Category: The Journey to Publication

  • Cages

    How often have you experienced the kind of overwhelm that comes from feeling that there are so many things you “should” be doing, and that list is so long, you end up paralyzed and end up doing nothing? I recently finished reading Untamed by Glennon Doyle. She talks about how the cages that society creates…

  • Back Again, Reflecting and Moving Forward

    Did you know that I started this blog way back in 2010? Nope, me neither. I’ve just finished going through all of those posts weeding out things from when I was a super-clueless baby-writer…although I’ve also found some advice that I still believe (like being good to other people and author karma, along with writing…

  • Visiting over at the Raisin Chronicles

    Hey all! So, yeah, I know…no post for such a long time. In my defense, 2017 was a bit of a rough year, and then the end of the year was spent revising book two, Must Love Famine. But, I have good news:  I’m interviewed by the lovely Jeanne Estridge over at the Raisin Chronicles…

  • My Story of Perseverance: 21 Years and 220 Submissions

    My Story of Perseverance: 21 Years and 220 Submissions

    Hi everyone! Today I have a special post as part of the Writers Persevere event that authors Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi are running for the next few days to celebrate their newest book, The Emotional Wound Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Psychological Trauma. This book looks at the difficult experiences embedded in our character’s…

  • Book Giveaway!

    It’s pretty exciting, thinking of the book actually getting into the hands of readers, which really, is where books belong. As writers we get to create them, but after that, they belong out in the world. I hope you enjoy Must Love Plague. And hey! I *might* have forgotten that I have a Goodreads giveaway…

  • Release Day: Coping, Celebrating, & Cheering

    Tomorrow my first book will officially have it’s book birthday, and go out into the big old world. It’s a tremendously exciting moment, one I’ve worked toward for years, really since I wrote my first novel back in junior high (yes, really, and no, I don’t think I’ll mention just how long ago that was.)…

  • On the Power of Hope and Dreams for Writers

    Perhaps it isn’t surprising that in my first book, the acknowledgements section is pretty long. 😉 I also dedicate my book to all the dreamers out there. And the reason for both is very much the same: I was, and am, a dreamer. And without the support of all those people I list in the…

  • A Dream of a Dream

    I can’t really remember how long I’ve dreamed of becoming a published author. At least since junior high when I wrote my first novel which was…well, let’s just say “awhile” ago so I don’t look too old. 😉 But as I prepare to actually launch my first book into the world in…hmm, just under a…

  • Must Love Plague: Cover Reveal and Pre-order up Today!

    I have news…as of today, you can officially pre-order my first book, Must Love Plague. Even better, it’ll cost you less if you pre-order before the official release date, October 11, 2017. Cue wild Kermit the frog flailing. See? That whole count-down thing on my website wasn’t just there to look pretty (or to stress…

  • Failure, Shame, and Faith

    Failure, Shame, and Faith

    I’ve been thinking quite a bit failure. And shame. And the confidence to have the faith that your path is the right one for you. Why do we sometimes feel ashamed of our accomplishments (or perhaps lack thereof) and not want to share them? This makes me sad, for anyone feeling that way, and frankly…