Xtreme Conference
Writers conferences provide inspiring and informative sessions and keynotes. Most include social media strategies, general publishing information, writing critiques, and query letter how to’s. But sometimes I wish they offered a bit more. Here’s a few...Shades of Writer
Writers are never content with the mundane or pedestrian way of saying something. And neither do the words author or writer convey the joys and tortures of years spent slaving over manuscripts. Here’s a few colorful monikers I’ve come across while scouring...9 Circles of Writing Hell
Today I don my Debbie Downer hat to discuss the circles of Writing Hell. Not surprising, the circle is an apt descriptor of the writing process because our thoughts go ’round and ’round…and ’round some more. The bad news: There is no escape for...Conquering the Conference
Writers conferences are a wonderful chance to learn about the craft of writing and publishing industry. And if you have the time and the funds I recommend attending a few. However, sometimes writers enter with closed minds. As a lifelong student of life if someone...Syntax Smarts
Syntax, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is ‘the way in which words are put together to form phrases, clauses, or sentences.” The beauty and trick is putting those words together to create a specific effect in your writing. This seems to be the...Wonderful Writing World
A Trip to Writing Oz! Many writers approach novel writing like Dorothy. They are naïve, hopeful, idealistic, and enthusiastic, which are all admirable traits. But then the tornado of advice, information, do’s & dont’s, and publishing data sweeps you up...Whine Country Tour
Did a bit of wine tasting this weekend, which is always a fun way to unwind from the work week. While driving home the next day, I was reminded of another kind of whine—WHINING. Yup, writers love to whine with their wine. And, naturally, writers have lots to...Breakfast Beta Readers
Writers NEED beta readers! It’s near impossible for most of us to determine if our work in progress is horrid or brilliant—or somewhere in between. That’s why it’s soooo sweet when we find effective beta readers. Beta readers come in all shapes...Collateral Damage
One of the many perils of writing is dealing with the fallout from months of obsessive…um…enthusiastic writing, rewriting, and tweaking. There’s lots of fabulous information about what writers should do, yet not too much about what we don’t!...NFL Draft for Novels
Do you choose characters like an NFL draft? Let’s break it down! 1st Round Draft Picks: These are the BIG stars. In the football world, they have talent and that ‘it’ factor to get the team to the promised land (Super Bowl). The 1st round picks in...The Artistic Writer
One picture says a 1000 words. A luxury writers do not have. However writers have been known to get an idea to two from gazing at works of art. So in a silly effort to merge the two here are eleven famous paintings that describe the writing life. ...The Real Comma Rules
Grammarians have been known to do battle over the vagaries of comma placement. Syntax skirmishes, semi-colon controversy, and other punctuation persnicketiness can get downright nasty! Good thing this post is about other kinds of commas! Writing, rewriting, editing,...Where Art Thou?
Setting is more than just location! Usually when folks think of setting in the literary sense they think physical location. But setting is much more than that. Authors construct setting like they do characters and plot. Setting is a powerful element for establishing...Construction Zone
I have a 53 mile round trip commute. Freeway construction really slows me down—often taking me more than an hour to get home. So what’s a writer to do while waiting in stopped traffic? Why imagine how construction signs mirror the writing process, of course! The...
Review excerpt from SHADE TREE BOOK REVIEWS: recommend Merkabah as a must read, especially for the para-normal, ancient history, thriller seeker, audience, and anyone who wants a novel that seems to turn the pages for you as you dive between the covers and into the thick of the story with Daphne and S.J.
Review excerpt from SHADE TREE BOOK REVIEWS: As with any great first novel in a series, it left me panting and begging for more. The second novel in the series, The Merkabah Deception utilized The Recruit as a diving platform to send me deep into the muck and mire of the ancient gods and demons ongoing battle of the spiritual world.
Review excerpt from SHADE TREE BOOK REVIEWS: The story between Daphne, the introverted doctoral candidate/college professor, and S. J., the demi-god/Nephilim heats to a boil as the “Watchers” seem to become more involved in the love affair between a human and a Watcher. This is only the sideline to the action-filled storyline as Daphne’s powers as a Merkabah continue to increase and she continues to fight the demons that are co-habiting earth with us mere earthlings.
