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The Top 7 Reasons I Stop Reading a Novel

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I've noticed over the past couple of years that I've developed an especially bad habit–I'm having a harder and harder time finishing novels that I pick up.I wasn't always so hard to please! There once was a time when I finished almost every book I started.But these days, my shelves (both real and virtual) are overflowing. I have plenty to read. But not enough time.And to be perfectly honest, the … [Read more...]

What Is the Difference Between a Historical and a Historical Romance?

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I recently received an email from a student at Colorado Christian University in the Creative Writing program. She asked if I would define the difference between historicals and historical romances. If you’re a writer or reader, you might have wondered what the difference is at one time too. I’ll give you what I think are the top differences, then be sure to chime into the comments with your … [Read more...]

A “typical” week in the life of a novelist

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One of the things I love most about my job is that there is really no such thing as a typical week. My work tasks and workload change from week to week, depending on where I am in the deadline process, and I love the variety and the fact that—unless I’m on a tight deadline—I’m able to choose my hours and rearrange my schedule to fit in lunch with a friend, babysitting our grandkids, or an … [Read more...]

Ah the joys of anonymous reader mail!

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I have three things to share today and I promise they're connected—though it may not seem so at the outset. FIRST, a video. In 2016, one of my publishers asked me to make a quick 1-minute video containing my best and worst review to date that would then be shown to the sales team during their conference. This video is the result. I've never shared it publicly, but am sharing it now for … [Read more...]

Christmas Isn’t Over Yet

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As you may know, I write historical fiction set in early 19th century England, a period called the Regency era.  A large part of writing fiction set in another country more than 200 years ago is research, which I (thankfully) enjoy. I have especially found it interesting to discover similarities and differences between how the British used to celebrate Christmas—and in many cases still do—compared … [Read more...]

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