“Brainstorming on the Beach” Conference with Novelists, Inc. 2010 Wednesday, October 6, 2010 We checked in for the Novelists, Inc. conference at Tradewinds Resort in St. Pete Beach. In the lobby, I met authors Cynthia Thomason, Brenda Hiatt Barber, Thea Devine, Ruth Glick, Judy Fitzwater, Barbara Keiler, Annette Mahon, Patricia Rosemoor, and Mary Stella. It’s … Read more
Caribbean Princess Cruise to New England/Canada DAY 7: At Sea and Ship Review We joined the culinary demonstration and tour of the galley in the morning and did a wine tasting in the afternoon. The cooking demo was fun. I always enjoy walking through the galley, one of many aboard ship, and seeing the … Read more
Cruise to New England/Canada on Caribbean Princess DAY 6: Halifax, Nova Scotia Nova Scotia has its own unique flavor and we enjoyed this port very much. I’d say it’s second to Bar Harbor as a favorite. There’s lots to see and do by the waterfront on your own without having to take a tour. The … Read more
Caribbean Princess Cruise to New England/Canada DAY 5: Saint John, New Brunswick Another rainy day put us in a dreary mood as we boarded the tour bus for the scenic overview of Saint John, our first stop in Eastern Canada. We had to turn our clocks ahead one hour last night. We drove through this … Read more
Caribbean Princess Cruise to New England/Canada DAY 4, Tuesday: Bar Harbor, ME We took a tender into town in the midst of a raging thunderstorm with rain pouring down and lightning flashing in the sky. After hovering under a tent until the rain let up, we dashed to our bus for a two and a … Read more
Caribbean Princess 7 day New England/Canada DAY 3: BOSTON, MA We paid $15 to take a shuttle round trip from the pier into town, about a ten to fifteen minute ride but definitely not doable on foot. We were deposited in front of Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market with their tempting shops and restaurants. The … Read more
Caribbean Princess, 7 days, NY roundtrip to New England/Canada DAY ONE: We cruised out of port of Brooklyn. Will write my cruise notes on the ship later. DAY TWO: NEWPORT, RI Our tour group left from the Princess Theatre en masse at 8:00am. We took a tender into … Read more
You’ve put aside the first draft you have just finished so you can gain some distance on the work before tackling revisions. It’s a great time to clean your office, sort your files, and write a few blogs. But your mind starts seguing into the next story. Here’s what floated into my mind, even when … Read more
In a romance, the Big Dark Moment is the crucial juncture when all seems lost between the hero and heroine. He stomps away and she strides in the opposite direction, and it seems as though they will never be together again. How can they overcome their insurmountable obstacles? Will love triumph in the end? Of … Read more
When you’re nearing the end of your book, do you tend to race ahead? I have 25 pages to go in my WIP before reaching my required word count, and I’m beginning to think I might go over. I still have several scenes to go to reach a satisfactory conclusion. While I’m tempted to rush … Read more