Dispatches from the Desk By Tracy Clark I’ve heard stories of writers stopping two-thirds into a novel and shredding the whole thing because they weren’t happy with what they’d written. I’ve heard stories of writers who have finished an entire book, submitted it, and then asking their editor to...
5 PODCASTS TO INSPIRE AUTHOR SUCCESS
By Alex Kava Writing a novel is a solitary endeavor, but sometimes it helps to hear how other authors deal with the same challenges. Plus, we all could use a little inspiration once in a while. Here are five of my favorite podcasts offering conversations, information and a whole lot of...
NEVER PULL A PEPPER
By Tracy Clark I just checked my latest manuscript for Pepper. I’m good! Remember the old ‘70s TV show Police Woman? It starred Angie Dickinson as Det. Pepper Anderson? I do. In fact, I remember it every time I sit down to write, because there are some things I have to remember not to do, thanks...
JESSICA THOMPSON GOES ROGUE: MAKE YOUR SETTING DO THE WORK
By Jessica Thompson When reading a book, watching a movie, listening to a story, or even playing a game, most people focus on the characters or plot, but the third big ingredient is your setting. What is the setting? Google says it is the place or type of surroundings where something is positioned...
TOTAL IMMERSION II
The Art of Going Deep: Part II By Chris Goff In Part I, I talked about digging DEEP to find the BIG concept, the right Point of View, and getting to know your characters. So, how do you get into your character’s head? Use your own experiences. Thomas Harris in Silence of the Lambs gave...
A NOT SO COZY REALITY
By Lisa Black Truth is often stranger than fiction, but sometimes fiction is truth—whether it means to be or not. Any cozy mystery worth its salt has a small town, a bickering couple, eccentric characters, and a great climate. A murder in 2013 checked all these boxes and more, but to the...
CAN’T YOU TELL I’M WRITING?
By Tosca Lee Last night an author friend of mine sent me a message accompanied by an unspoken (but noted by me) sage nod. “I am never more productive with busywork type tasks than when I’m on deadline for a book!” she said. How’d she know I was “writing?” Because I’d just posted a picture of...
PAUL VIDICH GOES ROGUE: The Real Historical Incident that Inspired Beirut Station
K. J. Howe: Paul Vidich’s Beirut Station is a novel with deep historical roots, and it reads like a real-life thriller. Spies, revenge, betrayal—buckle up your seat belt! By Paul Vidich On March 16, 1985, William Francis Buckley, the newly appointed CIA Chief of Station in Beirut, left his...
PJ CALDAS GOES ROGUE: Warrior Muses and The Inspiring Female Martial Artists Who Refuse to Conform
Kim Howe: PJ Caldas is a Brazilian writer and expert martial artist who is an ardent supporter of strong female characters, as you will see in the blog below. Welcome to the Rogues, PJ! By PJ Caldas This is Sharon. Five times per week, we train together in a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy in Port...
LOOKING FOR A REAL-LIFE HERO
By Isabella Maldonado For my most recent novel, I wanted a lead character who was an action hero like Jack Reacher, Jason Bourne, Mitch Rapp, or Scot Horvath. But my hero had to be a woman. And she had to be believable. After some research, I learned such women do exist in real life. They are...