Creative Blocks
Most blocks to creativity are internal; that is, they stem from our inhibitions and fears. And where do those inhibitions and fears come from? In my experience and observation, they…
Reviews
Once upon a time, reviews were written by book-industry professionals and newspaper columnists, and many bought books based on such recommendations. Well-known authors' opinions still carry weight both in the…
Websites and other wonders
One of the issues that has come up in publishing is the need for marketing, which includes having a website. And operating a website requires learning how to create the…
Musical Inspiration
The muses can sing to me in many ways, triggering ideas for a new tale. One of the more unusual inspirations for me was a video by a music company…
Hope
In fiction as in life, a person needs hope―even if it is simply the unconscious assumption that he or she will live to see another day. Moreover, even a story…
Mistakes
It's frustrating to find mistakes after publishing. And somehow they get through. The most aggravating to me was discovering that I had inadvertently labelled chapters improperly, doubling Chapter 3, and…
Being Indie
Being indie (independent publisher) means, basically, that I do it all and do it on a shoestring budget. And I am inundated constantly by advice telling me I must pay…
Book titles
Choosing a title for a short story or a book can be easy or difficult. Some names seem to spring to mind at first contemplation of the story line. Propositions…
Series of books
Book series are generally connected in some way. This is true for my Twin Tales, which follow the lives of members of two families. I have not written them in…
Character names
I have been asked how I select the names of characters. Sometimes I look through a phone book or newspaper (the bridal and baby-brag pages provide some interesting contemporary names). …