memorable and Frightening](https://michelemathews.com/spectacular-fireworks-memorable-frightening/): Where has this summer gone? It's the July 4th holiday with fireworks happening tonight.  I feel like school just let out last week.
- [This Book Has Good Memories About a Singer](https://michelemathews.com/book-good-memories-singer/): Seventeen years ago yesterday, my three-year-old daughter and I traveled with a friend of mine and her three-year-old daughter to see my favorite singer, Rick Springfield.
- [Dear Estranged Daughter: My Hopes and Wishes for You](https://michelemathews.com/dear-estranged-daughter-my-hopes-and-wishes-for-you/): Dear Estranged Daughter,
- [Summer Brings Up Powerful Memories from the Past](https://michelemathews.com/summer-brings-powerful-memories-past/): Summer is here. And I have a love-hate relationship with it. Hate is probably too strong of a word for the way I use it here, but for the sake of the what I mean here, I will use it.
- [The Fundamentals of Estrangement and its Causes](https://michelemathews.com/fundamentals-estrangement-causes/): What thoughts come to mind when you hear the word, estrangement? For some people, estrangement means that they are separated from their spouse. The couple is going through a divorce.
- [How to Celebrate Memorial Day](https://michelemathews.com/celebrate-memorial-day/): Memorial Day. What does this federal holiday mean to you? Partying with friends? Grilling out with family? Going to a local park to swim and play?
- [5 Valuable Things Young Teens Should Know](https://michelemathews.com/5-valuable-things-young-teens-should-know/): As I near the half a century mark in age, I have things I would love to say to you and all of the teens out there for that matter, things that I wish I had done differently in life. Of course, it’s too late now.
- [Why Mother’s Day is Special to Me](https://michelemathews.com/mothers-day-special/): I am somewhat sad for this Mother's Day. Why? One of my human kids isn’t speaking to me and hasn’t for almost two years.
- [Sensational Prince remembered for his remarkable songs](https://michelemathews.com/prince-remembered-songs/): The death of Prince shocked me on Thursday. While I’m a writer of books, he was a great writer of songs.
- [10 Things to Know About a Narcissist](https://michelemathews.com/10-things-know-narcissist/): Do you know someone who feels entitled? Have you ever met a manipulator? Chances are the person is a narcissist, especially if he shows more than one sign.
- [Vacation and Writing: The Big Compromise](https://michelemathews.com/vacation-writing-big-compromise/): Writing on vacation hasn’t been something I’ve done before. I usually try to pack as light as I can so the laptop is one of the items that remains behind.
- [How I survived my son’s remarkable birth](https://michelemathews.com/survived-sons-remarkable-birth/): Sixteen years ago today I didn’t think I would go home from the hospital. And I didn’t think I would be a parent a second time. My son’s birth wasn’t an easy one. In fact, the reality is I could have died and even he could have, too.
- [Why blogging regularly is important to me](https://michelemathews.com/blogging-regularly-important/): Blogging has been and is important to me. I have blogged in the past on a regular basis before I changed direction and stopped posting.
- [How Rock Singer Showed Us the Human Touch](https://michelemathews.com/how-rock-singer-showed-us-human-touch/): Are you someone who likes traveling in time? Perhaps to the future? I’m not one of those people, but my favorite rock singer does.
- [4 Writing Goals for 2016](https://michelemathews.com/4-writing-goals-for-2016/): With a month into the new year, I want to share my writing goals for the year.
- [3 Dilemmas of my Novels](https://michelemathews.com/3-dilemmas-of-my-novels/): Have you ever read a novel and thought, “Why didn’t I write this?” or “I see my own novel with fresh eyes.” That's my dilemma with my two self-published novels.
- [5 Wishes for Christmas This Year](https://michelemathews.com/5-wishes-for-christmas/): After a couple of weeks of trying, I’m finally in the holiday spirit. Christmas won’t be the same as it has in the past. I’ll have to make the best of it. I have 5 wishes for Christmas.

## Pages
- [Standalones](https://michelemathews.com/ya-sweet-romance-anthology-michele-mathews/): A Note from Michele: I had the privilege of writing a short story with these other authors. I had a lot of fun and learned more about writing. They took a chance of me when I hadn't published YA sweet romance yet. I intended to, but it's not happened yet. I hope you will take a chance on a collection of short stories in this YA sweet romance anthology!
- [Sunrise Beach Series](https://michelemathews.com/sunrise-beach-sweet-romance-michele-mathews/): Set in the small town of Sunrise Beach, Returning Home is the sweet later-in-life romance of Marsha and Charlie. As they navigate their personal struggles and growing feelings, they strive to remain friends. But will they succeed, or will love find a way to bring them together?
- [Summerston Series](https://michelemathews.com/summerston-series-michele-l-mathews/): Teacher Elizabeth Hemingway couldn't wait to marry the man of her dreams. Tyrone has a good job, a house in rural Indiana, and a huge extended family that Elizabeth doesn't have. The young couple couldn't have been any more in love.
- [Nonfiction](https://michelemathews.com/nonfiction-michele-l-mathews/): I hated marching band my freshman year of high school.
- [Blog](https://michelemathews.com/michele-mathews-author-blog/)
- [Books](https://michelemathews.com/books/): I've written in a few different genres, but sweet romance is my favorite. You can get all of my books at your choice of retailer. Or if you'd rather buy direct from me, go to Beach Girl Books where you'll find merchandise too!
- [About Michele](https://michelemathews.com/sweet-romance-author-michele-mathews/): Being a sweet romance author wasn't something I planned. A few years ago, an author friend told me to focus on the books I want to write. I'd been dragging my feet trying to write the third book of a women's fiction trilogy, and I realized she was right.
- [Contact](https://michelemathews.com/contact-michele-mathews-sunrise-beach-series-author/): Thanks for stopping by! Whether you're a reader, a bookstore or library, or working in media, I'd love to hear from you. Please use the form below. I read every message and aim to respond within 3-5 business days.
- [Home](https://michelemathews.com/): Marsha came home to Sunrise Beach for a fresh start, not love. Charlie wasn't looking either. But between a small-town music festival and a chihuahua named Boomer, they might find both. Returning Home is a sweet, closed-door romance—yours free when you join the reader list.
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- [Privacy Policy](https://michelemathews.com/privacy-policy-author-michele-mathews/): This privacy policy sets out how MICHELEMATHEWS.COM uses and protects any information that you give us when you use this website.