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 ...

I have been here and there, doing this and that. So here's a quick update on what's been going on in my world.Me in my glorious RenFaire duds.A huge shout out and thank you to Book Shoppe proprietor extraordinaire, Lady Ann Chamberlain. (She’s also an international bestselling author. Check out he ...

This week's blog post is a bit of Flash Fiction that was inspired by a writing prompt about a lost red scarf. I did this entirely as dialogue and sound, which was an interesting exercise. The Red Scarf     “Dammit!"     "What's wrong now, Mother?"     "My scarf. The red one. It’s miss ...

This week, I was given a 5-word writing prompt for my blog post.Here is the result:STAGE CROSSEDShe sits at the computer.Tries to focus on the words.Failed attempts to writethe storythat trails its waydown her cheeks.A giant vacancy fills her chest.The flowers should be red.A noise startles her.She ...

Love of learning is one of my key personality traits. My thirst for knowledge was given to me by my mother who was always well-read, especially in the sciences. Non-fiction, informational books were her mainstay. Autobiographies and biographies were also acceptable fare, as were historical novels (p ...

Making emotional connections through writing is always at the top of my list of goals, whether I am writing poetry or prose.When I tell people I am a writer, I get the usual questions and responses. “What have you published?” “Someday, I’ll write something.” “I wish I had time to write.� ...