This train of thought is much tidier than a writer’s actual brain…most of the time.
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Whispers of Dead Girls by Marlee Bush: a Book Review
The past certainly has a funny habit of repeating itself, and in Marlee Bush’s latest novel, Whispers of Dead Girls, even a decade might not be enough to break a certain sinister cycle.
It Was Her House First by Cherie Priest: a Book Review
‘Tis the season for a bewitching gothic thriller, and Cherie Priest’s It Was Her House First more than fits the bill.
Witch, Please by Misty Bell Stiers: a Book Review
Misty Bell Stiers details how she came to be a witch in the modern age, dispelling myths and sharing Wicca wisdom along the way.
Anatomy of a So-called Summer Beach Read
We’ve all heard of them: breezy novels that are a must for any vacation to idyllic and often coastal destinations. The beach read has been a staple for decades of lovers of sand and salt air. But what exactly is it?
Bazaar by Miles Joyner: a Book Review
Gritty and thought-provoking, Miles Joyner’s debut novel will appeal to readers who relish the chase with a healthy dose of social philosophizing.
Fact or Fiction: Rules versus Guidelines in Writing
Telling fictional tales gives us permission to break a few conventional eggs for the sake of making a delicious literary omelet, but writer beware; the limit does indeed exist.
Kill Your Darlings
Writers are artists, but the good ones are also cold, ruthless killers. Here’s how to commit literary murder―and get away with it, too.
Book Production and Marketing Dos and Don’ts
Writing a story is one thing; putting a book together is another. Here are some insider tips for book production and marketing that will help make the publishing process easier to swallow if you take them with a grain of salt—and some ibuprofen.
The Drowning House by Cherie Priest: a Book Review
Time supposedly heals all wounds, but in Cherie Priest’s latest novel, the passing of time and a particularly dark and stormy night may prove that not only are some injuries too deeply embedded to go quietly, but also that home is not always where the heart is.
That Night in the Library by Eva Jurczyk: a Book Review
True bibliophiles know how easy it is to get lost between the stacks of a well-stocked library. But in Eva Jurczyk’s That Night in the Library, there may only be one avid reader left standing after a harrowing last hurrah among the shelves.
The Hungry Bones by Sara E. Johnson: a Book Review
The phrase “lying through your teeth” takes on a whole new meaning in Sara E. Johnson’s The Hungry Bones. Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy to review.
Showing vs. Telling (or, When to Creatively Beat around the Bush)
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but how many words does it actually take to paint said picture? Showing rather than telling can make a few go quite a long way.
Man or Monster: Unmasking Villains
The fairy-tale villain is dead. Long live the character with many different faces lurking behind their most sinister mask.
Writing Contests (and Why They Make Us Want to Hurl)
Writing contests are great avenues for exposure and constructive criticism. So why does the prospect of entering them make us feel physically ill?
Writing and Implementing Character Backstories
Everyone has history, even if nobody reads about it. Character backstories are the writer’s inspiration, cheat sheets, psychological evaluations, and vindication, all rolled into one.
Writing Action Sequences
Actions speak louder than words―until they don’t. Contrary to their more obvious nature, writing action sequences is a delicate art.
When She Was Me by Marlee Bush: a Book Review
In Marlee Bush’s When She Was Me, twin sisters must unravel the tangled web of their identities and piece together the past, one step at a time.
Finding Your Groove: Music and the Creative Writing Process
The sound of silence doesn’t inspire everyone; sometimes writers have to learn to march to the beat of their own (or someone else’s very talented) drum.
Setting the Scene
World-building is an ongoing, tedious, compulsory process that enables a writer’s control freak habits while we set scenes that readers can really dive into.
How to Appreciate the First (Sucky) Draft
Lesson the first for every writer everywhere: the first draft almost always sucks. But that’s okay. In fact, sometimes that works to your advantage.
To Outline or Not to Outline: Is There a Question?
Every writer creates their own outline in their own way and in their own time. Unless, of course, they skip it altogether.
Join the Conversation: Reexamining Dialogue
When it comes to dialogue, writers really do need to say what they mean and mean what they say.
Writing Mythical Creatures
Fiction writing lends itself to an endless array of characters, from humans to mythical creatures: borrowed, created, or something in between.
30 Tips for Writers, Editors, and Everything in Between
If they’re doing it right, writers never stop picking up tips, learning hard-earned lessons, and toasting the triumphs that sustain them during even the worst writer’s block funks.
The Art of Giving Constructive Feedback (without Becoming a Doormat or a Dictator)
Writers everywhere agonize over the reality of releasing their work to some grammar fanatic and inviting them to fire at will. But step into an editor’s shoes and you’ll see that our jobs aren’t as cut-and-dried as you might think.
Murder in Williamstown by Kerry Greenwood: a Book Review
The game is afoot—and a rather stylishly clad one, at that—in Kerry Greenwood’s Murder in Williamstown.
Dangerous Women by Mark de Castrique: a Book Review
Age really is just a number in Mark de Castrique’s fast-paced and quick-witted thriller titled Dangerous Women.
