I have a favorite new song. It’s called “Your Hands” by JJ Heller. I had already listened to it several times on the radio, sang along and downloaded it from ITunes before I discovered why it resonated so deeply with me. Just last night, it hit me –this song IS my book, Shaken. The chorus, … Read More
writing
New Directions?
A whole new world… Remember the words to the Disney song? I was brainstorming about book two today and it hit me. My lead character was interesting in book one (Shaken) because she was broken. By the end of Shaken, she has reached a point of healing. No matter what disaster I throw at her, … Read More
Making Progress
For those of you who are insanely curious, I have posted the most recent update of the first chapter of Shaken. Some of you have read this chapter countless times as I have made changes and I appreciate your interest and dedication in helping me finish this book. When I first started writing, I never realized how many times … Read More
The Hurt
Ow, ow, ow! Have you ever asked someone for a critical eye and then actually gotten your wish? I sent my first two chapters off for a professional critique. I’ve been critiqued before — it’s part of the learning process. You get great advice and come out the better for it in the end. But, … Read More
…And then…and then…
All writers have their pet words — and I don’t mean “fluffy” or “spot.” I recently discovered that, like a hamster running the same wheel day-in and day-out, that I keep re-using two words in my writing: “okay” and “then.” “Are you okay?” “Is it okay to go back in the house?”, “Okay, I don’t know what you … Read More
How’s the Book Coming?
Click on the cartoon to read it. Courtesy of “Will Write for Chocolate by Debbie Oh. “So, how’s the book coming?” It’s the question that is making me cringe. I am happy that my friends are aware of my dream and that they are supportive and interested. But, I’m at an uncomfortable stage in the … Read More
Will Write for Chocolate!
Whoever said that Twitter and Facebook are collosal time-wasters was probably right. But thanks to one of these sites, I made a great discovery this week. The website “Will Write For Chocolate” is the brainchild of writer/cartoonist Debi Ridpath Ohi, who obviously uses cartooning as an emotional release from the pressure of writing. Or, maybe … Read More
The Pull of History
I laughed out loud the other day when I read a Facebook post from another writer who mentioned being sucked into the “black hole” of historical research. It’s a pull I’ve been fighting myself. Somehow, when I read historical fiction, it never dawns on me the hours that writers put into getting the historical background … Read More
Writing Update
I know, I know… I’ve been strangely quiet this week! With my kids off to camp this week (well, one off to camp, the other at Grandma’s & Grandpa’s), I spent the days focusing on my re-write of Shaken. I’m still trying to hit the 60K word goal set for me by two agents at … Read More
Friday Book Pick: City of God Series
Happy Friday to you! Looking for a good weekend read? Every Friday I post my recommendation for great weekend reading material, largely emphasizing Christian fiction. This week I am recommending Randall Ingermanson‘s City of God series. I read book one in the series, Transgression, last March and was completely astounded by Randy’s writing style. He … Read More