Today is February 2nd. You know what that means. Groundhog Day! Every year, my husband is so excited to get to rewatch the cult classic movie. That's our Groundhog Day tradition. Maybe one year we'll actually go to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to experience the day in style and in person. Anyway, let's be honest that this... Continue Reading →
Worst Writing Advice I Ever Got
Worst writing advice I ever got? Honestly, this is a hard question because if someone is giving it as advice, it's because that tip worked for them, or is a standard for most, if not all, writers. For me, just like in most life situations, there is no BAD advice. There is advice that is... 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 →
1st, 2nd, or 3rd – The Person Make a Big Difference #MFRWAuthor Blog Challenge
Before I get into my personal preference, let's touch on the different "persons" you can write from and make sure we're all on the same page. 1st Person 1st person stories are written from a single point of view--that of the protagonist. The reader gets to float around inside that persons head seeing all their... 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 →
Using Personal Stories in My Books
Every single book I write has a little bit of me in it. Pull from what you know, right? More often than not it's things like sneaking Star Wars in, or an expression I use a lot. But sometimes I use personal stories to help me bring my characters, settings, or situations to life. Some... 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 →
WIP Status Check
I used to share my WIP status a lot more. Lately, it feels like my writing life has sped up exponentially. When I first started, I'd spend six months on one book, and only work on one book at a time--not just the writing, but the editing, publishing, and marketing. These days, I'm on fast... Continue Reading →
I Still Love Editing/Revising
Almost 5 years ago, between releasing my first book, Blue Violet, and getting ready to release the next book, Hyacinth, I posted about how I loved the editing process. Now, years later, I've completed 13 novels, 3 novellas, and 3 short stories with more on the way. My writing style has changed over the course... Continue Reading →
FAVORITE WAYS TO BUILD CHEMISTRY & TENSION IN ROMANCE
What are your favorite moments in a romance novel where the chemistry just screams off the page?