One piece of writing advice you will hear repeatedly—and with good reason—is to put aside your rough draft for a while before starting edits. This is so you can gain perspective on your work. Usually the problem is that after you write something you … [Continue reading]
Moving On
Posted on November 2, 2015 ·
October has come and gone, my favorite month of the year. We had more trick-or-treaters than ever before, many of them teenagers, which was fun—they always scream the loudest when our jumping spider leaps from behind the hibiscus tree, and I don’t … [Continue reading]
The Key to Getting Through Rejections
Posted on September 18, 2015 ·
This morning after dropping the kids off at school, I headed to Xtreme Bean Coffee Co., determined to catch up on the one class I’ve fallen behind in (one out of five—not bad, right?). I ducked into the dimly-lit vault (the building was formerly a … [Continue reading]
Celebrating Today
Posted on July 29, 2015 ·
I love secrets. And birthdays. And new beginnings. So today’s kind of perfect. Today I turn 40, and I’m so excited about this decade of my life. In my 20s I became a mother, the most important thing that’s ever happened to me. In my 30s I had a … [Continue reading]
Now You See Me
Posted on July 24, 2015 ·
First drafts are not meant to be read. They are clumsy and embarrassing, filled with trite dialogue and bumbling prose, riddled with clichés. I’m working on a first draft now. It’s terrible, I promise. You will never, ever see it. If the book … [Continue reading]
What I Wish I’d Known about Publishing a Book
Posted on June 10, 2015 ·
Today marks the one-year anniversary of The Fourth Wall’s release, and boy have I learned a lot about marketing in that year. While I still feel incredibly lucky to have had a book published, I know I’ve made mistakes trying to get that book into … [Continue reading]
How Sweet the Silence
Posted on May 8, 2015 ·
I read something the other day about how we have a better chance at accomplishing goals when we keep them to ourselves. That struck home, because the first time I wrote a book I didn’t tell anyone. Not my kids, not my husband—not until I had a … [Continue reading]
Book Review: Scar of the Downers by Scott Keen
Posted on April 22, 2015 ·
I know. Gorgeous cover, right? The book is fabulous too. Scar of the Downers is Scott Keen's debut novel, and I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. Here is more information on the book--including where to buy it--and my five-star … [Continue reading]
New Beginnings
Posted on April 2, 2015 ·
Gabriel’s teacher recently invited me to talk to her second grade class about being an author. She had read my novel and, having particularly liked the first pages, hoped I could frame a discussion around word choice and the importance of … [Continue reading]
This Is Why We Write
Posted on March 19, 2015 ·
On Tuesday I was treated to a presentation of The Fourth Wall by a group of 7th graders who chose the book for their quarterly language arts project. That goes straight to the top of the list of amazing and utterly surreal moments in this author’s … [Continue reading]
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