A couple of weeks ago, author Jane Ward and I celebrated the launch of her new novel, Should Have Told You Sooner, at Jabberwocky Bookshop. One of the
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Buying Books as Holiday Gifts? 5 Quickie Reviews for Last-Minute Shoppers
As a fiction writer, I'm normally reluctant to review other people's novels. I know how hard the whole process of getting published is, from
Read MoreHow to Make the Most of Your Writing Retreat
Every year, when my husband asks what I want for my birthday, my answer is always the same: “To run away from home.” This year, he
Read MoreWhen You Finish Your Novel, What Then?
Recently, I took my mom to see The Great Gatsby. As we watched the scene where Nick is asleep on the couch, wan and pale and surrounded by manuscript
Read MoreTips For Choosing The Right Reading Materials for Your Kids
This week, I'm featuring a guest post by English teacher Pam Johnson* on how to choose the best books for children of any age: If you want your
Read MoreWhy We Love Mystery Novels: Murder, Mayhem, and Cultural Mirrors
I was breakfasting on scrambled eggs this morning while reading about children who were murdered in their sleep. “Good book, honey?” my husband
Read MoreHey Writer! What’s Your Brand?
Most of us are cynical enough by now to see that life is all about branding, whether we're being bombarded by ads for colleges, books, cars, shampoos,
Read More“Keep Your Book Warm” & Other Tips for Fighting Writer’s Block
No matter how long you've been writing, you've probably experienced that panic-induced paralysis known as writer's block. Common causes are a recent
Read MoreWrestling with Point of View in Your Writing
When I was in first grade, I had an art teacher who shamed me into crying in front of the entire classroom. She had given us an easy
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