Author A.A. Milne used a forest in his own backyard to inspire Winnie the Pooh's magical One Hundred Acre Wood, Here's how authors can also "write a landscape" to use in their books.
Editing my mother's memoir was an emotional experience... and also an enlightening one. It's not every day you get a peek into your mother's life before she was your mother.
I live in a small town and we just lost another of our small, cluttered, indie bookstores. The loss isn't just about the place, it's about the experience.
Last year presented me with a brand new challenge: editing a memoir written by another author. Here's what I learned from the experience, and some tips for those doing the same.
2020 was a struggle... But in the midst of the pandemic and the loss of my mother, I also finished my fourth novel. Here's how a year filled with loss and grief helped me complete a book about loss and grief.
T.J. Shapleigh is a central character in the "My Summer" books, but does his seeming betrayal of Quinton Wyatt make him a victim of circumstance... or a villain by design?
Combining art with the written word is a very effective way of telling a story. In my upcoming novel, My Summer (Under a Crescent Moon), I'm pushing my own boundaries in combining the two.
Finishing a manuscript should be a joyous relief for an author... and it usually is. But in the era of COVID 19, even our triumphs can produce unexpected emotions.
From COVID-19 to our challenges with racism, we're swamped by numerous storms. Here's how reading and writing can help reduce stress and keep your spirits up during trying times.
What's in the name of a book? Actually, a lot more than you might think. Here's a spoiler-free explanation behind the title of Book 2 in the Quinton's Curious MindYA series.
Trying to come up with a plot for your next story or book? This exercise forces you to create a plot based on very meager source material. How did you do?
I journaled for years... and then stopped. Here's why I regret that decision and why journaling is so valuable to authors.
A sequel to My Summer (with Robots) will be out in 2021! Here's a spoiler-free first look at My Summer (Under the Crescent Moon).
Home renovation offered plenty of headaches, but also the opportunity to design a perfect work environment.
Hooray! The internet comes to the rescue in my long search to find a children's book I loved... then forgot about.
If you're not paying attention to what your readers are saying, you're doing yourself (and them) a disservice.
My writing was inspired in part by a children's sci fi story... even though it took me 38 years to finish reading it.
Maintaining continuity throughout a book or over a series of books can be a major challenge for authors.
If you're a part-time writer, finding enough time to work on your book can be difficult. Here are some tips to help.
It's no secret that exercise stimulates creativity... and "purposeful walking" is a technique long used by writers.