Interview with Bestsellling Author Donna Hill by Marcia King-Gamble

 

Author Donna Hill

https://donnahill.wordpress.com/

I had the good fortune to work alongside talented author Donna Hill at BET, Kensington Publishing, Harlequin and again at St. Martin's Press. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to interview her. Donna has one of those voices writers envy. Please read what she had to say about her writing journey. 

1/ When did you first know you wanted to become a writer? 

I don't believe I ever thought I would 'become" a writer per se. I always wrote from way back in grade school.  I would write for my friends, I had books of poetry.  I wrote on everything I could get my hands on. But it never occurred to me to be a writer. it wasn't until the late eighties after writing a short story that I considered getting it published. I knew that I loved to read and write but becoming a writer was not something that was conscious. But when I began looking into getting  my short story published, and it was, then I kind of thought, "wow, I can do this. I can be a writer."

 

2/ Once published, did you set goals as to what you wanted to accomplish? 

To be honest, not really. I think I was just so happy to be able to do what I'd loved all my life, my only plan was to just write and hope that readers loved what I wrote. That was probably not the best goal! LOL. It wasn't until much later that I realized that my writing was no longer a passion project it was a business. There were contracts and deadlines and book tours and promotion. But, I still didn't have a plan exactly. I suppose the closest thing to a plan was learning to remain relevant. I partnered with other writers in anthologies back when they were not being done. I presented book projects to editors, I learned to write blurbs for the back of books. Studied my contracts for ways to be able to write for multiple houses, in various genres. That was pretty much what I did.

 

3/ You started off writing short stories. Tell us about that and the journey to having three books (I believe that was the number) turned into movies by BET? 

My first short story 'The Long Walk" was published by Black Romance Magazine. Nathasha Brooks-Harris was my editor. She was the one that gave me the opportunity to serve as advice columnist and edit the letters that came. The more short stories that I wrote the longer and more complicated they became and Nathasha told me that the stories were getting too lengthy for the magazine and maybe I should think about writing a novel. Ha! The idea had never occurred to me. But I started it and long story short it was ultimately published by Odyssey Books, a small black owned publishing company in Silver Springs, Maryland. Leticia Peoples was the publisher. My novel Rooms of the Heart, launched her contemporary line and Mildred Riley launched the historical line.  I did one more novel with Odyssey, Indiscretions, before going over to Kensington which had just launched Arabesque with Monica Harris as the editor. Sandra Kitt and Francis Ray (who'd both written for Odyssey) were the first two published by Arabesque. Eventually the Arabesque line was swept up by BET Books and thats when the movies deals came along. They picked three of my works for television A Private Affair, Intimate Betrayal and Masquerade.

4/What are some of the most memorable moments in your publishing history? 

Hmmm. After I wrote If I Could  I remember receiving a letter (yes a real letter) from a woman that said reading If I Could finally gave her the courage to leave her husband! Yikes. Another highlight was with my novel In My Bedroom the book was being used in a college classroom as a teaching tool  and woman approached me during a signing of In My Bedroom and confessed "this happened to me. thank you for writing this."

 

5/ You have a successful career in the educational world as well. That said, if you weren’t a writer, what would be your second career? 

When I was very young still in middle school I wanted to be a magazine publisher! LOL.  Right now, I'm doing my other love, teaching. I enjoy the students, the content I can create with them and seeing them shine. It's great.

 

6/ Many writers are no longer writing, especially writers of color. Why do you think that is?

 It's hard to say. I would guess lack of support from publishers, changing market and just plain exhaustion. Writing is real work and the job doesn't end with you hit sent to your editor. That's when the real work begins and it's exhausting.

 

7/ There have been so many changes in the industry. Publishers merged. Editors lost their jobs. eBooks took over. Do you see the Publishing world shifting again?

