I know. Gorgeous cover, right? The book is fabulous too. Scar of the Downers is Scott Keen's debut novel, and I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. Here is more information on the book--including where to buy it--and my five-star … [Continue reading]
New Beginnings
Posted on April 2, 2015 ·
Gabriel’s teacher recently invited me to talk to her second grade class about being an author. She had read my novel and, having particularly liked the first pages, hoped I could frame a discussion around word choice and the importance of … [Continue reading]
This Is Why We Write
Posted on March 19, 2015 ·
On Tuesday I was treated to a presentation of The Fourth Wall by a group of 7th graders who chose the book for their quarterly language arts project. That goes straight to the top of the list of amazing and utterly surreal moments in this author’s … [Continue reading]
Meet Me at the Festival
Posted on March 9, 2015 ·
This Saturday is the perfect day for hanging out at a book festival. Okay, ANY day is perfect for hanging out at a book festival, but I’ll be signing books at this one and I’d really love to see you. Here are the details; click the link for more … [Continue reading]
The Essentials of Storytelling
Posted on January 30, 2015 ·
My son hates to write. By write, I mean the physical act of taking pencil to paper and shaping the letters that form words that form paragraphs. He’ll get there; it’s simply that his hand can’t keep up with his mind, which is whirling with stories, … [Continue reading]
My Most Important Resolution
Posted on January 1, 2015 ·
Last New Year’s Day, determined not to set myself up for failure, I chose only one resolution. It worked; I’m happy to say I kept my promise to read 52 books in 2014. I started the year with Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane and ended … [Continue reading]
When Our Characters Feel Real
Posted on December 17, 2014 ·
My friend and I met at the library on Saturday, in theory to exchange pages and give thoughtful critiques on each others’ writing. That didn’t happen. What we ended up doing was talking a lot about our current writing projects. She … [Continue reading]
It Only Takes One “Yes”
Posted on December 7, 2014 ·
Image from Flickr by jepoirrier Friday was the anniversary of a pretty special occasion for me. On that day, three years ago, I received my first acceptance letter, for a short story called “Eleven Seconds.” I will never forget the moment I … [Continue reading]
What NaNoWriMo Says About Writers
Posted on November 21, 2014 ·
On Saturday I forgot to take my phone to work. With this realization came a flash of near-panic—it was too late to go back, and I couldn't fathom an entire nine hours without checking my email or accessing social media accounts. I knew without a … [Continue reading]
Book Sales and Royalty Statements
Posted on October 31, 2014 ·
“So, how are sales going?” I get this question a lot, along with the more direct “How many books have you sold?” I wish I could tell you. Unfortunately, published authors can’t track their sales in real time. The only indication I have of how … [Continue reading]
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