Joshua Hanover had it all. He was handsome, rich, athletic, and had always been popular with the ladies. Yet, until he gets paired up with his beautiful but shy lab partner, Rosa, he never allowed himself to fall in love. As the chemistry between them grows, Josh realizes that his player days have come to end. But it seems his change of heart has come too late. Not only is Rosa leery of his bad boy reputation, he has four vindictive ex-girlfriends who are on a rampage. At first he doesn't take their threats seriously, but then his tires are slashed, someone tries to poison him, and one of the girls turns up dead. Josh doesn't know who to trust, but one thing is certain. It definitely isn't worth the price he's paying to be a player.
This story has been with me for a long time. I first wrote Player in 1994 when I was a senior in high school. Back then, Player started as a story inspired by real life, specifically, my friend George. At the time, he was my boyfriend and he’s still one of my best friends. Some things never change though. He’s also still a little bit of a player, though these days be prefers juggling men. 😄 Check out our prom pic from 1993.
Like most of my writing, Player pulled from the world around me. A lot of the characters were inspired by classmates and memories from those years. I created the detective character the same day I had my senior portraits taken, and ended up giving him the last name of the guy standing in line in front of me.
📚 The Publishing Journey
Player almost hit bookshelves much earlier than it did. In 1997, I had an agent. Contracts were signed. The book was about a month away from going to print, and then the publisher went bankrupt. The book got tangled up in legal issues for years, and it was discouraging. I did keep writing, but my biggest struggle back then was finishing anything. I had so many ideas, probably 20 different books started, but none of them made it all the way to the end. Thankfully, that’s something I’ve learned to change. These days, I don’t start a book unless I know the beginning and the ending.
✍️ Bringing Player Into the Modern World
Fast forward a bit, Destiny became my first published book. Then, while I was pregnant with my youngest son Nicky, I hit a bit of a creative wall thanks to pregnancy brain fog. Instead of forcing new ideas, I decided to go back to Player and give it new life. That meant pulling it out of the ‘90s and giving it a serious update. I swapped out corded phones for cell phones, changed some lingo, and added in computers and digital cameras. I also had to retype everything since it was original written on a Brother Word Processor. But at its core, the story didn’t change. It’s still about a guy juggling four girlfriends. He gets caught, and when one of them ends up dead, everything spirals.
📖 From Traditional Publishing to Indie to Audio
When Player was finally published in 2012, it was through Free Focus Publishing, my cousin Andrew DiPalma was the cover model. Later, when that publisher went out of business, I made the decision to go independent. The current cover was created by my incredibly talented editor, Anne Hoelz, and it gave the book a fresh new look. Which brings us to today! Player’s newest chapter is audiobook form. The best part is that the narrator Jeremy, sounds so much like George. Out of all the twists this story has taken over the years, that might be my favorite.
This book has had a long, winding journey, from a high school idea to a near-miss publication, to a revival, to self-publishing, and now to audio. I couldn’t be more excited to share it with you in this new way.
🎧 You can listen now on Amazon and Audible: If you check it out, I’d love to hear what you think, especially now that it’s come full circle.
Every now and then, real life hands me a moment that feels like it stepped straight out of one of my own books. Today at the Auxiliary Foundation Bingo event, I had the joy of watching Doctor Hong, a real doctor, take the stage and belt out Broadway tunes with bingo‑themed lyrics.
Doctor Hong delivered his own clever, comedic rewrites of classic Broadway numbers, and the entire room was on their feet. After the show, I introduced myself and told him: “My Dark Musicals fans would LOVE you.” We ended up chatting about my series, and I mentioned one of my favorite characters, Dr. Zane Riverdale, the openly gay doctor who marries a drag queen and becomes one of the emotional anchors of the series.
Here's little slice of real‑world musical magic that feels right at home in the Dark Musicals universe. Please check out Dr. Hong's YouTube video below and show him some love! He deserves every view. And who knows, maybe someday Doctor Hong will make a cameo in the books. The Dark Musicals always has room for one more star.
Whether you're commuting, relaxing, or just want a story that keeps your heart racing, Player is the perfect listen to get lost in.
If you haven't read it already, here is a little more about the story:
Joshua Hanover had it all. He was handsome, rich, athletic, and had always been popular with the ladies. Yet, until he gets paired up with his beautiful but shy lab partner, Rosa, he never allowed himself to fall in love. As the chemistry between them grows, Josh realizes that his player days have come to end. But it seems his change of heart has come too late. Not only is Rosa leery of his bad boy reputation, he has four vindictive ex-girlfriends who are on a rampage. At first he doesn't take their threats seriously, but then his tires are slashed, someone tries to poison him, and one of the girls turns up dead. Josh doesn't know who to trust, but one thing is certain. It definitely isn't worth the price he's paying to be a player.
Meet Micaela Harper, the brand‑new narrator for my Dark Musicals series. Right now, she’s deep into Phantom (Book 1), and she’s not just narrating it. She’s transforming it.
Micaela has officially signed on to narrate all 16 books in the series, and after hearing Chapter 1, I knew I’d found the perfect creative partner for this musical‑mystery universe.
🎶 She Brought the Music
One of my biggest fears about adapting the Dark Musicals to audio was losing the musical element that defines the series. I write original “lyrics” into the books that echo the spirit of the songs that inspired them, but of course we can’t use copyrighted music in the audio. Micaela solved that problem
She took my original lyrics and composed her own unique music, creating a sound that captures the heart of the series without violating any copyrights. It’s fresh, emotional, atmospheric, and perfect for the Dark Musicals. Her performance captures the drama, the romance, the tension, and the theatricality. As a real musical theater performer, she understands the tone of the series.
🎬 A Journey Begins
This collaboration is going to be an incredible ride, and I can’t wait for you to hear what she’s creating. If you want a taste of her talent, check out her YouTube video below where she sings If Somebody Love Me from Toy Story.
Book 1 should be ready by mid‑June, and trust me, it’s worth the wait.
Stay tuned! The Dark Musicals are about to sing louder than ever. Check out the whole series on Amazon.
Abandoned as an infant, Morrigan spent years shuffled around the foster system, never finding a permanent home. People either bullied or avoided her, sensing she was different. She does her best to keep her abilities hidden: the power to move objects with her mind, control fire, and glimpse the future. Believing her dreams of mystical creatures and castles are her imagination, it isn’t until Filtiarn appears, the dark knight of her fantasies and the man tasked with guiding her to the magical land of TÃr na NÓg, that she realizes her true identity. Once reunited with her mother and grandmother, will their triad be able to save the forgotten land of magic from being devoured by an ancient evil?
Wilbur was used to attending his college formals alone. The Halloween Ball would be no different. He’s amazed when a beautiful girl in a Victorian gown shows an interest in him. What he doesn’t realize is that another woman has her eye on him as well. The White Lady returns every Halloween to take revenge on the men of the campus for her brutal murder. This year, she's chosen Wilbur as her next victim.
