Writing descriptively scenery and surroundings comes more naturally to some writers than others. If you’re wondering why your novel is too short or moving too fast, that’s sometimes due to a lack of character development or to the plot itself. Sometimes, though, it’s caused by a lack of description, including descriptions of settings. Why is it important to write about

Hi there! A couple of weeks ago, I was blogging about how nervous and excited I was about the upcoming release of my clean autumn romance from Hallmark Publishing, Sunrise Cabin .     To be honest, “excited and nervous” was my gentle way of saying “terrified.” Even after I got a lovely blurb from bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne, I

Hello! How’s everyone doing? I hope everything’s going well for you…and if it’s not, I hope things turn around, right now. And welcome to WIP Wednesday! On the first Wednesday of every month, I share an excerpt of a work in progress, and you do the same in the comments section below. (If you never want to miss a WIP

The other week when I was writing about 5 Ways to Restart a Bad Day, I talked about the value of taking a break. But oh, my goodness…it is easier said than done. Let me give you an example.     Last week I took a vacation day. At my company, you accrue vacation days gradually, but I’ve barely been

My sweet romance for Hallmark Publishing, Sunrise Cabin, comes out in a few weeks! (If you want to support the launch, pre-order it and tag it as “want to read” on Goodreads.) Some of you have seen excerpts of it because you participate in WIP Wednesdays, where we all share our work in progress. This is my fourth romance novel, but

  The Benefits of Author Headshots Updated 9/2023! You can create an Amazon author page, a Facebook author page, and even an Instagram or TikTok account without using any pictures of yourself. If your readers can see you, though, it’s a lot easier for them to feel like they have a personal connection with you. In my experience, people you

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about how to restart a bad day. Because if you’re like me, sometimes you get a day that’s not going your way, and by lunchtime you’re thinking, “Ugh. Today is awful. Maybe tomorrow will be better.” I know this is faulty thinking. Yes, a good night’s sleep can lead to a better