REGISTRATION CLOSED: Upcoming Virtual Course in Collaboration with Beauty & the Beast Publishing
Join me on 12/2/2023 for a crash course on proofreading and editing in collaboration with Beauty and the Beast Publishing.
Writer’s Block: If You Can’t Beat It, Steer into the Skid
Writer’s block is a fact of life for us word nerds, so sometimes you’ve got to stop fighting it and steer into the skid.
Don’t Forget the Girl by Rebecca McKanna: a Book Review
In Rebecca McKanna’s debut novel Don’t Forget the Girl, media blitz meets introspection for a thriller with the emotional depth of a true coming-of-age narrative.
Five First Chances by Sarah Jost: a Book Review
In Five First Chances, debut author Sarah Jost takes readers on a journey of what-ifs, romance, time travel, friendship, and self-discovery.
The Radcliffe Ladies’ Reading Club by Julia Bryan Thomas: a Book Review
The Radcliffe Ladies’ Reading Club by Julia Bryan Thomas takes escaping through books and using them to make sense of one’s place in the world to new heights.
Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati: a Book Review
For readers who enjoy historical fiction, badass femme fatales, and good old-fashioned revenge, Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati is a must-add for your TBR list.
The Last Carolina Girl by Meagan Church: a Book Review
In The Last Carolina Girl, Leah Payne experiences many ways in which life can suddenly change: from losing the person you love most to the harsh edicts of a corrupt government institution.
It Ends at Midnight by Harriet Tyce: a Book Review
New Year’s Eve is an inspiring, heartwarming holiday—unless, like in It Ends at Midnight by Harriet Tyce, one never makes it to the big countdown.
A Legacy of Bones by Doug Burgess: a Book Review
In A Legacy of Bones by Doug Burgess, the Hawaiian landscape is the backdrop for a history of misery that will define the Lathrop family.
One Month of You by Suzanne Ewart: a Book Review
One Month of You by Suzanne Ewart explores the importance of spending time wisely, weighs romantic hope versus realistic expectations, and seamlessly combines tenderness with grit and fortitude.
The Sisters We Were by Wendy Willis Baldwin: a Book Review
The Sisters We Were by Wendy Willis Baldwin proves that while actions have consequences, they can also yield unexpected rewards.
The Power of Free-range Pens
The world is a scary place that often leaves us feeling like the butt of some cosmic joke. But pens are still mighty and capable of giving reality the occasional swift kick in the ass.
Disenchanted by Brianna Sugalski: a Book Review
Disenchanted by Brianna Sugalski brings magic and even more drama to the height of the French Renaissance.
Sarayna’s Fate by M. Dalto: a Book Review
Sarayna’s Fate continues M. Dalto’s Empire saga with all of the magic, adventure and tension that readers have come to expect, but with a few twists they might never have seen coming.
Uncaged by Celia McMahon: a Book Review
The sequel to Unspoken, Uncaged offers an action-packed continuation of a story about magic, loyalty, wolves and war.
Writing Romance (without Sounding Like a Sap)
Writing romance (without sounding like a sap) doesn’t have to be an exercise in clichés. Learn to avoid this genre’s tired tropes, or at least how to use them to your advantage.
Blood and Brume by Maki Morris: a Book Review
Blood and Brume by Maki Morris has all of the makings of a good ghost story, without excluding the struggles of the living along the way.
In Restless Dreams by Wren Handman: a Book Review
Wren Handman takes us on a journey of self-discovery, fairy magic, and teen angst in her latest book, In Restless Dreams.
The Infernal Machine by C.W. Snyder: a Book Review
The Infernal Machine by C.W. Snyder explores the concept of right and wrong, as well as the heavy burden of one’s past during a race to save humankind.
Sons of Fire by Tracy Auerbach: a Book Review
A story of family, royalty, duty, and survival, Sons of Fire by Tracy Auerbach is a thrilling YA adventure read that combines reality and fantasy in unexpected ways.
Lost in the Spanish Quarter by Heddi Goodrich: a Book Review
Using her own journey to self-awareness and happiness as her guide, Goodrich weaves a tale of heartbreak, escapism, cross-cultural conversions, and second chances.
The German House by Annette Hess (translated by Elisabeth Lauffer): a Book Review
Annette Hess takes us to post-WWII Germany to follow the Frankfurt Trials and a young translator who must learn the difference between knowing and telling the truth.
It Would Be Night in Caracas by Karina Sainz Borgo (translated by Elizabeth Bryer): a Book Review
Karina Sainz Borgo tells a story of resilience and humanity in battered and torn Venezuela.
Stranger Things Have Happened by Thomas Gaffney: a Book Review
Self-published author Thomas Gaffney explores the weird and the unexpected in this collection of short stories.
Rose and Her Very Special Garden by Lisa Anne Curlin: a Book Review
A children’s book from debut author Lisa Anne Curlin, Rose and Her Very Special Garden teaches nature lovers of all ages to stop and smell the roses.
K. Watkins 