I miss living in the South. As a writer and reader, and yes, human being, one of the things I loved most is the hospitality that seems to be a life code for those who were born there or had migrated and stayed. Now don’t get me wrong, hospitality exists everywhere, but there’s just something […]
Archive | Musings
Eleanor & Harry: Award-Winning Short Story
I’d like to believe that I’m more than a friend and not just a caregiver but perhaps a bit more. This is what I strive for each day while I visit my clients. They have the unerring ability to give me so very much, if only I could somehow return the favor. The television was […]
The Light and Dark of Writing (and Reading) Romantic Suspense
This isn’t a blog about the ups and downs of the romantic suspense genre. Rather, it’s about the light and dark. To clarify, I’m using those words as a “simplistic umbrella” when describing novel elements and author styles. It’s also how I categorize my works of fiction…
Why BU Won’t Go AI
One of my content writing clients recently shifted his work request to revising. Let me explain. For some time, I’ve been writing his blogs, articles, newsletters, and ghostwriting his book. While I’m still doing book writing for him, he’s asked me to switch from creating content, to personalizing it. In other words, he’s adopted AI […]
Where Do “Novel” Ideas Come From?
It’s funny how many times I catch myself going down a rabbit hole. Imagination is a wily beast.I always say, everyone’s got a story inside of them just waiting to come out.
How Books Help You Ease Your Worry
Saying “no” to worry is not an easy feat. A Sage once observed that worry is almost impossible to avoid when we “live in a negative sea of human mental activity.” It’s true. Every day we’ve got millions of reasons to worry: “Will my career outlook improve?” “Will I finish my project?” “Will I make […]
Why Writing Your Life Story Matters
Guest Post by Annie Hutchison, Author of Through Dark Places: The Life Lessons and Spiritual Disciplines That Enable Miraculous Healing I know this is a difficult season. Life is chaotic, unpredictable, and hard. You have enough problems on your plate and writing down everything you’re experiencing may feel like a pointless added burden. So why […]
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 […]
My Eat, Pray, Love, Year of Writing Fiction
I recently spoke with a friend of mine about my decision to quit my job and step into the writing world full-time. When I told him that I’ve finally found the space in which I belong, I quickly followed it with an apology.
My James Patterson Encounter
I wish I were writing to tell you about my recent sit down with the New York Times Bestseller, but unfortunately, I’m not. I don’t get the chance to rub elbows with celebrities that much. Still, I am going to share a story that has stuck with me until this very day.