The scent of books mingled with coffee lures you in through the doors. You wander down past the array of clearance items, gift bags, goofy book-themed gifts, and hit the discount racks. Bestsellers. Science Fiction. Mystery. After wandering through the rows of beautiful “repurposed trees” for a Continue Reading
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What Book Would Make the Best Last Literary Meal?
Okay, let me just be super transparent here, okay? Last meal. When I saw that question on this week’s blog challenge, I kept wanting to ask, “What do you know that I don’t?” It’s strange. I’ve never been afraid of death. Okay, I’m not so keen on the dying part. Not unless I get to do something Continue Reading
Who Are My Cheerleaders? These 7 Fabulous Folks
When you're weary and exhausted, no matter how much you love the game, you're just done. Enter, the cheerleaders. Rah, rah, sis, boom, bah! You can do it, yah, yah, yah! Pompoms wave, crowds cheer! The team flags, but with the cheers going, they pull through and... SCORE! Whew! Exhaustion fades Continue Reading
What 4 All-American Things Do I Absolutely Hate?
I was a kid in the seventies. I mean, you almost couldn't BE a more seventies kid than me. Time-wise, anyway. I was born in 1970--on the first anniversary of man landing on the moon. WOOT! Most of the other 70's kid stuff didn't really apply to me. I didn't watch much TV, I didn't get into pop Continue Reading
Why “All You Need” Is Brilliant & Annoying
It’s one of the most annoying answers in writing. The question? How many words should my book be? Answer: as many as it takes to tell the story. Commence head banging now. The problem is that this is the right answer. It’s brilliant. And it’s annoying. There are those who say, “Word Continue Reading
How the Most Annoying Pet Peeves Inspire the Best Stories
I have a secret to share. Better listen closely, because I'll only admit to this once. The ghosts of authors past will haunt me in my nightmares if I dare to do this as it is. But you see, authors aren't just hyper-creatives who crack open the rooms of their imaginations and allow you a glimpse Continue Reading
Warning: Unintended Consequences Will Make You a POW
Of fabulous WWII fiction. No, really. When I got the opportunity to read Dan Walsh’s new book, Unintended Consequences, I had no idea what to expect. I’d never read anything by him before—no clue even to the genre. But I accepted the offer of a complimentary copy, dove into the book, and began Continue Reading
15+ Memories: Why I Know I Had the Best Childhood
Did I tell you about the time my Dad and I went to Santa Barbara for dinner? We ate at J. K. Frimbles by the tree, and later, we walked up and down State Street, window shopping. What about how Mom and I used to sit in the “family room” half of her bedroom at night and listen to old radio Continue Reading
5 Cool Life Secrets I Learned from Old Movies
The blue screen flickers—turns black, white, and innocent shades of gray. Music swells. The production company’s logo fills the TV, and a smile forms. The music always changes—sprightly for a romance or a comedy, tense and imposing for a drama. A combination for both. And then it begins… I’ve Continue Reading
Why Flawed and Pathetic Heroes Are the Best
When this week’s topic, “My Ideal Romance Hero,” popped up in my planner, I laughed. Okay, so first I gagged, but then I laughed. Look, some blog on marketing for romance writers came up with this blog challenge, so now and then, I have to expect that there’ll be something from the sap and drip Continue Reading
What I Thought of For Love and Honor
There’s a man who used to live in our town—rather average in every respect. Height, weight, hair, eyes, skin. Well, not skin. You see, he had the largest port wine stain on half his face that I’d ever seen. It looked rather like the mask worn by the Phantom of the Opera. I remember children being Continue Reading
3 Sure Fire Things That Always Make Me Laugh
Let me set the scene. Seventh grade. Twelve years old. Just rode home from school—a five-mile ride… up an overpass. Both ways. Okay, not that last part. Just one way, but the rest… So, overheated but not perspiring (because that part of my body didn’t work very well… still doesn’t), I dragged Continue Reading
