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For this year, I wanted to commemorate a special occasion. The Writing in the Modern Age blog has been running for ten full years! Woo hoo! That’s great! We’ve come such a long way.  Image by Freepik. So, to celebrate, I thought I’d look back at the very first post, which was featured in March of 2013. It was written by Stefan Vucak and titled "Practical Advice for Beginning Fiction Writers". Feel free to view the article in full here. But it also ties in to today’s post, as I’ve gone to the trouble to ask for advice from 47 different authors. I wanted to take what they’ve learned and help other writers at various stages in their careers. It’s also how we’re marking the ten-year anniversary on the blog this month. By the way, this year, I’ll be shifting the WritModAge blog into taking on less guest posts and interviews (or none for a while, since I’m so swamped with other work), and doing more of my own articles about writing instead. However, I will still run occasional group events such as this, or even host big book giveaways. But I just thought that posing a big question to some of the authors who donated to previous events on the blog would be a great way to mark our ten-year reunion. Here are some of the previous multi-author features in which other questions were asked of various participants. https://marielavender.blogspot.com/2015/04/what-does-inspiring-mean-to-you-by-lois.html https://marielavender.blogspot.com/2015/08/why-do-we-write-250th-anniversary-multi-author-special-event.html https://marielavender.blogspot.com/2016/11/what-does-your-writing-process-look-like-special-multi-author-blog-event-and-350th-anniversary.html https://marielavender.blogspot.com/2019/06/500th-anniversary-do-authors-read-while-writing-multi-author-special-blog-event.html As you’ll likely surmise, back in 2022, I changed the blog’s domain over to https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/. I will eventually shift all the posts to this URL, transitioning them until I can close down the other blog. I will still have a splash page there for fans who don’t know about the big move. However, to properly display each participant’s answer today, I’m listing their preferred genre/genres to write in, the advice they’re offering, as well as some links where you can follow their published work.  This is the big question I’ve posed to them… What top five pieces of advice (lessons or tips) would you offer to another writer in your specific genre?Without further ado, let’s see what they said. Author Participants and Responses to the Main Question 1) Judi Getch Brodman  Genres: I write in a number of genres: cozy mystery, time travel/mystery, historical romance, romance, and many times, I mix and match these genres as I write. My love of the writing process, the creation of a story and its characters, keeps me writing story after story. Advice: First, you need to want to write... to be dedicated to your writing. Writing is hard work; good writing is almost impossible. It is time-consuming and isolating. Second, you need to learn to write. What does that mean? Join a writers group, listen to other writers and learn from them, from their writing and from the constructive criticism of your peers. I joined one early on and learned so much from them all. I will be forever grateful to this group. I also took an encouraging creative writing class. The professor urged me to continue my writing because I had, as she called it, a unique voice and writing process. Third, after I said all that, anyone can write, string words together. You can sit down, write 50K words and feel as though you have a book. Well, you don't, not one that a publisher will touch. When I said above, "good writing is almost impossible", I meant it. Good writing comes after many drafts, much editing, and many revisions. This is where your story comes alive... here you polish it by working on words that best tell the story and fit the character, by making dialogue meaningful (this is very important), removing errors and misspellings, and by creating a story that will capture the reader. Fourth, create interesting, three-dimensional characters. I learned this from a workshop I took given by a writer whose books I loved. No one wants to read a story with ‘flat’ characters. You, as the writer, need to know their backstories, what’s in their ‘bag of rocks’ that they carry with them, what their secrets are… what’s in that box under their bed. You may not put all that information into the manuscript, but you will use it as you write, trust me, and your characters will come alive. Fifth, do your research! If you are writing a time travel back to the 1800s, know what it was like to live in that time. One of my favorite books, The Looking Glass Labyrinth, was a time travel back to 1804. As I wrote, the story evolved into a mystery within a mystery with a beautifully layered romance. I won’t say much more except that I spent hours and hours doing my research on sea captains and their trade routes, on how women were educated and treated culturally, the fashion and family dynamics. The research fascinated me and although I didn’t use it all, I felt I knew my characters well enough to tell this beautiful story. Remember, your readers are smart, and if you make errors in history or anything else, they’ll notice, put the book down and not trust your story telling ever again. I could go on and on, but Marie asked for only five points. My advice to all -- enjoy the process of creating and writing! I’ve passed my love, my passion for writing, on to two of our little ones, eleven and nine, who wrote every word of their first book, Two Mice and a Train, and I published it. What a huge accomplishment for them! May their imagination fire many more. One of the keys to their writing was that they are both avid readers and LOVE stories. Links: https://tinyurl.com/JudiGB https://judigetchbrodman.wordpress.com/ 2) Jane Riddell  Genres: commercial fiction, somewhere between chick lit and literary; humor Advice: 1. Research locations/topics raised so that your story is plausible. 2. Use fresh language, avoiding clichés, unless they are part of a character's way of talking. 3. Don't overexplain, but avoid confusing the reader. 4. Leave room for the reader's imagination. 5. Use subtext in the dialogue. Links: http://JaneRiddellquietfiction.com https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jane-Riddell/author/B00B9E4ABQ #JaneRiddell 3) Natalie Silk  Genre: Science Fiction and Alternative History Advice The greatest advice: Don't stop the dream. Link: Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Natalie-Silk/author/B00EA8VY76 4) Giulietta M Spudich  Genre: Young (Middle Grade) Fantasy Advice:
Links: https://medium.com/@elementgirl https://www.amazon.com/stores/Giulietta-M.-Spudich/author/B008D2MSTS 5) P.T. Macias  Genres: Dark Alpha Romance, MC Romance, Mafia Romance, Paranormal Romance, Military Romance, and Contemporary Romance Advice: What top 5 pieces of advice (lessons or tips) would you offer to another writer in your specific genre? 1.Write, Write, Write! 2. Research 3. Edit 4. Promo - ARC Team 5. Reviews are constructive criticism. Links: Amazon https://www.amazon.com/author/ptmacias.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/P.T.MaciasAuthorPage Newsletter Sign up P.T. Macias Legacy Romance! Author's Official Website 6) J.R. Wirth  Genre: Suspense/Thriller, some supernatural magical realism Advice:
Links: www.facebook.com/Author.JRWirth http://www.amazon.com/J.R.Wirth/e/B00R9SDSR8/ 7) Kathryn Troy  Genres: Fantasy/Romance/Horror Advice: Tip #1. Write for pleasure. If you write for what's hot and trendy in the market, chances are by the time your book gets published, it will be out of fashion. Write what you want to read, and you'll always be in style. Tip #2. Don't take it personally. Rejections from agents, editors, presses are NOT evaluations on your writing skills. They're just not. There's a lot of poorly-written books out there that make millions, and masterpieces that never see the light of day. Being published cannot be equated with quality. Tip #3. Read broadly. The more you read in your genre (and others!), the more exposed to other ideas, concepts, and tropes you are. That will make you a more informed and potentially more unique storyteller as you develop your own voice. Tip #4. Don't self-reject. We all have doubts. We're all not sure if our writing is good enough, if it's a good fit for this agent, that publishing house, whatever. But you never know. You can't make it if you never put yourself out there. Tip #5. Don't be afraid to try something new. Just because you haven't seen anything out there like what you're writing, that doesn't mean there isn't an audience for it. Not EVERYTHING is like something else. If you've got a story to tell, then tell it. Links: kathryntroy.blogspot.com @Bathoryscloset 8) Leigh Podgorski  Genre: I am being published now as an Oracle Card creator, and love doing it. My preferred fiction genre remains metaphysical work that delves into our spiritual aspects as humans. My writing is eclectic: historical novels, literary fiction, and mysteries-- not of the whodunit, but more mysteries that arise thru one's life journey. Advice: 1. Apply the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair. Best advice I have ever gotten which, to copy Nike, means 'Just do it'. 2. Whether you outline or simply scribble notes: know where you are going. I know many writers have said they just write, but I don't think that works best to create a fully realized piece. By thinking your work through, you can add foreshadowing and much better character development. 3. Characters! Reader's often fall in love with the characters you create. So create well-rounded people that jump off the page. Make them real. Many-faceted. Engaging-- yes, even, especially your villains. 4. Listen to your quiet voice within. Let it guide you. When your characters speak to you, and they will, listen and heed. 5. Yes, Virginia, GRAMMAR MATTERS! I have read so many posts that eschew grammar. Eschew it at your peril. Grammar is your essential tool, your building blocks. If you didn't learn it, do it now! If you send a query with bad grammar, guess where your brilliant work ends up? The round file. Links: https://tinyurl.com/LeighPodgorski1 www.VioletHillsProductions.com 9) Edita A. Petrick  Genres: Multi-genre – I write mysteries, sci-fi, romance, romantic suspense, thrillers, and even cozy mysteries - plus I ventured into YA fiction as well. Focus of Advice: Mysteries/Thrillers What makes for an un-putdownable mystery? There is a huge amount of advice floating out there, on writing and publishing. At times, it’s not just overwhelming to read through a few of these types of posts, but discouraging. How do you decide? How do you choose? Did you make the right choice—for anything, anyone? What makes for a riveting read in the mystery genre? A question as big as the genre itself. Forget the classics. They will always stand in a category of their own. You can’t compete with Agatha Christie or Dickens or even the bevy of ghostwriters who fleshed out the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys stories. The first thing you need to understand about mysteries is very simple – do you like to read them? If so, go ahead and plunge into the genre. If not, you may try your hand at crafting one story, but that won’t spark your writing spirit. Your writing must run parallel to your interests in reading. You cannot force a mystery out of you, if you switch channels the moment one of the hundreds of police-thriller-action movies comes on. Let’s say you like reading mysteries, and you like watching any and every show dealing with any kind of a mystery—whether it’s fictional or documentary. So—what makes for a riveting mystery? Some will tell you it’s the story that the readers must find compelling. That may hold true for about ten percent of time the reader spends reading your blurb. Some will tell you it’s the twists and turns and cliffhangers in the story that will capture the reader. That accounts for another ten percent of time the readers may spend figuring out whether they like your cliffhanger or not. But what really creates a riveting read is the story’s character—or characters. That’s where you should spend your time and energy—crafting larger-than-life, quirky, colorful, little bit insane, little bit crooked and a little bit plain, dark characters to lead your story. You can have it if you can craft one strong enough to carry the whole mystery for three-hundred pages, or you can have two or three supporting characters to help your main protag to carry the story. Do you need an equally larger-than-life victim? No. Victims may be as colorful or as bland as you like them. It’s the motives and motivations that saw them depart this mortal plain that makes any victim interesting. What you should not have is an average character, delivering average lines of a decent mystery, because the reader will not get past the average character to appreciate the complex and riveting mystery plot. To me, average means real-life as it runs for normal people, not reality show stars. Look around your circle of friends and relatives. Which one of them do you like – and most importantly, why? Once you answer that question, you will have a template for your character. Then write down at least three attributes for that character that closely mesh with the real ones of the real person. And finally, make that character larger than life. Way larger. Corrupt something in the sterling character; twist something in the protagonist’s otherwise honest approach. Craft the flaws so you can tie them to the psychological aspects of that character. To do that, you need to ask yourself for each of the points considered: What if…? What if the trait you like him for was just a little bit…smudged, a little bit off-key, a little bit non-conforming. That’s what will give your chosen character his or her color. It’s our flaws that make us interesting to others, far more so than our virtues. It’s how we cope or hide such flaws that makes for a compelling reading. And finally, you can inject a bit of mystery into any genre—whether it’s romance, or sci-fi or adventure or action. Often, it will make what would have been an otherwise straightforward plot, into a labyrinth. Links: https://twitter.com/BoniEdita https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B002BMI57U 10) Stefan Vucak  Genre: Contemporary drama/thriller/politics/military Advice: Individuals write for many reasons, but I suggest all want to see their work reach a broad audience. The bonus, of course, is to be accepted by a literary agent and a major traditional publisher. It can happen. Many writers wonder why a poorly written book gets into a bookstore when theirs is so much better, but cannot be accepted by an agent or publisher. We can only scratch our heads and keep writing. Suggestions to writers? There are as many tips as there are writers, but I’ll risk repeating some of them anyway. 1 – In my opinion, to be a writer requires that he or she has that peculiar fire of creation burning inside that compels the individual to write, create new worlds, and share with readers their visions. Without that fire to carry the person through trials of procrastination, rejection, mental blues, frustration, the person will give up and concentrate on their day job to survive. Of course, some wannabe writers start a novel with bubbling enthusiasm, but when hard writing is required, or a new idea flashes into their minds, the work is abandoned in pursuit of that idea. In the end, nothing is achieved. So, if you don’t have that fire and desire to create, better take up golf instead. 