I know all about love and moments that make your heart skip a beat. I’m familiar with the sights, sounds, and smells of Western North Carolina in every season. I can describe a variety of weather, characteristics, and emotions. So, when I’m writing a romance set in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the summer, I […]
How Not to Write a Novel
I was lucky to grow up as the daughter of a writer. In high school, I attended writing conferences with Mom, and she helped me sell my first article to a national magazine at the age of sixteen. I studied journalism in college and read all kinds of how-to books. Because of Mom’s influence, I […]
First Drafts!
How do authors write the first drafts of their novels? There must be a thousand and one ways, aren’t there? Let’s find out. I asked InspyRomance authors how they write their first drafts, and here is a sampling of what they say. “I do all my writing on a computer. I write best there because […]
A Room of Her Own & a Few Friends that Understand
In one of my college literature classes, I read A Room of One’s Own, by Virginia Woolf. I loved that short book, somehow it called to me, even before I thought I could be a professional writer. It was before my brain could fathom that someone would want to buy my book. It was before […]
Oh, the places God takes us…
God is amazing! I guess maybe you already know that, or you wouldn’t be here reading a blog post on Inspy Romance. :) But He just keeps amazing me more and more, the way He works in my life, and the places He takes me. Today, He took me to Dr. Seuss. As a kid, […]
A Legacy of Quality Craftsmanship: The American Tradition
In honor of my son Matthew’s high school graduation, our family took a trip to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia last week. We had a fabulous time in spite of the sometimes blazing heat (one day it reached 101 degrees) which somewhat sapped our energy. One of the things that most impressed me was this: our […]