“Five went in. Four came out. “ The moment I read those words, I was hooked. The concept of five friends going hunting into the woods, one of them shot, and four emerging with the same innocent story when the evidence so clearly points to murder? Intriguing. And not only that, it’s so deliciously twisted. […]
As discussed in the first part of this blog post, I mentioned that the kids of STEM Academy at Roy J Smith middle school had gathered together questions to ask me. They ranged from basic, simple questions like “do you edit your books before they’re published?” to much more in-depth questions like the ones listed […]
Recently I had my first-ever author school visit. It. Was. Amazing. And that’s me downplaying it. Talking to the kids, even via the Interwebs, about my book, my publishing journey, and what drives me as a writer, was an experience I’ll never forget. Because, really, I think that’s every kid-lit author’s dream. Being able to […]
These past couple months, I’ve spent my Saturday mornings at the library with a group of talented and passionate young writers. Instead of sleeping in and watching TV, at 10:30AM about ten kids file into the teen meeting room of the library and dedicate an hour and a half to the craft of writing. This […]
There was something uniquely special about this year’s Louisiana Book Festival. It probably had to do with the fact that every author signing table I passed, and every author panel I attended, I couldn’t help but think that next year I’d be where they were. I could be signing my own book, and I […]
This year’s Nanowrimo is officially upon us. Now who here thinks they don’t have any time for it? *Shamefully raises hand* Why November always seems like the busiest month of the year, I’ll never know. It feels like I never have any time. Of course, as a soon to be published author, every month of the […]
If anyone’s counting, this was my third writers’ conference this year. Alas, it will also be my last one for 2017. With the holidays approaching, a digital marketing conference on the horizon for early December, as well as a round of edits for a new project, and NaNoWriMo, I’m 100% spent. Not to mention […]
Your Second Pass edits, otherwise known as your “Line Edits” focus to clarify meaning, to improve flow, to emphasize the point, etc. Before I go into my process for second pass edits, if you need a quick refresh on what different types of edits are, writer and editor Naomi Hughes does an excellent job of explaining the […]
There’s nothing like going to a weekend-long writers’ conference to light a fire under your keister. And let me tell you…after attending the Writers’ League of Texas annual Agents & Editors Conference, I. Am. Fired. Up!! In my last conference post I mentioned how crucial they are to a writer’s career. Well, this conference in […]
Happy Book Birthday to Vicki L. Weavil and her YA Fairytale retelling, Crown of Ice! Snow Queen Thyra Winther is immortal, but if she can’t reassemble a shattered enchanted mirror by her eighteenth birthday she’s doomed to spend eternity as a wraith. CROWN OF ICE – ebook and paperback available now In celebration […]