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ENTJ: Extraverts, You're AwesomeSince I shared Jessica's personality test, I thought it only fair to share the hero's too! Here's a look at James, an ENTJ (Extraverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging).

Here's why I think that works out:

1. Extraverted (E): James is super comfortable in social situations, like balls and parties, and often takes initiative, such as hatching their plan to sabotage courtships. He's also enjoys engaging in debates and discussions, often challenging Jessica's ideas.

2. Intuitive (N): Similar to Jessica, James focuses more on abstract concepts and the bigger picture. He's strategic in his approach, as evidenced by the plan to deter potential suitors.

3. Thinking (T): James is logical and strategic. He values discussions, debates, and challenges to his thought process, indicating a thinking-oriented decision-making style. He often prompts Jessica to think critically about her opinions.

4. Judging (J): He prefers structure and planning to going with the flow. This is evident in the way he and Jessica regularly meet to strategize about their suitors and how he reacts to unexpected situations, like when Jessica is suddenly unavailable.

The ENTJ personality type, often termed the "Commander" or "Fieldmarshal," is assertive, confident, and enjoys taking charge. They're strategic leaders and are often direct in their communication, but they also value growth, competence, and consistent logic in their decisions.

Based on how I wrote James, this type seems fitting for him. If you want to order the book, click below!

INFP: Introverts Unite! I often prepare to write a book by getting to know my characters better. And what better way to get to know someone, REALLY getting in their head, than by taking a personality test and answering the way they would answer? When I took the 16 Personalities test online for Jessica, I discovered that she might be an INFP (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving).

Here's why:

1. Introverted (I): Jessica has some social anxiety, prefers private conversations, and needs time to herself to process her emotions and thoughts. She doesn't thrive in large, overstimulating settings.

2. Intuitive (N): She thinks deeply about her situation, considering the future implications of actions (like her concerns about marrying and traveling). She's more focused on abstract ideas and implications than concrete details.

3. Feeling (F): Jessica makes decisions based on her personal values, emotions, and the well-being of those she cares about. Her interactions with James, her friend Catherine, and her concerns about her potential suitors indicate that she is emotionally driven.

4. Perceiving (P): She's not rigid in her approach to life. For instance, she's open to collaborating with James to deter suitors, indicating adaptability and a more go-with-the-flow attitude instead of strict planning.

The INFP personality type, often termed the "Mediator" or "Idealist," is introspective, creative, idealistic, and driven by high values. They seek deep, meaningful connections with others and need time alone to reflect and recharge. Jessica's character traits and behavior in the novel align pretty well with this.��

(You can read more about this personality type - and take the test for yourself, for free, right here:��.)

At the end of every year, I look at a LOT of numbers. Some of them aren't fun. Like the numbers I have to prep for my tax accountant. Ew. But the numbers I want to share with y'all are much better than that.��

So here's Sally Britton Readership in Numbers:

39,139,134��Pages Read In Kindle Unlimited! That's the equivalent of ~130,000 novels (at 300 pages) read
84,179��Total Book Orders!��3,660 of those were print, the rest were ebooks.��Whoa. Yay for ebooks!
8,897��Audiobook Sales through Audible! I don't even know how many hours that would translate to, but it is a LOT.
400,800+ HOURS��of streamed. This is amazing, because that only started in August! Whoa. And, if anyone is curious, the top streamed Audiobook is The Captain and Miss Winter,��followed closely by��Her Unsuitable Match.��
1,315��Audiobooks borrowed through Library Apps
1,923��Audiobooks sold on retailers other than Audible, such as Chirp, iTunes, Google Play, Books-A-Million, Kobo, Radish, Spotify, etc...

The top selling title this year has been Reforming Lord Neil, with over 28,000 copies (print and ebook) sold.

The book with the most Kindle Unlimited page reads is Her Unsuitable Match, with 6,847,515 pages read. (Over 24,000 copies borrowed through KU.)

These are amazing numbers. And I'm so grateful that all of you have helped me come so far. Truly, truly, thank you for being part of this experience and the journey of authorship.

All of this info and other information about FUTURE plans went out in my newsletter today. If you aren't on the list yet, you should sign up!��

��Simon Dinard, Lord Farleigh

CW: Mention of fertility struggles of the duchess.

