Have you ever read a book and scratched your head at a familiar reference you couldn’t quite place? You’ve read it somewhere before, maybe in another work from that author. Perhaps what you’ve stumbled over is an author’s hidden gem, otherwise known as a nod, a wink, or an easter egg (I’m not capitalizing here […]
Starting in the Middle
There is a writing book called Write Your Novel from the Middle by James Scott Bell. I confess I have not read it, but I do wonder how that works. I’m what they call a “pantser.” I write by the seat of my pants. I have characters and an inciting incident to start my books. […]
Confessions of a Part-Timer
I have a confession to make. I work 40 hours a week as the Director of Communications and Public Relations for a national higher education non-profit organization. I also provide freelance graphic design and social media management for a few other small organizations, sit on a few committees at church, and am on the theatre […]
The Cowboy Craze
Have you ever started a book and then it ends up changing directions in the middle or ends different from what you expected? I have this habit of trying to predict what I think will happen in a book, and it’s fun when the author proves me wrong. There are so many things that can […]
Again Upon a Time
Do you love fairy tales? There’s something timeless about them that makes us want to return again and again, whether it’s to a more cleaned up animated version or the original nitty-gritty tales by the Grimms brothers and Hans Christian Anderson and others. And maybe that’s why we also like to read new versions of […]
Working Together
Can I be honest here? I hate group projects. There. I said it. It’s the way I’ve felt all my life. In school, growing up, I dreaded when the teacher would tell us we had to do something with other students. Especially if those other students didn’t pull their weight. I just tend to work […]
Retreat and Recharge
In our fast-paced world, taking time to slow down and retreat from our usual routines is more important now than ever. Whether it’s a writing retreat or a general retreat involving crafts, faith, family, or a girls’ getaway, these experiences offer a chance to recharge, refocus, and reconnect with what truly matters. That’s why I’ve […]
Let’s Talk About Bad Language
No, I don’t mean swearing, I mean spelling, and how much this affects your reading experience. And no, I’m not talking about accidental yet persistent typos that slip past all the editors and proofreaders and the author who has read a manuscript a dozen times. I’m talking about different forms of English in this world […]
We Don’t Talk About That Story…
Some months ago, Jaycee Weaver wrote a blog post about the love-hate relationships authors have with their first books. Along with other InspyRomance authors, I shared with Jaycee about my first ever published book which, while flawed, still has a special place in my heart, and I love it despite its awkwardness. There is, however, […]
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 […]