2 – As with every profession, discipline is a must if anything is to be done. It is the same for any wannabe writer in whatever genre. Writing takes time, as does editing and proofreading, and a writer must be prepared to spend many days and months alone pushing that manuscript until it is done. For many, ongoing work and family commitments may not give a writer enough time they would like to pursue that novel. Nevertheless, a planned, disciplined approach that schedules a dedicated hour or two during the week and weekend to writing is a necessary step if that book is to be done. For those who can write full-time without the burden of holding down a job, discipline is equally important, as hours, days, and weeks can be whittled away in unrelated activities. Before you know it, months have passed with very little writing to show for it. A writer should set up a routine and a schedule devoted to writing time … and stick to it. 3 – In the contemporary genre -- and this applies to just about any genre -- research is a multi-pronged hook on which the author rests the book’s credibility. Getting historical, political, geographical, scientific, and other facts is critical to establish legitimacy and confidence in the reader’s mind, without which the book will be treated with the disdain it deserves. Social media and various internet search engines are invaluable tools for gathering information. However, the ‘buyer beware’ caveat applies. Search engines can dredge up many responses to a query, but an author should verify the supposed ‘facts’ from several sources to establish legitimacy. I suggest it is particularly important to validate scientific information that supports an author’s premise or hypothesis. There is nothing worse than having a reader cringe when coming across a glaring factual blooper because the author relied on his or her memory and did not bother to validate something, or have some outlandish space drive that flies in the face of current theoretical science. Although for any research a writer may delve into for a book, most of it will never be in the book itself. However, that is not a bad thing, as the wealth of information a writer uncovers provides a solid background, framework, and confidence for a writer that he/she is a subject matter expert, and that confidence will flow into the book. 4 – Having reviewed a library of novels, one thing manages to always stand out – a book that has been thoroughly planned and plotted, and one that seems to be written and made up as the author went along, allowing his/her characters and plot to evolve without any direction, or toward an ending the writer cannot wait to reach. There are numerous articles that argue the benefit of writing a detailed outline, and there are articles that suggest an outline is a waste of time. For a short story, I suggest a couple of dot points might be sufficient, or perhaps not. It all depends how clear the story is in the writer’s mind. For a major project such as a novel, I would argue the necessity for a detailed outline before the writer puts down the first word. No one would build a house without a detailed plan. In the same way, a disciplined, professional writer should not begin to build that novel without a detailed outline. An outline does several important things. It provides, or should provide, a profile for every major character, a clear set of plot and sub-plot steps, and a means to avoid that dreaded writer’s block because the author comes against a wall in his/her story and does not know how to get over it. Walls will come up, but they should be very small ones easily negotiated. Writing a detailed outline takes time and effort, but I suggest it is time well spent and avoids heartburn later. 5 – Writing a contemporary genre book intended for adults, or any book, establishing credibility and plausibility is critical to gain reader acceptance. An outlandish hypothesis or premise that is unsupported by historical, current, or plausible near-future events guarantees the book’s rejection. Contrary to some opinions, readers are savvy and don’t have much tolerance for what I call 'pulp trash'. Sadly, this is something a number of famous authors have forgotten, allowed their fame to swamp good writing and storytelling, and descended into producing trash that would never have gone past a literary agent’s or publisher’s slush pile were it not for the author’s name. I suggest this is death for any author, established or not. Once he or she produces such a novel, readers are likely never to pick up another of their work. We all like to read a thrilling, compelling book that has real characters set in a realistic story, evokes emotion, and gets us thinking. If a wannabe writer likes to read such a novel, it means that he or she should do their utmost to produce such a novel themselves. Readers deserve the very best we can give them. Settling for less is betrayal for the writer and reader. How to produce such a novel? Well, I could write a book on how to do it, but that’s for another day. Links: https://www.stefanvucak.com https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stefan-Vucak/author/B005CDD1RY 11) Holly Bargo  Genre: Romance Advice: 1. Especially if you self-publish, hire a professional editor. Nothing dooms a book faster than a poorly written story riddled with errors. 2. Do your research. Verisimilitude is paramount to suspend the reader's disbelief, so don't guess at those realistic details, make sure they're correct. 3. Use active voice more than passive voice. Passive voice has great impact, but only if used in moderation. 4. Let your verbs do the heavy lifting. You're not writing an academic treatise, so engage your readers with strong, powerful verbs. 5. Explicit scenes should be natural to the progression of the story and the development of the protagonists' relationship not gratuitous. It's the story that engages readers, not the sex. Links: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Holly-Bargo/author/B00JRK6VGQ https://www.facebook.com/HollyBargoBooks/ 12) Dee Thompson  Genre: Women’s Fiction Writing is my passion and I write every day. I earned an MA in Creative Writing and I have worked as a freelance writer, a journalist, and a paralegal. I currently work as a freelance writer. I have published four novels on Amazon. I have been writing a blog, The Crab Chronicles, since 2005. Advice: 1. End every chapter with at least one question, so the reader will want to keep turning pages. It doesn’t matter what category your novel falls into, readers need to be left wanting more. Always withhold information until the right time. 2. Once you’ve finished your manuscript, get beta readers to read it and give you useful feedback. You will need constructive criticism, not just 'I really liked your book'. You need someone to say things like 'Why did that character not say anything during the scene?' and 'You overuse the word “ponder” Get a thesaurus.' I have a close friend who is great about doing that for me, and it has made all my novels better. [There’s nothing wrong with hiring someone to help too, though, if you can afford it.] 3. Outlines are not always necessary. I was told over and over I HAD to outline the entire book before writing a word and that was too daunting a task, so I just didn’t write, for years. I hate outlines! However, if I start writing with a general idea of what I want to happen, then happy accidents occur. In my first novel, Ghosts in the Garden City, I started off thinking the mother was just a horrible person, but as I was writing her, I enjoyed it so much I softened her a good bit, and made her more integral to the story. I wasn’t chained to an outline, which worked in my favor. 4. Resist the urge to make everyone really beautiful or handsome, even when you’re writing romance. I get very bored quickly, as a reader, with a bunch of perfect looking people. Characters are much more interesting if you can say things like “he was losing his hair, but it didn’t matter to me because I loved his voice,” or "Scarlett O'Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were" – from Gone With the Wind, a famous novel that sold millions of copies. 5. Do your research! I get so irritated, as a reader, when I read something just blatantly wrong. I read a book the other day where someone was typing and made a mistake, and used liquid paper to correct it – but that wasn’t available until 3 years later! That is so easy to check on. Grrr… Links: https://dethompson62.journoportfolio.com/ https://deescribbler.typepad.com/my_weblog/ 13) Bernard Foong/Young  Genre: Memoirs/Autobiography Advice/lessons: 1) Be truthful to yourself. Let your storytelling flow from the core of your being rather than plagiarize works from other writers. Allow your candor to glide rather than force. Write like you are downloading something divine and you are the messenger to deliver your piece of valuable information to the world. If you allow yourself to achieve that, you’re close to being a successful author. 2) Edit your writing until you are satisfied with your work. Even then, it is advisable to solicit the assistance of a professional editor to go through your writing. Often, an excellent editor will rephrase and shorten sentences/paragraphs to enable your writing to flow with ease and erase repetitiveness to the narrative. 3) Proofread your writing several times. This will ensure no hidden mistakes such as spelling corrections, story flow, and other missed errors. 4) Don't be repetitive. The author only has to iterate a point or emphasize once. Otherwise, your reader will be bored reading the same message over and over again. 5) Reading an excellent book will transport the reader to distant realms, to lands far away where his/her imagination can take flight and be transported to live the author’s experience/experiences. Be they factual or fantastical, these virtual experiences will bring insights and exposures to a larger world. Hence, all excellent stories consist of one or more moral lessons/insights that is/are relevant to the reader/readers in today's world. Links: Twitter: @bernardfoong Website: http://aharemboysaga.com/wp/ 14) Tony Flood  PREFERRED GENRE THAT I WRITE IN: MYSTERY, THRILLER, SUSPENSE. I also write in other genres, including FANTASY and CHILDREN'S BOOKS and CELEBRITY REVELATIONS HERE ARE MY 5 MAIN TIPS/ADVICE: 1. If possible, use a really big 'hook' at the start of your book to grab readers' attention. For example, I start my crime thriller, Stitch Up - Killer or Victim?, with a murder occurring. 2. Ask people for their email addresses, and when you have a new book coming out, email them well in advance as well as just before the launch. 3. Offer potential readers details and a complimentary chapter from your book. 4. Use Facebook regularly and reply to COMMENTS because one COMMENT is worth 50 LIKES. 5. Provide information which should interest people on specialist websites. For example, I give interesting facts about Elvis Presley and Kylie Minogue, who are both featured in my celebrity book, My Life With The Stars - Sizzling Secrets Spilled. LINKS: https://www.celebritiesconfessions.com/ https://www.fantasyadventurebooks.com/ 15) Kim Lengling  Genre: Non-fiction Advice: Five things to consider when writing non-fiction Every writer has a style and voice regardless of the genre you write in or may want to write in. Here are five things I like to keep in mind while weaving words together. Have access to the outdoors. Wherever you write, be sure there is a window, balcony, porch, or yard. Your brain needs rest just as your body does. So let yourself enjoy the view; who knows, that bird hopping around your yard, carrying around a worm, may be the inspiration you need! Be relatable. People want to relate to what they are reading. Can you remember reading something and thinking, "Oh yeah, I've done that!" or "That's happened to me too!." Your readers want to relate to you. Write as if you are sharing a story with a friend. Use emotion. Emotionally charged words capture your readers' attention by making them "feel" and want to continue reading. Build interest and trust. For example, can you insert joy, frustration, solitude, or a sense of accomplishment into your story? It doesn't matter if your book is about the mating habits of the Bilby or rebuilding a car engine; people want to feel. So take your readers on a journey. (Got you thinking about what a Bilby is, didn't I?) Provide a solution. Whatever the topic, provide tips or answers to your book's issue. For example, if I am reading a book on strawberry plants, I want to walk away knowing how best to plant and care for them, their different uses, and how to sustain healthy growth. But I want to learn more than just the basic steps of planting; I want to read what it feels like to see the plants grow and know a sense of accomplishment. Share the funny. Non-fiction doesn't have to be boring. Funny things happen to all of us or what we perceive as amusing. So share those silly moments in your book, whether a self-help book or a personal story; leaving your reader laughing out loud or bringing a smile to their face is high praise in my book! And hey, if you get the occasional snort out of them? Even better! Don't let self-doubt, naysayers, or procrastination stop you. Just start writing. Links: https://www.kimlenglingauthor.com/ https://www.amazon.com/author/kimlengling 16) Marie Lavender  Genre: Multi-genre (various types of romance, mystery/thriller, fantasy, paranormal fiction, science fiction, urban fantasy, literary fiction, humor, dramatic fiction, and poetry); I’ve written tales for adults (so many) and younger audiences (1 children’s story and 1 YA) Advice: 1. Don’t corner yourself into one genre. Be open to trying something new and you will always have an endless flow of book ideas. 2. Save your politics for another forum. Honestly, no one cares how you voted and being upfront about it will only turn potential readers away. Save the politics for a more private circumstances – at home with your family, hanging out with your friends, or with whomever you trust. I promise that nothing good will come of stating your political views on social media, for all to see. It will eventually come back to haunt you. Unless it’s a situation that affects the whole planet and you know most people agree – such as the pandemic – it’s best to keep your own counsel. 3. Editing is a must! Do whatever you can to edit your own work. Consult articles by experts. Run a spell-checker. But go deeper as well, further than that. Hire a professional editor or ask a proofreader friend for help. Whether you’re self-publishing, or even submitting to a literary journal or a big publisher (or a literary agent), your book or story should stand on its own. Don’t give someone an excuse to throw your manuscript aside because you handed them a subpar draft. Do the extra work. Put in the effort of making your manuscript as clean as possible. Yes, we’re all human, and there may be a small detail you’ve missed along the way, but you wouldn’t want your published or unpublished work to be riddled with obvious errors. At least if other eyes are going to see it. 4. Take anti-technology vacations. This will give you a much needed break from the chaos of social media and the demands of being an author with a public image. It will also allow you to fully immerse yourself in your surroundings and spend time with your family or friends. Don’t surrender to the urge to keep checking your phone or email for updates. Stepping away will give you a chance to recharge your batteries, so to speak. Use your phone for emergencies, sure. But you're on vacation, by the way. DO NOT make everything worse by being obsessed with who said what online or posting a pic on Instagram. Also, don't feel guilty if you need more time and are forced to take a real hiatus. Burn-out happens. By avoiding the madness for a bit, you’ll feel more refreshed and ready to tackle any task when you return from break. 5. Try not to get discouraged. Just because one marketing method or tool works well for another author doesn’t mean it will work for you. There isn’t any one way or formula to get it done. Unfortunately, trial and error is par for the course and we all must go through the guessing game to get there. The same goes with being published. Rejections do occur, sometimes many of them. But this journey is your own. Your time will come. The best thing to do is just to keep going and learn from your mistakes. Oh, and don’t close the door to new opportunities that might pop up. Links list: https://linktr.ee/marielavender1 17) Stef Smulders  Genres: short stories, humor, expat memoir Advice: 1. Choose the third person perspective, especially if you are a beginner. This way you avoid the most common pitfall, that of remaining in the head of the main character and so-called filtering (‘I saw…’, ‘I heard…’ et cetera). The majority of beginners automatically choose first person perspective, but I think you learn faster choosing the third. 2. Stay within the perspective you have chosen, at least within a chapter. It is very easy to forget this and switch point of view so be aware. Even experienced famous writers go wrong here now and then. Staying within one perspective allows readers to come close to and identify with the character much easier and this will definitely lead them to appreciate your work more. 3. Read a few books about writing technique, differences between types of perspective, the ‘show don’t tell’ adage, et cetera. Some of the ones I found very valuable are Understanding Show Don’t Tell (And Really Getting It) by Janice Hardy and Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft by Janet Burroway. Both to read and reread! 4. Read a lot, in your genre and outside it. Once you start writing, you’ll be confronted with questions about how to solve certain problems, which solutions to take, and by reading the work of experienced authors, you’ll come across possible solutions. 5. Take part in forums, Facebook groups where aspiring writers critique each other’s work, such as Critique Circle (a whole list of possibilities you’ll find here https://blog.reedsy.com/critique-circle/). Links: http://italiaanse-toestanden.duepadroni.it/italy-expat-memoir-book/ https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stef-Smulders/author/B00OPVPTSS 18) Susan Lynn Solomon  Genre: Mystery Advice: 1. Carry a writer’s journal with you wherever you go. Make notes about places, what people look like, and the way they dress. Note people’s body language when they speak to each other. 