Last night I opened a novel I'd borrowed from the library. It didn't have a prologue, so I dove right into the first chapter. Within one page I knew who the main character would be (at least I assumed he was the main character), and I had a basic understanding…
In just a few short weeks my sixth novel, The Rancher's Mistletoe Bride, will be in stores! Aaahhh!! It's also the first book in my brand new series, Wyoming Cowboys. I love this book. I loved writing this book. I loved researching this book. If you can't tell, I'm pretty excited…
You know what season it is? Yes, football...duh. It's also conference season. Yay! Writers attending conferences usually sign up for pitch sessions. *Just got a shiver down my spine.* Pitch sessions are basically "here's my project, you're going to love it," sessions. Writers are trying to woo an agent or editor…
At some point in every aspiring writer's life there comes a point where you are ready to get feedback. It might not be your first book. It might be your twelfth. But deep inside you can feel it--the need for an honest assessment of your skills. But who can you…
Today we're talking about continuous learning. I’ve studied dozens of books on various aspects of writing, and these are the ones I return to again and again. I'm always on the lookout for new books to help my career, and I'm happy to share. If you’re interested in taking your…
A decade ago when I got serious about writing, I found these amazing blogs by authors who shared tips and advice. I learned so much about the craft of writing, how to network, what to look for in a critique partner, the whole "build a platform" hoopla, as well as…
This year I set some pretty high personal and professional goals. With all the striving came setbacks, and I thought I'd share a few with you. Granted, the year is still young, so who knows what the rest of 2017 will bring? I'm pushing hard for my goals no matter…
I've been quiet on the blog. Last week I was sick, and I'm playing catch-up. With all the tasks piling up, I've let my desk get VERY messy. *sigh* Here's a picture of my work space. I think it's funny my Bible promise book fell on top of the chaos…
My husband and I have been watching a lot of movies at home lately. Last weekend we watched Inferno, the third installment of the Robert Langdon film series, loosely based on Dan Brown's books. I haven't read the books, so I can't tell you how the movies compare, and I'm not…
2017 has been a year of changes for me. Most of the changes have been little, but hey, small steps equal steady progress. One of the things I'm doing is tracking my progress in two areas. I created a year-at-a-glance spreadsheet that can be used for any goal. I'm tracking…