Have you ever been reading a book and suddenly there is a plot twist! The tale takes a rapid and exciting turn. Danger threatens, tragedy strikes, and the main character is forced to grapple with everything while still staying sane. Or Maybe you are one of those authors who love to dump in plot twists […]
Where is Your Cursor?
The blinking cursor caught my attention, and I started reading. It wasn’t where I was supposed to be reading, but . . . I got pulled in by that blinking line. Have you ever scanned a document and had your attention caught by a blinking cursor? Have you ever started reading in that spot and […]
Are You an Auto-Corrector?
Auto-Correct. Sometimes I think the person who invented auto-correct was a brilliant person with only the desire to help and improve the lives of writers. Other times I’m convinced that whoever invented auto-correct was trying to defeat good writing, create frustration, and ensure that no one had a perfect paper. There are times when I’m […]
Hidden Blessing
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by life only to look back at something and find a blessing? Perhaps it was in the middle of something difficult, perhaps it was just after it. That’s what happened to me. While on a visit to my grandparents for a few days over New Years, I came down with […]
Reviews that Make a Difference
Book reviews are everywhere. You can read them on people’s blogs, Goodreads is full of them, Amazon has more than you’d ever have time to read, and yet we keep writing more. Everyone is recommending books that you just “have” to read. Sometimes we do get reviews that say, “this wasn’t worth reading.” And other […]
4 Reasons To Be Historically Accurate
If you are around authors or readers, questions might come up about different books and if they are historically correct or not. I read a book recently written by a popular author, and published by a well known publishing house, but as I read, I felt the gnawing of uncertainty. Would this have really happened? […]
Party, Winners and Encouragement
Okay, quiet down. Standing here on the porch of the Literary Lodge, I’m delighted at how many of you showed up each day. And I know each of these authors standing up here with me are excited about and for each of you writers. We will be getting to the prizes, I promise, but first […]
Party, Giveaway, and 2 Writing Tips
Welcome back to the party! Come on in. The Literary Lodge is a bit crowded, but we can always fit in a few more. Oh, and there’s ice cream in the kitchen. And popsicles. Today we are going to be sharing some writing advice with you. There is so much writing advice. Everyone has something […]
Traditional Publishing – Pros and Cons
I’d like to welcome Susan K. Marlow who has graciously agreed to share her insight into the world of Traditional Publishing. Welcome to the wonderful (and sometimes wacky) world of publishing as seen through the eyes of Susan K. Marlow, author of over twenty novels for readers ages six through sixteen (and up). I (Susan) […]
Let’s Get Real!
I am known as the drama queen in my family. I exaggerate, I pretend, I’m dramatic, I have a wonderful (most of the time) imagination, but, while it’s great for writing books or playing with my nieces and nephews, I have to be careful that I don’t get carried away at the wrong times. There […]