Sometimes, the writing chugs along like a well-oiled airship and sometimes it clanks and stutters like a rusty steam engine. And then there are those other times, when the writing isn’t the challenge, but the turbulence of life and the business of books take over and challenge me to navigate my wa ...

You are a writer. You either write, or you want to write. And if you are truly serious about it, you study and hone your craft.You go to the library and check out all the writing books. Especially the ones written for your chosen genre. You read about plot and character development. You learn about ...

Since the beginning of this writing journey, I have wanted to write a picture book. And, like many authors, I have more than one abandoned picture book manuscript to my name. I sometimes imagine them huddling together in a drawer somewhere, trying to keep warm. Out of sight, but not necessarily out ...

Plot points, crisis, and climax, oh my! I have been reading up on plotting, taking a deep dive into process and techniques, attempting to distill the information that others have provided in books like The Plot Whisperer by Martha Alderson, Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell, Building Better Plo ...

Over the past few years, we have been replacing our older, less efficient windows with newer, double paned, triple EEE rated, energy efficient ones. It took time because, well, window replacement is not cheap. (BTW-quick plug: if you are in the Phoenix area, Affordable Windows offers a great product ...

Kira, Vaith and Kelmir. Characters in setting.When writing, I start from character, not simply because I think it’s a great place to start—although, for me, it’s mostly character engagement that keeps me reading (or writing) a book or story—but more so because that’s just the way my brain ...

In 1977, despite the best efforts of some, the US Navy was not an Equal Opportunity Employer. Sexism was a huge issue. Mid-level Petty Officers expected lower ranking females to sit in their laps and stand under the mistletoe at the holiday party. Some even obliged. It was a difficult environment to ...