Nov 7
Christmas Bazaar
Saturday, November 7, 2026 · 9 AM–4 PM
First Methodist Church · 105 N. Montgomery, Gilmer, TX 75644
View event flyerDeidre Whipple Lopez · Author
Welcome to
Mental Vacations.
Settle in and find your next escape. From island romance and page-turning suspense to Tator’s playful adventures, there’s a story waiting for you.
One book at a time
Heart · Suspense · Humor · Adventure
Upcoming events
Come meet Deidre.
Stop by, say hello, and find your next read. I’ll be there with my books!
View event flyerNov 14
Heritage Syrup Festival
Saturday, November 14, 2026
Downtown Henderson, TX
View event flyerDec 5
Yuletide Market
Saturday, December 5, 2026 · 12 PM–5 PM
The Texan · Athens, TX
Presented by Keep Athens Beautiful
View event flyer
Find your next escape
Stories for every age.
Choose a world to step into, from island romance and suspense to Tator’s big little adventures.
01 / SUSPENSE
Thrillers &
stand-alone stories
Secrets, unexpected turns, and ordinary lives changed by extraordinary circumstances.
Explore Deidre’s books beyond the series.
Find books on Amazon02 / ROMANCE & SUSPENSE
The Jillian
series
A journey of love, survival, and starting over, set against the island beauty of St. Thomas.
The Two Faces of Jillian · The Heart of Jillian · The Shadow of Jillian
Explore the Jillian series03 / LITTLE READERS
Tator the
Terrible
A small Shih Tzu, a big personality, and playful picture-book adventures to share with your little reader.
Campground fun · Beach adventures · School days · Birthday surprises
Explore Tator’s booksRomance & Suspense · Books 1–5
The Jillian series.
Follow Jillian’s journey through love, survival, and second chances. Start with Book 1 and read in order.
Book 1
The Two Faces of Jillian
Buy on Amazon
Book 2
The Heart of Jillian
Buy on Amazon
Book 3
The Shadow of Jillian
Buy on Amazon
Book 4
The Courage of Jillian
Buy on Amazon
Book 5
The Legacy of Jillian
Buy on AmazonPicture books · Ages 2–5 · Books 1–8
Tator the Terrible
A little dog with a big attitude. Share Tator’s playful adventures with your little reader.
Book 1
Tator the Terrible
Buy on Amazon
Book 2
Goes Camping
Buy on Amazon
Book 3
Takes the Beach
Buy on Amazon
Book 4
First Day of School
Buy on Amazon
Book 5
First Haircut
Buy on Amazon
Book 6
Birthday Surprise
Buy on Amazon
Book 7
The Great Gecko Escape
Buy on Amazon
Book 8
The Halloween Treasure Hunt
Available on AmazonAges 7–10 · Books 1–2
Tator
Stories about courage, kindness, and belonging. One eye. Same heart. Still Tator.
Book 1
Tator’s New View
Buy on Amazon
Book 2
Tator Belongs at the Dog Club
Buy on AmazonChildren’s books · Books 1–2
The Scoot series.
Stories about believing, learning, and helping others.
Book 1
Scoot’s First Big Dream
Buy on Amazon
Book 2
Scoot and the Big Day
Buy on AmazonTwo-book series · Survival thrillers
The 17 Days series.
Read the two-book survival-thriller journey in order.
Available now · Psychological thriller
Dr. Charlie
Available now on Amazon
He’s always here. Always listening.
Lonely and struggling to fit in, sixteen-year-old Grace Chapman finds comfort in an online therapist named Dr. Charlie. But as more students turn to him for support, private conversations spiral into manipulation, heartbreak, and tragedy—and Grace discovers he isn’t who she believed.
Fantasy thrillers
The Dreams Within
Fantasy thriller
The Dreams Within
Grieving and betrayed, Emma retreats to an isolated beach house, where vivid dreams draw her to a mysterious man from the sea. As an ancient legend unfolds, the line between dreams and reality blurs—and her deepest wish brings secrets and danger.
Buy on Amazon
Psychological thriller
What the House Answered
Four lifelong friends. One old house. Four wishes.
When Alexandria Barnes inherits her grandparents’ Victorian home on Galveston Island, a weekend with her closest friends becomes something none of them could have imagined.
Sometimes the most dangerous thing isn’t getting what you want. It’s discovering what you were really asking for.
Buy on Amazon
Crime mystery thriller · Available now
Secrets Beneath the Pond
The morning after his twenty-first birthday, Tristan Thompson finds his car badly damaged—and has no memory of the night before. When his beloved neighbor goes missing, a desperate cover-up pulls Tristan and his brother into a small-town mystery where buried secrets threaten to surface.
Available now on AmazonTrue stories
Best Five Dollars I Ever Lost
A true story
The Completely True Story of the Life I Never Planned
Ever met someone and known you should’ve run away as fast as you could… but didn’t? Yeah. Me too.
Buy on Amazon
Behind the stories
Hello, I’m Deidre.
Author of Mental Vacations
I’m Deidre Whipple Lopez, an independent author who writes stories filled with heart, suspense, humor, and unforgettable characters.
From emotional romance and psychological thrillers to lighthearted children’s adventures, I write with one goal in mind: to give readers a place to escape.
You can also find me sharing my books at vendor events and talking with young readers about storytelling, kindness, and the adventures behind Tator.
Schools · Scouts · Organizations
Let’s bring stories to life.
Planning an author visit or a community event? Contact Deidre to discuss a visit, your readers, and how Tator’s story can be part of the day.
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