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?
Before we jump into Buwan's profile, mark your calendars for my interview with podcaster and author Karen E. Osborne, airing on Tuesday, April 1. You'll be able to watch the show, called "What Are You Reading? What Are You Writing?" after 9:00 a.m., on Karen's YouTube channel. (And check out her just-released murder mystery, Justice … Continue reading Meet Buwan: Character Profile & Excerpt
This is the fifth of six character profiles to introduce you to the group of friends in Beautiful & Terrible Things, about which reader Erica D. says: “This book reminded me of [the TV show] Friends, but with a more diverse set of characters that dealt with major issues...I absolutely fell in love with the … Continue reading Meet Jessica: Character Profile & Excerpt
This is the fourth of six character profiles to introduce you to the group of friends in Beautiful & Terrible Things. Award-winning author Kathy Maresca describes the camaraderie between the six this way: “Imagine the 90's sitcom Friends in 2024.” And she is not the only one to compare my crew to the Friends crew … Continue reading Meet Xander: Character Profile & Excerpt
This is the third of six character profiles to introduce you to the group of friends in Beautiful & Terrible Things, about which Chat About Books wrote: “These characters...have an important story to tell, not least about the importance and power of friendship.” Character Profile: Terrance Meet Terrance Washington: Terrance is a 30-year-old, straight Black … Continue reading Meet Terrance: Character Profile & Excerpt
This is the second of six character profiles to introduce you to the group of friends in Beautiful & Terrible Things, about which award-winning author Ruth F. Stevens (no relation to me) says: “The six young men and women we meet in Beautiful and Terrible Things share a warm, I’ve-got-your-back camaraderie that reminded me of … Continue reading Meet Sunny: Character Profile & Excerpt
Today we meet Charley in this first of six character profiles, which will introduce you to the group of friends in Beautiful & Terrible Things, about which Reedsy says: “The six protagonists have the type of friendship that makes the Reader think, ‘I want to live in that city and be a part of that … Continue reading Meet Charley: Character Profile & Excerpt
Beautiful and Terrible Things has been earning rave reviews and even some early awards, I’m happy to say. Now it’s time to dig into the content a bit. If you’re wondering if this novel is for you, read these three excerpts, which were recently published on book review blogs. Then you can decide if it’s … Continue reading Read 3 Excerpts from Beautiful and Terrible Things
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”