Diana’s passion for history has taken her to every setting of her historical and biographical novels: England, France, Egypt, Italy, and all over the United States. The contemporary fantasy “Fakin’ It”, set in Manhattan, won a Romantic Times Top Pick award. She and her husband Chris own an engineering business, and spend as much time […]
Archive | May, 2023
The Great Escape: How Books Help You Stay Sane
Recently, I was surprised when my seat-mate on a flight home stated, “Wow, that must be a good book.” So absorbed in reading a new release, a thriller novel, I hadn’t noticed my reaction, nor had I realized an hour had passed. Once I came back to the present, I was grateful to discover I […]
Plotter or Pantser? What About Quilter?
Authors love to chat about whether they’re a plotter or pantser. It’s an enlightening topic that pulls back the curtain to see how novels make the journey from idea to bookshelf. Do you start your book by plotting out the scenes? Once you have a solid outline from opening image, through the various acts and […]
Return To the River: Reflections on Life Choices During the Pandemic
Known for his bestseller A Child Called It, Dave Pelzer shares his journey and reflections during the pandemic. His book, which he affectionally calls “a love story of sorts,” came about unexpectedly. Pelzer describes how he mentors a young fireman and reconnects with lifelong friends as he strives forward despite his haunting past. “I’m not […]
Advice From Pros: Andrea Kiliany Thatcher with Smith Publicity, Inc.
Andrea Kiliany Thatcher is the Publicity Manager for books and authors in the arts and entertainment field with Smith Publicity, Inc., a full-services publicity firm for authors and publishers. With experience working for publishing houses, magazines, and booksellers, Andrea as a wealth of publishing industry experience to her credit. Passionate about author success, Andrea is […]
Writer’s Corner: A Title Is Worth a Thousand Words
Just like an intriguing book jacket, your book title should attract interest. And a good one is worth a thousand words, or dollars, or however you’d like to quantify it. Simply put, titles attract readers. And there are lots of opinions to what makes a good book title and why it will help you sell […]
The Importance of Editing
You either have a “love it” or “hate it” relationship with editing. I used to despise the process, but after getting into creative writing, I enjoy it. While I don’t like editing my non-fiction work, fiction editing somehow “feels” different to me. But still, I’m no editor, and yes, some of my emails are cringe worthy. But I […]
Book Teaser: A Very Dinosaur Birthday
Your family will roar with laughter at this funny read-aloud from Adam Wallace, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the How to Catch series. What if dinosaurs showed up at your birthday party? From prehistoric presents to games crashing out of control and your snacks going extinct, it’s a dino disaster! Dinosaurs are big, and […]
Author Q&A With Orlando Ortega-Medina
Orlando Ortega-Medina is a London-based US immigration lawyer. Born in the United States to Cuban parents, who themselves were children of immigrants, his family history is one of geographical dislocation extending back several generations. Ortega-Medina himself is an immigrant, having been forced from the United States in 1999 due to an immigration system that denied […]
Through Dark Places: The life lessons and spiritual disciplines that enable miraculous healing
This book is a personal account paired with spiritual lessons realized by suicide survivor, Annie Hutchison. The author begins the book with her story as a young wife recovering from an attempt to end her life. After suffering under the weight of self-deprecating beliefs and toxic relationships, Hutchinson saw no other way out of her […]