Uncategorized – Rhonda Starnes

Amicalola Falls State Park

Last week, Mountain Man asked me if I’d like to take off for a couple of days and go to the Smoky Mountains. He knows how much I love the mountains, and I was touched by his sudden desire for spontaneity. However, I’m on book deadline. (If you’ve read my first three books, you may be happy to know Ryan’s story is due to my editor in a few short weeks. 💕)

As tempted as I was to load up the SUV and go, sometimes adulting means knowing when you really can’t be off galavanting because you need to stay home and work. However, I was torn, because Mountain Man was trying to be sweet and do something thoughtful.So, we compromised. Instead of driving four hours to Gatlinburg, we drove two-and-a-half hours to Dahlonega, Georgia.

Dahlonega is a small college town that looks like it’s straight out of a Hallmark movie. It’s such a fun place to visit. Added bonus, our niece is a freshman at UNG so we were able to visit her for a couple of hours and treat her to dinner. The next day we went to Amicalola Falls State Park and hiked 2.1 miles (round trip) and walked up 604 stair steps to the top of the falls. It was so beautiful!

After we finished our hike, we went to an apple orchard and spent time in the town of Ellijay. Then, on the way home, we stopped to visit family who live in the area. All-in-all it was a nice, quick getaway.

October 11, 2022 by Rhonda Starnes Categories: Uncategorized 2 Comments

Do You Judge A Book By Its Cover?

Are you a person who judges a book by its cover? If you are, it’s fine by me. Go ahead…judge my book by its cover…

Didn’t the Harlequin art department do an amazing job creating the cover!?!

Only four more months until my debut novel’s book birthday. I can’t wait for you to meet Grace Porter and Evan Bradshaw. For now, you’ll have to settle for the back cover blurb:

To survive her deadly homecoming

she’ll need to trust a man from her past…

Temporarily home to help at her family’s vet clinic, Grace Porter has no intentions of staying—but someone’s determined she won’t live long enough to leave. With both Grace and her sister in the crosshairs, her ex-boyfriend, Police Chief Evan Bradshaw, must protect them. But can the single dad lawman uncover the truth about why a killer’s out for vengeance before time runs out?

February 29, 2020 by Rhonda Starnes Categories: Uncategorized 8 Comments

My Eyes Leaked Happy Tears

My debut novel, Rocky Mountain Revenge, which will be available in July from Love Inspired Suspense is now up for pre-order on Amazon. There isn’t a cover photo or back cover blurb, yet, but I still cried when I saw it. The reality that I (finally) sold a book became even more real in that moment. I know it may sound silly to some, but I devoted over six years of my life trying to achieve this goal, So, my eyes leaked happy tears!!

I’d love for you to visit my author page on Amazon. Once you are there, click ‘follow’ to receive further updates! Thank you for being a part of my journey!!

December 21, 2019 by Rhonda Starnes Categories: Uncategorized 9 Comments

“The Call”

If you follow my blog, you already know that I entered The Great Love Inspired Author Search. And boy, am I glad I did! On September 3rd, I received an email from Tina James, Senior Editor at Love Inspired, asking if there was a covenant time to call and discuss my manuscript. I squealed out loud, startling my 7th grade students. I’ve never heard of an editor calling to tell someone their manuscript was rubbish, so I knew this was good news.

I quickly emailed back and said any time would be convenient, and then I went next door to ask another teacher to come into my classroom to watch my students. I also saw my assistant principal and told her what was happening. We don’t have good cell reception in our building, so I had to run outside when Tina called. I was out of breath and had to explain the situation. She told me she could have called after I got off work, but I told her my students were as excited about the call as I was so I couldn’t do that do them.

I felt so bad for her though because I talk really fast (with a heavy Southern accent), and I was a babbling, giddy mess! However, she was so gracious and didn’t seem to mind. To add to the excitement, my assistant principal followed me outside and took a picture of me talking on the phone with Tina, getting the news that they wanted to publish my book.

So, always remember, if being a published author is your dream, chase it with all your might, and when you think you can’t go any further, dig deep and keep climbing, because you’re almost to the summit.