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Hatching an Idea for a Novel- And Then What?
Are there writers on the planet who haven’t been asked: “Where do you get your ideas?” If so, I’ve yet to meet them! The easiest and perhaps least helpful answer is: “Anywhere and everywhere.” As Lisa Cron points out in Story Genius, her craft book for writers, the wisp of an idea could come from…
Read MoreMEET AUTHOR JEANETTE POPE
I’m so delighted to introduce you to Jeanette Pope, one of the newest members of Derby Rotten Scoundrels, the Ohio River Valley chapter of Sisters in Crime. Below is what she shared with me about her life and her work: I am the oldest of six children, born and raised in the West End of…
Read MoreMeet Author Carol Preflatish
I’m delighted to introduce you to multi-published author Carol Preflatish, the author of the Nathan Perry Mystery series and seven romantic suspense novels. Currently living in southern Indiana, Carol recently took on the vice-presidency of our local SinC chapter, Derby Rotten Scoundrels. I’m discovering that half the fun of doing these interviews is learning new…
Read MoreThe Illusion of Control
Even during her dementia years, one of my mom’s favorite expressions was, “I think everything’s under control.” Indeed, she spend most of her life making a valiant effort to control the future by planning for it. An inveterate list-maker who reveled in calendar scheduling, she was the only person I knew who had her holiday…
Read MoreDorkiness Rules: The Power of Humor
I met my husband Alan in a modern dance company. He was a beautiful dancer whose training included not only a variety of modern dance techniques but ballet, East Indian dance, and jazz. By his own admission, jazz was not his strong suit. Whenever he tried to adopt a cool jazz style with lots of…
Read MoreMeet Author Lynda Rees
Dear Readers, I’m delighted to introduce prolific author Lynda Rees as my first featured guest author on my blog. As you’ll be able to tell, Lynda is passionate about human trafficking and its horrific impact on young people and writes in multiple genres. I hope you’ll enjoy getting to know her and her books. Stay…
Read MoreWriting Updates and Reflections on Writing Outside Your Identity Group
I’m excited to share that at long last, Malice Domestic’s anthology, Murder Most Theatrical, is available for pre-order from Wildside Press and will officially come out on October 1st. My short story, “Missed Cue,” appears in the anthology, and its setting in a dance company reflects my love of the dance world I spent decades…
Read MoreIn the Midst of Heartbreak: Things That Give Me Hope
I did not know whether I could write a blog this week. Between the heartbreaking news that we have lost more than 100,000 of our citizens to this deadly global virus and the senseless and brutal murder of George Floyd, it’s been tough for me to focus. And I know I’m not alone. Adding…
Read More“The Only Raisin in the Bunch”
I called a dear friend the other day who recently relocated to Iowa to return to school. She lives alone and I wondered how she was faring sheltering in place in a new town. “I’m doing great,” she told me. “I’m working my way through a pile of books I never had time to read,…
Read MoreMissing My Mom on Mother’s Day
This is the first Mother’s Day when I haven’t gotten to shop for gifts and a card to send to my mom, and when I haven’t been able to talk to her. She died on December 9. After years of dementia, the quality of her life had deteriorated so much that it was a blessing…
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