The northern half of the world has turned a cold shoulder to the sun's cheery face and my home state of Michigan is bathed in wintery darkness. We rise to an artificial alarm nearly two hours before it will be light enough to bother opening the curtains. By the time we sit down for dinner, … Continue reading Christmas Thoughts + New Interviews
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Fatal Flashback Interview and Giveaway
Wow, friends, it's December! Not only does that mean my favorite time of year, but it also means my debut romantic suspense Fatal Flashback is now out in the wild. After so many months of waiting, I can hardly believe release day has arrived! Just because I couldn't resist, my family made an impromptu trip … Continue reading Fatal Flashback Interview and Giveaway
Writing Updates Plus Giveaways
Happy Halloween! As I write this post, two of my kids sit in the living room hunched over piles of candy like dragons hoarding treasure. I suppose it was hard-earned--it's 34 degrees outside and pouring rain and sleet. The third kid should be home from his party soon, and then the candy exchange will begin … Continue reading Writing Updates Plus Giveaways
Four Easy Ways to Improve Your Writing NOW
Writing can be quite the roller coaster. Some days the words flow off your fingertips, you love your characters, and you can picture your book lined up with the other bestsellers in Barnes and Noble. Other days, you just want to set your laptop on fire and find something to do with your spare time … Continue reading Four Easy Ways to Improve Your Writing NOW
RWA 2019: Golden Hearts and Purple Socks
Hey, friends! Anybody else feel like August is a complete whirlwind? In my case, it probably comes from having four kids and too many things to do before school starts. But for a few minutes, I'm taking a break from all those boring real life details to reminisce about my trip to New York City. … Continue reading RWA 2019: Golden Hearts and Purple Socks
Guest Post: What First Edition Book Would You Buy If You Could?
Today I'm delighted to welcome author Jason VanHorn, who has some fun things to share for anyone who loves books. If you or a middle-grader you know are interested in action-packed spy adventures, be sure to check out Jason's books at http://www.alabasterdangermond.com. His newest release, Alabaster Dangermond and Astrid's Jewel, is available now. You know … Continue reading Guest Post: What First Edition Book Would You Buy If You Could?
Rekindling Your Passion for Writing: Part Two
Hi friends! In my last post, we talked about how sometimes, as creatives, our passion for our work can mysteriously evaporate. But when we dig deeper, we can usually find a reason for our sudden lack of enthusiasm. Losing your passion for writing is only a symptom of a problem, and if you can figure … Continue reading Rekindling Your Passion for Writing: Part Two
Rekindling Your Passion for Writing: Part One
Blessed quiet fills the house, broken only by the soft whisper of flames in the gas fireplace and the hiss of the tea kettle in the kitchen. I pull out my laptop, ready for the smooth feel and steady clicking of the keys beneath my fingers. It's 9 PM at my house, and my kids … Continue reading Rekindling Your Passion for Writing: Part One
Create Your Own Newsletter with Mailchimp: The Basics
Well, friends, I'm pleased to report that instead of putting it off for most of 2019, I decided to tackle one of this year's toughest goals head-on: creating my author newsletter. Most people in the publishing world will tell you there are couple of things you have to have in today's digital age if you … Continue reading Create Your Own Newsletter with Mailchimp: The Basics
Diving Deep Into Third Person Point of View
Have you gotten feedback from readers, agents, or editors telling you they can't connect with your story? Or that you're doing too much telling instead of showing? Or maybe they can't tell what your characters want? While a variety of problems can lead to this sort of feedback, one thing definitely will--using distant third person … Continue reading Diving Deep Into Third Person Point of View