2. Set your stories in the place you live or places that you know well. Include descriptions of these places within your stories. The object is for readers who go to these places to recognize them. 3. When writing a mystery, put in a number of clues and several red herrings for your lead characters to follow, but don’t make these clues too obvious to the reader until near the end of your story. Agatha Christie once stopped a story after about 90 percent of it, and put in a page that, in effect, told the reader that if they’d paid attention and followed the clues by now, they should know who committed the crime and why. 4. Join a writers group. At meetings of this group, present a portion of your story. Make notes of comments made to your story and to the stories of others. Carefully consider each of these comments. 5. Do research. Even fictional stories need to be accurate—almost half of my writing time is spent doing research. For example, if a person is shot, what kind of weapon was used—not just whether it was a pistol or a rifle. If a pistol, was it a luger; if a rifle, was it an AK 47? If a person is poisoned, what poison was used? How long before death did it have to be administered? How was it administered—in a drink or by injection? Links: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Susan-Lynn-Solomon/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ASusan+Lynn+Solomon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susan.solomon.33 19) Karina Bartow  Genres: Mystery and Romance Advice: When I started writing mysteries in 2012, I had many insecurities about it. Mysteries weren’t my preferred genre to read, yet I had one forming in my head, eager to leap onto paper. Eleven years later, I’m hooked on crafting tales with intrigue and sleuthing. Here are some lessons I’ve learned along the way. Five Tips for Mystery Writers: 1. Early on, decide what you intend your readers to know about the villain and his/her motive. Some stories give a peek at the crime and/or the reasons that lead up to it, while others leave their audience in complete cluelessness until almost the last page. There’s no right or wrong here, but choose whatever best fits your style and determine how often you want to switch perspectives. 2. Don’t wait too long before the crime takes place. During my first few years of composing mysteries, I liked to set up the characters and such before I brought in the case, usually at the end of chapter one. As I shopped my second mystery novel, however, a publisher counseled me to address it earlier, even if it’s just a hint about what mayhem is coming. You might do this in the form of a distressed phone call, threatening letter, or the like. 3. If you don’t know who the perpetrator is, don’t worry! Sometimes, your own puzzlement can work to your advantage. After all, if you can’t figure out whodunit right away, how will your reader? Once you do, you can go back and add breadcrumbs if you wish. 4. Be selective about with whom you share your work. This goes for any genre. When you start out on your writing journey, you may be tempted to let anybody and everybody read your manuscript. That can get tricky, though, because everyone has their ideas about your book. If it’s unpolished in the first place, they’ll likely point out flaws you probably would’ve caught sooner or later. You definitely should have someone else look at it before you submit it for professional consideration, but you can spare yourself a lot of frustration and perhaps discouragement by choosing the right time and person. 5. Don’t give up! Whether you’ve hit writer’s block or are fielding rejection after rejection, keep in mind that many authors, past and present, have encountered the same challenges. With patience and persistence, they’ve triumphed, and so can you! Links: https://www.KarinaBartow.com https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15045283.Karina_Bartow 20) Kayelle Allen  Genres: Science Fiction, Science Fiction Romance, MM Romance Tips/advice/lessons: 1. Question the premise of advice. Advice is given through the lens of the giver's experience, ability, and personal strength. For example, you might not be the type who needs to write every day. And contrary to the popular saying, some people can indeed edit without words being on paper or screen. Some have to spend a long time thinking before writing. That is still writing. And why must everyone "write to market?" The answer is, they don't. We are not all the same. Writing to market is not the only avenue to success. Figure out what works for you and stick to it. No piece of writing advice fits everyone. 2. Information about how to write or market is out there. If you need to know something, chances are, you can find it online. Some of the best workshops I've taken have been free for signing up for a newsletter. No one knows it all. There is always something you hadn't thought of, or until now, didn't understand or need. Go find someone who knows the answers. You might discover the answers to other questions you didn't know enough to even ask. 3. Take the free course Starting From Zero by David Gaughran and sign up for his newsletter. You won't get a hard sell or pressure to upgrade or go premium and buy things. He gives you everything you need at no cost. Plain, simple, easy to understand. I can't tell you how revolutionary his advice has been. Using what he taught me, I had a 650% increase in sales in one year. 4. Using David's advice, I read and re-read Newsletter Ninja by Tammi Labrecque. The biggest takeaway was to get to know my readers. I do that by asking questions in my newsletter and then when readers respond, I do my best to continue the conversation. When I write now, I'm thinking of specific readers and gearing material toward what they've told me they want to know. It's called getting to know your audience. There's no shortcut to spending time talking to people. I'm a major introvert, but I can talk to people online via email. I love writing my newsletter now, because I'm writing it for people that I'm getting to know. 5. Last piece of advice: Be who you are. Do not sugarcoat your identity. Those who flock to you when you are being your authentic self will become your tribe. And with a tribe, you can accomplish anything. Links: Website: https://kayelleallen.com Kayelle's Keepers: http://facebook.com/groups/KayellesKeepers 21) Debby Grahl  Genre: Romance Advice: 1. Take writing classes. These are extremely helpful in learning about changing POV, character development, dialogue, punctuation, editing, and more. A number of online writing groups offer these classes at a reasonable price. 2. Research. Doing your research on your story is very important. Make sure the dialogue, setting, clothing, and characters' actions are true to the time period of your story. This is especially true in writing historicals. 3. Location. When you choose your location for your story, be sure to once again do your research. Trust me, if your story takes place in New Orleans and you have a hotel or restaurant on the wrong street, a reader will let you know. 4. Conferences. Writer conferences are a great way to meet fellow writers, take advantage of informative workshops, and pitch your story to an agent or publisher. I find I enjoy smaller conferences more than larger ones. They have a tendency not to be so intimidating and the cost can be more affordable. 5. Critique groups. Joining a Critique group is a great way for authors to bounce their ideas off other authors, read parts of your manuscript for advice and come up with story ideas. They can also be a wonderful support group. Links: Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Debby-Grahl/e/B00B34HM26 Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/search/authors?search=debby%20grahl 22) Diane Bator  Genre: Mystery/Cozy Mystery Advice: 1. Write what you would want to read, not necessarily what is trendy. Trends change constantly. 2. Don’t give up. 3. If you want to publish, do your research! 4. Find like-minded people to learn from and write with. 5. Don’t think you need to set aside hours at a time to write. A lot can be accomplished 15 minutes at a time. Links: Website: https://dianebator.ca/ Blog: http://dbator.blogspot.ca/ 23) Dr. Bob Rich  I don’t have a specific genre. If you try to stuff my writing into a box, you will end up with it leaking all over the place. So, I’d like to step outside the box and leak out five principles that guide my writing when I am not looking (they are terribly shy and will hide if I do look). Advice: 1. Life is too short for the seriousness it deserves. I have already illustrated this. One of my current projects is a book on grieving. I have bits in there to make you laugh. Same is true for my book, From Depression to Contentment: A self-therapy guide. You see, it takes extreme effort to stay miserable while laughing. I don’t write horror—real life is horrible enough—but inevitably, my fiction needs to have horrible events in it. Even then, a laugh will liven it up. One of my current novels-to-be starts like this: “Looking in the mirror, Bill saw the weapon point straight at his back. The thought came: I’m only a kid; too young to die!” Since this is the first two lines, it’s obvious that he managed to escape. A few minutes later, he is telling his sister about it. His way: “I mustn’t drag her down into my worry pit. I know, a tease will lift both of us.” It does, and lifts the book, too. 2. Pecking at a keyboard is recording. The writing happens while I do other things. I refuse to tell you about this here. Why should I, when I have a perfectly good post that does so? http://wp.me/p3Xihq-Lx And you can read a recent little essay that illustrates how this works: https://wp.me/p3Xihq-2ME 3. Purpose and passion without preaching makes for perfect. I hope you appreciate alliteration. A cookbook has recipes. A self-help manual gives advice on how to improve in some way. A novel is meant to entertain. A kids book should teach in a pleasurable way. There are gazillion books of each of these types that are read-once-and-forget. Occasionally, though, you come across a keeper, which you will read more than once, and recommend to others. You will find yourself thinking of it months or even years after you’ve read it. These are the books written with passion, from a deep conviction, intended to make the world a better place. This is fine, but I now give you three guesses: what should you avoid when writing such a book? One of my current projects is Jolanda’s Kitchen Magic. My wife is a champion cook, and our grandchildren have inherited the interest. They love getting recipes from 'Oma'. So, she and I decided to collaborate on a cookbook for them. You can read the first installment here: https://wp.me/p3Xihq-2Mv It’s a recipe. It’s fun. But if you read behind the recipe, it is also a recipe for sustainable living. If I have my way, this book will be a keeper, read for much more than the cooking content. 4. Every sentient being is an apprentice Jesus; an apprentice Buddha. How does an apprentice learn? By following one or more masters, and by making mistakes and learning from them. The Dalai Lama is one of my masters. He says, “The aim of enlightenment is to be of service,” and “My religion is kindness.” We live at the best time in human history, and the worst time. This planet is officially in its sixth major extinction event, and, for me, this overshadows everything else. I can no longer be bothered to read or write anything that is unrelated to saving a tomorrow for today’s youngsters, and a tomorrow worth living in. Join my team. In one way or another, make the passion and purpose in your writing a tool for creating a better world. If you write romances, fine. But you can invite generosity and compassion and decency to peek out from between the lines. 5. Fiction is magic. Again, I have a perfectly good post on this at https://wp.me/p3Xihq-1ag so, being a good conservationist, I’ll recycle it rather than reproduce it. Links: Bobbing Around blog: https://bobrich18.wordpress.com Book List: https://bobrich18.wordpress.com/bobs-booklist/ 24) Amber Daulton  Genre: Romance Advice: 1. Read books in the genre you want to write in to better learn the genre norm and wrap your own writing style around it. 2. Don’t be a diva. Unless you’re a multi-published author with a legion of fans, several years of writing #1 bestsellers under your belt, and millions of dollars to your name, acting like a diva could kill your career. 3. Make friends with other authors. Social media, writing forums, and book clubs at your local library (if there are any) are good places to find like-minded people. For me, I’ve found most of my author friends via writing forums and publisher chat loops. 4. Take rejection letters in stride. If a publisher or editor gives you feedback on why he/she rejected your work, put aside your pride and listen to their feedback. It’s hard, I know, but accepting help or criticism with an open mind usually is. 5. Just keep writing. I know it sounds cliché, but there’s nothing else to do. If you don’t try, you won’t succeed. Period. Links: Want to stay in touch? Learn more and contact me on my website: https://amberdaulton.com Or join my exclusive newsletter: https://amberdaulton.com/newsletter-signup/ 25) KC Grifant  Genre: Horror and Dark Fantasy Advice: 1- Create a habit of writing. Whether it’s a little bit every day--or a longer weekend writing binge every few months--try different methods until you find what works for you. Just like exercise, getting words down on the page every day or week will work that mental muscle until writing is second nature. Remember that it's fine if the first draft is terrible--it can always be edited later. 2- Guard against bitterness. I've seen many writers get frustrated at limitations: not having enough time to write, or money for conferences, or connections to publishing, et cetera. This is a dangerous path of thinking that can interfere with creativity. In addition to accepting your own writing path and not comparing yourself to others, connecting with fellow writers who positively lift up each other's work can help fend off bitterness. 3- Follow your instincts. Even if you think your story is unmarketable, too "genre-blending" or that no one would read it, you owe yourself the chance to pursue the idea fully. If you love the story, no matter how off the beaten path it is, chances are readers will as well. 4- Find your community. Are you a horror writer? Memoir writer? Perhaps you love short stories? Finding your writing genre or niche can help you to understand your craft better and will give you more tools to grow. Connecting with like-minded writers will also grant more opportunities to network. 5- Ignore imposter syndrome. Even writers who everyone would consider successful — who’ve had their works made into movies and shows, for example — still experience imposter syndrome. This can be especially challenging for new writers. Ignore it and get busy writing. Links: Website: https://scifiwri.com Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/KC-Grifant/author/B01B3O66AY 26) Shannon MacLeod  Genre: Paranormal Romance, Metaphysical reference, and coming soon - Psychological Horror Advice: 1. As any editor will tell you, adverbs are the devil. Many online dictionaries have email options to send you a new word to learn daily – do that. You can describe your drama queen heroine as lachrymose instead of weepy. Just remember there’s a fine line between great description and magniloquence (expressed in a lofty, pompous or grandiose style). You don’t want your reader needing a dictionary for every other sentence. Write for your intended audience, not to show off your vocabulary skills. 2. Read every chance you get. I do most of mine on my phone, standing in the checkout line, doctor’s office, et cetera. Read outside your genre; it’s amazing how many good ideas you can get. Keep a notebook WITH A WORKING PEN. I carry one with me literally everywhere I go to jot down interesting phrases and words, ideas. The amazing plot twist that woke you out of a sound sleep at 3 a.m. will be gone with the dawn if you don’t write it down immediately. 3. Read the blurbs in daily new releases to avoid clichéd characters/themes; some have been done way past their expiration date. Play with character traits/combinations. Your tortured hero is a recently discharged Navy Seal? Instead of dropping him in a motorcycle gang or making him a freelance assassin, take him out of his element. Maybe he opened a bakery, a dance studio or pet sitting service instead. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination. 