Best friends forever. Used to be simple when romances were a one-size-fits all category. The BFF was a device to get essential info into the story. You've read books like this. Ttwo friends talking until the reader knows something that will be important at some point, at which time the BFF discretely disappears, often never …

Continue reading BFFs drive authors crazy.

  I live in the north woods. Lots of trees, many lakes and the peace and quiet that comes with them. Except when the noise of jet engines breaks that silence because the nearby town of Park Rapids has an airport large enough for corporate jets to use because there are corporate retreats in the …

Continue reading North woods jet noise

To use a plotting program or not to use one. Good question and I think there's a reasonable answer. I used to use a plotting program and it was worth every penny it cost. It forced me to lay out the story arc, the character arcs, the climax, and every other part of a story. …

Continue reading Plot programs: Good or bad? Always or never?

  How to avoid info-dumps in writing? The most important thing is to not put too much detail in your writing. Readers don’t want or care to know more than necessary to get the gist of the story. So how to get those important details in the story without having them put the book down …

Continue reading Readers’ question: How can I avoid info-dumps in writing?

I have a confession to make. I don't regularly cook on a wood-burning stove. I did occasionally when we heated with wood and the stove we chose could also be used for cooking, but I still did most of my cooking on a lovely electric range, saving the wood-burning kind of cooking for soups and …

Continue reading Cooking on a wood-burning stove.

  I'm not in the picture above because I was taking the picture. But as soon as I was done, I scurried back to my place behind the counter. Because that's where I spend Wednesday and Saturday mornings in the summer. Behind that counter. Selling fudge, fudge-filled banana bread and cinnamon nuts. It's a family …

Continue reading Sitting outside on a nice day

How to know if your writing is any good? The sad thing is — you can't, at least not without help. But readers do know what’s good and what’s not so good so to find out where your writing stands, you must find people to read what you write and tell you their honest reactions. …

Continue reading How can you know if your writing is any good?

I love science fiction. Especially the stories that were popular during what now is called the golden era of science fiction, the fifties. The ones with strange civilizations and far-flung galaxies and intrepid explorers who range through both. Being a writer and loving science fiction, I wrote sci-fi stories and sent them to publishers. Guess …

Continue reading Science fiction — not.

Hey there, readers of clean romances, don't forget to join Winged Publications' New Year's party and maybe win some books and other wonderful things! It's a January thing so goes on for weeks, during which you'll meet authors and win prizes. https://www.facebook.com/groups/400037533750695/

I checked Amazon a few minutes ago and discovered that The Snow Queen is already published! A full week or so before I expected! So click on this link and read what ARC readers have said is a really, really good story and their comments have me dancing on the table. http://www.Amazon.com/dp/B0837WVVK2