Typing “The End” at the end of a manuscript is one of my most satisfying moments as a writer. It comes after months of sitting at my desk and writing page after page of words. A few days ago, I typed “The End” after completing my latest novel, 461 pages and 141,042 words long. It felt wonderful! By the time you read this, I will have given the novel a final edit from start to finish and sent it … [Read more...]

I realize that most readers probably don't have much familiarity with book awards.  What the different awards are.  How winners are selected.  Who judges.  What the categories are.  It can all be fairly mystifying to a layperson. We authors know quite a bit about book awards and here's why.  We all write solo, many of us in our homes.... or even in isolated caves rooms within our homes.  We're … [Read more...]

A lot of people have been posting their “word of the year” online, or asking people to finish the phrase: This is the year I___________.  The first phrase that came to my mind was not very profound or spiritual, I’m afraid. It was: “2017…The year I get off my can.” But that didn’t sound very ladylike, so next I came up with, “The year I take a stand.” A stand up desk, that is…  Because I sit … [Read more...]