This lovely gentleman (as played by a younger Robbie Amell, in my head) is often at odds—with himself. Simon was born near where Clairvoir Castle stands today, at a hunting lodge owned by the family. When he came into the world, the first child born to the Duke and Duchess of Montfort, the castle itself was undergoing major renovations. Thus he spent his nursery years mostly at the family home in London, doted on by his paternal and maternal grandparents, with access to the best governesses and tutors available.��

Simon was an only child for six years. His mother had two pregnancies, neither of which produced a living child. Because of this long period of time without siblings, and to soothe his mother’s heart, Simon was as often in her care as she could have him by her side. This created a very strong bond between them.

These years also proved formative in two other important ways. (1) Simon was also in his father’s company frequently, and soon held his father up as the very sort of man he wished to be. (2) Though young, Simon sensed his mother’s sorrow and took it upon himself to cheer her through his antics, smiles, and with his company. (Children can be very intuitive.) This matured him quickly, and by the time he was old enough for school, he left home with a head start in academics and understanding of the world.��

Thankfully, he had younger siblings by then, too. His sister Josephine, six years younger than Simon, was his favorite person in the world. He doted on her at every opportunity. Five years later, when Isabelle came along, he took on more of a protective older brother role. Then came Rosalind, tiny and often ill until she was out of leading strings. During her early years, Simon anxiously awaited the post every time he learned she was unwell, with hopes of learning that she had overcome her baby-fevers.��

When Simon’s brother, James, was born, Simon was seventeen and on his way to Cambridge. But every time he came home, once again, he was the very best of older brothers. James, as he grew, came to view Simon as his hero and wanted to be just like him.��

Outside of his family, Simon formed friendships through his education. Early on in his boarding school days, he met Andrew Wycomb, whose father was friends with Simon’s father. That was reason enough to associate with one another, but when Andrew dragged Simon into his pranks and misadventures, the two soon found a mutual enjoyment of the ridiculous. And each other. They became inseparable, to the extend that Andrew lived with the ducal family when his father passed away. The boys were more like brothers than friends, and looked out for one another.��

Andrew soon proved to be one of the few friends Simon could count on. Through painful experience, Simon learned that there were many who wanted near him for no reason other than his high position in society. Who wouldn’t want a future duke as an associate? What lady wouldn’t throw herself at a man soon to be one of the most powerful people in the country? This made him mistrustful of others�� motivations.��

Simon’s 24th year, after his grand tour and a year of tutoring from his father, saw him sent to Ireland to manage the family’s Irish holdings near Dublin. It was there he briefly met Lord Dunmore, an Irish baron. Though they were no more than acquaintances until the summer of 1819.��

During Simon’s time in Ireland, the weight of his future responsibilities became more evident than before. He found himself constantly wondering what his father would do in certain situations. How his father would act, what he would say, when confronted with difficulties regarding the land or people who lived upon it. The spring of 1819, Simon’s father entrusted him with the safety of the family (read all about it in ).��

More and more often, Simon dreaded the day he would lose his father. Not only because he loved the duke with his whole heart, but because he saw all the wisdom and respect his father had cultivated throughout his time as duke. Could Simon ever measure up to such a man? How would he even begin to fill his father’s shoes? Thankfully, the duke’s good health continued, even as the weight on Simon’s shoulders increased.

Shortly after Simon’s 26th birthday, Dunmore’s family was invited by the Duke to visit Castle Clairvoir for Christmas. And this is where the story of

Writing A Lady's Heart of Gold has been an incredible experience. I hope you enjoy these characters. Original illustrations in the book, including two full page illustrations AND the "chapter end" illustrations were created by Melanie Bateman, of .�� Spoilers Ahead. A door on the second floor of the bunkhouse opened, and the men playing checkers stopped mid-laugh to look that way. Then they both stood, tugging at jackets and adjusting hats.��

Ed let his eyes travel lazily to the subject of their fuss, and he couldn’t keep back his smile. A woman had appeared in the doorway, outlined by the shadows at her back. She shut the door behind her and stepped into the edge of sunshine peeking beneath the porch. She made her way down the walkway and then the stairs leading to the ground floor, her shoes clipping along at a business-like pace.