 Hmm, with so many book influencers I think that recognition for new authors and even seasoned ones are showcased. There is definitely a shift in every aspect. We don't mail in manuscripts anymore, we email them. Book tours are not what they once were. It's not a lone author at a table hawking books. Now authors are "in conversation" with someone during these events. There are ticketed events and QR codes and multiple levels of social media placement. Its a brave new world and social media is one of the driving forces. I guess AI will be "in conversation" with the author with virtual events in the future.  (that's an idea though).

 

8/ No one predicted that eBooks would take off the way they did, or that Indie authors would be on the New York and USA Bestseller list. What are your thoughts? 

I think its great. Traditional methods and traditional publishing . . .move over.

 

9/What advice would you give to beginning writers?” 

Hmm, decide if you are going to be a sprinter or a long distance runner. Read widely, travel when you can, listen to conversations, pay attention to the world around you and don't get trapped in writing to a fad.  Fads fade.  Read. Read. Read.

 

10/ Why do you think so many multi-cultural lines closed down? Was it the marketing?  

Hmm. Hard to say. The house will say it's the numbers. And it's the numbers for various reasons. 

 

11/ Finally, what’s next for Donna and her writing career? 

Well, I just submitted a novel to Harlequin entitled Unfinished as well as the synopsis for the next book. My next historical, Nola and Baldwin with Amistad is in and being edited as I type this. I am working on a followup to submit to Amistad. Debating whether to return to contemporary or do another historical. I just received Tenure at work my college Medgar Evers and have also taken on the role of Executive Director for the Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College. So, trying to stay busy. LOL

Why Young Adult and New Adult Romance? Blast from the Past by Lynn Lovegreen

(This Blast from the Past was first published in 2016.)

We’re celebrating New and Young Adult romance this month! I am honored to be asked to write an extra post for this theme. (My usual gig is the second Thursday of the month.) These age categories are my favorites, and I’ll explain why.

Young adult (YA) is usually defined as the teen years, when most kids are in secondary school and figuring out who they are. New adult (NA) is often defined as the period right after that, when young people are holding their first jobs, going to college, and learning to be on their own in the world. Both ages are full of drama and possibilities, especially in fiction. Add a little romance, and you have the perfect ingredients for a novel.

Depending on who I’m talking to, I often just say I write YA. But if my audience knows about NA, I will say YA/NA. In my Gold Rush books, there is a combination of YA and NA characters. Because of the time period, most of my teenaged characters are taking on adult roles earlier in life. Plus, there is not an obvious border between the two age groups then, so teens are spending time with what we might call new adults. In Quicksilver to Gold, for example, set back in 1900, Jeannie has never set foot in a school building, but today she’d probably be a senior in high school. The object of her affection, Clint, would have graduated high school already since he’s a little older. When they meet at their mining claims outside Nome, Alaska, they are both seen as adults. But when you see Jeannie’s emotional reactions to things, there is no doubt she is a teenager.

I write YA and NA because I remember my teen and college years vividly. I knew even then that it was a dramatic stage of life; I recall thinking that if I ever wrote a book, it would be set during that time. (No, none of my books are that close to autobiography, but you never know what I might write in the future!) For most of us, those years are an emotional roller coaster. Everything is important, and so much feels earthshaking. That’s built-in drama for a novelist.

While adults also enjoy reading YA and NA, I hope teens can use my characters as examples of what they might do with their own lives. If Jeannie can strike it rich with her mining skills or Charlotte can help create Denali National Park, why can’t our readers achieve their own dreams? I hope they will.

For more on why I write YA, see my video at https://youtu.be/rJDWwrSnXuMhttps://youtu.be/rJDWwrSnXuM.

Lynn Lovegreen grew up in Alaska, and still lives there. Her young adult/new adult historical romances are set in the Alaska Gold Rush, a great time for drama, romance, and independent characters. See her website at www.lynnlovegreen.com.

The Things That Always Cheer Me Up . . . . . . by Delsora Lowe

I am lucky, I have many things that give me a lift every day.

