Why I no longer provide illustrations of how I see the characters in my story.

How an extraordinary guy ignited the fire in my writing Jim (Super Jimmy) and I during his chemo treatment Enter the Muse Throughout my writing career I've enjoyed the inspiration from many souls including my amazing husband, Chris, my cats, Josephine the crow, and Super Jimmy. Life has a funny way of bringing individuals together to achieve something great. In 2015, Jim's wife, Melodye, reached out to me. She and I had worked together during the 90s, drifted apart, and then

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." - Ralph Waldo Emerson Embracing Your Originality I've always been unique and quirky. You either get me or you don't. And my writing reflects my distinctive style. My characters swear, drink, and are iron-willed even though they have at least one insecurity that brings them to their knees. My stories reflect my life, my original experiences. The narrative can be rif

It Wasn't a Problem Until it Became a Problem

Book reviews are significantly helpful in boosting sales for authors.   Not only do a customer’s words encourage others to trust the book, but reviews also validate the author’s ability to relate a good story.   Amazon’s algorithm. Amazon claims almost seventy percent of the eBook market and fifty percent of the print market. Many independent writers, like me, use Amazon as the main platform to market our books.   The more positive reviews a book has, the more it will appear

Why do People Write? Some authors do it for money, prestige, or because it's trendy. Others write to enter contests and perfect their craft. I craft stories so the characters in my head have a voice. I am the instrument through which my characters share their tales of fantasy, horror, and love. Finding My Courage I wrote my first short story in my thirties. After much consideration, I shared it with a friend. I anxiously awaited her comments. The story wasn't perfect but I ne

The Winter Solstice is celebrated in the northern hemisphere in December usually on or near the twenty first. This is also the season of Yule (pronounced EWE-elle), taken from the Norse Jul, which means wheel. As the wheel of the year turns, the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Winter Solstice night is the longest night and, from this point forward, the sun, the light, will return for a longer visit each day.   Our ancestors lit bonfires while clove-spike

Make your wishes come true when you don't blow your candles out. Snuff or pinch the flame instead and your intentions will be realized.