Catalina MartÃn has a problem. When she discovered that her newly-engaged ex would be best man at her sister's wedding in Spain, she may have accidently let slip that she would be bringing a date. Not just a date, though, a boyfriend. A handsome, charming, non-existent boyfriend. It was that or showing up single (again) … Continue reading I’m Reading: The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
I’m Reading: The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker
Calla Fletcher is pure city girl. A banking analyst and aspiring social media influencer in Toronto, her life is all about fancy coffee and high fashion. Then she gets the call. Her estranged biological father, an Alaska bush pilot and small airline owner, is sick. Calla must decide if she wants this chance to repair … Continue reading I’m Reading: The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker
How to Receive Beta Reader Feedback
I can talk about writing craft and grammar, POV and character development. I can (and will) discuss how to give feedback on other people's work. But one of the hardest skills a writer must develop is the ability to receive criticism. Some people reportedly love criticism. They leap to the harshest editor they can find … Continue reading How to Receive Beta Reader Feedback
I’m Reading: Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
Elle's blind date with the beautiful, snobby sister of her new business partner is a disaster, but she considers that emblematic of her life in general. It's for the best, really. Darcy strikes her as a particular kind of stick-up-the-butt snob who would hate everything about Elle and her chaotic life. But every time her … Continue reading I’m Reading: Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
Commas and Hyphens in Adjectives, Oh My!
Multiple adjectives modifying a single noun need commas, right? But in a writing group I'm in, we spent some time debating why this sentence is incorrect: "He sat at a hand carved, oak dining table." We could all tell by instinct that it is incorrect, but had trouble expressing why. The correct punctuation would be: … Continue reading Commas and Hyphens in Adjectives, Oh My!
I’m Reading: Finding Joy by Adriana Herrera
Warning: Contains Spoilers 26-year-old American Desta Joy Walker begin his life in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The country was his father's first love as well as the place of his death. When Desta tries to follow in his father's footsteps as an aid worker, he finds the shoe doesn't quite fit. He reconnects with his heritage … Continue reading I’m Reading: Finding Joy by Adriana Herrera
Double-Duty Description
I struggle with description. I'm not a visual person. In fact, sometimes I have to pull up a bunch of images or videos online to serve as a guide when trying to really evoke a person or place. So when I encounter description in a book, the question of "how much" description to use is … Continue reading Double-Duty Description
I’m Reading: Suddenly Psychic by Elizabeth Hunter
While I love Paranormal Romance, the genre has been flooded with vampires, shapeshifters, and twenty-year-old ass-kicking women. A new genre has popped up for readers who like their magic a little more subtle and their relationships a little more varied. Paranormal Women's Fiction features older women with magic, struggling through life changes, identity, and the … Continue reading I’m Reading: Suddenly Psychic by Elizabeth Hunter
Writing Polish: Going Off Subject
I'm getting back into the grammar weeds today, based on common problems I'm seeing in beta manuscripts. In this case, I'm talking about the subject of a sentence, and making it clear to your readers which character is acting at any given time. Sentence 1: Chris turned around.We have a basic simple sentence here with … Continue reading Writing Polish: Going Off Subject
I’m Reading: A Cruel Kind of Beautiful by Michelle Hazen
Jera McKnight has sworn off men. Relationships will only end in heartache, since her last boyfriend convinced her she could never keep a man happy. Instead she pours her heart into her drums, making music and fighting towards the big time with her best friend Danny and lead singer, Jax. When gorgeous Jacob accidently throws … Continue reading I’m Reading: A Cruel Kind of Beautiful by Michelle Hazen