“Good afternoon, Miss McKinney,�� the sergeant greeted her when her boots hit the boardwalk on the ground floor, his words a drawl that sounded like he’d come straight from Louisiana to his post. “Did you enjoy your rest?��

The woman’s gaze skimmed across the quiet parade grounds. “Thank you, Sergeant Tompkins. It was adequate.”��

A chuckle almost escaped Ed’s throat. To someone else, her accent might’ve been hard to place. But he’d spent almost a year listening to two people who sounded remarkably like Miss McKinney. The woman seemed as out of place in the barracks as a cat at a coyote sing-along.��
Greenhorns were one thing in Arizona Territory. British greenhorns were another.��

Ed tucked his notebook into his back pocket, then watched from beneath the brim of his hat as the woman exchanged pleasantries with the two men. Their commanding officer must’ve placed them on the floor beneath her borrowed room to guard her. She seemed ready to dismiss them and walk across the dusty stretch of ground between her quarters and the major’s office where Ed stood. But the two men picked up their weapons and fell into step on either side of her.��

Were they worried someone would attack the ����ñ�ǰ����ٲ�? Or that she meant to wander off? Either way, the picture of a woman in long skirts and a straw hat marching between two calvary men in blue made Ed smile. As the odd group drew closer, the woman’s expression was one his mother wore when she’d grown tired of men and their antics.��

Miss MicKinney’s voice pierced the stillness in the air the same way her pointed boots dented the dry dirt. “Is it really necessary for you two to follow me everywhere? I am certain I am quite safe.��

The man she’d identified as Sergeant Tompkins answered. “Ma’am, it’s our honor to escort you wherever you need to go. A lady like you don’t know much about the dangers of the Territory.��

The other man, a corporal by his stripes, added with an eagerness possessed by the young, “That’s right, Miss McKinney. It’s not like it is back east. This here’s still wild land.��

Ed tipped his hat up on his brow, watching the woman come closer. He wore his hair shorter than his grandfather’s people, most of the time, but had recently taken to growing it out again. His straight black hair brushed the tops of his shoulders, he’d inherited his father’s sharp and wide cheekbones, and the bend of his nose would tell just about anyone with sense that he wasn’t White. A quarter of his blood came from somewhere else.

The woman had drawn close enough to notice him, and to look him in the eye. Though several feet still separated them, her step faltered.��

Ed heard his mother’s voice in his mind.��

“When I looked into your father’s eyes, I saw my soul within them. That is when I knew everything would change.��

She’d told him the story a hundred times. Every time his grandfather’s people pretended she did not exist. When letters came from her family, disapproval in each stroke of the pen. Ed’s mother used those words to explain why she and his father had altered the course of their lives for one another.��

Why her words came to him in that moment, when the pretty Englishwoman stared at him with widened eyes and parted lips, he didn’t want to know. Because he didn’t believe in fairy tales. Not the kind his mother told, not the myths and legends his grandfather’s people spun around smoky fires. Fiction was all well and good. But it was still just a pretty pack of lies. He ought to know, even if his particular brand of fiction hadn’t ever been published.

He kept his face blank and lowered his gaze to the dust underfoot. He ground his teeth together and didn’t look up again.

CHARACTER INSPIRATION: MOLLY MCKINNEY

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I looked long and hard for the right "Molly" face. I found one with Ella Hunt. Brown hair, brown eyes, with a look that honestly reminds me of so many girls I was friends with a long, long time ago. Honestly, she looks like a real person to me. Which I love.
Molly Elizabeth McKinney is the heroine of my upcoming Hearts of Arizona novel,

She's the British half of our romantic couple, and our hero finds her ADORABLE.����She's determined, stubborn, curious, and has an adventurous heart.��
Did I mention she's a newspaper reporter?

In the late 1800's, women were starting to make a splash in the newspaper world. In London, a woman both owned and edited a large newspaper. Women's magazines were taking off. Nellie Bly was an established figure in the world of investigative reporting. So it stands to reason that a determined woman with literary skills would find a way into that profession.��

In this book, you'll learn all about Molly. For one thing, she publishes under her initials, M.E. McKinney. That keeps both her editor and her readers from assuming a woman doesn't know what she's talking about.��

I hope y'all enjoy this little sneak peek into what's ahead.