Reading…

Whether it is reading a good book or watching a romcom movie or a sitcom that will take me away from the reality and horrors of our world, each gives me a sense of peace and happiness. I can bask in the message being portrayed in that media and lock away my worries for the time it takes me to read or watch an uplifting book or program.

Writing…

I also write romance. So, writing positive content definitely gives me a feel-good vibe. Even when getting the couple together at the end may take a turn for the worst, know that in order to proclaim a book’s place in the romance genre, a happily-ever-after or a happily-for-now is a requirement. So, they always have a feel-good component at the end.

Friends…

Another thing that makes me happy is seeing a friend in person. Yes, these days ZOOM makes it easy to keep up with friends. I also keep up with many over the phone or through email or other forms of social media but getting together with friends in person is the best! There’s nothing like cradling a cup of tea, while looking directly into a friend’s face who is sitting across the table from you. Or slurping down an ice cream cone while walking the boardwalk with friends. That in-person contact makes a huge difference.

More Writing…

Going to my local weekly writing group grounds me every week. We each write a piece that takes 5-minutes or less to read out loud. The writing can be in any genre, which is fun for me, since my “job” is writing romance, whether a 5-minute romance I want to submit to Woman’s World magazine or a romance novella or full-length novel that I will eventually publish. Writing outside of my preferred genre gives me a different prospective on life, my town, my relationships with family, or any other topics, such as the environment, recipes I love to cook, etc. It frees up my brain to be creative in a different way.

What Things Give You a Lift and Make You Feel Happy? 

Amazon (also in print)

Books2Read

~ cottages to cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~

Delsora Lowe writes small town sweet and spicy romances and contemporary westerns, from the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Maine.

Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine (most recently, an Easter romance in the April 1, 2024 edition.) The Love Left Behind is a Hartford Estates, R.I. wedding novella with Book 2 on the way. A Christmas novel (The Inn at Gooseneck Lane) and novella (Holiday Hitchhiker – the youngest brother of the Mineral Spring’s ranching family) were the most recent releases. Look for book 3 of the cowboy’s series, as well as book 2 of the Hartford Estates series, to be released in 2025.

Historical Western Romance with Elissa Strati

I'd like to introduce you to a historical western writer I met because she was a fan of my books. She has gone on to write multiple books in the historical western genre. I'm not adding a bio here because she tells you everything you may want to know about her in the answers to my questions. 

Paty:  Why do you write Historical Western Romance?

 
Elissa: I slipped into the genre sideways. My first novel was for a Kindle World that I had been invited to participate in by “New York Times and USA Today bestselling author” Melissa Storm (for whom I had done some editing). Love’s Odds: A Hanson Family Saga in the First Street Church Kindle World, a RomCom, was modern, not historical, but set in Texas (western). The second story I wrote for that world, Love’s Sweet Memories, which continued my series, within the World, was also modern. However, in my third Hanson Family tale, Love’s Laird, I had the heroine discover her ancestors’ journals and letters, and did a series of flashback historical vignettes that brought the family through history from the 1700s (Battle of Culloden) to the present day. Each novel was written to stand alone, although characters overlap. I confess that I got hooked on the research, but then, I’ve always had an “enquiring mind”!
 
Obviously, with First Street Church as the world for which I was writing, the stories were designed to fit neatly into its sweet, clean, Christian categories, which (luckily for me!) have a large following. I have kept my stories within those bounds and can (and have!) recommend them for ALL ages. In fact, one of my early reviews suggested the book seemed to have been written for a twelve year old (sorry, don’t remember which of the three dozen plus I’ve published to date was targeted), because the bedroom was ignored. That has always been a deliberate choice. I read nearly everything, but choose to write something the nine-year old me, discovering the library, could safely check out. (I think that is about when I discovered the Perry Mason books of Erle Stanley Gardner, which, although murder mysteries, check all the boxes!)
 
