Sometimes writing a book takes an author by surprise. Take my upcoming book, Fire and Ice, the first book in my new Northwest Ice Christian hockey romance series. There I was, all happily writing about a female sports reporter and a gentlemanly rancher’s son who plays in the NHL, when suddenly research took me to […]
Never Underestimate the Power of Christian Fiction
Writing teachers often tell us to “Picture your ideal reader in your head and write to them.” I usually picture my mother. She is such a voracious reader that it would be a struggle to find a Christian romance she hasn’t read. But my mom did not grow up in a Christian home. She met […]
How much do you love a sale?
Authors and publishers rely on a number of factors to try to get the attention of readers: pretty covers, enticing back cover descriptions, price points, blog tours, giveaways, Bookstagram, Booktok, the list goes on. One of the most effective ways is to schedule a sales promotion, with a discount or free book designed to get […]
Support Your Favorite Authors #Giveaway
You’ve heard of the starving artist. Well, I’ll let you in on a secret. Most authors are starving. If not starving, at least struggling. Very few authors make a living with their words. Especially Christian authors since secular books make up most of the market. For every consistent bestselling author dominating Christian sales, there are […]
Book Clubs #Giveaway
The most fun thing about reading books to me, is discussing them with others. What better way to savor a story than to discuss it with a friend. To share your favorite parts or how you felt during pivotal moments in the story. Whether you saw a plot twist coming, if you figured out who […]
Achievements in 2022 #Giveaway
In my last post of 2021, I listed some disappointments of the year and goals for the new one. Number 1 on the list: Reading for pleasure. Since I didn’t read any books just for fun in 2021, I set a goal of 12 for 2022. I didn’t really count as I went and didn’t […]
2023 Goal: Read More Romance (+sale & freebie!)
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions anymore. It’s been years since I’ve bothered. Just as soon as I made a list of goals, habits I wanted to change (or develop LOL), weight to lose, well, I’d break it and never manage to get back on track. And then the Type A overachiever side of me […]
What is The End?
What is The End? I love how a simple phrase can have multiple meanings, and it brings us different emotions depending on the situation. When I’m writing, I love when I reach the end, especially if my characters have fought me throughout the entire story. When I’m reading, I might be sad to reach the […]
Writing about Writers – and Christmas!
Do you enjoy reading books about writers? What about books about Christmas? What about books about writers AND Christmas? Do you ever wonder how much of a book about a writer is based on the author’s actual own experience? Well, have I got a book for you… A few years ago I wrote a book […]
Books That Make You Go WHOA! #Giveaway
After over 200 rejection letters, I spent four intense years studying the craft of writing. Certain I’d learned all I needed to know, I prepared to go to my first national conference, back in 2005. I’d submitted my latest manuscript to a publisher and was waiting to hear back from them. I felt good about […]