Meet Aunt Marion: The Character Who Surprises Even Me (The Unexpected Star of The Sandcastle Inn Mysteries)

Meet Aunt Marion

I’m so excited to introduce you to one of my favorite creations—Aunt Marion—from my upcoming series, The Sandcastle Inn Mysteries.

In the first three books, the protagonist, Sandi, visits her Aunt Marion at the Sandcastle Inn, a charming, slightly weathered inn tucked along the Jersey Shore. And let me tell you, Aunt Marion has completely taken over my heart—and sometimes, my keyboard!

A Character Who Writes Herself

She’s quirky, faith-filled, and just a little zany. Honestly, she reminds me a bit of myself. She views life through God-colored glasses and has this habit of saying the most unexpected things—sometimes with old-fashioned colloquialisms, sometimes with words she makes up on the spot. I often find myself giggling as I write because she keeps surprising me.

Aunt Marion doesn’t just follow the plot... she writes herself into it. I sit down to write a scene, and before I know it, she’s off:

• Watching seagulls to "predict the weather"

• Offering her unique version of spiritual advice

• Reminding me (and my readers) that faith is full of joy, humor, and unexpected adventures

A Woman of Faith—But Not Perfection

More than just making me laugh, Aunt Marion brings me joy, and it’s that same joy I pray she brings to readers like you.

She’s not perfect. She has a prayer closet but sometimes gets sidetracked and forgets to use it. She makes mistakes but never hesitates to ask for forgiveness. Her faith is real, open, and a little messy. And just like all of us, she has secrets that God is still gently uncovering. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Aunt Marion Says: “Sunscreen, smunscreen. Use an umbrella.”

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