When Amazon discontinued the Kindle World concept about a year later, I’d already completed and published those three books, and was working on a fourth, when the first round of revisions and realignments occurred. My Love’s Odds, was reconfigured a bit to meet the new series guidelines, and republished, but before I could tweak the next two, that process was put on hold, and a third reworking of the series occurred. I ultimately regained rights to all three of my stories, all of which (still) need further editing to remove any common elements from the original World. Unfortunately for them, by then I’d gone in a different direction.
 
Meanwhile, while working with the First Street Church series, one of my fellow authors, Jane Lebak, and I penned a short gothic/horror novel. Still modern, but also set in Texas, the story, Hunger: A Texas Gothic Romance [Hunger: A Texas Gothic Romance], received critical acclaim from horror writer Susan May, to our absolute delight!  (Susan’s books compete fiercely with Stephen King’s!) Hunger was a “one off,” but I’d be delighted to work with Jane again!
 
Shortly thereafter I was honored to be invited to contribute to the first of a number of highly successful MAPs (Multiple Author Project series) created by Australian author Cheryl Wright, and then others to whom she introduced me. However, as mentioned above, I have not had a chance to redo/republish my First Street Church novels. (ON MY TO DO LIST!)
 
By chance, Cheryl’s series were all in historical western romance genre. I had discovered, while penning Love’s Laird, that I enjoyed doing the research necessary to ensure my settings were relatively accurate, and was delighted to share my love of the western life style and landscape. Having grown up with television westerns, Roy Rogers, the Bonanza crew, Gunsmoke, Little House on the Prairie, and more, and also having spent some time living in the “Wild West, I was very comfortable with the territory and the genre.
 
My next three novels were for the Christmas Rescue [Christmas Rescue] series, for which I ended up writing three books, with overlapping backgrounds and family members. Again I found myself creating my own sub-series within the larger series of books that were related only by premise. Although some MAPs do integrate their stories among the various authors, in most cases it is more a case of writing to the same theme that unites the series. Thus one can enjoy a delightful variety of approaches to the same subject matter.

Off and running, I have now published thirty-seven books (in a number of genre’s, but all loosely “western”). All are in Kindle Unlimited, two are also available through Audible) and I have two more in the immediate hopper. Follow me on any of the sites below to be notified of new releases or sales, or to keep in touch:
 
Amazon:                      https://www.amazon.com/Elissa-Strati/e/B077GLWD94
BookBub:                    https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elissa-strati
BookSeriesInOrder:    https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/elissa-strati/
Facebook:                    https://www.facebook.com/ElissaStratiAuthor/
Goodreads:                  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17307510.Elissa_Strati
 
 (Note: Although many are interrelated, each of my books is designed to be read on its own.)
 
 
Paty:  You have a lot of Mail Order Bride books. Why do you like to write like to write this type of story?
 
Elissa: The simple answer is that I write what I like to read. But I actually read in just about every genre (and have written in several!).
A number of the MAPs (Multiple Author Project series) for which I have written have had specific themes involving Mail-Order Brides (MOBs). I suspect I am not alone in being able to create a quick outline of elements to include in almost any concept proffered (witness the burgeoning numbers of authors whose work is available!), but then I let “the back of my brain”* do the hard work and create the tale. *(This is not a scientific description of how the brain works, merely my own concept thereof  ;o].)
The fact that a large number of my titles involve MOBs is pure happenstance, based on conspicuity. The theme is extremely popular, so a lot of the series designers “jumped on the bandwagon” to create a concept that would sell! Meanwhile, the idea of hitching two complete strangers, whatever other parameters are suggested by the series creator, allows enormous depth and breadth for storytelling! Oh, what fun!
 
I have been exceptionally fortunate in the friends I have made in the author community, and honored to have been invited to contribute to so many best-selling series. It is an enormous amount of work to put together a group, and then “herd the cats” to completion. But the imagination and creativity to come up with a concept that will garner interest, the “recipe,” if you will, is the first step.
 