4. Learn what literary tropes are and how to use them. There are dozens of good websites and books on this topic. I’m not saying more in hopes you’ll go investigate on your own. 5. Learn the readability guidelines for your genre and utilize the statistics tool in your word processing program. It is priceless in that it will also tell you how much of your written work is in passive voice (also the devil). I periodically do CTRL+F to search the word “was” to reword passive sentences whenever possible. Show, don’t tell. Each sentence needs to pull the reader to the next. Links: www.shannonmacleod.com Amazon.com: Shannon MacLeod: books, biography, latest update 27) Gil Snider/Judy Snider  Genres: Children's books and Suspense Five Tips/Advice for Other Suspense Authors: 1. Watch suspense movies, read suspense books, and get a feel of "what works" in creating suspense. Hopefully you like/love suspense books so you really can create 'Oh, No, what is going to happen next?' for the readers. 2. I would recommend a brief outline of the book. I don't do that, I just start writing, but my husband likes an outline. See what works better for you. I get my ideas from things that happen in real life, and go from there. 3. Have a sheet of characters and details about them, their lives, friends, and come up with various names for them and your characters. You can always change a name. I ask my readers what cat or dog names to use, as I am a member of The Cat Writer's Association, so always put a cat in my books. 4. Join local or national writer's groups for education, inspiration, and to meet nice people. I do mine mostly online, but I am not great at zoom, et cetera. Find a good PR person/persons (Like Crystal/Marsha ) to spread the word about your book, and also radio shows or podcasts . I have met lots of great people who spread the word. Important! to set up a website that is professional, but also interesting. 5. I am not a good editor, so don't stop writing if you are not good at editing. Yes, learn to be a better one, but there are plenty of people who can do that. Also, for children's books, I cannot draw, so I found two great illustrators. One book I did with my sisters, and another with a group of women, so again, have fun doing this. Links: Official Author Website: www.judysnider.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Judy-K-Snider/100063442886550/ 28) Stephanie Ellis  Genres: Horror/Dark fiction and dark poetry Advice: 1. Read in the genre you wish to write in (as well as reading widely in genre). This allows you to not only recognize the quality you need to produce but to also truly understand the genre and not play to stereotypes. 2. Be selective in the advice you take! Don’t feel you have to do something just because others do, this leaves you measuring yourself against fellow writers and feeling somehow ‘less’. If you can’t do 2000 words a day, don’t! If you don’t want to plan/outline and prefer to simply write, do so! Find what works for you and don’t judge yourself. 3. Submit clean copy. The odd typo will always sneak through, but make your manuscript as clean as you can. Check spelling and grammar. Double check it against the submission guidelines – the latter is absolutely critical. 4. Don’t let rejection get you down. Easier said than done, but all writers will experience rejection and often on a regular basis. Acceptance rates are notoriously low, learn that it’s not always down to your work – it is very much a numbers game these days. Keep writing, keep submitting, and you will eventually achieve some success, as well as improving your work in the process. 5. Try and find fellow writers and build a small support network. This helps relieve the sense of isolation as well as providing you with a ‘safe space’ to ask for critiques and beta reads and writing advice. If you haven’t got a writing group where you live or it doesn’t offer quite what you want, check out the various groups on different social media platforms. (The horror community in general is very welcoming.) Links: www.stephanieellis.org www.brigidsgatepress.com 29) Dr. Roger Leslie  Preferred Genre: Spirituality/Self-Help Advice: What top five pieces of advice (or tips) would you offer to another writer in your specific genre? Throughout my career, now approaching five decades, I have often learned glowing embers of wisdom that made me think, Wow! Had I known that before, my entire journey to success would have been much shorter and faster. Here are my favorites: 1. What you have to say is helpful. In any endeavor, I always encourage my followers and fellow seekers, “Take inspiration to action.” In so personal a genre as spirituality/self-help, it is very inviting to second-guess ourselves and assume we have nothing new to say. In my writing classes, I teach that there are only two stories told throughout history in every genre and medium. Somebody goes on a journey. A stranger comes to town. Then, what makes any book original? The author’s voice. Write your book with sincerity and conviction, and there will always be readers approaching that level of spiritual development who can benefit from what you say. 2. Bare your soul. For fiction and non-fiction, I encourage my writing clients to bare their soul in the first draft. No genre demands that kind of courage more than spirituality/self-help. Often, writers in this genre have suffered and overcome, the two ingredients for any great story. You must be willing to share the most painful details for readers to believe in your authenticity and trust you enough to use your wisdom as a guide for their own spiritual growth. 3. Readers benefit from your story more than your advice. Readers live vicariously through the books they read. Instead of offering advice, simply share with them your story. They will naturally find parallels to their own life and discover for themselves how your pearls of wisdom can benefit them. They will actually find more insights they read into your story than the bits of advice you would've thought they wanted to hear. 4. Invite readers to follow a journey. The greatest stories have the forward momentum of suspense. Spiritual exploration and personal development (self-help) usually begin with a crisis of faith that the writer had the courage to face head-on until they found new insights that brought them peace or revived their spirits. Journeys are the easiest to write. Begin with the struggle, the question, and then let readers follow your path as you work your way toward the light of new insight. The end of the journey doesn’t have to be a life-shattering epiphany. It only needs to suggest, for you and the reader, a sense of hope. 5. Raise the questions and let readers determine their own answers. Novice non-fiction authors often believe their book has to supply answers. For some subgenres, such as business or financial planning, that may be true. For spiritual/self-help, simply having the courage to explore the territory and traverse the terrain of what is for you uncharted spiritual exploration invites readers to trust their own path and follow their own spiritual guidance. Raise the questions and then share with readers the path you took in search of answers. Some of those answers might be shattering insights. Others might be glimmers of hope that revived your soul. Either way, readers will benefit from your courage, and most will be eager to read where your next questions lead you in subsequent books. Links: My Website: https://rogerleslie.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrRogerLeslie/ 30) The writing duo of Charles Breakfield and Roxanne Burkey  Genre: TechnoThriller Advice: Foundation Like a building, a story starts with the groundwork. For us, selecting the focus of the thriller begins with identifying the proper threat or risk of technology. Without that premise, our cyber heroes versus attacks from the Darknet have no purpose. Our professional career illustrates that the benefits of technology outweigh the risks. We also find it only takes one conniving manipulator with programming skills and evil intentions to ruin it for the rest of us. We chose Identity Theft as the risk or problem in The Enigma Factor. We decided to ramp up the intrigue, making the attack's target a tech-savvy protagonist with family secrets he never heard from his mother. Readers get invested in navigating through the digital framework of the story with the character. The action includes twists, turns, and unexpected friends or foes, increasing the tension as the story progresses. The risks from misused or underestimated technology are real, so we slip security reminders into each tale. We know from experience the bad guys stay ahead in the technology race, putting the good guys in catch-up mode. Good tension gets created in this kind of environment. Balance Positioning threats or solutions using technology needs to provide enough credibility to the topic. Readers of fiction enjoy the twists, turns, and thrills, but often aren’t working in technology. People today handle more digital influence in their mobile devices than they often realize. Sometimes we go a little deep into a subject, inserting jargon like, “the rootkit allowed the virus to infect the operating system.” Folks shake their heads, thinking they went from an exciting thriller to a way to make plants grow more robust. You lost the audience. Different words provide a general way to say the same thing, such as “Jacob created a unique application, destroying the virus without ruining the data on the computer.” Situations with digital security are challenging to convey, yet do not get too confusing for readers. Years ago, Breakfield was having supper with the family. He regaled his girls with his day building a new digital network infrastructure using the associated jargon. His youngest daughter pulled on his sleeve, ‘Dad, we don’t understand what you’re saying, but we’re glad you like it." We strive to balance sharing actual knowledge while telling an exciting thriller. Suspense Elements of a story that alter a reader's feelings are critical to any fictional creation. Creating a journey with risky stops and turns along the way might include the computers running the financial programs for the bank going haywire because of a virus. These types of events often appear in the news. The rise of hackers, cyber threats, and creative programmers with malicious intent is rising. When you show the reader the impact of a situation on the character, the drama grows with each sentence. Our connected world opens the door to suspense across the globe, twenty-four-seven. You turn on your phone. An ad pops up which captures your imagination. You click the link, and in seconds, your bank account is compromised. That sort of activity is a reality, but we use those everyday activities to build the tension and get readers to grip the edge of the pages, hoping the hero escapes unscathed. Invoking reader empathy is the objective. In The Enigma Beyond, a computer uses the eyes of drones to gather information to locate the hero. The computer, named Joan, almost succeeds during a phone call using a synthesized voice during a conversation with the hero. Our protagonist yells at a machine and gets nowhere because a device has no emotions. Ah, exploring the benefit and threats of artificial intelligence provides excellent possibilities of where it might go next in our stories. Characters We use characters to highlight different elements of our story—threats or solutions. Technology rarely has a single programmer on a complex program. For example, some programs have multiple paths, making it easy to divide between numerous people for speed to market or security aspects. In some cases, the programming languages changed over time, then bolted onto some older programs like a digital Frankenstein. Co-authoring gives us an interesting perspective on people in our stories. We can help direct the dialogue as relevant to a specific character. We have extensive travel and exposure to multiple cultures, mainly where English is not the first language. We use these experiences in the location and people employed in the stories. Like many authors, our characters talk to us and take us in various directions. We plan to have the antagonist do one thing, then they decide to make us write it differently. The results for us can change the original thoughts on the story, but make it a better thriller. Characters, like people, have characteristics to make them multi-dimensional. That is vital in helping readers invest in rooting for the heroes to win or the cyber scum to earn their just desserts. What we find most rewarding is when people get invested in our characters. One reader remarked in a review about disliking a character who played an evil role in multiple volumes of the series, then recognized the person had grown and changed, becoming redeemable. Just like people we know, and you might as well. Conclusion In writing our series, we wanted to have each book stand alone as a great story. We also liked many of the characters and wanted them to grow as the series progressed. We wanted relationships to change, skills to improve, and families to grow. The R-Group is a family business that started during World War II with our stories in the contemporary digital world in which we thrive. Don’t forget to track the character’s genealogy if you have repeat characters in a series. Missed steps of character usage get spotted by loyal fans—they will let you know. The actions and choices of the characters take the problem toward an unexpected finish. Sometimes they are correct, but often they don’t see the solution until it occurs. We put breadcrumbs to follow to let them think or ponder about what happens next. Our story ends of the books in the series contain hints of more future technology threats to exploit, but not cliffhangers. We use those questions and suspense worries to move between chapters. Keep turning the pages to the satisfying end—that is our goal. We hope this helps you write your story or tell your tale in a thrilling, exciting, manner. Links: Visit Breakfield & Burkey at: https://www.EnigmaSeries.com And Rox Burkey’s blog: https://roxburkey.com 31) Kristin Kay  Genre: Dark Romance Advice: 1. Break the stereotypes - always. The romance genre is overflooded with the same old stories retold. Create new female characters - strong, bold, and inspiring, like the women today. 2. Don’t be afraid to take risks and experiment with your writing to provoke readers' imagination and beliefs. 3. Not fitting in is the best you can hear for your book. Book publishing today is a huge marketing machine, so most of the writers aim to fit into a niche (from dark romance to super niched like biker romance). Not fitting into a box makes your story and voice unique. 4. Writing is the best possible way to self-discovery and self-healing. Enjoy the process, discover yourself, and have fun. Writing a romance novel should be a rewarding experience. 5. Celebrate all the wins - from the first draft of the first chapter to publishing day. It might not be easy at all times, but even the small wins matter. Enjoy the ride :) Links: My website: https://authorkristinkay.com/ My book: https://www.amazon.com/One-Contemporary-Romance-Awakening-Madness-ebook/dp/B0B6Q7XV7G/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1676723399&sr=1-1 32) Carole McKee  Genre: Romance Advice: 1. Write! 2. Keep writing! 3. Read and reread what you have written. 4. Edit! Edit! Edit! 5. Don't give up! Rejections don't mean your work is bad. Keep trying. 6. When you write dialogue, read it out loud to see if it seems natural or flows naturally. Links: https://about.me/mckeecarole 33) S. Cinders  Genre/Genres: Romance- Fantasy, Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal Advice: Write because you love the story. Write because the words simply won't stay inside of you for another minute. Write because your characters deserve a chance to be heard. Write because it's who you are and what you live for. Writing for fame, money, acceptance, or even in desperation, will never unlock the true potential inside of you. Links: www.scinders.com https://www.amazon.com/stores/S.-Cinders/author/B01M6WPKBS 34) Leslie Hachtel  Genre: Romance (Historical and Romantic Suspense) Advice: 1. Do not quit! This is the most important advice since it's hard to write a book and then face possible rejection. The only way to lose is to quit. 2. Treat writing as a job. Do not think of it as a hobby that comes last in your day. If you want to be a writer, you have to write. Treat it as a priority. 3. Never compare yourself to anyone else. Your stories are yours and therefore unique. 4. You cannot edit a blank page. Write it, then you can edit it to make it better. 5. Don't set limits for yourself or be hindered by unhelpful criticism. If you have been writing in one genre, don't be afraid to try another one. And don't let others limit you. Any criticism that isn't constructive is just mean, so ignore it. When someone tells you you can't or you're not good enough, prove them wrong. Links: Website: https://www.lesliehachtel.