Posts Tagged ‘DEADLY SETUP’
“Are All Your Stories About People in the Arts?”
We were in the middle of a critique session when a fellow writer turned to me and asked, “Are all your stories about people in the arts?” I nodded and gave her the usual explanation, “Well, that’s the world I know.” But digging deeper, running throughout much of my work is the idea that the…
Read MoreThinking About Imposter Syndrome
The term imposter syndrome was originally coined by the psychologists Suzanna Imes and Pauline Rose in the 1970s. They believed that the syndrome applied mostly to high-achieving women. Further research, however, showed that its periodic sufferers can be just about anyone, especially those thrust into a new role, such as beginning college or getting a…
Read MoreIt’s That Time! Asking for Blurbs
With Deadly Setup coming out on July 5, it’s that time to redo my website featuring the new novel. Part of that is soliciting blurbs from authors willing to read my work and if they like it, to write a short blurb endorsing the novel. I admit it. I would make a terrible salesperson! I…
Read MoreSharing Our Work
This morning in the mail, I received a lovely “Phoenix Rising” Notebook from the Florida West Coast Writers to celebrate my placing first in the Suspense/Thriller/Mystery category of their contest for unpublished work. I’d submitted the first 4500 words of my novel for adults, Missed Cue, and was thrilled the judges liked it. Sharing our…
Read MoreThinking about DEADLY SETUP
On July 5, I send another novel, Deadly Setup, into the universe. I’m getting ready for the two questions writers get asked most frequently: What’s your story about? And what inspired it? In answer to the first question, Deadly Setup is about seventeen-year-old Samantha (Sam) Hunter, the daughter of a New England heiress, who goes…
Read MoreThe Ups and Downs of the Writing Life
I’d submitted the first ten pages of my middle grade novel for a paid critique at an upcoming Mid-South SCBWI Writers Conference. I had high hopes for these pages and felt I’d really nailed the voice of my protagonist. Cue the violin music, because this does not have a happy ending! The critiquer shredded my…
Read MoreThere’s Always More… And That’s What Keeps Things Interesting
Years ago during my dance days, I auditioned for a company in another state. In the post-audition interview, the artistic director said nice things about my dancing and concluded by telling me: “You’re such a finished dancer.” I thanked her for her kind words, but I knew this last statement was dead wrong. There is…
Read MoreThe Second Question Writers Get Asked Most Often
“Where do you get your ideas?” may be the most frequently asked question writers get asked, while the follow-up is often, “Do you base your characters on anyone you know?” When I get asked that, I have to say the answer is both “no” and “yes.” No, I’ve never created a character that’s a…
Read MoreWriting What You Know- Or Want to Know
The other day, I was sitting in a writer’s group getting some feedback on my latest work. A fellow writer turned to me and asked, “Are you always writing about people in the arts?” I realized the answer was “yes.” It wasn’t as though I decided that I was going to make a career out…
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