Posts Tagged ‘fiction’

I attended the 59th annual Pacific Northwest Writers Association conference over the weekend in Seattle. Since I moved to the city, I try to be active in PNWA and help out during the conference. A great way to meet writers and others in the book biz. For the third year I helped out with the […]

Like most authors, I spend a good deal of time researching characters, history, culture, language, locations…the list is endless. On any given day, I may ponder how the human body reacts to garroting, which Russian sniper rifles would have been used in the early 1960’s, the flora and fauna of Peru, churches in Amsterdam destroyed […]

The third book in the Nick Sibelius crime series is now officially out! In Chain Reaction, Nick Sibelius and his partner Theresa Soliz take on a client caught in an apparent grudge between competitive bass fisherman, they discover they have unknowingly entangled themselves in the secessionist plot of healthcare magnate, Bruce Reynolds, to create the […]

Given it’s December, this must be my annual holiday blog post!!! I cannot offer unending pop star carols in the background, no flashing lights, fake snow on plastic trees or even a mocha pumpkin cinnamon double whip with red and green sprinkles. Sorry. I can point out how this holiday month for various religious traditions […]

Continuity, especially in a longer novel with a complex plot, can be a real challenge. As the story evolves from the first draft, every aspect of the novel deepens with detail. The setting, from the time of day, time of year, climate, architecture, flora and fauna–the list is almost endless–becomes more defined on the second, […]

I very pleased to have fellow author Audra Middleton with me on the blog.  We recently shared duties as co-facilitators of a session about finding the right critique group at the 2013 Pacific Northwest Writers Association conference.  Audra, thanks for being with me today. It’s always good to have a fellow Champagne Books author in […]

James Stewart’s column in the New York Times, “Long Odds for Authors Newly Published”  about J.K. Rowling aka Robert Galbraith’s book, Cuckoo’s Calling  has left me pondering what writing is all about these days.  In the article, Stewart discusses how Cuckoo’s Calling under the Galbraith name had to be shopped around at publishers and then, depending […]

An open and shut case of vandalism leaves more questions than answers for PI Nick Sibelius, as he untangles a knot of egomania, desire and greed. When entrepreneur Dan Hoyt makes a deal with virtual gaming icon, Izzy Zydeco, to partner in a desalination project Hoyt begins to count his money.  Unknown to Hoyt, his […]

Part of the work of a writer revolves around honing the craft continuously. Show me an author who’s stopped learning, knows it all, or is simply so brilliant they have no need for critique and I’ll show you writing which doesn’t grab a reader by the heart, the head and well, yes, the cajones. If […]

Had a great crowd at the Austin book release for the paperback edition of TOXIC RELATIONSHIP. We had a great time together, I got to catch up with old friends and new, had some good food, did a few readings and signed books. Great fun! Thanks to everyone who joined us. Here are a few […]