“Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you … “ Anybody else love that song when it’s sung by Frank Sinatra? There’s a bit of a fairy tale thread woven into my upcoming release, Catch a Falling Star. And yes, I loved reading fairy tales when I was growing up. Cinderella was a favorite, of course, but I …
HaPpY dAnCiNg: Signing on the dotted line
With thanks to my husband, Rob, for taking (and re-taking) the photo … that’s a very happy me, after I signed my contract with Howard Books for a third novel! Details: It’s titled Take Another Look. It releases May 2014. And yes, it’s an inspirational contemporary romance set in Colorado. I’m thrilled to continue my partnership with Howard Books — …
Giveaway: 4 Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) of Catch a Falling Star
This time last year, I was a debut-novelist-in-waiting, counting the days for the release of Wish You Were Here. Now I’m anticipating the release of Catch a Falling Star on May 7, 2013. To celebrate novel #2, I’m hosting a Rafflecopter giveaway. During the next four weeks, you’ll have the chance to win four Advanced Reader Copies (ARC) of Catch a …
In Others’ Words: Writers’ Rules
I was a rule follower long before I realized I was a writer. “Which way do we go — and how do we act while we get there?” was my mantra. And while I like life to be heavily flavored with grace and passion and laughter these days, there is still a time and a place for rules. …
In Others’ Words: No Shortcuts
I’ve wanted to be a writer all my life. Really. I was one of those kids in school who didn’t moan about writing papers for English class and who thought spelling bees were fun. When it came time to choose my major for college, I asked myself, “What do I love enough that I wouldn’t mind doing it every day …
In Others’ Words: Fairy Tales
As a little girl, I read fairy tales. I enjoyed Walt Disney’s animated version of Cinderella and Snow White and Sleeping Beauty too … and even embraced the updated version of Beauty and the Beast and Rapunzel. (Tangled? Loved it and laughed through it.) So maybe it’s no surprise fairy tales show up in my second novel, Catch a Falling …
In Others’ Words: Forgotten
I can’t even let myself think too long of the story ideas I’ve forgotten because I didn’t write them down. They were brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Sometimes it was a story idea. Or just a scene. Or a snippet of dialogue with just the right zing. But I was already in bed, comfy under the covers, with my teeth brushed and …
In Others’ Words: Second (Novel, That Is)
“It wasn’t that she didn’t have a satisfying life–an exciting life, even. It’s just that at thirty-six years old, she’d hoped for . . . more.” Kendall Haynes in Catch a Falling Star There are many stages to writing a book. The initial spark of an idea. The fast-draft. The rewrite — and all the edits after that, leading up to …
In Others’ Words: Muscle
What does it take to be a writer? I’m really looking forward to y’all joining the conversation today. Readers, I’d love to know what you think it takes to be a writer — what kind of “muscles” need to be developed? Writers, author Natalie Goldberg says we need the “muscles” of determination, attention, curiosity, and a passionate heart. What do …
In Others’ Words: Author Whispers
Writers try to get so many things right. We try to figure out when to follow the rules — and when to ignore ’em. We try to make our fictional characters true to life so that readers talk out loud to them as they turn the pages of our novels. (Come on, admit it! You’ve done it too!) We try …