I’ve just finished the first draft of my latest domestic suspense manuscript, and I’ll confess that getting to the end of those final few chapters was a daunting task! Months earlier, I’d brainstormed, outlined, and planned each chapter … only to completely change my mind about the ending 90% through the manuscript. The result, despite too little sleep, too much coffee, and a bit of panic, was a much improved ending—an ending that I hope readers will agree is a compelling, te

Happy Wednesday! Last week, I talked about tips for achieving a good “Work-Life Balance.” This week’s topic is Marketing. The recommendations I’m sharing all come from a recent ACFW writer panel I took part in with three wonderful and smart authors – Kristy Cambron, Katherine Reay, and Mary Weber. Here are some of the thoughts we shared at ACFW about marketing best practices … This might not be the first things that comes to mind for marketing, but the number one thing author

A few weeks back, I served on a writer panel in Dallas with three wonderful and smart authors — Kristy Cambron, Katherine Reay, and Mary Weber. All fresh off our first year in the traditional publishing industry, we shared our thoughts about the whirlwind that’s been the last 12 months … in the hopes the information and discussion would be of help to other aspiring authors! Today, I thought it might be fun to share portions of our talk. Here are some of the questions that our

Every author wants to create a hero or heroine that’s believable, likeable, and relatable. But it’s even better if you can dream up a protagonist who’s independent, capable, and a little bit flawed. And for me, I love reading about a heroine who can also kick a little butt. So how does a writer come up with characters that possess the wonderful contradictions of sassy and sweet, fiercely independent, yet sensitive? Beautiful, but sometimes, an outcast? Here are 5 ways to boos

A few years ago, fellow author Eileen Flanagan penned a fabulous article that I’ve kept bookmarked on my laptop. It’s sound, thoughtful, and amusing advice for anyone who loves a book author. With all of the great beach reads hitting bookstores now (the storage on my Kindle is full to bursting!), and Center of Gravity being released in just 6 short weeks, it’s perfect timing to share an abbreviated version of Eileen’s post.* Here we go … 10 Ways to Support your Favorite Write

“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” – Stephen King It’s hard to ignore the words of this famous author, who’s penned more than 50 novels and 200 short stories, as well as one of my favorite books on the craft of writing … appropriately titled, On I realize that the rest of us — mere mortals in the author arena — are likely not going to be as prolific as King, but it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t take his advice.