Are you enjoying October? I love the feel of fall with cooler evenings and the leaves turning pumpkin, cranberry, cinnamon, and goldenrod. I’ve also been having a blast with my reading. So many wonderful books, including Pack Up the Moon (see my review below). Until I landed on my latest read that feels like classic literary fiction and reminded me …
Today’s entry (September 14) in Sarah Ban Breathnach’s Simple Abundance is titled “Giving Yourself Credit.” She mentions the few among us who gladly celebrate their accomplishments with trophies on the mantel and framed awards on the walls. But many of us (like me) fail to celebrate our achievements. As she so cleverly notes, we’re like the bear that went over …
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune The House in the Cerulean Sea begins with dialogue, breaking one of the laws of good writing, according to the experts. Beginning with dialogue, they say, fails to give you essential background. You (theoretically) need a good foundation in order to understand the characters and their world. But TJ Klune …
Happy July! I know we’ve had summer weather here in Atlanta, and all across the country, but it doesn’t feel like summer to me until July. I’m missing the beach, the feel of the water on my toes, the slip slide of sand. I love going barefoot and wearing shorts and feeling casual and carefree. If I could be anywhere I’d …
Of Beast and Beauty by Chanda Hahn I’m a huge fan of the Beauty and the Beast fable and have enjoyed numerous retellings. This was no exception. Chanda Hahn gives us a complex story with high stakes and continued suspense. Rosalie, the eldest of seven daughters of Lady Eville, had been chosen to unite two feuding kingdoms. Thrust …
Do you like nearing the end of a project? The thrill of wrapping it up, tying up all the loose ends? Publishing a book is a definite journey, and long for me. Usually 3 years. But all that effort makes the end so worthwhile. I’m putting the finishing touches on The Heart of Everything, getting it ready for layout …
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! I hope you and your loved ones have a special day together and have a chance to honor those being celebrated today. Great news! I’m so excited to give you a sneak preview of the cover for The Heart of Everything! A cover reveal is one of the most exciting parts of my author journey. After 3 …
Great stories are built on great stories. There are only so many master plots. The trick is to create variations on the theme. Like Mozart did with his variations on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or Rachmaninoff with Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. The essence remains the same but there are subtle (or not so subtle) changes that make the …
Readers want to know why authors write. Often an interview will ask the question “What made you want to become a writer?” My answer is probably trite, but hopefully amusing: I didn’t. I didn’t have childhood dreams of being a writer. I loved to read. In fact, as a child I devoured books, the longer the better. I had a vivid …
I love KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)! The fact that you can upload your files and create and publish a book online is so cool! The process is easy, fast, and free, and I’m grateful to have their platform for my books. Unfortunately, KDP also has a number of aspects I strongly dislike. Early this year I decided to create new …