I attended the San Diego Writers Festival for the first time last year. It was founded in 2019 by screenwriter-turned-writing-coach Marni Freedman and digital marketing professional Jennifer Thompson, but I was oblivious to its existence until last year. It was a …
Who me? Write a blog? You must be jesting. Watch out for flying pigs and a cold front down below. Because against type, I’m launching a site…and writing a blog.
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- March 23, 2026
I look forward to this time of year. The weather warms with the approaching springtime. Bright cheery perennial flowers pop up and add welcome spots of color in my garden. Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day create a season of love …
- February 23, 2026
Last month, I finished some of the Christmas cozies that I’d checked out but hadn’t read. I always overload my To Be Read pile with more books than I can possibly read, kind of like piling my dinner plate too …
- January 26, 2026
Every Christmas, I download a bunch of cozy mysteries onto my Kindle. I also check out audiobooks from the library via the Libby app. I fully expect to read them all, but my expectations are rarely realized. I’m not sure …
- December 29, 2025
The New Year is fast approaching. It’s traditionally a time to establish resolutions for improvement. Mine often revolve around eating healthier and exercising more. This year, I decided to add a writing resolution. We all have our own dreams and …
- December 1, 2025
Kill Your Darlings—a creepy phrase that is oft repeated in the literary world. Initially, I thought it was advice regarding which characters a writer should knock off in a mystery book. Later, I discovered that it wasn’t advice regarding whom …
- November 3, 2025
When my editor returned my second manuscript, she suggested that I delete the first chapter. She thinks the tale begins at the wrong point. It’s difficult to figure out the best spot to start the story. The reader must care …
- October 6, 2025
The International Latino Book Awards (ILBA) are annual literary awards given to authors, translators, and illustrators for books written in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. The stated objective of these awards is “to recognize the greatness in both Latino writers and …
- September 12, 2025
Mystery readers are usually very observant and perceptive. And they are not shy about telling an author when they’ve gotten something wrong. At a writing conference that I attended, a published author regaled the audience with tales about the feedback …
- August 18, 2025
Last month, I discussed some of my favorite “how-to” books about the writing craft. There are many great books with helpful tips about harnessing your creativity and writing a compelling page turner. They tell you how to get started and …
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