An author is supposed to write what she knows, right? At least, that’s what I’ve always heard. But, have you ever wondered how much of what an author knows is put into her story? Is the whole story made up of what she knows? Surely not! Otherwise, we wouldn’t have all those fun research stories […]
What Should I Read Next? A Quiz for Personalized Recommendations
Book recommendations can be a tricky thing. I’ve found some of my favorite reads and authors that way. But I’ve also seen recommendations that I can tell at a glance don’t fit me. What’s the difference? My favorites tend to be targeted recommendations, where the giver takes the time to listen to what I’m looking […]
Would You Rather…?
My children and I love “Would You Rather” quizzes. We try our best to throw dilemmas at each other where you’re only allowed one choice. Each option is either wonderful but with a big downside, or else both options have major drawbacks. So, I thought it would be fun to share a bookish “would you […]
Quiz: What Kind of Reader Are You?
What kind of reader are you? With different demands on our time and energy, not to mention different tastes, we all vary in how we choose books to read and how we tell others about books we’ve loved. Are you a loyal reader or an adventurous one? A word-of-mouth, grassroots cultivator, or a megaphone enthusiast? […]
Identifying with the Sewing in SoCal Characters
Show of hands, who all likes to be able to identify with the main character in a story? *Raises hand* It’s such an important aspect—to be able to feel for and care about the fictional people in the books we read. I don’t mean to say that they have to be exactly like us (which […]
On A Beach Somewhere
When you read this, I will have just returned from a beach vacation. Even as I write this I’m anticipating digging my toes into the sand while I let the waves rush over my feet. I can see myself reading a book, if my granddaughters will let me, but I might be building a sandcastle […]
Quiz: Could You be a Heroine in a Romance Novel?
It’s wedding season! I love hearing all the stories of how couples got together. It inspires me to write better because, really, there are a lot of overused tropes out there. I’ve overused them myself. Though I’m happily married, and I feel like my love story would make good fodder, do I really have what […]
The Fact in Fiction
If you were to ask me where my ideas come from, I’d probably give you a blank stare and try to change the subject. Not because it’s not a good question—it is—but because it’s so hard to nail down. Sometimes an idea might be sparked by a conversation, by something in the news, or even […]
And the Novella Bachelor Is. . . . #votenow #giveaway
Lindi here. One week from tomorrow is Father’s Day. A day that is now bittersweet for me as my father passed away last year. I love remembering him, yet yearn to spend the day with him. I’m sure some of you are feeling the same way. Let’s shift to the contemporary romance world and fathers. […]
A Lifetime of Romance… Quiz and Giveaway!
Did you ever wonder what happened to the hero and heroine of a romance novel after their happy ending at, say, age 25? Or with an older couple, did you ever wonder what experiences led to their getting together? I have a great way for you to find out in at least one case: Bonds […]