Hunky heroes and plucky heroines in clean, contemporary, small town romances in the real — and imaginary — worlds.
I was asked what's the best way to start a horror novel. The answer is: the same as the best way to start any novel but, with a horror novel, it’s even more important. It’s essential. You jump right in with what’s called a ‘hook.’ That’s something that will pull the reader into the story …
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I recently answered a question requesting three pieces of advice for making a living writing romance novels. Here is my answer: Read, read, read the best sellers in the kind of romances you wish to write. There are many, many sub-genres in the romance field and each has its own requirements. Then jot down between …
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You you create interesting villains the same way you create interesting heroes, except you accentuate the negative instead of the positive. Since most stories involve a clash between hero and villain, you probably want to emphasize those traits in both that are opposite illustrations of the same trait. It makes for an interesting story.
There’s just one rule that I know of for writing a romance into an action-focused novel and, unfortunately, a lot of authors don’t seem to know it. Don’t force your romance sub-plot into the midst of the action where it doesn’t belong. Don’t have your hero and heroine getting all sexy or mushy while bullets …
Coming to the end of my current work in progress, the first of the Wilderness Women books, titled The Pathfinder. Anna can find her way in the forest ever since she was a small child. She finds a lost boy. She finds where the butterflies go. Then the worst happens and she can't find her …
Why do some writers use fake names? There are a few reasons. Maybe a lot of reasons, but these are the ones I know: A writer who writes in different genres may choose a different pen name for each genres as a way to let readers know which genre the book they are considering was …
The best writing advice I ever received was to approach writing as a profession and not as the endeavor of an amateur. Professionals hone whatever skill they have to create a product that people will want badly enough to give some of their pay/time/effort/lives/etc in order to enjoy it. As they create, they think of …
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Stuck my hand in the cookie jar this morning -- the one with names of recipients of my newsletter in it -- and pulled out the two April winners of my newsletter drawing. Congratulations Julianne and Melissa. Julianne won any one of my books that she chooses from the ones published by Winged Publications and …
Readers want to know what skills great writers have in common. That’s easy. The answer is persistence, patience, and perseverance. Notice I didn’t say skill and/or genius. Because the saying is true that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. It also helps to have the time and a place to work.
Should you continue with plans to write a novel if you find a similar one that’s been written before? Of course you should! A publisher — can’t remember which one except that it was in New York City — said that one of his biggest problems was writers who contacted them threatening to sue because …
