Today, I get to share information with you that isn't usually available to authors or readers. But I'm burying the lead... My contemporary novel Beautiful and Terrible Things has won it's eighth award! Eighth! I am overwhelmed and grateful. The Wishing Shelf Book Awards out of the United Kingdom gave my book a Bronze in … Continue reading An Inside Look at What Contest Judges Really Think
Two quick items before I share the results of last month's book cover voting, and offer my slapdash review of new murder mystery The Bone Nest: #1 - Those of you who are aspiring authors might enjoy this Q&A I did recently with Publication Coach. It's a two-minute read max, and covers how I write, … Continue reading Your Book Cover Votes Are In!
I know you don't sit around waiting for my next newsletter to appear in your inbox. But still, you may have noticed it's been a minute - about two months actually - since we've talked. My hiatus was for 2 reasons. First, I've been eyeball-deep in my works-in-progress: getting advance "blurbs" for Unraveling Caro Dunn, … Continue reading Where the Heck Have I Been?
I've been keeping it under wraps but a while ago, I signed a contract with Blydyn Square Books for the publication of my next contemporary novel, which is called Unraveling Caro Dunn. Ever wonder how publishers and authors choose book titles? I explain, and share some of the funny titles that were rejected, below. But … Continue reading New Book Deal!
Newsflash: Amazon, literally yesterday, lowered the paperback price for my 7-time award-winning novel Beautiful and Terrible Things, to $14.50. They do this sometimes, and don't bother telling us authors how long the sale will last. But click here if you're interested in grabbing a copy at the low sale price. (And if you prefer to … Continue reading The Best Kiss, Holiday Gifts & Best Books of 2025
Work-in-Progress Update I've mentioned before that I am helping two friends write their true crime memoir. It's an incredibly compelling story -- so compelling that Michelle was asked to tell it on the PBS show "Stories from the Stage." Check out her 7-minute story here; it will whet your appetite for the full book, which … Continue reading True Crime Memoir Update & Book Deals
People seem to like this image, which had nearly a thousand likes on my TikTok, so I thought I'd share it with you. Buwan, or "Bu" as he's known to his friends, is the somewhat goofy guy in Beautiful & Terrible Things who nonetheless spouts nuggets of wisdom on important issues like coping with depression, … Continue reading Are There Only 2 Kinds of People in the World? / AI Reality Check
I'll be interviewed live on the Horizons Author Lounge podcast tonight (Monday, Aug. 4) at 7:00 PM EST. The interview will be 100% live, not "live to tape" like many interviews, or taped and then edited -- both of which allow the producer to edit out any really bad fumbles. So this should be fun! … Continue reading How to Watch Live Interview Tonight
If I may shout my excitement like a teenager, today's post brings super awesome, some might say epic, news: A huge sale, meaning FREE, in honor of the 1-year anniversary of Beautiful and Terrible Things Encouraging news about my next book Two major podcast interviews. Beautiful and Terrible Things is FREE for 2 Days Only … Continue reading Beautiful and Terrible Things is FREE on July 18-19
When does a protest become a riot? More important, why does a protect become a riot? I dug deep into that topic before writing my extended protest scene for Beautiful and Terrible Things, to ensure its authenticity. (I have, thankfully, never been at a protest that turned violent.) As I suspected, a number of forces … Continue reading Book Excerpt: Why Does a Protest Become a Riot?