Ah, fairy tales. Like so much classic literature, fairy tales form the basis for many contemporary stories. In recent years, retellings have even become so popular they’ve become their own subgenre in fiction. And it makes sense. The originals are clean and usually end happily. Good triumphs over evil. The impossible becomes possible. Romance. Magic. […]
Putting Real Life On Hold # Giveaway
I’m in the throes of a deadline again. When I turned in the last book, I took a month off. I wrote for a month. Then my editor sent my revisions on the book I just turned in. Once I finished revisions, I had to supply cover details and artwork. I finished that just in […]
My Favorite Spark Brother
Did you know that authors have a whole gaggle of kids? Let me explain. In my real life, I am a mama of two—a teenage son and a pre-teen daughter—whom I refer to as my munchkins. In my author life, I’m also a mom to all the characters I’ve created, including the five guys in […]
An Opossum in Fiction: Janet W. Ferguson’s The Art of Rivers
I’ve had cats and dogs in my novels, even a hairless cat, but in The Art of Rivers, I wanted to have a more unusual pet. I asked my good friend who is a veterinarian for suggestions. She had a friend with a possum. (Technically, they are opossums, but in Mississippi with don’t say or […]
Inside a Writer’s Brain (reader beware)
Have you ever read a book and wondered, what on earth must go on inside this author’s mind to come up with this stuff? Spoiler alert: it’s chaos in there. Most of us aren’t even sure which way is up half the time. Between story ideas, editing, marketing, and obligations to our non-author lives, it […]
Inspiration Everywhere # Giveaway
I used to write in a corner of the living room. Until two years ago, when our roof started leaking, the air conditioner quit, and the furnace died. Since we had to get a loan for repairs, we decided to go big or go home with a complete remodel and an office addition for me. […]
You might be from Texas if…
Hola! Jolene Navarro here, checking in from the beautiful Texas Hill Country. If you’ve been around you know I’m proud to be a 7th generation Texan. Yes, my family came down before we were a state, claimed land, built a community and helped gain independence from Mexico. But that’s all history. Texans tend to be […]
Interview with Michèle Phoenix on Christy-nominated Novel: The Space Between Words #giveaway
Today, I’m excited to interview author Michèle Phoenix who has twice been a Christy award finalist! I loved her novel, The Space Between Words, which placed in the awards last year. My local book club enjoyed it too! Michèle was kind enough to help me with research about overseas mission for the novel I’m currently […]
The Comforts of Home in Fiction…plus #Giveaway
When I was a little girl, growing up as an only child out in the country, I found comfort in books. Decades have passed, but I haven’t changed much. Good day or bad, give me a sweet story, a cup of tea, and a Lorna Doone cookie or two. My soul will ease, I will […]
When the Book Won’t Write #giveaway
Confession: I’ve been pedaling as fast as I can on a stationary bike for a long time now. Barely keeping my head above water with a multitude of life tasks, a family health scare, and raising a teenage boy. Last spring, our son went to Junior prom with his lovely girlfriend, which means this year, […]