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lesliehachtelwriter/ 35) Linda Covella  Genre/Genres: Children/Teens I’ve been writing fiction, non-fiction, articles for print magazines and online for over 25 years. The following is advice that has helped me with my writing, particularly when writing for kids and teens… Advice: 1. Read. Read. Read. Reading books in your genre can be super helpful. Read books that have won awards, that have a large audience. Read reviews of the books. What do you see that makes them successful? What do reviews highlight? Also, fundamentally, you should read adult books; read the classics. All these provide a good knowledge foundation for your writing. 2. Improve your craft. Writing is a craft, and it’s important to constantly be working to improve that craft. In college, I took creative writing classes as electives (my favorite classes!). Also, over the years, I’ve taken online writing classes that have been helpful. Just make sure you go with a reputable organization and/or instructor. For example, https://www.udemy.com/ has a variety of classes that are very affordable. 3. Join a critique group. For me, joining a critique group was one of the best things I ever did for my writing. At first, I was reluctant, nervous about putting my work out there for others to critique. Ultimately, I formed a group with a woman I met in one of my online classes. We created rules, interviewed other writers in our genre, and ended up with four other partners. We were scattered all over the country, and we communicated through email. I’ll mention here that if you’re writing (and/or illustrating) for children, you should join the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators https://www.scbwi.org/. There’s a wealth of information, and it’s one place to hook up with possible critique partners, either on their website or at conferences. 4. Do your research when querying. Whether you’re querying an agent or an editor, it’s important to research to find the right one for your genre and your story. Make sure to personalize your letter as to why you’re querying that particular person. Also, watch for scams. There are some publishers and agencies that may just be scamming for money, et cetera. This site is great for discovering those, and for a lot of other good information: https://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/ and their blog https://writerbeware.blog/ for up-to-the-minute information and warnings. 5. Never give up! Really! The road to publication can sometimes be a long one. But keep writing, and when you’re ready, keep querying. If you’re lucky enough to get feedback from an agent or editor, take it seriously, as well as from your critique group. Criticism and rejection are hard to deal with, but raise your heart and your hopes up, keep writing, improving, querying, and someday your dream of publication will come true! Links: https://lindacovella.com/ https://www.amazon.com/stores/Linda-Covella/author/B00MBR9II0 36) Virginia Babcock  Genres: contemporary and clean romance, Sci-Fi Advice: 1. Plot or not as you prefer. Some of us plot our stories before writing. Others think on the stories and write them after, some discovering the story as they write. Do what works for you! 2. Use beta readers who understand plot, editing, and grammar. Some readers give subjective opinions that are hard to act on. Though, if it’s a plot or storyline issue, listen and adjust. Any reader can diagnose a weak story. 3. Feedback is a gift. Whether a review, comment, or critique, feedback will make your story better. No feedback could be a sign that your story is beyond repair. Feedback means your story is fixable. 4. Have a marketing magnet—Something small and cheap that you can give to new readers. Tie it to the main place people can find your brand like your website or social. Make it if you can. You’ll need to put in hard work for things you can’t pay for. 5. Find a community of other writers. Support them and get support from them. Readers always need new stories and cross-promoting with authors like you will enable you to find more strangers who love your books. You can also find writing friends to share costs with you, like stalls at fairs, headshots, or advertising. Links: http://VirginiaBabcock.com @VirginiaBabcockBooks on Insta and Facebook @VBabcockBooks on Twitter 37) James Glass  Genre: Crime Thriller Advice: 5 Links for New Writers https://www.jamescglass.com/creating-tension-for-your-readers/ https://www.jamescglass.com/dont-muddle-your-story/ https://www.jamescglass.com/interrogation-techniques-verbal-cues/ https://www.jamescglass.com/interrogation-techniques-part-twonon-verbal-cues/ https://www.jamescglass.com/targeting-enemy-words/ Author Link: Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00B1XI25K/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=17c64618-502b-42ab-9bd8-536fbaa8686c&store_ref=ap_rdr&ref_=ap_rdr 38) Lynn Chantale  Genre/Genres: I write erotic romantic suspense with African-American heroes and heroines. From time to time, I’ll write Interracial couples and have ventured into characters with disabilities, primarily visual disabilities as I have one. Advice: 1. Write what you like — When I started as an author, it was to write stories with people who looked like me and lived in places I lived or would actually visit. And I wanted to see strong, independent women who could hold their own against a strong man. Of course, this led to secret baby stories or lovers who were afraid to trust one another. I like stories with intrigue, some romance, adventure, and makes you think. So I write this. I also like writing stories which involve second chances. 2. Promote Yourself — If you’re new to the biz, you’ll have to work a little harder. Even if you don’t have anything out, start getting your name out there. Join reader groups in your genre, do blog hops and posts, tweet, pin, make videos, hashtags, and interact. Even if you’re an established author, you will still need to do the same things to keep your name in front of readers and fans. The publisher does not have the time and money to devote to promoting you unless you’re one of those household names. :-) And even those big names do some of their own promotion and marketing. Doing live vids are a great idea. 3. Ask questions — whether it’s about the business of writing or everyday life, ask questions. Case in point, I was at an event and sitting next to the promoter for the democratic party nominee. This was the perfect opportunity to ask how she got into the business, what all it interred and so forth. Who knows, I may want to give a character that type of job. I even ask my nail tech questions about what she’s doing to my nails and why. Ask questions. The more you know, the more you can write. 4. Do read reviews — For a long time, I didn’t want to read the reviews because some people can just be plain nasty. Those you can skip, but the ones I’m talking about are the constructive ones. If you see a common thread - example: I kept getting reviews pointing out character development. It was more than one or two, but enough for me to take notice, step back a bit, and re-evaluate how I was creating my characters. Comments like that can and will improve your writing if you’re willing to take the time to address them. 5. Mingle with other Authors and Writers — We are solitary creatures and come out of the writing cave when prompted, cajoled, and sometimes threatened. But keeping a solid network of other authors and writers to bounce ideas off of, get marketing advice, or just to have a sympathetic ear can do wonders. Link: https://www.thehouseoflynn.com/ 39) Andy Ruffett  Genre/Genres: Crime Fiction and Young Adult Advice: 1. Read immensely in the crime narrative. To be fully rounded, don't just continue reading crime fiction but also true crime. 2. Take mental and physical notes whenever you are reading, watching, or observing your art. 3. Follow some crime writers, either on Twitter, Goodreads, or what have you. Try to have a conversation if you can. 4. Write letters to the crime writers you admire. Please don't worry if they don't get back to you. 5. Do not give up on writing. The moment you realize you're losing interest in your genre is the moment something great is going to happen. Links: https://www.amazon.ca/Wrongdoer-Andy-Ruffett-ebook/dp/B00EZ7XIA8 https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7264289.Andy_Ruffett 40) Tina Proffitt  Genre/Genres: Reincarnation Romance Advice: 1. I find that my Reincarnation romance, while it is a subgenre of Romance, fits (for now) within the Paranormal and Science Fiction. 2. I recommend reading the books of one of my favorite romance authors of all time, Elizabeth Lowell. While her stories published in the 1990s are not based on reincarnation as subject matter, the idea that the hero and heroine recognize each other, though not from this life, is prevalent throughout. 3. For inspiration, read everything you can get your hands on about reincarnation. Scientific accounts of past lives have been published by Jim B. Tucker, a researcher at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. 4. You need not believe in reincarnation to write stories about it, though it does help keep your juices flowing if you write about what intrigues you. 5. Try mixing the idea of reincarnation with ordinary people’s lives. The stories you write need not be set in alternative realities to be appealing to romance readers. Links: Amazon tinaproffittbooks.com 41) Ann (Ana) Morris  Genre: Children's Picture Books (English & Spanish) Advice: 1.Know the material you want to share. Even kindergarteners know the correct terminology for the life cycle of a butterfly. 2.Use vocabulary appropriate for the target audience, but don't underestimate the young ones. 3.Think like a child. 4.Many books will be read on the lap of an adult. Entertain them both. 5.If you have a lesson to present, do so gently, for the adults' sake. Links: www.authorannmorris.com https://m.facebook.com/100058599294961/ 42) Mark Iles  Genre/Genres: Non-fiction: interviews/blogs/how to. Fiction: sci-fi, horror, and fantasy Advice: 1. My author advice is firstly to believe in yourself. Write what you want to write. I wrote werewolf tales back in the day, but was told it was impractical due to the differences in weight – transforming from one to another. But then, look at the recent trends on the subject. 2. Secondly, join a writer’s group and get regular feedback on your work. Also, by reciprocating. you develop your skills as an editor. On completion of the work. get it Beta Read, and edit after each round. In addition to the Betas, I self-edit at least five times when the work is completed. 3. My third piece of advice is to research and research again. It’s really frustrating how many authors don’t do this and just assume something. If you make a mistake, your readers will pick up on it. Research is also physical. If you are writing about caves, then visit one. Use the five senses – what does it feel like…et cetera. 4. Read. I have a reading list, but cheat. I listen to much of it on audio, and then listen to it again – usually while driving or doing chores. 5. Research your target publisher. What/who else do they publish and what is their target market? Links: Twitter: @welcometoearth Website: www.markiles.co.uk Amazon Author Page: Amazon.co.uk: Mark Iles: Books, Biography, Blogs, Audiobooks, Kindle 43) Lara Zielinsky  Genre: Sapphic Romance Advice: For authors new to writing the genre, I'd offer these tips… 1) Build the main character and love interest's back stories into real women that you know and love. 2) Pay attention to what's going on around them and WHO is around them in the setting, this affects people's behaviors when choosing what characters will do regarding PSA in public. 3) Recognize that what most women notice in other women they are attracted to is less about patriarchal notions of beauty and more about their "soft skills" (interpersonal behaviors). 4) Learn the five love languages and show characters loving in ways that don't always use the specific words. 5) And there are always individual characters who will be exceptions to these rules, just like people are individuals everywhere. Build the background of your characters to show why they are who they are. Links: Readers can find out more about me and follow my work through my website, http://www.larazbooks.com, and social media at http://www.facebook.com/authorlarazielinsky. 44) Laura Vosika  Genre: historical/time travel and paranormal Advice: 1. Just write—write the first draft straight through without critiquing. 2. Be prepared to go through numerous drafts to really polish it up. 3. Find a good critique group or get at least half a dozen beta readers for feedback while editing. 4. Be willing to take constructive critique. 5. However, not every reader likes every book. Sometimes when people don't like your book, it's more about their preferences. I had one critique group member tell me she was sorry, but she just really hated my story & it was because she really didn't understand it. [I'm glad to say, she finally asked me a bunch of questions and once she understood it, she did like it!] Links: www.lauravosika.com www.facebook.com/laura.vosika.author 45) Wayne Neely  Genre: Non-Fiction-Hurricanes/Weather Advice: 1. Believe in yourself. 2. Read a variety of different genres of books to expand your horizons and over time, it will help you improve your experiences writing, editing, and prose. 3. Pay close attention of their structures, writing styles, sentences, format, and arrangements of each chapter and make them correlate with each other. 4. Never be afraid to ask for help with your manuscript writing from family, friends, co-workers, and a book editor. It will help your writing journey in the long run. 5. Always get a fresh set of eyes to read over and correct your manuscript because you are too attached to your work to find out all of your mistakes, such as spelling and grammar. But a new set of eyes will recognize them right away or more quickly than you. Don't be afraid to get professional help in correcting and editing your manuscript before it goes to the publisher. Link: www.wayneneely.com 46) Mark H. Newhouse  Genre/Genres: Historical Fiction and Children's Mysteries Advice: 1. If you have the passion, never give up. 2. Join a writing group to avoid costly mistakes and improve your skills. 3. Don't sell books. Sell yourself. Help others. 4. Be sure your book is the best it can be by having it edited carefully. 5. Do the research: authenticity is important, even in fiction. Links: newhousecreativegroup.com amazon.com/author/markhnewhouse 47) C.L. Bush/Tom Garzan/Quinn Dixon  Genre/Genres: C.L. Bush - Historical mystery romance, Young Adult thriller/suspense/mystery Tom Garzan - Children’s Quinn Dixon - Spicy Smut Advice: 1. Make sure you do your research! Nothing pulls me out of a book faster than when someone from a set time period uses modern language or modern materials. The internet makes researching so much easier and it can really polish your writing. 2. For children’s books, male author names tend to sell better. Don’t ask me why! I just know that I write under a male pen name because it worked. :) 3. Young Adult fiction means NO sex. If you are having a losing virginity moment or such, that is not YA. That is Coming-of-age. Make sure you are picking the right genre otherwise it can lead to a slump in sales or negative reviews. YA adult readers are looking for a little bit of romance, but usually no overtly sexual content. 4. For Erotica, make sure your covers are dynamic and not like the old dime store novels of the past. People want to feel intrigued the moment they see the cover and its 99% of the sale when it comes to eBooks. Make sure you hire a professional cover designer, and if you are making a series, keep the styles similar throughout so that readers can easily eyeball what books are associated with which series. 5. Have fun! It is hard work. It is expensive, but man, can writing and publishing be fun. If you get creative with your marketing, you can really get a winner. Not everything has to be marketed traditionally. Look into blogs, radio shows, podcasts, influencers that aren’t selling books, but are in the genre your book is in. You can do this! Don’t give up and remember that fame isn’t the goal. You writing and enjoying what you’ve accomplished is. Author Links: https://www.amazon.com/Original-Lost-Boy-Heroes-Always/dp/1521173346 https://www.amazon.com/MINECRAFT-Endermen-minecraft-adventures-Minecraft-ebook/dp/B01A9OO4EY?ref_=ast_author_d Wow, all of that was great! Most of the advice offered could be applied to any genre, but yes, a few of them were more geared toward a specific category. How apropos, as a lot of writers are usually focused on one genre at a time. I hope this advice was as helpful to you as it was for me. Here’s to ten awesome years on Writing in the Modern Age! ♥  Image by Freepik. As always, happy reading! And have a wonderful spring season!  
