Fakers, Bakers, and Music Makers – Bonding via Unforgettable Characters

How do you sum up a weekend adventure that had approximately 865,342 high points? I'm not sure I can, but I'll at least attempt to highlight a few moments that made my time at the #UCIJretreat2021 amazing and memorable and oh-so-worth-it. (That's Unforgettable Characters & Incredible Journeys, in case you were wondering.) A few months [...]

The Benefits of Friendship

I head one of the local SCBWI critique groups in my county for Young Adult and Middle Grade authors and, friends, I must confess I feel a little guilty. Sometimes, this group seems like the L. Ryan Storms writing self-improvement hour. I get SO. MUCH. from my dear friends and our talks about what elements [...]

12 Books—Month 6

Okay, okay, so we're a little more than 6 months into the year. Perhaps I was being a tad ambitious about reading 12 Twitter friends' books in a year, especially when my own book launched a few months ago and I've had several signings and events and I'm still trying to keep up on recommended reading [...]

End of Summer Odds and Ends

Okay, so it's been almost two months since my last blogpost. Please don't yell at me! I've been busy. I promise. And yes, busy with so much book-stuff I can hardly keep track of it all. Not that I'm complaining... First up, I got to visit one of my most amazing-est (Yes, that's a word. [...]

Who’s Who? Volume IV

Twitter is a blessing and a curse in one, but following the right people makes all the difference. Here’s a list of some of my favorites to follow. Get them on your list, too! Maria Stout (@MariaStout) - I’m a writer, so I really enjoy following other writers, especially upbeat ones who give their all, [...]

Who’s Who? Volume III

It's time for another Who's Who! Here's a list of people I love to follow on Twitter, and if you're a writer, a reader, or just enjoy ramblings by intelligent, fun people, you should follow them, too! T.S. Bazelli (@tsbazelli) - She's super fun, great at tweeting and quote-tweeting, and posts the best literary advice! [...]

Owning It

A large part of succeeding as a writer boils down to your willingness to put in the time. Can you accept sitting at a desk, dreaming up worlds, typing (or scribbling) the words, and getting it done? The answer to these questions has always been a resounding yes for me, but I tend to fail [...]