Do you like heroines who have a checkered past? Do you like a heroine who has a checkered present? How much are you willing to overlook in the heroine’s journey to redemption? As you can see from the blurb above, Annie Payton has a past she is trying to live down. So her bad-girl […]
When Troubles Brew After “I Do”
Most romance novels end either with the couple on the threshold of marriage, with the wedding itself, or while the lovebirds are in newlywed bliss. We close the book with a happy sigh, knowing that this couple are going to grow old together, along with all the joys that married life brings. But, far too […]
Newsletters – Why Sign Up? #Giveaway
Most authors have newsletters these days. Let’s talk about why you should sign up. There’s usually a free book or giveaway involved for signing up. Newsletters usually include exclusive info only available to subscribers. Authors get more personal in newsletters. All that personal and exclusive contact is addicting. They’re usually encouraging and uplifting. If you’re […]
The Completion of a Series + #Giveaway
Sometimes I feel like ‘the end’ are two of the most satisfying words in the English language. I realize ‘the end’ can have vastly different meanings, depending on the context. For writers, the moment of completion of a book project can bring forth a range of emotions. Joy, relief, happiness, sorrow, thankfulness, and pure exhaustion […]
Bring On the Backlist (+ #Giveaway)
Before I became an author, I had no idea what a backlist was. In case you don’t either, this word means “a publisher’s older books that are still in print”. Therefore, backlist titles are basically books that are not new releases. The reason I bring this up is because I recently polled my newsletter subscribers […]
The Black Moment
Last week, our own Lindi Peterson touched briefly on the topic of black moments framed from the perspective of The Storm Before the Rainbow. Many of you know I’ve experienced my own storm this past year, and I’ve clung to the hope of seeing the rainbow with everything I’ve had. Today I’d like to go […]
Romantic Relationships in Christian Fiction
A little while ago I asked a question in some groups about how Christian characters pursuing relationships in romance books are portrayed, a question which met with some interesting responses. It led me to wondering how Christian readers like to see Christian characters demonstrate their faith in Christian books, and how this relates to romantic […]
New Growth: You’re Still Alive
Last month my blog post mentioned some of the things we did on our most recent trip to Spokane, Washington, where I lived when I was in high school. Before we went to Spokane we drove through North Cascades National Park, since I’m trying to visit as many national parks as possible. During one of […]
The Novel of Your Life #Giveaway
Have you ever thought about writing a novel based on your life? Many people tell me they’ve mused about putting the events of their life into a book but have never been able to sit down and do it. That’s understandable! It’s tricky to fictionalize events that are so personal. I learned this about six […]
Favorite Covers # Giveaway
I’ve been browsing bookshelves again. But instead of my usual bookstore hangout, I’ve been browsing online. My agent is getting my newest proposal ready to send out and asked for comparables. This is where I have to find titles published by the publishers I hope will publish my book. Wow, that’s a lot of publishing […]