For my second novel, Blindspot, I ventured into a new genre, that of psychological suspense. It’s the type of book I gravitate to as a reader and I’m a long-term fan of anything in the mystery realm (I devoured the entire Agatha Christie oeuvre when I was sixteen) How hard could it be? Insert hubris emoji here. What I quickly discovered is that every chapter—make that every scene—has to employ tension so that the reader is experiencing the same emotion my protagonist Rachel is, that of a mounting sense of uneasiness and ultimately danger as she realizes she is being stalked by an unknown assai ..read more

Hear Us Roar, the weekly podcast I host for the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, has been going since May 2018. The show has been downloaded over 27,000 times and the guests have ranged from authors who later hit the best-seller lists (Julie Clark, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai), won prestigious awards (Barbara Linn Probst, Jeannee Sacken), even started their own podcasts (Lainey Cameron, Kris Clink). The vast majority of them have gone on to write more books, as well as becoming writing instructors and book coaches, even co-founding a publishing house. They’ve beamed in from all over the United Sta ..read more

I spin tales, conjure up characters, and bleed ink on the page (metaphorically, of course, although I’ve had a few paper cuts in my day that made my pages a bit more “colorful”). Since my go-to question when writer’s block strikes is always why, it seems only natural to turn that same lens on myself. Think of it as my attempt to suss out why I keep at it, despite the polite passes from agents, the sometimes less-than-kind GoodReads reviews, and the sheer psychological exhaustion that sets in when nothing you write seems worth the paper it’s printed on. What compels me (and perhaps you) to keep ..read more

BlindSpot, my second book and first psychological suspense, releases in May, so before the whirlwind of marketing for that one starts up in earnest, I’ve been spending time ruminating about my next one – my favorite part of the process. My first step is always to purchase a new Moleskine lined notebook where I can jot down anything and everything that seems remotely pertinent to the story I might want to tell. It may be ideas that come out of a standard brainstorming session or a conversation with a fellow writer, but it may also include thoughts that come to me while I’m reading in bed a ..read more

As 2023 comes to a close, here are some things I’m thinking about when it comes to this writing life. Being published does not make you a writer. Writing makes you a writer. Publishing is no longer a “one size fits all.” With the flourishing of print on demand, the growth in audiobooks, reader’s comfort with electronic media, and the sheer volume of fledgling writers, storytelling is alive and well. If you’re a writer and you want to share your work, you can find a way to do it. It might be a printed book but it might also be a graphic novel or a screenplay or an open mic at the local café. Yo ..read more

Are you a monogamous writer? You get up every morning and all you can think about is the one novel, the one poem, the one essay you’re trying to write to the exclusion of all else. If a news item sparks a what if scenario, or a fascinating character comes to you in a dream, or you take a trip and fall in love with a particular setting, you shove those ideas aside and focus on your one true love. But what if you’re missing out by keeping those blinders on? Just for fun, let’s look at what you might gain by giving promiscuous writing a try. You May Improve Your Productivity While you m ..read more

It’s a common lament among writers: Why is genre important? Can’t I just write whatever I want and let the marketplace figure out how to classify it? Or perhaps: My work is a mix of genres. I don’t want to be pinned down. I like to mix it up. Let’s look at why genre is all important and why you should be clear about yours before you begin your next project. Because understanding and accurately identifying your book’s genre is not just a helpful tidbit or a box to check off—it’s the master key to unlocking sales success for your fiction. It’s a secret weapon that can make your words resonate wi ..read more

It All Begins with Preparation One of the first things you notice about the show is that all the ingredients and the equipment the baker will need for the challenge is already there at their table. That prep work helps the contestants stay focused. No scrambling for cream or flour – it’s at their fingertips. Likewise as writers, we need to make sure we’ve got all the necessary tools before we begin a major project. For some, that means outlining the plot using a structure like The Hero’s Journey or Save The Cat beats. It may involve research, either interviewing experts or delving into histori ..read more

When crafting a novel, it’s easy to focus primarily on the development of the protagonist and the primary characters. But remember, your protagonist does not live in isolation. The true mark of a skilled writer lies in their ability to breathe life into secondary characters as well—and in fact, these are sometimes the characters who leave a lasting impression on readers. Since these sidekicks, supporting cast, and background players can often elevate your story from good to extraordinary, let’s explore six effective strategies to create memorable secondary characters in a novel, drawing inspir ..read more

Writing a novel is no laughing matter. Or is it? Incorporating humor into your writing can add depth, lighten the mood, and make your characters more relatable. But how do you add humor without turning your novel into a comedy? Here are six things to keep in mind so you can strike the right balance. Know your audience Understanding what makes your readers tick will help you write humor that resonates with them. For example, if your target audience is middle-aged women, you may want to include humor about family and relationships, while a younger audience might respond better to humor about cur ..read more