2 Comments
As writers, we're always looking for ways to improve our craft - skills we can add that will boost our experience level. Here's something you may not have considered... Have you ever thought about how someone's assumption of your character may color your performance? As a Libra, I've always found it rather annoying to see that one main personality trait in the zodiac claims that all Libras are lazy creatures. Do I take downtime now and then? Sure. Everyone has to at some point, or they'll just get burnt out. But I'd never term myself as 'lazy'. My closest friends and fellow writers would probably tell you that I am far from being lazy in life, or in writing. I always have a long list of tasks to accomplish, and I do my best to get it done. If you're also a Libra, I'd wager you don't agree with that 'assumption' about yourself either. Even if you don't exactly believe in astrology, that's okay. You can still beat these assumptions and come out a better writer. Let's take a look, shall we? Where does your birthday fall here?  Pikisuperstar on Freepik. Zodiac Signs, Traits, and EvaluationAries (March 21st - |
S Shane Thomas
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Ricardo Victoria
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SF Benson/Nadirah Foxx
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Jennifer Conner
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Gary W. Wietgrefe
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Beverley Bateman
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Shari Elder
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Diana Rubino
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David Kouri
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Mark Iles
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Amber Anthony (author team pen name)
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Rachel Carrington
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Debby Grahl
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Debbie De Louise
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J.R. Wirth/JR Wirth
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Tony Flood
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Laura Graham
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K.C. Sprayberry
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Friday Abumere/Friday O. Abumere
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/friday.abumere
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Friday-O-Abumere/e/B07FL6X1ZL
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Friday-O-Abumere/e/B07FL6X1ZL
Gail Picado
Jaime Martínez-Tolentino
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B001I7X8EY
CJ Heck
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CJHeckAuthor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/C.J.-Heck/e/B000APRMC4
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/C.J.-Heck/e/B000APRMC4
Nancy Wood
Website: https://nancywoodbooks.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Wood/e/B0088DJMAK
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Wood/e/B0088DJMAK
Andy Ruffett
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T.J. Banks |
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/T.-J.-Banks/e/B001KHC62M/
Robin Leigh Morgan/R.L. Morgan
Blogs: http://mypennameonly.blogspot.com/
https://rlmorgan1951.wordpress.com/
Amazon Author Pages: https://www.amazon.com/Robin-Leigh-Morgan/e/B00BWXT4VU/
https://www.amazon.com/R-L-Morgan/e/B084G8JQP3
https://rlmorgan1951.wordpress.com/
Amazon Author Pages: https://www.amazon.com/Robin-Leigh-Morgan/e/B00BWXT4VU/
https://www.amazon.com/R-L-Morgan/e/B084G8JQP3
Sarah Baethge
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahBaethge
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sarah-Baethge/e/B009WVBI0O
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sarah-Baethge/e/B009WVBI0O
Rebecca L. Frencl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccalfrencl/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Rebecca-L-Frencl/e/B00EQDG5C4
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Rebecca-L-Frencl/e/B00EQDG5C4
Branka Čubrilo
Website: http://brankacubriloauthor.com/about-branka/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/branka.cubrilo
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Branka-Cubrilo/e/B0052Y00I6/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/branka.cubrilo
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Branka-Cubrilo/e/B0052Y00I6/
Penny Estelle/P.A. Estelle
Blog: http://pennyestelle.blogspot.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Penny-Estelle/e/B006S62XBY/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Penny-Estelle/e/B006S62XBY/
Pam Handa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pam.handa.1
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Pam-Handa-nee-Kochhar/e/B00IT9ZHAM
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Pam-Handa-nee-Kochhar/e/B00IT9ZHAM
Sally Carpenter
Website: http://sandyfairfaxauthor.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sally-Carpenter/e/B007TX0QW8/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sally-Carpenter/e/B007TX0QW8/
Kathryn Elizabeth Jones
Website: http://www.ariverofstones.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kathryn-Elizabeth-Jones/e/B004VMXU5K
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kathryn-Elizabeth-Jones/e/B004VMXU5K
Jessica Tornese
Website: http://jessicatornese.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jessica-Tornese/e/B008LUYA66/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jessica-Tornese/e/B008LUYA66/
Paula Hrbacek
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3qt9VBF
Susan Mac Nicol
Website: https://authorsusanmacnicol.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Mac-Nicol/e/B008YE9GGI/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Mac-Nicol/e/B008YE9GGI/
Steve Christie
Website: https://about.me/stevechristieauthor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Christie/e/B00926A0EY
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Christie/e/B00926A0EY
Elaine C. Pereira
Website: http://www.iwillneverforgetbook.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Elaine-C-Pereira/e/B008B35P9O/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Elaine-C-Pereira/e/B008B35P9O/
Rosemary Richings
Website: http://www.rosiewritingspace.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Rosemary-Richings/e/B07LH6B1FP
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Rosemary-Richings/e/B07LH6B1FP
Pallavi Pissay
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pallavipissay
Mira Prabhu
(passed away in June 2019, just discovered this)
***Rest in peace – you will be missed
***Rest in peace – you will be missed
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Mira-Prabhu/e/B00CCQ9VQ4/
Michele Harvey/Michele L. Harvey
Website: http://www.micheleharvey.com/Home.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/micheleharveypaintings
https://www.facebook.com/MicheleHarveyAuthorPoet
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Michele-Harvey/e/B009I3T9TI/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/micheleharveypaintings
https://www.facebook.com/MicheleHarveyAuthorPoet
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Michele-Harvey/e/B009I3T9TI/
Lois W. Stern
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tales2inspire
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Lois-W-Stern/e/B005HOO640/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Lois-W-Stern/e/B005HOO640/
Jeffrey Gonell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForeignUniverse
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jeffrey-Gonell/e/B08J2GSD1Q
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jeffrey-Gonell/e/B08J2GSD1Q
Ann/Ana Morris
Catherine Y.
Jean Erhardt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jean.erhardt.1
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jean-Erhardt/e/B005IDH1YC
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jean-Erhardt/e/B005IDH1YC
Lance Sheridan
Kristal McKerrington
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristalsmckerringtonsfanpage
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kristal-McKerrington/e/B004KRVFTO/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kristal-McKerrington/e/B004KRVFTO/
Nina Soden
Rita Plush
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rita.plush/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Rita-Plush/e/B009N37NO6
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Rita-Plush/e/B009N37NO6
Shannon MacLeod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xxSMacLeod
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Shannon-MacLeod/e/B00AXSEMOE/
Adra Young
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adra.robins
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B002FYZC0W
Renee Novelle/R.S. Novelle
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rsnovelle/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/R.S.-Novelle/e/B00EWLOKIG
Lannah Sawers-Diggins
Website: https://about.me/abcpublishing
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3quHR0B
L. Anne Carrington
(passed away on 1/27/20)
***Rest in peace – you will be missed
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/L.-Anne-Carrington/e/B0055STQL6/
Maxine Flam
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maxine.flam
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Maxine-Flam/e/B00BA68A0K
Murray Alfredson
Website: https://murrayalfredson.wordpress.com/about/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/murray-alfredson-4688914a/
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3qFddC9
Mark Randolph Conte/Mark Conte
(passed away on 9/23/21)
***Rest in peace – you will be missed
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Randolph-Conte/e/B003U4ULJ8
Kenneth D. Maness
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennethDManess/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kenneth-D-Maness/e/B0081KFYCU/
Caryl McAdoo
Website: http://carylmcadoo.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Caryl-McAdoo/e/B00E963CFG/
CN Bring
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cn.bring1
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/CN-Bring/e/B005E7WX7C
Margo Bond Collins
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollins
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Margo-Bond-Collins/e/B00EOU9DEG/
S.C. Rhyne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReporterandTheGirl
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/S-C-Rhyne/e/B00H7GXPLG/
L E Barrett
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/L-E-Barrett/e/B00H8AZONS/
Doug Bolton/Douglas A. Bolton
Websites: http://www.dailysignsofhope.com/
http://dougbolton.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Douglas-A-Bolton/e/B0060RMVQ8
Liza O’Connor
(Seriously ill, but her books are still available)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liza.oconnor.90
Author Pages: https://www.amazon.com/Liza-OConnor/e/B00A82LHNO
https://books.apple.com/us/author/liza-oconnor/id580268587#see-all/books
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=liza%20o%27connor&sort=PublicationDateDesc&sortchange=1&fcsearchfield=Author
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Liza+O%27Connor%22?Nrpp=40&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ntx=mode+matchall&page=1
Laura Vosika
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laura.vosika.author
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Laura-Vosika/e/B09NPF2HN9/
Belinda Y. Hughes
Purchase Link: https://payhip.com/b/ZFcg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BelindaHughesAuthor
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8386807.Belinda_Y_Hughes
Annie Edmonds
Website: https://perceptionofannie.wordpress.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Annie-Edmonds/e/B00G3IN528/
Jane Dougherty
Website: https://janedougherty.wordpress.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jane-Dougherty/e/B00FMR7Y0U
Doc Krinberg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gary.krinberg
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Doc-Krinberg/e/B00IR9XVVQ
LaRae Parry
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/LaRae-L-Parry/e/B00DDTGREI
Olga Núñez Miret
Website: http://www.authortranslatorolga.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Olga-N%C3%BA%C3%B1ez-Miret/e/B009UC58G0/
P.I. Barrington
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PIBarrington
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/P-I-Barrington/e/B0032UWIA0
Matty Millard
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Matty_Millard
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Matty-Millard/e/B00JAPV10Y/
Debra Hartmann
Websites: http://www.indieauthorpublishingservices.com/
https://theprobookeditor.com/Edited Books: https://amzn.to/3FInph8
Bill Joiner/William H. Joiner Jr.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bill.joiner1
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/33pM0u3
James McAllister/ James W. McAllister
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FortiterPublishing
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/James-McAllister/e/B00DA1ZSFI
Edie Hart
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Edie-Hart/e/B00E3JYY9M/
Brandon J. Hall
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandon.j.hall1
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Brandon-J-Hall/e/B00HO3JKN4/
Jim Anders
Website: http://alldrinkingaside.blogspot.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jim-Anders/e/B00J5VLD5G/
Joseph M. Rinaldo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joseph.rinaldo
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Joseph-M.-Rinaldo/e/B003APFY62/
Mika Jolie
Website: https://mikajolie.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Mika-Jolie/e/B00NA74B6E/
Miles Rothwell
Website: https://milesrothwell.wixsite.com/milesrothwellnovels
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Miles-Rothwell/e/B085RH5RF9/
Jordyn Meryl
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jordyn-Meryl/e/B007XK8ACK
T.W. Embry
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/todd.embry.12
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/T.W.-Embry/e/B00FYA91NS/
Linda Heavner Gerald
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaHeavnerGeraldAuthor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Heavner-Gerald/e/B00B6SPNPM/
Sunday Erhunmwunse
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sundayerhun
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00N1X1VSI
Tamara Thorne
Website: https://www.tamarathorne.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Tamara-Thorne/e/B000APIVGK/
Alistair Cross
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alistair.cross.50
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Alistair-Cross/e/B00N446AZS/
Lisa Shiroff
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.shiroff.9
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Lisa-Shiroff/e/B004ANYO46
Tony Brooks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonybrookswriter
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3FSF1qG
J. Rose Alexander/Katherine Rhodes
Website: https://jrosealexander.blogspot.com/
https://www.katherinerhodes.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/J.-Rose-Alexander/e/B00E0CL5BM/
https://www.amazon.com/Katherine-Rhodes/e/B00H693JXS
Lisa Day
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LisaDay12
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3Hb9QIS
Sue Raymond/Lady Laindora
Website: https://sueraymondladylaindora.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sue-Raymond-225158640843063/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sue-Raymond/e/B00JC3M3NS/
Nancy Christie
Website: https://www.nancychristie.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Christie/e/B001K8GBYK/
Philip Watling
Website: https://about.me/philipwatling
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Philip-Watling/e/B0046CGOKS/
Ivanka Di Felice
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Ivanka-Di-Felice/e/B00K0QTUNC/
Amber Skye Forbes
Website: https://amberskyeforbes.wordpress.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Amber-Skye-Forbes/e/B00FNR85UM
Debbie White
Website: https://www.authordebbiewhite.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Debbie-White/e/B00BD8DMMQ/
Bernard Foong/Young
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bernardfoong
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Young/e/B00CENKJKM/
Celia Kennedy
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Celia-Kennedy/e/B00AW5KEZO/
Chris S. Hayes
Website: http://www.chrisshayes.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Chris-S.-Hayes/e/B00PBIH2UW/
Lauren Peyton
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorlaurenpeyton
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Lauren-Peyton/e/B00GVFKZ4O
Jami Brumfield
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamiBrumfieldAuthor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jami-Brumfield/e/B00HUJURIE/
Emily A. Lawrence/Felicia Tatum
Website: https://feliciatatum.com/
https://www.lawrenceediting.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Emily-A.-Lawrence/e/B00D0AYX78/
https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00AGI1IVQ
Izzibella Beau
Twitter: https://twitter.com/izzibellab
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Izzibella-Beau/e/B00FZ3I4UA/
C.J. Anaya/Cynthia Savage
Website: https://www.authorcjanaya.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/C-J-Anaya/e/B00IC5M3RI
Crystal Miles Gauthier/Crysmisty Lee
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Miles-Gauthier/e/B00MEFQN6Y/
Michael Aronovitz/Nicholas Fisher
Website: https://michaelaronovitz.com/
https://nicholasfisherbooks.weebly.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelaronovi2
Author and Book Pages: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/551323.Michael_Aronovitz https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00T0GIB88
Rival Gates
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rival-Gates-138762539634771/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Rival-Gates/e/B00I3Q5YIG/
Rolando Calzada
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005288237096
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Rolando-F.-Calzada/e/B00Q03WPFE/
Markie Madden
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marguerite.jordanmadden
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00O17AOHM
Chad A. Cain
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChadACainSolstice/
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3HcC3Pi
Seb Starcevic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SebStarcevic
Bio: https://independentaustralia.net/profile-on/seb-starcevic,497
William DeSouza
Website: https://wdesouza3.wixsite.com/williamdesouza
A.A. Schenna
Website: https://www.aaschenna.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/A.-A.-Schenna/e/B00PY4Q4QQ/
Raegyn Perry
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorRaegynPerry
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Raegyn-Perry/e/B015NJV6TG
S.C. Alban
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/s.c.alban
