I’ve been a busy little beaver! In December, I published my holiday romance novel, Santa Bring Me a Ryan. And now I’m working on the outline for my next book. A Weekend With Warren will be book three of the Love and Work series. Updates and a book cover image are coming next month. Meanwhile,Continue reading “Writing, Moving, and House-Hunting”
Tag Archives: Novel
Ryan Gosling for Christmas?
In my new whimsical holiday romance novel, Santa Bring Me a Ryan, Jules Carmichael asks Santa to bring her a Ryan for Christmas, as in Ryan Gosling or Ryan Reynolds. She’s single and has been unlucky in love, especially during the holidays. Jules realizes that Ryan Gosling and Ryan Reynolds are a little bit busy.Continue reading “Ryan Gosling for Christmas?”
Looking for a Free, Fun, Funny Summer Read?
If your summer isn’t complete without a fun, easy, beach read, check out my debut romantic comedy novella, Fake It Til She Makes It. Even better—it’s free as an e-book on Amazon (and Amazon UK) now through Wednesday, July 24. Woot! You: Cool. What’s it about? You: Gimme a teaser. Nora has the opportunity to land her dreamContinue reading “Looking for a Free, Fun, Funny Summer Read?”
NaNoWriMo Week One, Moving Forward
Here’s how the first week of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) went for me, a short recap in a few sentences and pictures. On the first day of NaNoWriMo, things started off great. I completed more than 300 words over the recommended daily word count. Days two and three weren’t as promising. I completed slightlyContinue reading “NaNoWriMo Week One, Moving Forward”
NaNoWriMo, Day One…Again
It’s November 1, the first day of National Novel Writing Month, a.k.a. NaNoWriMo, a.k.a., NaNo. Still don’t know what it is? Here’s the skinny. Starting November 1, “participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30.” — National Novel Writing Month So I signed up. I’m oneContinue reading “NaNoWriMo, Day One…Again”
Quick Points on Rewriting the First Line, First Paragraph, First Chapter
I’ve rewritten the first chapter of my WIP about six times. First paragraph? Probably a few more than that. I had received feedback from one beta-reader that my second chapter was stronger than the first. And another beta-reader informed me that she got into my book “after the first chapter.” After isn’t good. During isContinue reading “Quick Points on Rewriting the First Line, First Paragraph, First Chapter”
10 Reasons I May Write a Novella Instead of a Novel
Don’t know whether to write a novel or novella? Me neither. And I’m still not sure where this train is headed. I’ve been diligently working on a novel for the last six months, and it’s been tough. No surprise there—that’s part of the writing journey. But while digging up writing tips, I stumbled upon variousContinue reading “10 Reasons I May Write a Novella Instead of a Novel”
…And Then I Saw ‘Lady Bird’
I’ve been behind the writing schedule I set for my novel-in-progress. I should have already sent out my third draft to two beta readers. They may have even provided feedback by now, if they were completely riveted by the story. (Or not.) As the dates slid, I decided not to wag the finger at myself anymore forContinue reading “…And Then I Saw ‘Lady Bird’”
Relationship status with my second draft: It’s complicated.
Why does working on the second draft of my book remind me of a relationship? And I don’t mean that in a Beyonce-Single-Ladies-carefree-dating-kind-of way. I’m talking about the awkward stage. Where you’ve been dating someone for a while, and it’s starting to feel like “work.” It wasn’t always this way. When we were in theContinue reading “Relationship status with my second draft: It’s complicated.”
Bird by Bird, Word by Word
The phrase “bird by bird” has been running through my mind a lot lately. If you recall—or if you don’t, or if you’re unaware—the phrase came to be 50-something years ago while a boy was overwhelmed with the task of writing a report about birds. The boy was author Anne Lamott’s younger brother. “We wereContinue reading “Bird by Bird, Word by Word”
Rene Penn 