Almost as much fun as writing my first novel was recently visiting the places I have brought to life. In Liberty Layne and the One-Girl Rebelution, my middle grade fiction novel, Liberty and her bff Calliope and cousin Lincoln head to San Francisco to audition for a singing competition. Familiar places to me are used to create my character’s stories, a scene at Pier 39 is one such example. I experienced Pier 39 for the first time my senior year in High School with some of my best friends, Michelle and Caroline. The following year, I drove from California Baptist University…
Writing A Novel? Reality Check!
I was under the impression writing my first novel was going to be the hardest part of writing a novel. Then, once it was written, the rest would be easy, right? Wrong. Reality Check! I have come to find writing my book was the easy part. Getting it published is going to be the hard part. I was blessed with positive feedback the first time I showed my novel to publishing houses at a writing conference last year so my experience has been very positive but with so many people writing ebooks and many consumers buying them, it has changed…
Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace
The stage is set, the scene ready and whether it’s a book, movie or real life, when the reverend says, “Speak now or forever hold your peace” the crowd is silent and unmoving. For those few moments, they wait…will anyone have the guts to stand and say something? I kind of feel like my first novel is like that marriage waiting to be blessed, only I am the one needing to speak up. If I want anyone to read my novel, I have to share it. Or, I could stay silent and not risk failure…that would be the safe way to…
A Treasure Find, Author And Speaker, Anne Fox
I have recently discovered a treasure… Annie Fox, an educator and award winning author. She has amazing insight and wisdom on raising teens to be healthy responsible human beings. She has so many resources for parents and educators as well. Do you need some Christmas gifts? Anne’s books would make great gifts. I am adding them to my list! Check out her website too. Annie Fox.com Teaching Kids to Be Good People Progressive Parenting for the 21st Century Authored by Annie Fox M.Ed. “Not all teachers are parents, but all parents are teachers. When we teach kids…
Abracadabra! The Magic of a Writing Contest
Poof! Like magic, my first tween novel has disappered! Well, no-not really, but until January 25th, it will be invisible from public view. I have entered my debut tween manuscript (unable to mention the name) in my first writing contest. First Impressions, a fiction contest put on by the ACFW, a premier organization for fiction writers has asked all writers submitting their manuscript to remove any mention of their manuscript from print. This includes blogs, websites, Twitter and Facebook… no easy feat. Why? One, this specific contest is for unpublished manuscripts. Any form of print would deem the entry no longer unpublished, therefore disqualifying it. A…