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/S.C.-Alban/e/B00QUVBTVM/
Malay A. Upadhyay
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Malay-A-Upadhyay/e/B00TV6H41C
Frederick H. Crook
Website: https://www.level4press.com/frederick-h-crook
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Frederick-H.-Crook/e/B00P83FW02/
Carl R. Brush
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlrBrush
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00DCXPH64
Samantha Cross
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSamanthaCross
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Samantha-Cross/e/B00XCJY7YG/
Brandon Harper
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePersonalConversation
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/33GPBUG
Maighread MacKay/Margaret Hefferman
Website: https://www.mhefferman.ca/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Maighread-MacKay/e/B00JL4G96U
Natalie O’Neil
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009303143077
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Natalie-ONeil/e/B0147DXLGK
Austen Knowles/Lacy S. Kinsley
Amazon Author Pages: https://www.amazon.com/Austen-Knowles/e/B00BH8KRBG/
https://www.amazon.com/Lacy-S.-Kinsley/e/B00B6XSQ9W
Francis H. Powell
Website: http://theflightofdestiny.yolasite.com/
Anthology purchase page: https://www.goldcrestbooks.com/together-behind-four-walls/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Francis-H-Powell/e/B00WSWYVNK/
Gloria Weber
Website: https://gloriaweber.wordpress.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3nBggZO
Linda L. Picl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linda.k.picl
Website: https://lpicl.wordpress.com/
Kris Noel
Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00J4V2JE6
https://amzn.to/3IPICIc
Rachael Stapleton
Website: https://rachaelstapleton.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Rachael-Stapleton/e/B00IE9W804/
Mel Massey
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Mel-Massey/e/B00ID9Z9D8/
Dan Buri
Website: https://www.nothinganygood.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Dan-Buri/e/B01690UJQE/
Arie Farnam
Website: http://www.ariefarnam.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3fz6rqZ
Ginger Ring
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gingerringwriter
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Ginger-Ring/e/B00FOXTYYG/
Tammy Tate
Website/Blog: http://authortammytate.blogspot.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Tammy-Tate/e/B00EKHFPK4
N.D. Jones
Website: https://www.ndjonesparanormalpleasure.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/N-D-Jones/e/B00BMD0IQK
JW Stacks
Website: https://bookstogonow.com/tb-author/jw-stacks/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/JW-Stacks/e/B00BKQR6IC
Susanne Matthews
Website: https://mhsusannematthews.ca/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Susanne-Matthews/e/B00DJCKRP4/
Jaci Burton
Website: https://jaciburton.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jaci-Burton/e/B001JSJO68/
Michele E. Gwynn
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Michele-E-Gwynn/e/B006M6U42U/
Aubree Lane
Website: https://aubreelane.wixsite.com/author-aubree-lane
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Aubree-Lane/e/B00FTBQP4U
Carol Ann Kauffman
Website: https://carolannkauffman.weebly.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Carol-Ann-Kauffman/e/B0076OMJY8/
Sharon Kleve
Website: http://authorsharonkleve.blogspot.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sharon-Kleve/e/B006JAH14S/
Alison Jean Ash
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Alison-Jean-Ash/e/B005C6FOY4/
Jennifer Chambers
Website: https://www.youareresilient.net/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Chambers/e/B004KJLS1M/
Lacey London
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Lacey-London/e/B00PPMP328/
Susan Buchanan
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Buchanan/e/B007N6KZXQ/
Alisa Mullen
Website: https://www.alisadubay.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Alisa-Mullen/e/B00IFTZ05I
Mark H. Newhouse
Website: https://newhousecreativegroup.com/book-author/mark-h-newhouse/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Mark-H.-Newhouse/e/B001K8Z7YU/
Viv Drewa
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Viv-Drewa/e/B00J1PTJ20/
Silvia Villalobos
Website: https://silviatomasvillalobos.wordpress.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Silvia-Villalobos/e/B00U8AB0QK/
Sheila R. Lamb
Website: https://sheilarlamb.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sheila-R-Lamb/e/B005JLDEXA/
David B. Chandler/David Chandler
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.chandler.142
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2899586.David_B_Chandler
A.L. Means/A. Silenus/Andrew Means
Podcast: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Tech-Fest-Podcast/dp/B09RTQMXHK/
Website: http://asilenus.blogspot.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/A-Silenus/e/B005W3XCK0/
https://www.amazon.com/A-L-Means/e/B08YWR7S9M
https://amzn.to/3Iknolz
Luke Green
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Luke-Green/e/B00ECEF3BG/
Richard Ayre
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Richard-Ayre/e/B00Y8X8QJM/
Cynthia Ley/Cyn Ley
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Cynthia-Ley/e/B00MNUALK4/
Heidi Renee Mason
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Heidi-Renee-Mason/e/B014VO7AM6/
K.A. Davis/Kathleen Andrews Davis
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kathleen-Andrews-Davis/e/B00N3YFEMY
Ashley Fontainne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashley.fontainne
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Ashley-Fontainne/e/B0055O0VBY/
Wayne Neely
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayne.neely.5
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2166429.Wayne_Neely
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Wayne-Neely/e/B001JS19W0/
Edita A. Petrick
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Edita-A-Petrick/e/B002BMI57U
Ryan O’Leary
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WriterRyanOLeary/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Ryan-OLeary/e/B00BEJ2NUQ/
Scarlett Jade/Caitlin Tull
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/7104091.Scarlett_Jade
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14117296.Caitlin_Tull
Nicole Andrews Moore
Website: http://thedreamersdoproject.com/about/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Nicole-Andrews-Moore/e/B0050J14P6/
Susan Stoker
Website: https://www.stokeraces.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Stoker/e/B00KEZX468/
Palessa
Website: https://www.authorpalessa.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Palessa/e/B00IMLM4VW
Natalie Alder
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006176148184
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Natalie-Alder/e/B00OG20DOG/
Michael J. Sahno
Website: https://msahno.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Michael-J.-Sahno/e/B018PTN964/
Barbara Weitzner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barbara.weitzner
Contest Winner – 2022: https://letsgetpublished.com/away-from-the-world-and-the-horrific-things-that-happen-in-it-barb-weitzner/
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3KUQHx3
Vanayssa Somers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanayssasomers
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B006QY6WTM
E.B. Sullivan
Website: http://www.ebsullivan.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/E.B.%20Sullivan/e/B00895GBJC/
Alicia Sparks
This book collection in other languages: https://www.amazon.com/Alicia-Sparks/e/B00GAA4LEU
Andrea Perno
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00LQ9TDDY
Elliot Richard Dorfman
(passed away in May 2017, just discovered this)
***Rest in peace – you will be missed
Website: https://elrite.webs.com/
Facebook Fan Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1116078271773785
Frank Borne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorfrankborne/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00MDG2AK2
Linda Covella
Website: https://lindacovella.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Covella/e/B00MBR9II0/
Belinda Celayir
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belinda.celayir.5
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3J2Jjht
John Stamp
Website: https://johnstampwriter.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/John-Stamp/e/B01A7D021G/
Natasha D. Lane
Author Links List: https://linktr.ee/NDLWrites
Karen Milstein
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Karen-Milstein/e/B00R6AK7TQ
Theresa Dalayne
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authortheresadalayne/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Theresa-DaLayne/e/B00J7E8C96
Anthony Rudzki
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Anthony-Rudzki/1676691415
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13473351.Anthony_Rudzki
Tracy Kincaid
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracykincaidauthor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Tracy-Kincaid/e/B0121XT1W6/
Linda Diane Wattley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lindadianewattley
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3Gs2NtU
Sandra Perez Gluschankoff
Website: https://www.palabrasandstories.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sandra-Perez-Gluschankoff/e/B009TDKBNU/
Jim Cronin
Website: https://jimcroninscienceedutainer.weebly.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jim-Cronin/e/B01C1V5OF6/
Tory Allyn
Twitter: https://twitter.com/toryallyn
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Tory-Allyn/e/B00JHRCMHG/
Theresa Mae
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Theresa-Mae/e/B00AO7HM46/
Chad McClendon
Website: http://www.cmcfiction.net/NewSiteLayout/index.html
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Chad-McClendon/e/B01EB19SB0/
Kim Smith
Website: https://www.writergroupie.net/
https://www.kimsmithauthor.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kim-Smith/e/B002UCXWCO/
Kelli Sue Landon
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellisuelandon
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B004AVSSLS
Lana K. Dempsey
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lanakdempsey/_saved/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Lana-K.-Dempsey/e/B01DWSO7LO/
D.L. Owens
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a_moody_artist/
Author Pages: https://www.amazon.com/d.-l.-owens/e/B01N7X4FHU
https://books.apple.com/us/author/d-l-owens/id1126390032
Q.L. Pearce
Website: https://www.qlpearce.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Q.-L.-Pearce/e/B001H9RTXO/
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChelseaQuinnYarbro
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Chelsea-Quinn-Yarbro/e/B000APXGJ2/
Uvi Poznansky
Website: http://uviart.blogspot.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Uvi-Poznansky/e/B006WW4ZFG/
C.L. Bush
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorclbush/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B017OA7HV8
CS Patra
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CS-Patra-Author-297508030352688/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/CS-Patra/e/B00BJAFVD6/
M.R. Rutter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MRRutter.author/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/M-R-Rutter/e/B01NA7ECOQ
Margaret Egrot
Website: https://writingandbreathing.wordpress.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Margaret-Egrot/e/B00RVO1BHO/
Henry Anderson
Website: https://henryandersonbooks.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Henry-Anderson/e/B01JAS49AO/
Jane Riddell
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaneRiddell
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jane-Riddell/e/B00B9E4ABQ/
Christopher Davis/TJ Adams
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christopherdaviswritesfiction/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008I8VTDI
https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/01JAY5WZ4
Tanya W. Newman
Website: https://www.tanyawnewman.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Tanya-W.-Newman/e/B01E1LG26E/
Stef Smulders
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/italie.emigratie.verhalen
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00OPVPTSS
Mikki Smith
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikki.smith.7
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B01C1118L0
David M. Mannes
Website: https://davidmannes.wixsite.com/david-mannes
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/David-M.-Mannes/e/B004RQNWNA
Natalie Silk
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00EA8VY76
Grey Francis
Website: http://greyfrancis.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B095PWXT1Y
Cleo Scornavacca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cleoscornavaccabooks/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Cleo-Scornavacca/e/B00FW92ILS/
Jill Marie Denton
Website: https://www.jillmariedenton.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jill-Marie-Denton/e/B01D3HTLVA/
Monica DeSimone
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monica.desimone.7
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Monica-DeSimone/e/B01NAFZFKS
Tracie Podger
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TraciePodgerAuthor/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00HA1ORO2
Tom Starita
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TomStarita
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Tom-Starita/e/B00AONTVIK/
Nikki Ashton
Website: https://www.nikkiashtonbooks.co.uk/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Nikki-Ashton/e/B00C7QKDE8/
Hayley Oakes
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHayleyOakes/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Hayley-Oakes/e/B00GIZ9XCW/
Laura Barnard
Website: https://www.laurabarnardbooks.co.uk/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Laura-Barnard/e/B00E4WTI26/
Nina Mason
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nina.mason.712
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Nina-Mason/e/B00J5N2PX8/
Honcho Mars
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honcho.Mars78
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honcho_mars/
Mark Giglio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markgiglioauthor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Mark-D.-Giglio/e/B00NID9AAW
Dating Connections/Dating Connect
Website: https://www.facebook.com/datingconnect
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DatingConnect
RB Hilliard
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorrbhilliard/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/R.B.-Hilliard/e/B00M1WO85S/
Leah Hamrick
Website: https://twitter.com/kookycharacters
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Leah-Hamrick/e/B01MSHHOUS/
Adriana Kraft
Website: https://adrianakraft.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Adriana-Kraft/e/B002DES9Z4
Jenny Lynn
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JennyLynnWriter
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jenny-Lynn/e/B0716YVDK3/
Ricardo Mejías
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ricardo.mejias.752
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Ricardo-Mejias/e/B004WXEYFI/
Toni Kenyon
Website: https://www.tonikenyon.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Toni-Kenyon/e/B0093YHFYI/
Beverley Oakley/Beverley Eikli
Website: https://beverleyoakley.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Beverley-Oakley/e/B01HOFCS8K/
https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B0034Q44E0
Serge de Moliere
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Serge-de-Moliere/100009567217654
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Serge-de-Moliere/e/B00Y6YHTR8/
Jeffery Martin Botzenhart
<Twitter: https://twitter.com/JBotzenhart
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jeffery-Martin-Botzenhart/e/B00OW8QZ6O
Aisha Malik
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoraishamalik/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Aisha-Malik/e/B071WWF6FC/
Caris Roane
Website: http://carisroane.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Caris-Roane/e/B0043YWE1M/
H.D. Thomson
Website: https://hdthomson.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/H.-D.-Thomson/e/B0069DZ1KG
Victoria Johns/Karen Proudlove
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3vXAWzE
J.J. Montgomery
Website: https://jjmontgomery.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmontgomerywrites/
Rachael Tamayo
Website: https://rachaeltamayowrites.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Rachael-Tamayo/e/B01HC2VZ0C/
Sarah J. Pepper
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahjpepper.author
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sarah-J.-Pepper/e/B007YHT7XS/
Molly V. Lovell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MollyVLovell
Raelle Logan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raelle_logan/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Raelle-Logan/author/B01FURGRB8
Andrea Roche
Website: https://andrearoche.allauthor.com/
Nermin Bezmen
Website: https://www.kurtseytandshura.com/
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2Ao8jjr
Bry Ann
Website: https://www.authorbryann.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Bry-Ann/e/B077MHVFDF/
CJ Warrant
Facebook reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/167874440806362
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/CJ-Warrant/e/B01BTK1T40
Mary Martinez
Website: https://www.marymartinez.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Martinez/e/B006MWJ1T6/
Kathleen Rowland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.rowland.50
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kathleen-Rowland/e/B007RYMF7S
Erin Kane Spock
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Spockromance
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Erin-Kane-Spock/e/B077D2KN1N
Laura Strickland
Website: http://laurastricklandbooks.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Laura-Strickland/e/B001KHSACW
Sibelle Stone/Deborah Schneider
Website: http://www.debschneider.com/
https://www.facebook.com/authorsibellestone/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sibelle-Stone/e/B005XGQ2F8
https://www.amazon.com/Deborah-Schneider/e/B0032R62UU
Kim Knight
Website: https://kimknightauthor.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kim-Knight/e/B01LY7KAJP
Ella Medler
Website: https://ellamedlerediting.yolasite.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Ella-Medler/e/B007FVQTFW
Sherry Soule/S.A. Soule
Websites: http://sherrysoule.blogspot.com/
https://bookcover-designs.blogspot.com/
Amazon Author Pages: https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Soule/e/B0104Y33KK/
https://www.amazon.com/S.-A.-Soule/e/B017Y1KM2I/
Melisa Marzett
Website: https://getessayeditor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melisa.marzett
C. Kindler
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6492046.C_Kindler
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2HxGN2P
