For my monthly contribution to The Writers' Vineyard, some spring equinox-inspired musings on the balance (or tension?) between light and dark in our stories. "Unrelenting light and unrelenting dark make poor stories (though perhaps wonderful hymns, poems, songs); stories need to weave us through both sides of our nature, illuminating both." Read the whole post … Continue reading Light and Dark
fiction
“Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s passing.”
Harper Lee passed today, at the age of 89. A woman of many accomplishments I'm sure we'll never know about, she is most honored for writing To Kill a Mockingbird. I'm one of those who considers it among the most beautiful books I've ever read. Among the books I can read often, gleaning something new … Continue reading “Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s passing.”
In the New Year, Befriend Your Ego
Wrapping up the old year and bringing in the new, my monthly contribution to The Writers' Vineyard invites us to see the Ego as a source for drama in fiction... rather than real life. The Ego, after all, knows well how to create Drama. Conflict. Tension. Spectacle. These form the home turf of the Ego. … Continue reading In the New Year, Befriend Your Ego
NaNo No. 6
My monthly contribution to the Writers' Vineyard, and I'm outing myself as a serial NaNo-er. Is it a bad sign that this year I'm NaNoing in secret, er, private? You tell me. Read it all here.
Jane Margaret Blake, who are you?
Fellow authors: do you really want your main characters out there, speaking for themselves? Champagne Books blog interviews You, Jane's heroine (?) Jane Margaret Blake today. Consider it a cautionary tale, as this excerpt shows. Hello Elizabeth, and Jane it is absolutely lovely to see you. Elizabeth: Lovely to be here, thank you! Jane: Yeah, … Continue reading Jane Margaret Blake, who are you?
On the Writers’ Vineyard: Stories that humanize
Thoughts on how our stories can humanize in my contribution this month to the Writers' Vineyard: Even when tempted to shirk the dark, fiction writers can offer views of our emotions, thoughts, plans, dreams, fears, and hopes that help us all realize the essential truth that holds us together: We are all human. Read the whole … Continue reading On the Writers’ Vineyard: Stories that humanize
Long and Short Reviews – Anniversary Party Contest Continues!
Enter to win fabulous prizes. Read the excerpts and find new favorite books. And, support the folks who support authors - connecting us with you, are even more fabulous and favorite readers! Today You, Jane is the featured book on the prize page.
3 Days, 3 Quotes: Day Three
Of the three quotes required to meet this challenge, let me own up: this is the only one I determined to use from the start. And I saved it for day three because, well, because. It's that kind of quote. Douglas Adams is one of the reasons I am a writer today. Discovering his work … Continue reading 3 Days, 3 Quotes: Day Three
June Jests – guest on Audra Middleton’s blog
Today's my turn to join Audra Middleton's June Jests series of interviews with authors who write funny. I mean, funny authors. Or something like that... Find out why possums are funny, and whether I would choose Brooklyn Nine Nine or Big Bang Theory. (And if you say huh? then my answer is for you!) Read … Continue reading June Jests – guest on Audra Middleton’s blog
The gift of story – Rita Bay’s Blog
My fellow Champagne author (and superb human being) Rita Bay is hosting a series of free stories as gifts to readers on her blog this month. Today my short tale of time-travel and impossible love (told with as much humor as a Time Monk could tolerate) called "Some Old Ideas" is the gift. You can link … Continue reading The gift of story – Rita Bay’s Blog
