Hello friends. “I like to start my notes to you as if we’re already in the middle of a conversation. I pretend that we’re the oldest and dearest friends….” Do you know what film that line is from? You’ve Got Mail with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. It’s one of my all-time favorite movies. And…
“In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.” ~ Mortimer J. Adler I can’t imagine living without books. But I’ve heard rumors about people who do just that. I don’t know any of them though….
So Many Books So Little Time. And that’s just Middle-Grade fiction. I get asked a lot what a middle-grade book is. When people hear “middle grade” they often think “middle school.” Middle-grade fiction is for readers aged 8 to 12 years old. On the other hand, by the time kids are in middle school, they’re…
Happy New Year! Plans! Goals! Revisions! Reviews! Resolutions! Hopes! Dreams! ‘Tis the season. Even if you don’t write them down in a journal, these things are probably fluttering about in your head. They are in mine. They don’t like to be ignored. I read about the idea of reflecting on the past year to understand…
When they’re over, will you be keeping the holidays in your heart? Today is the first day of Kwanzaa, and it’s Boxing Day (UK and Canada). Happy Kwanzaa to those who are celebrating. So, are you basking in the afterglow of yesterday? Still feeling the charm of Christmas all around you? Ahh. Or are you…
Don’t look now, but the holidays are right behind you. I hope you had a gratitude-and-family-filled Thanksgiving. If you enjoy online shopping, today’s your day. It’s Cyber Monday. In addition to Amazon, check out uncommongoods.com, live-inspired.com and basbleu.com Here are some gifts for kids and another for the writers in your life (you?). KIDS AGES…
Here’s the bottom line to today’s post. I want to give it to you upfront because I think this is so, so, so important. Here it is: Spend time with people at a big gathering who are pursuing the same hobbies you are. Or who have the same passions. Or who have the same issues….
I’m veering off course today. This post—dedicated to my sister and to all the women out there just living life—is intended for mature readers. Boo, and Happy Halloween! Halloween was my sister’s favorite holiday for as long as I can remember. She loved the costumes. It was always about the costumes for her. (Never the…
Since it’s still October, I’m going to stick with the “Scary” theme. What if I told you that you could be a writer? If that bores you, then you’re in the wrong room. But if that scares you or intrigues you, you’re in the right place. Follow along, too, if you just have fears on…
What You Can Expect and Even How to Write Your Own Middle Grade Horror Fiction Is anything inherently frightening? (Besides clowns? Or running out of coffee?) I think some things can’t help but be frightening: old houses, graveyards, deserted towns. But the best frights are things that seem innocent at first—like a faint scratching on…
