Meet the Author

Welcome! I'm Gail Robin Raes, and I've always believed stories have the power to entertain, inspire, connect—and sometimes even heal.

I didn't set out to become the author of a growing library of books. In fact, many of my stories have arrived when I least expected them: through a conversation, a memory, a family story, a friendship, a dream, a ridiculous moment I couldn't stop thinking about—or simply an idea that refused to leave me alone.

My first novel Picnics in the Vineyard took readers to California's Napa Valley for a story filled with friendship, romance, laughter, and more than a little wine. What I hadn't anticipated was how much of my own life would find its way onto those pages.

A conversation with a bestselling author once introduced me to the idea that writers often “sprinkle” pieces of themselves into their stories.

Much like the Morton Salt girl, pieces of my life have rained into my books ever since.

Sometimes they're disguised as fiction. Sometimes they're told with complete honesty. Sometimes they become memoirs filled with laughter, questions, memories, and the people I've loved. And sometimes they turn into dragons, mermaids, flip-flop girls, witches, book clubs, mysteries—or characters who seem perfectly capable of taking over the story without asking my permission.

Today, my writing crosses several genres, from women's fiction, romantic comedy and lighthearted mysteries to memoir, humor, inspirational reflections and whimsical children's stories.

And somewhere along the way, the stories began turning into music, too. Many of my books now have original songs inspired by their characters, themes and stories, along with audio introductions and a growing collection of audiobooks.

What connects all of them isn't a particular genre.

It's life.

The funny parts. The difficult parts. The people we love. The memories we keep. The questions we still ask. And the wonderful possibility that there's always another story waiting to be told.

So whether you've come looking for laughter, friendship, romance, reflection, a little mystery, a little magic—or perhaps a dragon or two—I'm glad you're here.

Inspired by life. Written from the heart.
Sprinkling love, laughter and a little magic into every story.