Romance novels. That's what the industry calls them. People have other names for the "real" thing. You know, like "bodice rippers." I've heard that one a lot. I have my own names for them. Or, rather, I came up with a few as a cathartic way to deal with today's blog post. How about "Blush Continue Reading
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Murder on the Moor by Julianna Deering: a Book Review
Did he do it? He's a philandering cad, but is he guilty of fraud? Of swindling? Of murder? For months these questions have battered my brain as I've sent Madeline on the trail of a new pseudo-mystery in her quest to learn just how to use these skills she's still only discovering. Franky, my Continue Reading
3 Icky Words: Sorta, Anyway
"Seeds." Such an innocuous word. However, if I want to make a friend of mine squirm, all I have to do is say, "Seeds." Seriously, the gal almost turns green. And it's all my fault. Look, some people have trouble with words like moist or cervix. I happen to have friends that squirm at both of Continue Reading
A Book by Any Other Title: or Something Like That
The incessant blink of the cursor taunts me as I stare at a blank page gripped by a rare malady known as "titler's block." Look. Everyone's heard of its cousin, "writer's block." He doesn't even bother knocking at my door. Why? Because I have enough book ideas to last me a century. And that Continue Reading
Unraveling the Tangles of Common Writing Rules:
The note on my manuscript read: "You're telling us about this. Show us." And I had no idea what that meant. I remember reading articles, asking questions, reading more. Rewriting--and rewriting again, only to have the next comment arrive. "This is very passive." Huh? In school, Continue Reading
E-books vs. “Real” Ones: one author’s perspective
"There's just something about an eReader. I love to inhale the subtle scent of... plastic. They make me happy seeing them all lined up on the... counter. Charging. On a rainy day, nothing beats a fire in the fireplace, a cup of your favorite hot beverage, the sound of rain pattering against the Continue Reading
The Soundtrack of My Writer’s Mind
There are a few memos I didn't get as a writer back when I started. No. Seriously. I missed a few. Things like, "writer's block" and "tortured souls". Yeah. We're supposed to have those things. Who knew? Not me! Oh... and we're supposed to have these elaborate soundtracks for our books. No Continue Reading
Questions That Plague Me (or something like that)
I was always an inquisitive kid. Oh, who am I kidding? I'll be asking irritating and irrelevant questions until the day they slap duct tape over my mouth in the nursing home and shove me out a six-story window. But I'll be asking, "Wwwwhhhyyy....????" as I fall to my death. Trust me on Continue Reading
Baggage: Claim It or Not, We All Have It
Look, anyone who knows me knows that I'm a very frank person. I say what I think. I try to do it kindly, but I rarely mince words. Don't ask my opinion if you don't want it. No. Really. Note: links in this post are likely affiliate links and will provide me with a small commission at no Continue Reading
When Authors Blow It (nearly, anyway)
Picture the scene. There I was, blithely editing Past Forward (I think volume 3), when I saw the date. February 14. It was supposed to a big deal--a huge day in the lives of characters from a related book coming out soon. Just one problem. A year before, on that day, almost all the characters Continue Reading
The Newcomer by Suzanne Woods Fisher: a book review
Can I let you in on a secret? I don't like Amish fiction. Yeah. I don't. That's not to say I've never read Amish fiction that I enjoyed. That's not what I mean. What I mean is that when I hear someone suggest a book and it turns out to be Amish, I tend to tune out. Most feel like the same Continue Reading
Ever Wonder Who Wins Giveaways with What Entries?
Well, I'm going to tell you this time. I'm going to tell you what entries became the winning entries! I mean, why not? It's fun information, right? I mean, did your newsletter sign-up get you the prize? What number was it? Were you the first entry? The last? A generic middle? (Note:: Continue Reading
