• Jul. 7th, 2011 Book Review: Writing Fiction For All You’re Worth

    I read a lot of books on writing. I have to. I blog about them once a month, over at  The Write Conversation . And so far, I’ve learned something valuable from each book I’ve read. However, I can’t say they’ve all been page-turners. Useful? Absolutely. Pleasurable reading? Not always. Let’s face it. Some books on the craft of [ read more ]

  • Jun. 30th, 2011 You’re Telling me My Calling Didn’t Come with a Cleaning Service?

    So many things get in the way. I want to write. I need to clean. I want to edit. I need to cook. I want to study the craft. I need to fold the clothes. Sometimes all these distractions—these obligations—frustrate me because while I’m not sure how it’s all going to play out, I am [ read more ]

  • Jun. 21st, 2011 How do I find the time to write? I hide!

    I’m hiding from my children. I have a cup of coffee and a laptop. If I can just have thirty minutes to myself, no one gets hurt. Yeah. Right. The only way I get thirty minutes to myself is if I leave the house completely. Nothing is sacred. My kids follow me everywhere. Yes. I said everywhere. [ read more ]

  • Jun. 13th, 2011 Nooks and Kindles and E-readers – Oh my!

    Bibliophile – a person who collects or has a great love of books. If you’ve been following me for any length of time, then you know that I love to read. What you may not know is how much I love books. I love the weight of a book in my hand, the crisp feel [ read more ]

  • Jun. 3rd, 2011 Book Review: On Writing

    I don’t like horror. I don’t read it. I don’t watch it. I try very hard not to think about it. So it will come as no surprise that I have never read a Stephen King novel. What may come as a surprise, especially if you also avoid Stephen King’s novels—preferring to sleep without nightmares [ read more ]

  • May. 27th, 2011 Book Review: Too Close to Home

    It’s Friday morning and Memorial Day weekend is here. Do you have anything good to read? No? Well, you do now. For free! Too Close to Home is Book 1 in the Women of Justice series by Lynette Eason. As of this writing, it’s available as a FREE Nook download  or a FREE Kindle download . Don’t have a Nook or a Kindle? Just [ read more ]

  • May. 20th, 2011 Get Droopy

    I am an assassin. I don’t mean to be. It’s not like I set out to be a cold-hearted killer. But time and time again, it happens. I wonder if all the vibrant plants at the garden center try to shrivel up as I pass by. “Oh, no. It’s her.” The whispers travel from root [ read more ]

  • May. 12th, 2011 Blue Ridge from Home – Thursday

    Thursday. This is the day I had scheduled to submit something. After all, if I had gone to Blue Ridge, I would have gotten several things ready to pitch. I would have had some articles and devotions ready to go. But guess what? It’s not gonna happen. I’m planning to begin the rewrite on a [ read more ]

  • May. 11th, 2011 Blue Ridge from Home – Focus on Nonfiction Wednesday

    Wednesday. At Blue Ridge, everyone is settling in. The newbies are learning their way around campus. The veterans have reconnected with old friends and made new ones. Everything is in full swing. They’ll be challenged this morning with a devotion and some time in worship. So before we dive in, let’s take a few moments [ read more ]

  • May. 10th, 2011 Blue Ridge from Home – Focus on Fiction Tuesday

    Tuesday. At Blue Ridge , the conferees are heading to continuing classes and workshops. The paid critiques and meetings with agents and editors begin today. Let’s take a moment to pray for everyone who is about to lose their breakfast or lunch over the prospect of having their “baby” shredded to confetti and for those who didn’t [ read more ]