Okay, November is totally gone and December is upon us. It’s been a month since my last post so I want to get you all caught up on what’s happening in my little corner of the world. First of all, last week I was notified Wish I Could Have Said Goodbye earned two awards in…
Today marks the first day of November, which means writers all over the world are participating in the National Write a Novel in a Month challenge. Personally, I have not tried to slay the dragon (also known as the novel) in this manner, but many writers love to challenge themselves in this way, much like…
October 20-28 marks this year’s Red Ribbon Week, which means schools throughout the country sponsor activities and presentations to commemorate living a drug free life. But every year, I wonder if the meaning behind Red Ribbon Week loses its impact because it has become so routine for kids. I also wonder how many people know or…
The official press release went out today! I’m thrilled to announce Wish I Could Have Said Goodbye was awarded a silver medal in the Moonbeam Children’s Award contest. Here’s some information about the award and what this stands for in the world of children’s literature. “The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards exist to bring increased recognition to…
One of the most common challenges faced by fiction writers is keeping the inspiration going. Writers are asked constantly how they stay inspired or how they were inspired to write a particular story. Here’s my theories on inspiration and what inspires me. Fiction writing is a long process, especially getting the first book out into the…
If you’re a writer or a reader, here’s a chance to win some really cool stuff and do something positive to help raise awareness about suicid e, the fourth leading cause of death among teenagers and adults. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, studies indicate the best way to prevent suicide is through…
On the final day of my blog tour, two bloggers post reviews and I’m thrilled with both of them. Dalene posts about her hesitation to read my book and is now so glad she did at A Date with a Book. And I didn’t plan on saving the best for last, but it just worked…
Many people are curious about what writers go through to learn their craft, so I thought I would periodically share some of the things I’ve learned here. I think story analysis is a huge part of learning the craft of writing, and I think it’s a great tool for students to use, as they are…
Anyone who knows me, is aware of my lack of gross motor coordination and therefore, lack of knowledge concerning sports and sports figures. But over the weekend, while perusing the internet for some quotes, I ran across this one from Arnold Palmer, who just happens to share my mother’s birthday and birth year. Happy Birthday…
Part of becoming a fiction writer requires reading a lot of fiction within your genre and specifically authors who you love, who write the kind of stories you wish you could write. And when I say I read a lot, I mean a lot. As in a book a week. So while writing several novels…