By Lynn McPherson The holidays are a great time to sit back and take a deep breath. It is a time for reflection and rejuvenation. Today I’d like to talk about preparing for a great year of writing and how the holiday break fits in. There are three things I’d like you to consider. Three […]
by Sparkle Abbey Like most of the world, we “canceled” our traditional Thanksgiving gathering. Instead, we celebrated with only the family members we lived with, which was 2-4 people, and Zoomed with the rest of the family. And while the size of the turkey was reduced from the typical twenty-two pounds to a paltry ten […]
12tinythings swag Dear Reader, Nadie sabe el bien que tiene hasta que los ve perdido. No one knows the fortune he has until he loses it. We never miss the sunshine until the shadows come. From the book Refranes Southwest Indio-Hispanic Proverbs translated by Rubén Cobos This month I have a wonderful new book by Heidi […]
By Lynn McPherson Writing is a solitary occupation. One that requires concentration, imagination, dedication–and time alone to get it done. But it’s still important to connect with your peers. How can you interact these days without getting pulled into the endless loop of social media? One way you might consider is joining a critique group. […]
I’m a huge fan of vintage paperback covers, so I was delighted to find the multitalented Robin Agnew’s Instagram feed featuring cover art from her expansive collection. I asked her to talk a bit about her favorite covers and her time running the beloved mystery bookstore, Aunt Agatha’s. You can see more on her social […]
by Mary Lee Ashford I recently came across this article that addressed a study of an interesting phenomena. The study looked at the idea that Most Authors Can Hear Their Characters Speaking to Them. It was noted that Alice Walker while writing The Color Purple was often visited by her characters. Sometimes choosing their own […]
By Lynn McPherson There is a time in every author’s life that they are not in the mood for writing. For some, it comes in at predictable points–when they are struggling with a scene or a chapter. For others, it comes in waves, like during the onset of the Covid pandemic or during a summer […]
I’ve lived most of my life in a small town on the south shore of Eastern Long Island, along with four generations of my family. My grandfather owned a deli in town, where I started working stocking shelves and sweeping floors when I was twelve years old. When I was a little older, […]
Dear Reader, The global pandemic took its toll on my mental health. I grew depressed and sank into a period of feeling sorry for myself. My therapy cat, Chong, had died at 18 years. I had raised her from a kitten. She slept with me every night. I grieved her making biscuits in my lap. […]
By Lynn McPherson September is one of my favourite months. The weather is glorious, the kids are excited to be back at school, and it’s time for me to start a new book. I’ve had a few ideas for a new story floating around my mind and have pondered which one, if any, I should […]