My left knee’s meniscus is a lemon. I’ve now torn it three times. The first happened in late 2010 in a gym with a leg curling machine. Yes, the weights were too heavy. Lesson learned:Lighter weights with more reps equal healthier joints. An insurance-approved orthopedist stitched the meniscus back together. That lasted about two months…
Category: Writing
The Workhorses of Publishing: Software Writing Programs
Once in a while a reader will ask what program I use to write. After I answer, I expect a follow up question: “And what program do you use to edit?” Never once have I received that follow-up question. I’m guessing that most readers assume that writers pound out copy in a Word doc and…
Biting my nails…
Last month the unwitting members of the North Georgia Chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) elected me as their 2022 president. I tried to explain that online technology baffles me and I’ll be unable to lead those highly popular hybrid online meetings. They firmly replied that the vice president ALWAYS ascends to the…
A Perk and a Privilege
After I posted that Redemption Press had published The Demons Among Us, a flood of calls… and emails… and texts… and social media messages washed into my smart devices. It’s been overwhelming and wonderful. I’ve heard from people I haven’t spoken to in years—people whom I thought had forgotten all about me and my writing…
Deep breaths
During a Bible study, my teacher cautioned the class about praying for patience. “Since God answers our prayers, but not always in the way we expect,” she said, “He might place us in a situation that tries our patience in order to teach us a lesson.” Over the years I’ve found that advice to be…
Join the party!
You’re invited to help me celebrate the launch of The Demons Among Us through a Zoom party Sunday, October 10, at 4 p.m. EDT. I’ll talk a little bit about my publishing journey, answer questions, read the first few pages of the book, and host a couple games with prizes. I regret we can’t celebrate…
10 Best Websites for Writers
For the past 23 years, Writer’s Digest has published a list of 101 best websites for writers. The majority are for professional writers, but there are some great sites that benefit students and everyday writers. In addition, there are a few for readers. Following are my favorites from this list, many of which I use…
Join the Storyteller Squad’s Book Club!
Are you a teen who likes to read fiction? Searching for some like-minded friends? Look no further. The Storyteller Squad has launched a book club that is perfect for you. Every other month, beginning in April, the Squad will host a discussion on a young adult novel ranked four stars or above on Amazon. On…
The Mother Lode of Book Reviews for Teens
Earlier this week, I asked my Facebook friends (most of whom are moms and grandmoms) how they selected books to purchase for their teens. Their responses varied, but most replied that they liked to read online reviews. What a coincidence. Last Saturday, the Storyteller Squad, of which I’m a founding member, gathered on a video…
Baking & Bonding
In my young adult novel, The Demons Among Us (launching in September), the sixteen-year-old main character, Joy, is learning to cook. An early scene with Joy and her mom baking homemade sweet potato fries is loosely based on the times my daughter, Julia, and I share a kitchen. Even though she’s now married and lives…