Category Archives: Posts

When the right title changes (nearly) everything about a new story I just wrapped up a new project this month, that’s very much a rough draft, but one I wanted to finish so it could simmer in the background while I turn attention to higher priority projects. What’s interesting about this book is not thatContinue reading “A Good Title Changes Everything…”

How to create the past and future of a fictional family I love a good family tree. More books should have them! They are a great way to convey information and help untangle different family relations that could stop the plot if you explained it in text. It’s one of my favorite things about TheContinue reading “Planting a Family Tree”

I’m up for an award I’ll be at RavenCon this April, and I just found out THE IMPROVISERS has been nominated for The Webster Award! According to the organizers, this award was made “to recognize outstanding achievements in writing by Virginia authors.” I’m excited to see THE IMPROVISERS get recognized and I’d appreciate any votes!Continue reading “It's an honor to be nominated….”

Deadlines are important except when everything else is too I’m starting 2025 off to the races in the midst of a deadline and other obligations that have been cropping up with the new year. Edits for The Starseekers arrived in Mid-December from my publisher. While the deadline for early February isn’t very far away, itContinue reading “Handling Deadlines in the midst of Life's Distractions”

Things are just getting started… I’m finishing out the year with a new project. I’m pretty confident I can finish it before the ball drops at the end of the year as I’m currently in the middle of the second draft and the story is shaping up nicely. This makes the third new project IContinue reading “Launch Day Incoming!”

Part Two of behind the scenes tidbits for The Improvisers The Improvisers is a travel book. Velma is on the road, or in this case the sky, tracking down enchanted objects. To plot her travels between Chicago, Philadelphia, California and other places, I used the air mail routes as a point of reference. They wereContinue reading “The History Behind the Magic : Air Mail”

Part One of behind the scenes tidbits for The Improvisers I always knew that Velma Frye was going to a be a pilot. The stunning feats and wonders of planes was one of the most intriguing elements in the era I set The Improvisers. I knew the protagonist for the book would be daring, headstrong,Continue reading “The History Behind the Magic: Inspiring Pilots”

Lots of things to do and more to come Where did last month go? It just sped past for me, between a bunch of events and wrapping up work on my latest manuscript. In September I was on a small writer’s retreat with a few other authors at the Highlights Foundation – yes that Highlights,Continue reading “Time Flies”

Upcoming and updates My fall’s looking to be quite busy. I got several exciting things lined up and I’m looking forward to another season of writing, editing, and preparing for publication. I even finished the expansion of the novella I had started recently. I’m happy to report I have successfully completed its transformation into aContinue reading “Busy Season Incoming”

Sometimes the best stories need a second look I finished a draft for a new project recently. After being knee-deep in edits I wanted to do something fun and completely separate from my current books – and it was the right call. To work on something new was like a holiday to a place I’veContinue reading “On Retreading”