Typing “The End” of a First Draft

Late Thursday afternoon, I typed “The End” on my first draft of my work-in-progress, tentatively called Missing Mom. To tell you a little about what has preoccupied me all these months, the novel centers around Noelle, a rising high school senior and aspiring ballet dancer whose mom suddenly vanishes. While the circumstantial evidence points to…

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Writing With My Students Inspires Me

During the years I taught English composition at a local university, I frequently gave my students writing prompts. The prompts were never about grades or finished products. They were all about getting creative juices going and developing the habit of writing. Wanting to model the value of writing practice, I always worked on the prompts…

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Valerie Jarrett Was Right

Valerie Jarrett, a close confidante and senior advisor to President Obama, once said in a commencement address, “You can have it all, but not all at once.” Recently, those words resonated with me when the director of the public speaking program at a local university where I’d taught part-time reached out to me. Would I…

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MISSED CUE, The Book I Hadn’t Intended to Write

This morning, pre-orders became available for the e-book of my forthcoming  mystery, MISSED CUE, with the official release happening on August 8th. I’m excited and thrilled that Melange Books took a chance on my fifth novel, my first written for adults. I’m also a bit stunned that this is happening because this is a book…

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It’s One Year Old! Thinking About DEADLY SETUP

Recently, Shey Saints interviewed me for an author feature on HubPages  (https://hubpages.com/literature/interview-with-author-lynn-slaughter). One of her questions was, “Which of your books do you relate to the most?” I talked about both While I Danced and Leisha’s Song because the protagonists’ struggles with parents who opposed their interest in pursuing careers in the performing arts mirrored…

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Readers Make It All Worthwhile

I’m not sure whether it’s because I’m a writer or just generally a nosy person, but I read the acknowledgements that typically appear at the ends of books. I’m always curious about the folks who helped other authors on their journeys to publication. I spent yesterday reading a riveting debut thriller, A Flicker in the…

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I Can’t Use This for a Query Letter, But…

One of the first things you learn about query letters is that no agent or publisher is going to be impressed by your telling them that you’re sure they’ll want to take your manuscript on, since your mother and your husband absolutely love it. Not exactly unbiased readers! The same could be said for grandsons.…

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Writing Accidents

I once wrote a personal experience piece called “Confessions of an Accidental Novelist” in which I explained that I hadn’t intended to become a fiction writer. In fact, I was quite convinced I lacked the “fiction gene.” I’d spent most of my professional life as a dancer and dance educator. Even though I enjoyed writing…

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Adults Need That One “Trusted Adult,” Too

Years ago, I was interviewing a psychologist for an article about the challenges of adolescence when she said: “What a kid really needs to make it through the teen years is that one trusted adult who supports and encourages them.” Lately, I’ve been thinking that having a “trusted adult” matters long after our teenage years…

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