The New Years’ Dance

Welcome to 2024!!! Life is like a dance, we take a few steps forward and a few back, and sometime run in circles.

NaNoWriMo and Me

As November draws to a close, so does the quest to win NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Congrats to all who participate.

Editing in the Slow Lane

Editing in the Slow Lane: In a world where we keep spinning at an ever faster pace, I am slow. And I’m okay with that … especially when it comes to writing.

What’s in a Name?

I love most aspects of the writing process, including editing. The magical inspiration that strikes when you least expect it. Getting to know the characters. And even more, seeing how the story develops because no matter what, the path I have planned is always changed because the characters want to go in a different direction.

Into the Editing Cave

Cave in Antelope Canyon

A writer’s life is cyclical in nature. We have the shiny new idea phase, followed by the first draft, followed by self-edits (multiple rounds), then it is sent away for someone else to look at and give feedback on, and then it’s back into the editing cave (these last two steps can happen multiple times), it goes to a proofreader, then (hopefully) one more go round and we have a product we can take pride in.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Hello 2022. So happy to see you. January 1 is always a day of great expectations for a new year. A page turned where we can put the past behind us and look forward to a full 365 days in which to make a mark. The mark I’m shooting for this year is joy and success. I’ve never been big … Read More

It’s the Little Things

At some point in life, we reach the stage where we gain a true appreciation for the small things or events in life. While some of the big things in life give us good memories to hang on to, it is the small things in the day to day grind that help elevate our mood and make our heart sing.

Story Monsters Ink Summer Reading Guide

When things are not exactly going smoothly, a bit of positive news is even more welcome than ever. And to be candid, with all months of testing I have been going through, and the results to those tests that once again put my world into a tail spin, learning that 7th Grade Revolution was featured in the July 2021 issue … Read More

The Journal of Angela Ashby: A Fresh Look

Every once in a while, there comes a time when you need to give things a fresh new look. Though The Journal of Angela Ashby has not even been out a year as yet, my publisher and I discussed whether we should give Angela a slightly new look, and agreed we should. I love the original cover created by Mister … Read More

7th Grade Revolution: The Tag-alongs

When I started writing 7th Grade Revolution, I knew I’d be working with an ensemble, so it took me a bit to get to know some of the characters. I knew Dennis and Rhonda right away, but the one who made himself known next was Spencer Jackson. Spencer is the kid in every class who is quick with a comeback, … Read More

The Journal of Angela Ashby: The Malachite Skull

When Angela and her best friend, Mallory, visit the fortune-teller tent, Madame Vadoma gives each of them a gift. While Angela receives the journal, Mallory is given a malachite skull. In the first draft of The Journal of Angela Ashby the malachite skull was simply referred to as a crystal. And as the book went through the revision process, the … Read More

Along Comes the Nautilus

Yesterday, while sitting in a chemo chair having an IVIG treatment*, my agent, Italia Gandolfo, chatted me and asked whether I could talk. I gave her my usual smart aleck response that I could talk, as long as she does most of the talking and doesn’t mind monosyllabic responses from me … or in another words a fairly normal conversation … Read More