I recently read The Gargoyle (Anchor Books, 2009) and am compelled to share one of author Andrew Davidson's character descriptions--one so amazing I had to re-read it right then and there, and immediately deemed it The Best Character Description Ever. Authors often struggle to find new and interesting ways to portray their characters as there … Continue reading The Best Character Description Ever
Thanks to author M.T. Maliha for inviting me to join her podcast and talk about the narrative choices authors face. The Dusty Wood Podcast showcases interviews with guests who talk about writing and life, sometimes together. M.T. Maliha is a lovely author and an even lovelier person. Her Waverly Estate trilogy includes Ghost Dance and … Continue reading Narrative Choices – Podcast Interview
A fellow New England author I am fortunate to know is Reverend Jane Willan, whose latest cozy mystery was published a few weeks ago. More details on Abide With Me in a minute, but first you may have questions: What is a cozy mystery? Cozy mysteries, also called "cozies" are a form of crime fiction … Continue reading “Composing Sermons & Dreaming Up Murder”
What can I say - I always work a little romance into my novels. Who doesn't love a little romance? In this excerpt reading, Astrid decides to break up with Dave but then wavers when the moment comes...anyone else been there? https://youtu.be/gD7T9VqDnfo
What happens when an attempted rape is reported at the police station? This reading from my novel Horseshoes and Hand Grenades gives you an idea. The story is set in the 1980s but how much has changed since then? You be the judge. This reading, which I call "Sullied at the Police Station", was recorded … Continue reading Reading: “Sullied at the Police Station”
Who doesn't love a good enemies-turned-friends story? That's what you get in Horseshoes and Hand Grenades. In this reading of an excerpt from the Contemporary/New Adult Fiction novel, our two heroes meet for the first time. Shelby and Astrid couldn't be more different, and they do not hit it off right away, to put it … Continue reading Reading: “Frenemies”
Hello everyone! Work on my new novel is keeping me from posting as much as I'd like, but we can't forget about Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, my modern coming-of-age novel for two young women building their careers and lives while dealing with demons from the past and present. The novel continues to garner glowing reviews. … Continue reading Reading: “Astrid in the Alley”
Shelby is beginning to heal in this short passage from Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, recorded at a virtual reading I did recently. Click on the video to watch. I call this passage "Porch Steps" - I hope you enjoy it! https://youtu.be/uRaOeHduKlE
I am often asked why I wrote Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, my novel that is both a coming-of-age story for two young women, and a probe into the minds of victims of sexual harassment and abuse. I had several goals in mind when developing and writing the story, as I explain in this 2-minute clip … Continue reading Video: Why I Wrote Horseshoes and Hand Grenades
I think a lot of writers suffer from midnight inspiration, for better or worse. I’m almost done with the first act of my new manuscript (about a group of Millennials grappling with life’s choices and social justice issues), and am happy to report I've found a way to work with these sometimes unwelcome thoughts. Typically, … Continue reading Life of a Writer: Midnight Inspiration