 
Paty:  Is there a particular era of the old west that you like to write about?
 
 Elissa:  Many of the MAP series for which I write specify specific locations (generally west of the Mississippi) and time frames (usually post-Civil War), but I seem to have a talent for slipping outside the box a bit. My “wagon train” book, written for author Caryl McAdoo’s Prairie Rose series [Helen: Prairie Roses Collection Book 30], is set primarily in the year 1812, long before wagon trains were heading across the western plains, and starts in Ireland! I managed to cram a lot of real history into this one (Yes, the rumor is true—there are footnotes!—but only for those who enjoy fact-checking. They are totally unnecessary to the flow of the story.) The fact is that folks were heading west from the time they left the “old world,” and many continued into open spaces. In addition to his Mount Vernon plantation, for instance, George Washington owned large tracts of land well west of the settled areas, where, should his efforts in the Revolution have failed, he was prepared to decamp.
 
On the other end of the spectrum is my World War I novel, Ellen [Ellen: Rescue Me - (Mail Order Brides) Book 10]. The “western era,” as portrayed in the movies and on TV, had largely drawn to a close as train travel and civilization took over, and the country now went from coast to coast, although a number of the territories had not yet attained statehood.

 So, the short answer to the question is “no,” despite a significant number of my stories taking place just after the Civil War (with occasional flashbacks). The fact is, I tend to think in terms of families and villages, and have often looked at a concept and thought, for example, “Oh, what a great way to approach Barnabas’s story!” (My second Christmas Rescue story: [Rescuing Barnabas (Christmas Rescue Book 11)].) Barnabas was absolutely a secondary character in the first book, [Rescuing Christmas (Christmas Rescue Book 4)], but perfect for one Charles’ (the hero of my first novel in this series) relatives.

 
 
Paty: You have been in several “worlds” in historical western romance. Are those fun to write for?
 
Elissa: Again a quick answer! Absolutely! I freelance and not under contract to anyone (although I do consider an agreement to join a particular group to be a contract; one hardly likes to let down friends!) I am continually amazed at the originality of new ideas, as well as the wide variety of author responses to the challenges.
 
 
Paty: How did the plot idea for this book come to you?
 
 Elissa: As in all the MAPs, I was given the premise, in this case a Mail-Order Groom who is rejected by his bride-to-be, a reversal of an earlier series, involving most of the same authors, featuring Mail-Order Brides. (My contribution to the first series was [Lina’s Lasting Legacy (Rejected Mail-Order Brides - Book 5)], which continues to be quite popular.) But in this case, it was the book cover that was my biggest influence, when I realized my hero would have to be the brother of John Henderson, and the son of Mrs. Cornelius (Rachel) Henderson, a schoolteacher introduced in my very first MAP novel. I did not notice initially, but the model is actually the same as for a [A Cattleman for Cathleen: Mail-Order Papa].
           
The model is a rugged, good-looking cowboy, and, like Fabio in days past (my mother’s favorite!) adorns quite a few covers. Besides, William has his own interesting story to tell. After all, he wasn’t always tall and strong. He was once a little boy, and slow to start his growth spurt, although, with older brothers, he understood that girls could be pretty important in life. But, clearly the premise of the book means he will not have an easy time of it, finding true love. However, no spoilers!
 
 
Paty: Do you have a favorite character or world that you’ve written?
 
Elissa: Well, obviously, the character about whom I am writing is always the one creeping into my heart, as s/he whispers hopes, fears and aspirations into my ear. With that charming grin, William has already joined the cast of favorites. As to worlds, although when I wrote my first novel, we had been “given” the modern community in Texas hill country in which to build our tales, when that world disbanded, I realized Texas has a lot of towns and I could simply move my cast to their own. I have since created from scratch (using San Antonio’s early history as a platform) a town in Texas now called Apple Valley for my Texas-based stories, and another in southeast Kansas, known as Green River. Both locations showed up in my Christmas Rescue books and one or the other features in most of my novels. I’m filling in their history all the time as I jump back and forth through the decades.
 