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Another random fact about me: I LOVE the Lord of the Rings. Aragorn is my fave.

He's one of my desk/office buddies. Lately, he's been hanging out on the shelf next to my friends from The Princess Bride, but he makes little appearances on the desk now and then. Isn't he a cutie?

I LOVE Tolkien's worlds. I read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy prior to seeing any films, unless you count the creepy Hobbit cartoon from the 70's. In fact, my senior literary thesis class was called "Tolkien and Friends." One of the two professors team-teaching (they both resembled hobbits, by the way) had actually MET Tolkien years previous. It was an incredible class. I learned so much about the interpretation of literature and film.��

So who's your favorite Tolkien character? Do you have one? Why is that one your fave?

I love Aragorn - both book and movie version, which are quite different - for his honor and strength of character. He's a wonderful fictional hero. And my lil' Aragorn inspires me to write men of valor in my tales of romance!

��

In case you missed it - I released something pretty about six months ago!

🌸What: A sweet, stand-alone, Regency novella
🌸When: It was FIRST released as part of the Timeless Romance collection, An Evening at Almack's, but I've since added content and thrown in some edits.
🌸How: Available on Amazon for purchase ONLY. It cannot be in KU because the earlier version is still in the collection.
🌸Why: Because I wanted to add some scenes! Add some depth, change around a few things.��

So it's still the same story (in case you've read it before), but with extra descriptions, longer scenes, and a more satisfactory conclusion. (Book summary in comments.)

It may interest a few people to know that the plot for this book was partially inspired by the film Sabrina - but the one starring Audrey Hepburn, because I like that one better. 😉



Official Summary: When an unsuitable gentleman appears to court a baron's daughter, it's an older sister's duty to stand in his way. And, of course, not fall in love with him herself.

​Matilda Rayment is determined to protect her sister's interest and her family from ruin, which means she must marry off her flirtatious younger sister before the Season ends. When the Rayments cross paths with Oliver Bolton, the nephew of their steward, his interest in Miss Beatrice threatens all Mattie's plans.

For as long as he can remember, Oliver has dreamed of courting Miss Beatrice Rayment, but never dared reach above his station. He hasn't been a gentleman long, but owning his estate - however small in size - gives him access to new rungs on Society's ladder and finally, his chance has come.

It is up to Mattie to steer Oliver away from making an unhappy match with her sister, but before long she finds herself losing her heart to the steward's nephew. Oliver finds he cares less and less about winning Beatrice the more time he spends in Mattie's company. Can such an unsuitable match take place, or will all their plans be ruined?

What do you do when you're creatively blocked? I get blocked, sometimes. And it's not always the cat.

Thankfully, it never lasts long. I've had to learn a few different tricks with my writing to keep it from happening consistently, and to know how to get out of it when it DOES happen.��

I have friends I talk out sticky point in a story with. An editor (the one and only Jenny Proctor) for ENTIRE story blocks.��

Sometimes, all I need to do is whip out a good old-fashioned notebook and use a colorful pen to write out my thoughts. That tactile action of handwriting something - mind to hand, hand to pen, pen to paper - is usually enough to get my ideas flowing again.

Merry Christmas from Castle Clairvoir! The photograph is, of course, from the very real Castle Belvoir, which I visited on my trip to the UK. This castle inspired my fictional castle, where I imagine my characters enjoy their wintery feast in this beautiful room. This is the formal dining room, with a gorgeous tree in the corner and a table piled high with beautiful dishes. I hope your Christmas is warm and cozy, filled with tender memories and the best of laughter. Oh - and don't forget to pick up a copy of one of my Christmas books! For your stocking (the novella paperbacks fit perfectly) or your kindle! My newest, A Mistletoe Mismatch, is an enemies-to-lovers story.

My first Christmas novella, Penny's Yuletide Wish, is a childhood-friends-to-more story. It's the seventh book in my Branches series, but works quite well as a stand-alone story with its own happily ever after.