Promoting a Novel, Then and Now
“What should I blog about tomorrow?” I asked Proman (short for project manager and not coincidentally, my husband.) “I’ve spent the past week working on my BookBub ad for From Glowing Embers. Nobody wants to hear about promoting a novel.” “Of course they do,” he said. And whether he’s right or wrong, you’re about to. First…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: Mature Love
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone. So what is this day all about? For many it’s an opportunity for some special attention, and for others it can be painful and lonely. Remember Erich Fromm? The Art of Love was one of my favorite books in college because he had such a deep understanding of the dynamics of…
Read MoreWho Am I To Criticize Downton Abbey, But. . .
Do you find yourself in front of your television set on Sunday nights, all set to watch Downton Abbey on PBS Masterpiece Classics? If you do, imagine me sitting in a similar seat, cup of tea in hand, ready to join you. ***Spoiler alert: If you haven’t seen Downton Abbey recently and don’t want to find…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: The Spirit of Mardi Gras
Yes, Mardi Gras is almost here! Fat Tuesday is only two days away, and if I was still living in New Orleans that would be all everyone was talking about. Carnival Season actually begins on Twelfth Night and ends on Mardi Gras day with Lent closing the partying down after midnight. The excitement and parties…
Read MoreFive Characters Readers Hate
Do you love coming home after a vacation? No matter how much you enjoyed yourself? I’ll confess no matter how good my trips, I miss my dog, my house, my bed and the birds and alligator who regularly visit my backyard. I’m always glad to get back to them. I’m even glad to get back to…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: Friendship
I’m returning today from a week-long Caribbean cruise with my husband and three couples who have become good friends. I so much enjoyed the tropical beauty, the delicious food, the entertainment, and the peace and quiet. But best of all was the joy of being with my friends. Perhaps a useful definition of friendship is enjoying a…
Read MoreWhere Writers Get Ideas: What Do You Do on Vacation?
I’m on the high seas today, taking a holiday after finishing When We Were Sisters. Here’s a blog I wrote after another trip almost exactly two years ago, and I thought you might enjoy a second look. I’ll be back next week with new tales to tell. *** Let’s take a little quiz. Do you…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: To build a ship
I’m leaving today on a 7 day Caribbean cruise, so you can understand why I’m so moved by these words of Antoine de Saint-Exupery. I grew up in Florida, so the ocean–or in my case, the gulf–has always been an important part of my life. I find water not just beautiful but transcendent and inspirational. I love…
Read MoreTrigger Points for Novelists
If you read last week’s blog, you know about one of my personal trigger points. I don’t always like being edited. I have an excellent editor, who listens and supports me. Still, I don’t like the editing process. I’m sure I’m not unusual, but at the same time, as I pointed out, many of my colleagues don’t…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: JellyBean Time
Last Sunday it was golf balls, and this Sunday it’s jellybeans. The theme is similar: how are we going to choose to spend our time on what’s important in our lives. You might call it JellyBean time. This creative video reminded me that time on this earth is short, and if we don’t pay attention…
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