Hurricane season begins June 1st, and this month is the best time to stock up on emergency supplies. Once a storm is on the way, store shelves will empty fast. Remember to also review the expiration dates on your pantry items to see if any need replacements. When a warning is issued, follow the tips … Read more
Writing a book is like going to the doctor. You enter the office with nervous anticipation. You leave with a sense of relief. Writing a novel is similar. You begin the story with the same sense of heightened anticipation. When the first draft is done, you feel immensely relieved. A doctor visit engenders several questions. … Read more
It’s fun to explore a new area, and the St. Johns River has been on my to-do list since moving to the Orlando area. After I took my car for maintenance at a dealership in Sanford, we headed east for lunch at a restaurant that I’ve wanted to visit. St. Johns River Steak & Seafood … Read more
Your publisher requests a one-page synopsis, or you’re required to submit a short synopsis to enter a contest. How do you condense an entire story into a single page? First give the book title, author name, and series number a few lines down from the top and centered. Then offer a tag line that sums … Read more
May 2–8, RONE Voting – Urgent! Styled for Murder has been nominated for a RONE Award by InD’Tale Magazine. Voting for the Mystery genre takes place MAY 2 – 8 so PLEASE VOTE NOW!!! Go here to create a free account: https://indtale.com/user?current=node/1 and then cast your vote for STYLED FOR MURDER at https://indtale.com/2022-rone-award-reader-voting Summary Hairstylist … Read more
Hi, I have a guest post today over at the Writers Who Kill blog on the “Elements of a Cozy Mystery.” If you’re a writer with an interest in this genre, these tips will be helpful. Or if you’re a reader who wants to know more about the writing process, this will give you a … Read more
As a novelist, we’re often asked if we are a plotter or a pantser. These refer to your technique in plotting a story. Do you outline ahead of time, knowing each plot point that will occur? Or do you fly by the seat of your pants as you write, unaware of what will come next … Read more
How do you avoid turning descriptive details in your novel into an info dump? When writing fiction, you have to be careful how you weave in this information. Add too much prose, and your reader will skip over those passages. You can insert material more enticingly by using dialogue, brief introspections, and short paragraphs. My … Read more
Greetings. If you haven’t heard from me in a while, it’s because I’ve been dealing with my husband’s health crisis and haven’t had the energy left for anything else. Instead of researching fun topics for my next book, I’ve been occupied looking into home safety features such as grab bars and handrails, medical supplies such … Read more
I’m excited to announce the release of The Bad Hair Day Mysteries Box Set Volume Five: Books 13-15 Published by Orange Grove Press Digital ISBN: 978-1-952886-20-1 Cover Design by The Killion Group, Inc. Digital Layout by Formatting4u.com In this trio of adventures, Marla solves a murder at her day spa during the December holidays, investigates … Read more