Writer's moments
-
Author Spotlight: Welcome Melinda Curtis!
I’m always delighted to bring you one of my own favorite authors and today is special because bestselling author, Melinda Curtis! Melinda Curtis is the USA Today bestselling author of light‐hearted contemporary romance, romantic comedies, and women’s fiction. Her book Dandelion Wishes was made into a TV movie – Love in Harmony Valley, starring Amber Marshall. She lives in Oregon’s wine country with her husband – her basketball-playing college sweetheart. While raising three kids, the couple did the soccer thing, the karate thing, the dance thing, the Little League thing and, of course, the basketball thing. Now when Melinda isn’t writing and Mr. Curtis isn’t watching college basketball, they do the DIY thing. Website…
-
Sunday Snippet: The Who Is My Best Self Edition
This morning during my daily meditation, the guide asked us to consider that question: “Who am I when I’m at my best?” Who am I when I’m at my best? Wow, what a question. I think we, okay I, don’t stop my life to consider who I am, who I want to be, who I should be. I just push through…working, writing, doing laundry, making meals, being horrified by the state of our government, yet loving my family and friends and just trying to get through each day. Always behind everything I do or think or say is the knowledge that my heart isn’t working as well as other hearts…
-
Author Spotlight: Welcome Author Lynne Marshall!
I’m so pleased to introduce y’all to author USA Today bestselling author, Lynne Marshall. She is a writer after my own heart, being an inveterate day dreamer and storyteller. She tried to retire during Covid, but discovered there is no retiring from one’s own imagination! Lynne used to worry she had a serious problem with day dreaming, until she discovered she was supposed to write those stories. Now traditionally published for many years with over thirty-four books as a category romance author, she has also gone hybrid. She is a Southern California native, has been married to a New Englander for a long time, and has two adult children of…
-
Sunday Snippet: The Velveteen Rabbit & Memories Edition
Right off, happy Easter and happy Passover to all who celebrate. Yesterday, when Mary and I went for our daily walk, we headed north toward the pool and clubhouse of our neighborhood. We have a great pool and really nice clubhouse–it’s where we do yoga every Wednesday evening and where we spend summer afternoons after I’m done writing and working. It’s truly one of the best blessings of living in “The Nest.” Anyway, to add to our step count, we walked, as we always do, around the parking lot to the tennis/basketball courts and then back out to the street. On the way, we stopped for a moment at the…
-
Sunday Snippet: The Writer as Procrastinator Edition
I think I’ve mentioned it before but in case you don’t know, I’ve become a world-class procrastinator—I can do something else better than anyone anywhere. I’ve passed amateur status and have just recently gotten my professional standing. Don’t even try to take me on this one, I’ll beat the socks off you every time. For instance, yesterday, after we drove home from the lake, I procrastinated beautifully about cutting back the last of the pampas grass. I found something more important to do (read “sat on the sofa reading for pleasure” here) until it was time to start supper. The to-do list I made while we drove home was really…
-
Sunday Snippet: The And We’re Off… Edition
Liz and I are headed out this morning for our twice yearly writing retreat. She’s allergy sniffly, I’m at the end of a wicked sinus infection that still shows up as a headache now and again. We should be delightful company for one another. Fortunately, we’re both pretty hardy souls and we’ll make it just fine. Retreats are our time for writing, processing out loud, sharing story, and giving opinions. I can count on Liz to tell me if something is going to work or if I’ve gotten completely off-track. I do the same for her. It’s our sister-writer time and we’re pretty protective of it. This spring we’re going…
-
Author Spotlight: Romance Author Jana Richards Is Here!
I’m so happy to welcome my fellow Word Wrangler, Jana Richards to the Spotlight today! When Jana Richards read her first romance novel, she immediately knew two things: she had to commit the stories running through her head to paper, and they had to end with a happily-ever-after. She also knew she’d found what she was meant to do. Since then she’s never met a romance genre she didn’t like. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and historical romance set in World War Two, in lengths ranging from short story to full length novel. Just for fun, she throws in generous helpings of humor, and the occasional dash of the…
-
Wednesday Drop-In: Results of the Cover Survey
Bonjour, Mes Amis, Just dropping in real quick to let you know the results of the cover survey that I sent out to folks a few weeks ago. My friend who put the survey together sent the results of the data she collected. Here’s what the data tells us about the ideal book cover to appeal to the broadest possible audience: The winning formula: A photographic or richly illustrated cover, dominated by bright and vibrant colors, featuring compelling imagery that’s clearly related to the story — with mostly visuals and minimal text. Breaking it down by category: Style: The top three (photographic, illustrated, bold & graphic) are nearly tied, all hovering around…
-
Sunday Snippet: The March Lists Edition
When I’ve got nothing, which is the situation as I sit here in front of my computer this morning, pal Liz always recommends doing a list or two. I figure why not? I was thinking maybe favorites books lists would be fun. What do you think? I’ll start. Five Favorite Childhood Books (Too easy, but also fun to think about): The Bobbsey Twins books by Laura Lee Hope–I often pretended I was Nan, the oldest girl twin. The Nancy Drew books by Carolyn Keene–I loved her sporty little convertible and dreamed about a boyfriend like Ned (FYI, he’s fiction). The Jennifer Wish by Eunice Young Smith–amazing stories about a family who…
-
Sunday Snippet: The Another THE END & a Cover Reveal Edition
What a wonderful feeling to be able to type “The End” at the finish line of a long arduous writing experience. I have another novel done—really, truly done! And my critique partners are on-board, one even said, “I love this story!” That is high praise indeed from a person whose writing I’ve admired for years. Help Wanted, Cowboy is out to betas right now, and I’ve been going through it in preparation for sending it to my editor next week. Since I got to THE END, how about I do a cover reveal for this book? The amazing Lee Hyat has given me another wonderful cover for Help Wanted Cowboy,…