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The Glass is Half Full
I’m a “The Glass is Half Full” person. Always have been. Like most of you, I’ve had my share of difficulties, from losing loved ones to painful ends to relationships to financial uncertainty. And now, add the COVID-19 pandemic to that list. Despite these challenging times, I work to focus on the good that inevitably…
Read MoreFinding Peace Amongst Disruptions
I love Spring—the newness of the longer days, the flowering trees, and the sense of new opportunities in the coming months. But in a time of the pandemic, those feelings are dampened by the realities of what we all now face. I think of my readers often and hope you and your families are safe…
Read More#PubTip—The Elevator Speech for Authors
You never know where you’ll sell your next book. At your kid’s football game, during an impromptu chat on Facebook, or while standing in line at the bakery—potential readers are everywhere. Making a memorable impression, and sealing the deal, is easy when you’re equipped with an elevator speech. An elevator speech—or elevator pitch—is a quick…
Read MoreIn the John with Ginger Rogers
In the early 1980s, I attended a benefit at the Palm Springs Art museum alongside a host of movie stars and business tycoons. The goody bags handed out at the door to the women swishing their way inside the marble palace brimmed with expensive perfumes and silk scarves from Saks; the sculpture gardens glittered with…
Read MoreIn Praise of Book Bloggers…and A Few Confessions
In preparing my most recent release, The Road She Left Behind, I set out to find ARC reviewers as well as rounding up contact lists for book blogs in those countries where I know I have a following. This is part of my approach to launching a new book. However, this time I wanted to…
Read MoreTravel Your Best Road—with Cash!
This contest is now closed. Look for the winner’s name in my late June, 2019 newsletter. Thank you to everyone who entered! There’s nothing better than kicking off summer with extra cash. If you’re looking for extra fun money, here’s your chance. To celebrate the upcoming release of The Road She Left Behind, I have…
Read MoreHow to Grow a Vibrant Twitter Following
This Chatty Cathy can’t lie: I love Twitter. Some authors think of tweeting as just another chore, but I find the site invaluable for connecting with readers and sharing publishing industry news with other authors. Book reviewers find me on Twitter. So do families that have adopted children, as I have. Why is Twitter fabulous?…
Read MoreStrategies for Writing Stellar Book Reviews
As a reader, you know the importance of a well-crafted book review. They help you understand what a story is about and whether or not you should add it to your ‘to-read’ list. Of course, authors appreciate reviews as they significantly impact sales. But authors aren’t the only ones who benefit from stellar book reviews.…
Read MoreWriting Books in a Series
Many authors consider writing a series. Some writers shy away from the idea because the task can seem daunting—which is true. When I began writing the Liberty Series I had to think about how to approach the series. How would I continue the story in book after book? Should I have a cast of characters…
Read MoreBooks as Good Medicine
Laughter is the best medicine. Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Walking is man’s best medicine. Most of us have heard these sayings and perhaps live by these mantras. But what about us bibliophiles? What’s our best medicine? Not long ago, a reader…
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