Story Weekend: The Best Thing About Me
Okay, I’m not talking about myself here! Story Weekend is your turn to talk. What’s the best thing about you? If you’re new to Story Weekend, here’s how it works: I pick a theme and you share something from your life that relates to that theme, however you interpret it. Thanks to all of you who’ve…
Read MoreStory Weekend: Hairdressers
I’m sitting in Starbucks, waiting for my hair appointment, so hairdressers seem like a good Story Weekend topic for today. Those of you who’ve read my blog for a while may remember when I came out last year as a faux-hair wearer, and you may wonder why I still need a hairdresser. The answer is twofold.…
Read MoreStory Weekend: Housework (and a giveaway)
We have a problematic porch. First, it has ratty old carpet on the floor (blue) which has probably been there for decades. Second, we live in an area that gets thick yellow pollen every spring and although I cover all the porch furniture prior to pollen season, the stuff still coats the screens and the…
Read MoreThe First Lie: Writing a Short Story inspired by a Novel (Plus a Contest!)
The First Lie, an e-original short story, is available today! It’s just 99¢ in the United States and 99p in the United Kingdom. I had a blast writing it, though it was a challenge. I wasn’t sure I could “write short” after writing novels for so long. I knew I wanted to come up with…
Read MoreStory Weekend: "Born out of Wedlock"
Okay, it’s a weird topic for Story Weekend, but I bet everybody has some kind of story inspired by those four words. I look forward to hearing yours. This topic is inspired by the fact that my e-short story, The First Lie, will be available Tuesday (99¢ in the US and 99p in the UK),…
Read MoreStory Weekend: Change
I’m sorry for missing a couple of Story Weekends, but my web designer and I have been busy re-creating an all new site. It was time, especially with the upcoming September publication of Necessary Lies. Please take some time to wander around the site and do let me know if something isn’t working the way…
Read MoreBrainstorming Brilliance
Omigod, what a great brainstorming session! I finished the draft of the first half of my work in progress today, knowing it was just not right, but keeping my writing friend Mary Kay Andrew’s words of wisdom in mind (“You can’t rewrite what you haven’t written”). Then I gave it to my sig other John…
Read MoreStory Weekend: Your Earliest Memory
I can’t really pinpoint my own earliest memory, so I’m always fascinated when someone tells me theirs. I’d love to hear yours. If you’re new to Story Weekend, here’s how it works: I pick a theme and you share something from your life that relates to that theme, however you interpret it. Thanks to all of…
Read MoreWin a Personalized Advanced Reading Copy of Necessary Lies!
I’ve seen a lot of Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs), but never one quite this pretty. I love how my publisher, St. Martin’s Press, incorporated the cover of the final book at the bottom of the ARC cover and devoted so much space to bestselling author Christina Schwarz’s wonderful quote—a quote that warmed my heart when I…
Read MoreStory Weekend: Spiders
I was out of town last week and when I returned home, I drove my car out of the garage only to discover it was covered in cobwebs and a million baby spiders! Shudder. We live in the woods and this is the price we pay. If you’ve “known” me long enough, you might remember…
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