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Category: Author Notes
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Inklings Writers Retreat Opportunity
Do you remember when I went to my first writers retreat? If not, I have conveniently linked it for you here. Great experience, but I wanted more writing time. I’ve learned since then that when people say “writing retreat,” they mean a place where writers gather to talk about stuff and maybe get some critique…
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Writer, You Are Not Alone
The lone writer furiously typing on her keyboard. Her isolated existence expanded by the wide world in her imagination. The depressed, melodramatic author slumped on a bar stool. He scribbles in a notebook with a stub of a pencil, growling at anyone who dares interrupt his process. Popular media leads us to believe these pictures…
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Author Biography
I’m at the nitty gritty part of my book release. I haven’t received the edits from the developmental editor yet. (Which in and of itself is terrifying.) Meanwhile, I’m working on my biography, acknowledgements, dedication, blurb, whatever else I’m forgetting. Each of these steps has its own angst attached. Insecurity ranks high with the author…
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The Next Step: Querying
I’m not completely new to querying. I’ve sent out my two short stories to multiple magazines as they search for a home. (Duotrope is my friend.) Neither have found one yet. Translation? I’ve been rejected dozens of times already in my short career. But that’s okay as I explain in my previous post about rejection.…
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Professional Photo Shoot
I will be 42 years old tomorrow. (Don’t gasp. I’m not one of the “don’t ask me how old I am” people. I’ve proudly earned every year.) As my Douglas Adams friends are aware, that makes me the answer to life, the universe, and everything. What wisdom have a gleaned from my decades of life? Every…
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Scheduled Posts on Facebook
Have you been to my author Facebook page? Well, shame on you. No, wait. Don’t leave. I was just kidding. I have trouble keeping up with everything I need to do every week. You know, like EVERYONE. To squeeze a bit more in, I’ve been using the schedule posts ahead feature on Facebook. Thank you,…
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Signed Contract in Hand
I have exciting news. I am officially a writer with a signed contract. Woot! It’s been three lightning fast years. Inklings Publishing, led by the effervescent Fern Brady, has optioned for the first installment of my epic fantasy series: Tarbin’s True Heir. The paperwork is signed. She can’t take it back! So, I can confess my complete…
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No, I’m not done yet.
Like most writers, I have a full time job. The pay sucks, but it’s still a full time job. There’s a reason the first line of my bio says professional volunteer. Between my “work” and my children’s schedules, I squeeze in writing time and revising time and author platform time and email time. You get…
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It’s For Research. I Swear!
Guilty pleasures. Do you pick your nose when no one’s looking? Pull out cash just so you can buy a lottery ticket? Eat chocolate while cooking dinner because no one will see because, heaven forbid, someone enters the kitchen to help you? We all have those little things that might be slightly embarrassing, but we do…
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Northwest Houston Romance Writers of America
Ann, Jenn, and I attended the monthly meeting of the Northwest Houston chapter of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) last Saturday. I don’t write romance, as you should know by now. If there’s no dragon in sight, I didn’t write it. And I’m not kinky enough to make that work in the paranormal romance…