Thank you so much to freelancer and writer with Reedsy, Desiree Villena, for dropping by today! This issuch an interesting post that absolutely made me take a look at my own books and what I do and don't enjoy in this subgenre. I hope you'll drop by again! Tropes can be tricky territory to navigate... Continue Reading →
Game of Thrones: Lessons for Writers
You know I couldn't not comment on #GameOfThrones now that it's ended. And, no matter what I think of the ending itself, I have to say that the writing on this show has been phenomenal. Otherwise, people wouldn't have tuned in in droves and obsessed over what they thought would happen. Most of that is... Continue Reading →
Cheat Sheet for Great Beginnings
Beginnings and endings are my favorite parts of books to write. Not just because with one I am starting a new exciting journey and the other I'm finally crossing the finish line. Endings we'll talk about another time, but beginnings... Beginnings I love because I get to use a relatively small amount of real estate... Continue Reading →
Epilogue or Not? | #MFRW Author Challenge
Epilogues are another of my favorite tools as a romance writer. I don't feel they are necessary or even as helpful for many other forms of fiction. However, with romance, they are almost a must in my opinion. According to Writer's Digest there are six common uses for epilogues: Wrapping up a story's events after... Continue Reading →
Best (Recent) Writer Advice… #MFRWAuthor Blog Challenge
Isn't it funny how the right advice comes along just when you need it? Kind of like when you learn a word you'd never heard before, and suddenly you hear it everywhere? There are piles of advice I've received over the years as a writer that I could list here. But if I did, I'd be... Continue Reading →
How I Create a Character #MFRWAuthor Blog Challenge
The character is the heart of the story in my writing world. I figure out the characters long before I figure out the plot. Maybe because memorable characters are what I look for in books, movies, and shows I love. Maybe because I feel like who a character is will determine how they react to... Continue Reading →
Sometimes It’s All About Scheduling
Between deadlines, releases, running AOAD, my gig as a VPA, and momming, I've had several author friends ask how I do it. How do I keep on top of everything? First of all...I don't. I am not superwoman or a magician. Things fall through the cracks on a regular basis. Plans don't work out the... Continue Reading →
5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I Started Publishing
While I've been writing all my life, I got into self-publishing in the last decade and followed it with traditional publishing through a small press a few years later. Kind of like how you wish your older self could tell your high school self some tips (like don't bother with that guy), there are things... Continue Reading →
Favorite Ways to Build Chemistry & Tension in Romance
I know you're expected a show don't tell king of blog post here, but not today. 🙂 The other day I posted a question on social media. I wanted to know readers' favorite ways to show/read chemistry and build up of tension between the hero/heroin in a romance novel. I got some great answers, so... Continue Reading →
I Lost 20 Lbs!!!
That's right! And I learned that it's all about choices and exercise. I know no one wants to hear that, but... Seems like each decade my "resting weight" goes up about 10 lbs. I was happy with where I was in my 20s and most of my 30s. But over the last 2 years of... Continue Reading →