Uncategorized
For the Lack of an Outline
The After the Storm revisions are finished! As of yesterday, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, so I was able to get 8 hours of truly restorative sleep last night. After a few weeks of 5 hour nights, that was glorious! I knew I still had a problem with a…
Read MoreCrying
I don’t know if it’s hormonal (I didn’t think I had any of them left) or what, but in the past year, I’ve gone back to crying over just about everything. This is “good” crying, as opposed to “wanting to slit my wrists” crying. By good crying, I mean that it feels healthy…
Read MoreThe Challenge of Revisions
“It’s never too late — in fiction or in life — to revise.” Nancy Thayer I love that Nancy Thayer quote, but I’m not sure how accurate it is when it comes to either fiction or life. I have about a week left to go in revising After the Storm, and then…
Read MoreThank you, Target!
This weekend, The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes officially became the summer Bookclub Pick for Target’s Bookmarked program! If you have a minute, pop over to Target’s Bookclub site, click on the cover, and see what a great job Target and my publisher did in creating a lovely showcase for CeeCee. I’m excited that one of my stories–one…
Read MoreWhy I Adored Tim Russert
I never met Tim Russert, but I’m going to miss him. I can’t think of another newsperson so irreplaceable, and it’s impossible to imagine Meet the Press without him. I know enough about Russert to know he was a Democrat, but that was immaterial to his interviewing style. You could never truly tell whose side he was…
Read MoreThe Book Launch for Before the Storm
Wow, what a great night! Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh provided two scrumptious cakes, I was able to talk about my favorite topic (writing), the audience was attentive and appreciative, and they bought books by the armload. . .which led to the only negative of the evening: we ran out of books! I was so sorry…
Read MoreMaking Love does not Love Make
Our air conditioning is out. Not a good thing In North Carolina. The prediction is for highs near 100 all week, so I hope we can get this fixed pronto! Meanwhile, I have my office ceiling fan on high speed, my hair up, my cooling Neckbandoo around my neck along with my portable mini-fan, but my computer…
Read MoreBefore the Storm
Finally, June first, the actual release date for Before the Storm, is here (well, it will be tomorrow), so I thought I would share with you some of my thoughts about this book. The idea for Before the Storm initially came to me in two parts. I was thinking about a story idea involving a teenager who appears…
Read MoreHome Again, Solid Food, and a Desperate Need for an Assistant
I had such a lovely ten days on the west coast! It was beyond wonderful to visit my brother and his family on their home turf for the first time in nearly two decades (!) and to meet my beautiful granddaughter and spend time with her and her parents. CC is one gorgeous, good-natured baby! Having…
Read MoreHardcover vs Trade Paperback
A few of you have already purchased my June release, Before the Storm, and at least a couple of you have asked why it’s in trade (large-size) paperback instead of hardcover, so I thought I’d try to answer that question here. The first thing you need to know is that this decision is nearly always up…
Read More