 
Paty: Who are some of the authors you read who write this subgenre of romance?
 
Elissa: Like many of us, I read across the spectrum, in virtually every genre, and have done for more than (***ty) decades. Initially, I carefully avoided reading books by other authors with whom I was writing, to steer clear of any possible inadvertent borrowing of concepts. Also, as you know, I was a technical editor for many years and cannot stop myself from highlighting the oversights (that I seem unable to catch in my own manuscripts!) and occasional typos I may run across. Since I do some reading/reviewing for a few of the major publishers, as well as individuals, I am used to passing these errata on to them—or the author. Not everyone is thick-skinned…

You write modern westerns that happen to be murder mysteries, and, as you know, I adore them!
Suffice it to say I have read widely and enjoyed many, many different authors with whom I write. I cannot guarantee that every book in a multi-author series will appeal to everyone, but based on the popularity of those in which I’ve been privileged to write, you will probably enjoy them as much as I!
 
Paty: Just for fun – Tell us what is your favorite thing to do besides writing and reading, because we know that’s a given. 😉
 

Elissa: Ha, ha! Even as I am writing this I am accompanied by several of my feline companions, who ensure my legs remain warm, as I prop myself up in bed on pillows to write. (This is not due to illness or infirmity, but preference. Sitting at a desk chair typing is torture. I’m too tall to comfortably read the screen without hunching over, and my legs seem to lose circulation, pressured by the chair as I lean forward. With pillows (and cats) conveniently located to position me optionally, and my legs up and free from swelling, I can relax and focus on work instead of physical discomfort. I also have a cup of coffee to hand on my nightstand, and the whole bed on which to spread my other bits and pieces. 

So cuddling with the cats is clearly a favorite pastime. I also enjoy cooking—as long as it doesn’t become a chore. Fortunately my husband also loves to cook, especially exploring his mother’s Italian recipes (some of which are featured in [Lasagna by Lucia: Old Timey Holiday Kitchen Book 15]).
Unfortunately, I haven’t had the time to do handwork for many years. I used to love to knit, crochet, and do needlework (and always wanted to learn to quilt!). At one time I did a bit of painting, but TIME is not my friend, and I also run our family businesses (I can create a mean spreadsheet!), which I also enjoy (when not under pressure). We like to travel a great deal, as well, although a lot of that is road trips these days, generally exploring history, human and natural. I take a LOT of pictures, and bless the continued advance of technology (although I have bad words and thoughts for those who push products out of the chute that aren’t ready for prime time!) that allows me to capture the man, rabbit, or woman in the moon (depending on which culture you learned from) with my telephone. Many of those I turn into jigsaw puzzles, again taking advantage of online tech.

 Hmmm, I also enjoy dancing, dining, getting together with friends and family—all the usual suspects… (I am somewhat addicted to ellipses…) And, of course, I spend the requisite amount of time each morning engaging in Wordle, Dordle, Quordle, Octordle, and Sedecordle (brand name credit to each of the creators thereof). I mean, WORDS! I am an author, after all!

 
Thank you so much for allowing me to share my thoughts and ideas with you today!
 
Best,
 
Elissa Strati

William's Wandering Ways (Rejected Mail-Order Groom Book 3)

by Elissa Strati (Author), Books by Nan (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition

Book 3 of 10: Rejected Mail-Order Grooms

If they don't want me, then I don't need them!

William wasn't even out of grammar school when he received his first rejection. His next two attempts at romance were equally rejected, and he made his mind up that women simply weren't for him, and stopped trying to attract the attention of the opposite gender. Leaving his three brothers to help Pa on the ranch, he signed on as a wrangler to guide his family stock in the upcoming cattle drive and forget about girls. That was his plan and he was sticking to it. Of course, the best laid plans...


