This week I went on my annual writers’ retreat with my writing group. Every year (except 2020 obviously) for the past six years, we have taken a week during the summer to leave all responsibilities behind and retire to some place “secluded” in order to focus on our various writing projects. We have spent time […]
Geese Riding the waves Read More »
Well, it’s a new year, and that means new everything—possibilities, adventures, and discoveries! I for one am filled with an optimism that I did not have at this time last year. The ringing in of 2021 brought with it a sense of relief, and I have since realized that “relief” and “optimism” are not the
A while back, I wrote about one of my characters, Scott Jenkins, and where the inspiration for him came from. His role in The Secret Keeper series began as that of the sidekick, the goofy best friend who would serve as the foil for the protagonist Wil’s much more serious character. However, it turned
Sidekicks and Heroes: Scott Read More »
When one thinks of a hero, any number of images come to mind: soldiers, firemen, and depending on your political stance nowadays, police. Some may envision doctors, nurses, and paramedics in this time of Covid; others may consider teachers, truckers, grocers, and nursing home caregivers. Of course, there’s also the magical, wonderful world of
My sister, my hero Read More »
What a lovely surprise I received today by the lovely Suchita Senthil Kumar @suchita_senthil! Suchita is a 17-year-old blogger from India and, according to her Twitter handle, an “artist creating chaos,” which I absolutely love. Suchita is currently blogging about her life during Covid and how she works to find balance in a crazy world
The Golden Bloggerz Award Read More »
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My First Book Trailer – The Swinging Doors :) Read More »
People always ask, “Where do you get your ideas” for stories and characters. The obvious (and overly simple) answer is from my life. A writer friend of mine said she once read that an author’s first published novel is usually the most autobiographical, but I don’t believe this to be true. After all, my
Know thy Character- Scott Read More »
In the spring of 1993, I had a dream. I know it’s a bit cliché—all writers seem to dream their stories, but this is the truth. In this dream, I clearly saw a young girl around the age of 18 wearing nothing more than bloomers, a corset, and a shawl wrapped around her shoulders.
The Swinging Doors – a dream finally realized Read More »
Many years ago, while I was a student at UNC-Wilmington, I had the good fortune of studying under a man named Stanley Colbert. He offered a piece of advice I have never been able to forget: “When telling the story of ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears,’ bring on the bears.” Mr. Colbert had
Bring on the Bears Read More »
My mama has always had a gift for turning the ordinary into something extraordinary. My childhood was a time of magical possibilities, thanks to Daddy and his storytelling, D&D adventures, George (the family ghost), and Mama’s creative energy. Recently, I watched an episode of The Carol Burnett Show (thanks to Amazon Prime) in
Pumpkins, Black Cats, and Ghosts, oh my! Read More »