It just wouldn't be right to celebrate Independence Day without letting the Independence Islands celebrate with us! After all, these islands got their name during the War for Independence! Here's a short story about current day islanders and the history that made them who they are today! Happy Continue Reading
How Secrets Will Do Their Best to Kill You
When I’m nearing the end of one of my own books and get on a writing roll, I don’t like to have to stop for anything. Eating, sleeping, trips to the smallest room of our house for obvious reasons to all except the dogs who plop themselves right outside the door to make sure no wolves climb in Continue Reading
The Crazy Things Some People Do for a Good Book
Do you ever wonder how some stories would play out in a different setting? Like The Little Princess… but in the Chicago Projects, or The Little Mermaid—in reverse. Sandy Barela from Celebrate Lit Publicity and Publishing joined me a couple of weeks ago for a couple of hours of brainstorming, and Continue Reading
What 3 Things Make a Simple Story Powerful & Complex?
Patsy Cline. That's where I first heard the name "Allegheny." Her rich voice would fill the car, from an 8-track, of course, as we rode through Moorpark and over to Camarillo--to my uncle's house. "Al-le-ghe-ny moon... I need your light... to help me find... romance tonight..." Frankly, I Continue Reading
Is the Coast Guard the Red-Headed Stepchild of the Military?
I know where I was the day I learned about the Coast Guard, although I don't actually know how old I was. Dad was driving me to school along Olivas Park Drive. Just after we passed the Olivas Adobe, whatever he was saying clicked. Something about having an honorable discharge... from the Coast Continue Reading
Episode 16: A Chat w/ Melissa Wardwell about Scrumptious Independence
Ever wonder what makes someone start writing? What about where ideas for characters come from? Have you been eager to find out what’s coming in the Independence Islands Series? Have we got an episode for you! This week, we’re chatting with author Melissa Wardwell about her author journey, her Continue Reading
What Happens When Worldviews Collide?
The title grabbed me. Women of the Bible Speak Out. But the subtitle… I wasn’t so sure about “stories of betrayal, abuse, healing, and hope.” What would they do with those? Okay, so I had a pretty good idea of what the format would look like. Not only that, I was right. The format was pretty much Continue Reading
Crazy Excited to See What Happens Next in This New Series
I don’t know if it was booth fourteen or not. I suspect not. There was no outlet. Then again, it was in a different city, so there’s that. I waited for her to arrive—someone I’d agreed to meet to help with a bit of cover work after everything went sideways one day. It was a nonfiction Continue Reading
Why Lies Only Make Bad Things Worse
When I heard my friend say that Dana Mentink was one of her favorite authors, I took note. After all, we tend to agree on most books. There was just one problem. The one book of Dana Mentink’s that I’d read before I’d only “liked” at best. I could see why she was a popular author, and I was so Continue Reading
Episode 15: Author Recommendations & T.I. Lowe
Need a good book to read? Ask an author for a recommendation! You may be surprised at how perfect that recommendation can be. I was! This week on Because Fiction Podcast, I'm talking about why going to a favorite author for book recommendations might just be a way to find your next perfect read. Continue Reading
Why Would I Waste Time While on a Deadline?
When you’ve spent your whole life reading great, heaping gobs of books, you develop… skills. Or, at least I did. When reading and writing books becomes your job, those skills also kick out some lovely things that you wish you could still do. Like read previews of coming books. Sometimes—okay, Continue Reading
3 Delightful Ways This Romance Made Me Swoon
Sometimes, waiting until the last minute to read a book is the best way to read it. Other times, it’s the worst. See, there’s always this temptation to rush through as the clock ticks closer and closer to deadlines. Sometimes, it’s also this waste of time, because as soon as the review is written, I Continue Reading