This series and its predecessor, Rejected Mail-Order Brides, are the brain-child of author Sarah Lamb (whose books I enjoy immensely). The premise is in the series name! Dealing with the rejection is one of the aspects on which I will be focusing, although each author will have her own approach. Like all of my books, this is sweet and wholesome. A quick shout out to ALL my fellow (sister?) authors in this hugely popular series! I think folks will have a bit of extra fun with the twist on the original set of stories.

https://www.amazon.com/Williams-Wandering-Rejected-Mail-Order-Groom-ebook/dp/B0DT5Y8JMJ

Things That Made Me Smile This Month

By Diana McCollum 

Number One for this week is B.A. Binns blog post https://romancingthegenres.blogspot.com/2025/03/my-choice-for-greatest-romance-series.html

Her blog was on her choice of the best historical series. A series I loved and read many years ago. It made me smile to find another fan of "Angelique" by Anne Golon. I was so excited I must have read her blog post three times, the review of the books brought back memories of how much I enjoyed them.

B.A. Binns said that you can still find the books on Amazon. I'm going to search for the books, as I'd like to read them again.

Facetime with my sister makes me smile! 

This morning I woke to 3" of snow and it made me happy. It's supposed to stop mid morning and turn to rain. 

Last week after watercolor class on Saturday, Joy, Valerie, Kathleen and I went out for coffee. We all smiled and laughed. Having good friends makes me smile.

(watercolor by Me!)

Seeing the new great grand baby and the 18 month old great grand baby for the weekend, I was smiling the whole time!

Tonight fixing dinner and a flock of turkeys came into our front yard. Two of the males spread their tale feathers, and oh what a sight! I smiled as they all jostled around each other. So I guess the animals, and birds always make me smile. Love it!!

Hope you have a smiling day today!!

What is your favorite genre to read?

One thing that always cheers me up: PBS shows by Lynn Lovegreen

 

This month’s theme is things that always cheer us up. One obvious answer is books, but since all of us probably share that one, I thought of another: PBS shows. You can find me in front of the TV most evenings, watching fun shows. It’s a great way to lift my mood.

 

PBS stands for the Public Broadcasting Service, and it’s a non-commercial television network with local member stations all over the US. Everyone can watch it for free, something that doesn’t happen much in these days of streaming services. 

 

PBS airs kids’, news, educational, and entertainment programs. It’s aired a few hits you’ve probably heard of, like Bob Ross’ The Joy of Painting, and Julia Child’s cooking shows. And who can forget Downton Abbey or the gorgeous Poldark?!

 

The show Masterpiece started out as Masterpiece Theatre, which started by airing only British shows based on books. (They branch out from that occasionally, but most of their programs are still literature-inspired.) I love watching Masterpiece for dramas like Nolly and Wolf Hall, and mysteries like Endeavour and Magpie Murders. I just finished watching the latest season of All Creatures Great and Small--how can you go wrong with the scenery of the Dales and heartwarming stories about people and animals? It’s so cozy.

 

Outside of drama and mysteries, I enjoy the nature and science shows like Nature and Nova, and history shows like American Experience and Secrets of the Dead. I learn more about stories in the news from in-depth shows like Frontline, and about music from shows like Austin City Limits.  There really is something for everyone there!

 

All of this is available on your local public TV station. Or, if you donate to PBS, you can also pull up shows on their PBS Passport website. It’s a great way to catch up on shows you missed or re-watch your favorites. (I might have to see that Poldark show again!)

 

To check out PBS for yourself, go to https://www.pbs.org. I’m sure you’ll find the perfect show for you!

Learn more about Lynn Lovegreen from her website www.lynnlovegreen.com or follow her on BlueSky at @lynnlovegreen.bsky.social.