This week, I’m buried under a big editing gig, so I’m going send you to two blogs each day that I think you’ll enjoy. Today’s redirects are: Chick Lit Writers and Word Wranglers. Deborah Blake is interviewing the amazing Lucy March at Chick Lit Writers, so go and discover more about Lucy and her new book A Little Night Magic. Liz Flaherty’s guest today at Word Wranglers is author/editor/teacher Alicia Rasley, who’s talking about writing opening chapters. Alicia always has great advice for writers, so go by and learn about starting a story. Check back tomorrow for two more great blogs…have fun!!  

This is a convoluted path to a blog about heroes, but I promise if you stay with me, we’ll wind up in a place that mostly makes sense. The other day on the Bettyverse, Blonde Betty talked about e-reader versus print books, which naturally led to the Betties responding not only with their favorite way to read (digital vs. paper), but also their favorite books, which brought me to my favorite books.  (We’re almost there, I promise.) I came down on the side of e-readers, so thinking of my favorite books made me recall that one of the first books I downloaded on my Kindle was Gene Stratton Porter’s The…

…as guest blogger today.  Alicia Rasley is a Rita-award winning author and nationally known teacher of writing workshops. She teaches composition and tutors students in two state universities. She grew up in the mountains of Southwest Virginia but now lives in the Midwestern flat land. Her book The Year She Fell has been a Kindle fiction bestseller. Her blog is at: www.edittorrent.blogspot.com, and her website is www.rasley.com. Her writing book, The Power of Point of View, is still available from Writer’s Digest Books. All her books can be found on her Kindle page and are listed at the end this post. Stop by and click the “like” button or add…

I’m so happy to welcome editor, writer, and consultant Ally E. Peltier to the blog today. Ally  has worked with small and large book publishers, including Simon & Schuster, where she acquired and edited books. Ally loves using her insider knowledge of the publishing industry and more than a decade of writing experience to help others reach their publishing goals. She offers tips, advice, and news at www.allypeltier.com and provides editorial services through www.ambitiousenterprises.com. She’s also the co-sponsor of the Self-Publishing Success Intensive, a new event for indie authors coming in March 2012. Visit www.selfpublishingsuccessintensive.com for details. Take it away, Ally. Why Fiction Writers Need Editors You’ve slaved over your…

Today, I’m excited to welcome Lani Diane Rich and Alastair Stephens to the blog. They are the creators of StoryWonk— a daily podcast for people who are passionate about writing and storytelling. Introductions are their own words: Lani is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nine novels. Currently, she’s writing romantic fantasy for St. Martin’s Press as Lucy March; her first novel, A Little Night Magic, will be released in February 2012. She has been teaching writing workshops across the country since 2004, and has been an adjunct professor at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School for Public Communications, teaching introductory television writing and production. Alastair is a…

The publication of my novel, Rule Number One, is moving ahead. Contracts are signed, cover questionnaire is sent in, blurbs are done, and today I’m working on my bio for BookStrand’s website and the back cover of my book. Soon, they’ll send me the cover art to approve and I can post it here, and in February, I can put up a link for folks to order the book. Whew! This is really happening. When we went to the lake last weekend for a holiday celebration with our new friends up there, several people congratulated me on the book, which I so appreciated. The hostess introduced me to new guests…