Before I started writing I thought that being an author was a wonderful thing, that stories were created easily and magically, and that there was no “work” involved—just joy. I’d heard about the “business” of writing and how much authors had to “market” their books, but that meant very little to me since I was a reader. I didn’t think …
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 …
November. Leaves are changing color from vibrant green to muted ochre, cinnamon, ruby, and pumpkin. Falling on the ground to carpet the street and sidewalks. As I walk I remind myself to pause, reflect, and take the time to connect with my heart, with my inner child, and scuffle through that padded carpet, thrilling to the crisp, crackly crunch. The …