A few weeks ago my main website got hacked in a big way. Apparently, unbeknownst to me, my site was busy spamming the internet because it had been connected into a network of sites all directing links to various other sites, ultimately trying to either infect the poor soul on the royal goose chase with some sort of virus, or … Read More
Renewal of a Quest
My quest for health is paved with good intentions — and erratic execution. Last year this time, I was recovering from one knee surgery and getting ready for a second, but health wise, I was doing better and better. Then I lost a bit of steam as we slid into fall and have taken a few stabs at getting back … Read More
Do You Believe?
A couple nights ago, I took a rare moment and watched a movie. Not something I have an opportunity to do very often because I’m juggling so many different things, but it had been a rough week and I needed to decompress a bit. I chose Little Boy, which is set in World War II times, and is primarily about … Read More
Warning Deadline Approaches
Along with juggling quite a few things I can’t talk about, I have been working diligently on my latest WIP, a dark upper YA novel, Speak No Evil. I am excited about how this book is shaping up and how close I am to the finish line with it. Then I happened to have a conversation with my literary manager … Read More
Omniscient Point of View
Last week I talked about head hopping and why we shouldn’t and I mentioned the omniscient POV (Point of View) as not being a part of the discussion. Head hopping means jumping from character to character and changing viewpoint. Omniscient is an unseen/unknown narrator who knows what everyone is thinking or feeling. I had the following question asked of me, … Read More
Why Not Head Hop?
In addition to working on getting my current WIP, Speak No Evil polished up and ready for submission, I have been working with several authors and guiding them through the same process, and reviewing other manuscripts and providing assessments. While assessing the manuscripts, I’m looking at voicing, structure, flow, the strength of the work, including active vs. passive writing. One … Read More
Make the Future and What IF?
Writers tend to deal in the realm of “what if” … What if a baby wizard was orphaned and survived being killed by the darkest wizard of them all? What if that baby had to grow up and ultimately kill the dark wizard in order to save the wizarding world from destruction? A couple what ifs like that and an … Read More
The Journey: Writing and Weight Loss
In my day job, I do work that involves logic and things following a path. 1+2 always = 3 and never 5. So there is a part of me that wants other aspects of my life to follow the same logical path. And they never do. I have two primary focuses at the moment: Getting healthy and finishing my current … Read More
YWS: How Authors Get Story Ideas
One of the questions that most fiction authors are asked at one point or another is “how did you get the idea for the story?” Sometimes this is a hard question to answer. The easy answer is: LIFE Actually, there are several ways in which an author can come up with an idea for a book. Through reading or hearing … Read More
Kindle Giveaway or $229 Gift Card
Thanks to Inspired Kathy over at I Am a Reader for hosting this giveaway. Twitter/Facebook Blast $229 Giveaway A fabulous group of bloggers & authors have joined together to offer you 1 fabulous prize valued at $229. The winner of this giveaway will receive their choice of a $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 Paypal Cash! For all … Read More
YWS: The Writer’s To-Do List
Every writer I know has a to-do list. And it seems like the harder I work on mine, the more it grows. Of course, my manager, Italia Gandolfo has something to do with that. As soon as I knock something off the to-do list, she adds three or four things and gives me an evil laugh. I think she’s trying … Read More
Destination Nob Hill and a Ghostly Prank
I have been accused of being a workaholic… and even I have to admit there is a kernel of truth in that statement. Between having the more-than-full-time day job and writing and editing in every “spare” moment I can find, taking time off is something of a foreign concept. Vacations from the day job are made with accomplishment of writing … Read More