Pandora Spocks
Website: https://pandoraspocks.me/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Pandora-Spocks/e/B010127KOU/
Massimo Marino
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Massim0Marin0
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Massimo-Marino/e/B008O53L5O
Debra Taylor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/weightwhatonline
Talkspace
>Website: https://www.talkspace.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkspace/
Clayton Graham
Website: https://claytongraham.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claytongrahamauthor/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Clayton-Graham/e/B01A6J728C
Leslie Wolfe
Website: https://lesliewolfe.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Leslie-Wolfe/e/B00KR1QZ0G/
K.T. Rose
Website: https://www.kyrobooks.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/K.-T.-Rose/e/B01N4T91M2/
Madelon Smid
Website: https://www.madelonasmid.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Madelon-Smid/e/B01A7PVJO8/
Jeannette de Beauvoir
Website: https://homeportpress.com/welcome/jeannette-de-beauvoir/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jeannette-de-Beauvoir/e/B00JC3FHK4/
Andie M. Long
Website: https://www.andiemlongwriter.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Andie-M-Long/e/B00HP5D2NK/
Emery LeeAnn
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Emery-LeeAnn/e/B01N0TBIT7/
Raven Amor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Raven-Amor/e/B08426WMMF
Claire C. Riley
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Claire-C-Riley/e/B00CCCSF06
Shannon Youngblood
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Shannon-Youngblood/e/B01HY7B3CA
Kat T. Masen
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kat-T-Masen/e/B00NBVYF9W
Cassia Brightmore
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Cassia-Brightmore/e/B00U8B5WBI
Leaona Luxx
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Leaona-Luxx/e/B01LZ99FML
William Joseph
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/William-Joseph/e/B074ZJ7D4K
A.K. MacBride
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/A-K-MacBride/e/B079L5DK79
K.I. Lynn
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/K-I-Lynn/e/B00CHSZ81E
Ryleigh Sloan
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Ryleigh-Sloan/e/B07DN58DKF
Erin Trejo
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Erin-Trejo/e/B00U0RXH80
C. Firecox
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/C-Firecox/e/B089YHF32Z
B.L. Olson
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/B-L-Olson/e/B07F8BL95Y
M.A. Foster
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/M-A-Foster/e/B06XG6TYK1
McKenna Dean/M.K. Dean
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mckennadeanromance/
Amazon Author Pages: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B075CRHQ7B/
https://www.amazon.com/M-K-Dean/e/B099S58CPX
Sara F. Hathaway
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahathaway19
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sara-F.-Hathaway/e/B00KI1EYJ4
M.K. Dawn
Website: https://mkdawnauthor.com/index.html
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/M.K.-Dawn/e/B01IFXA84G
H.A. Leuschel
Website: https://www.heleneleuschel.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/H.A.-Leuschel/e/B01GU5PZ9Y
Sam Boush
Website: http://boushbooks.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sam-Boush/e/B078J5QN91/
Roxanne D. Howard
Newsletter Sign-up: https://roxannedhoward.com/subscribe/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Roxanne-D.-Howard/e/B01BURXAVW
Barbara Monajem
Website: http://www.barbaramonajem.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09M2NJL1Q/
Frank McKinney
Website: https://www.frank-mckinney.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Frank-McKinney/e/B001HCVBEY/
Kenneth Sumerford
(passed away on 4/16/22)
***Rest in peace – you will be missed
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Mr.-Kenneth-S.-Sumerford/e/B0798FXQKG/
Richard Godwin
Website: https://www.richardgodwin.net/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Richard-Godwin/e/B004YQVTRY/
WomELLE/Naghilia Desravines
Website: https://www.womelle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womelle/
Founder/CEO’s Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Naghilia-Desravines/e/B00MCJH47O/
Laura McNeill
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Laura-McNeill/e/B00QPP4QKY
Rhonda Kinard
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3Pmpwft
Dr. Catherine Hayes
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Catherine-Hayes/e/B075LHG3MK
Trina Ramsey
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Trina-Ramsey/e/B077GDG6NM
Kirsten Blakemore
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B08746HPBD
Leslie Thomas Flowers
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Leslie-Flowers/e/B00L2MC3NC/
Rose Jones
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Jones/e/B00ENITHNQ
Divya Parekh
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Divya-Parekh/e/B01MXJ4F2E
Tracie L. James
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Tracie-L-James/e/B08X6QNK7D
Maggie Georgopoulos
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Maggie-Georgopoulos/e/B072XFYNNL
Dana Ross
Website/Blog: https://mysocalledwritinglife.wordpress.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Dana-Ross/e/B07M73T6ZM/
Autumn Bardot
Website: https://autumnbardot.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autumnbardot/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Autumn-Bardot/e/B07DMC7ZB6/
Aaron Dennis
Website: https://storiesbydennis.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Aaron-Dennis/e/B009AUUAY2/
Cindy Fazzi/Vina Arno
Website: https://www.cindyfazzi.com/
https://twitter.com/CindyFazzi
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Cindy-Fazzi/e/B001K8ZG3W/
https://www.amazon.com/Vina-Arno/e/B00R1RYE8E
James Glass
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/james.glass.940
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/James-Glass/e/B00B1XI25K/
Heather Boyd
Website: https://www.heather-boyd.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Heather-Boyd/e/B003O9ENX4/
Jonah Evarts
Website: https://jonahevarts.wixsite.com/mysite
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jonah-Evarts/e/B07L22FSJJ
S.V. Cobets
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/svcobets
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Stjepan-Varesevac-Cobets/e/B01CJOFMPC
https://www.amazon.com/Stjepan-Cobets/e/B01CGBCVMU/
Robert Sells
Website: https://www.facebook.com/geneseo4444
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Sells/e/B007A6481Y
Eric Silverstein
Website: https://thepeachedtortilla.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-Silverstein/e/B07PS171FZ/
Alexis Marie Chute
Website: https://alexismariechute.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Alexis-Marie-Chute/e/B00J58VH00/
Eleanor Webster
Website: https://eleanorwebsterauthor.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Eleanor-Webster/e/B00Y1N026E/
Author Duo Mary L. Schmidt/S. Jackson and A. Raymond
Website/Blog: https://whenangelsfly.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MMSchmidtAuthorGDDonley
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B013NRRKR2
Intisar Khanani
Website: http://booksbyintisar.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Intisar-Khanani/e/B00869D4L4/
Dougie Brimson
Website: https://www.dougiebrimson.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Dougie-Brimson/e/B001HMSMVO/
Re:Fiction/Tal Valante
Website: https://refiction.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/team_refiction/
Tal’s Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3jTSPc4
Alex Hayes
Website: http://alexhayesauthor.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Alex-Hayes/e/B01F4OILQQ/
Christal Mosley
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Christal-Mosley/e/B00G0XNWN8/
Ryan Lanz
Website: https://ryanlanz.com/
https://bookreviewdirectory.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Ryan-Lanz/e/B00Z2GM95G/
Halo Roberts
Facebook Fan Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/773029749825549/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Halo-Roberts/e/B07QRNZS8V/
Karina Bartow
Website: https://www.karinabartow.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B076L4FCGV
P.T. Macias
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/P.T.MaciasAuthorPage
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B008B0EYWQ
Charity Parkerson
Website: https://www.charityparkerson.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Charity-Parkerson/e/B004C4I35E/
David W. Thompson/Davina Guy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Thompson_DavidW
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/David-W._Thompson/e/B076L9CF3W
https://www.amazon.com/Davina-Guy/e/B0772VJMP6
Empi Baryeh
Website: https://www.empibaryeh.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Empi-Baryeh/e/B007592E12/
Virginia Babcock
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaBabcockBooks
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Virginia-Babcock/e/B00K8P259G/
S. Cinders
Other Links List: https://linktr.ee/scindersauthor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/S-Cinders/e/B01M6WPKBS/
Pamela Q. Fernandes
Website: https://www.pamelaqfernandes.com/category/everything-writing/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Pamela-Q.-Fernandes/e/B00HWO5KX4
Khaled Talib
Website: http://khaledtalibthriller.com/
Other Links List: https://linktr.ee/khaledtalibbooks
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Khaled-Talib/e/B00DYPSB72
Sheryl Dee
Website: https://sherylsvoice.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sheryldeem
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/36KWxBX
Jes Drew
Website/Blog: https://agencyofbooksandspies.blogspot.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jes-Drew/e/B00N4U7ARO/
Judi Getch Brodman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judigetchbrodman/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Judi-Getch-Brodman/e/B0745KVKFT
Nicolina Martin
Website: https://www.nicolinamartin.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Nicolina-Martin/e/B07GSG5MFF
Alice J Miller
Website: https://www.alicejmiller.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Alice-J-Miller/e/B01D9XOC44/
Bradley Campbell
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Bradley-Campbell/e/B07NNW463N/
Jane Burrelli
Website: https://www.janeburrelli.com/blog
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jane-Burrelli/e/B01ACPOKD0
Sally Brandle
Website: http://www.sallybrandle.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sally-Brandle/e/B07DNGP1N7
Bella Jeanisse
Website: http://bellajeanisse.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bella.Jeanisse.Books/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Bella-Jeanisse/e/B009J0QN6C/
D.E. Haggerty
Website: https://dehaggerty.wordpress.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/D.E.-Haggerty/e/B00ECQBURU
Madison Michael
Website: https://www.madisonmichael.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madisonmichaelromance
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Madison-Michael/e/B01EVUGG6G/
Don Bapst
Website: https://donbapst.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Don-Bapst/e/B002BLU8JY
David Beeler
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/David-Beeler/e/B01LDS46HU
Shawn D. Brink
Website: https://shawnbrinkauthor.wordpress.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Shawn-D-Brink/e/B083HMKC9L/
Dane G. Kroll
Website: http://www.danegkroll.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3xYMNPu
Dori Ann Dupré
Website: https://freshfiction.com/author.php?id=43896
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Dori-Ann-Dupr%25C3%25A9/e/B01BLKRVSQ
Kathrin Hutson/Sofia Storm
Newsletter Sign-up: https://www.kathrinhutsonfiction.com/newsletter
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kathrin-Hutson/e/B016N498BS/
Casey Mensing
Website: https://writers.coverfly.com/profile/writer-cc3694b85-53482
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3Kn2dja
Suzanne Crain Miller
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16061561.Suzanne_Crain_Miller
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Suzanne-Crain-Miller/e/B07HDSM68S
Katherine Tomlinson
Website: https://hollywooddementia.com/author/katherine-tomlinson/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Katherine-Tomlinson/e/B004QLOFVE/
Will Wallace
https://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Story-Ever-Told-Things-ebook/dp/B010TKW4W2/
Liz Butcher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizbutcherauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lunaloveliz
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00X6XN5O6
R.V. Asher
Blog: https://somethingwickedthiswayloves.blogspot.com/?zx=62f2e9853f068c8c
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/R-V-Asher/e/B08GYNJMC3/
Seralynn Lewis
Website/Newsletter Sign-up: https://www.seralynnlewis.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SeralynnAuthor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B08G1ZLXLK
Natalie Rodriguez
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NatChrisRod
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6712794/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc6AV6RPe4a/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Natalie-Rodriguez/e/B085X3FX6D/
Fenyx Blue
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FenyxBlueInk/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Fenyx-Blue/e/B08GZP21KP/
Desiree Villena
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReedsyHQ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reedsy_hq/
Wendy Cope
Website: https://literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/wendy-cope
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Wendy-Cope/e/B000APQB9Y/
Roger Robinson
Website: https://literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/roger-robinson
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20134686.Roger_Robinson
Peter Finch
Website: http://www.peterfinch.co.uk/aboutpf.htm
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/890923.Peter_Finch
John Hegley
Website: https://www.johnhegley.co.uk/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/552426.John_Hegley
Arthur Smith
Website: https://www.sourceofhumour.com/arthursmithcomedian.html
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/115453.Arthur_Smith
Neal Zetter
Website: https://authorsalouduk.co.uk/speaker/neal-zetter/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Neal-Zetter/e/B01KUZVE40
Sally Kindberg
Website: http://www.sallykindberg.co.uk/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/273015.Sally_Kindberg
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3y3iFm7
Lynne Reid Banks
Website: http://www.lynnereidbanks.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/72237.Lynne_Reid_Banks
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Lynne-Reid-Banks/e/B000AQ3WNQ
Sophia Zaccaria/Scarlett
Full Links List: https://linktr.ee/thesophiazaccaria
Joel Foster
Links: https://commodity.com/about/
https://muckrack.com/joel-foster
Evelyn Sola
Newsletter Sign-up: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/x2g2z9
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evelyn.sola.374
Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2572728646312337
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Evelyn-Sola/e/B0855QJGYX/
Angela Terry
Website: https://www.angelaterry.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelaTerryAuthor/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Angela-Terry/e/B084LDRS7Y/
Emilia Ares
Full Links: https://linktr.ee/Emiliaares
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Emilia-Ares/e/B09BV1ZVH1/
Ivy Nelson
Website: https://www.ivynelsonbooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IvyNelsonBooks
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Ivy-Nelson/e/B07K5ZB95S/
Dave Chesson
Website: https://kindlepreneur.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/davechesson
In other news, let’s reflect a little on what happened on Writing in the Modern Age in 2021. We made more progress than I imagined we would. I took some time to shift domains, plus there were illnesses in the family to handle, so that affected our number of posts. Even though there were only 21 blog posts this year, with all the featured giveaways, articles, tours, book spotlights and interviews, we managed to amass a total of 29 guest writers or participating authors for our events, along with 67 books featured.
Additionally, from the beginning of this blog’s launch back in 2013, we’ve had a ton of authors and freelance writers featured. As aforementioned, in actuality, our total amounts to 514 people with their books or work spotlighted in helpful articles, author or character interviews, a few films covered in director interviews, book and blog tour features, massive giveaways, and even authors had their bookshelves showcased.
Wow, that’s great! ♥ It’s made for a huge turnout over the years, for sure.
In any case, below I have listed all the blog posts we had in 2021, divided by respective category. Take a look!
Additionally, from the beginning of this blog’s launch back in 2013, we’ve had a ton of authors and freelance writers featured. As aforementioned, in actuality, our total amounts to 514 people with their books or work spotlighted in helpful articles, author or character interviews, a few films covered in director interviews, book and blog tour features, massive giveaways, and even authors had their bookshelves showcased.
Wow, that’s great! ♥ It’s made for a huge turnout over the years, for sure.
In any case, below I have listed all the blog posts we had in 2021, divided by respective category. Take a look!
WritModAge Posts for the Year
Author Interviews/Character Interviews/Director Interviews
https://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/01/film-and-book-feature-natalie-rodriguez-the-extraordinary-ordinary-director-interview.html
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/01/character-interview-dillon-mccoy-from-mountain-blaze-by-debby-grahl-western-holiday-contemporary-romance-plus-chat-with-author.html
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/01/new-release-feature-and-brief-questions-steamy-contemporary-small-town-romance-jinx-by-r-v-asher.html
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-love-and-other-sins-by-emilia-ares
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-the-trials-of-adeline-turner-by-angela-terry
New Release/Book Features
https://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/01/film-and-book-feature-natalie-rodriguez-the-extraordinary-ordinary-director-interview.html
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/01/book-feature-cassies-secrets-inspirational-romance-by-seralynn-lewis.html
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/01/new-release-feature-and-brief-questions-steamy-contemporary-small-town-romance-jinx-by-r-v-asher.html
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/02/anno-2020-psychological-fiction-novel-by-james-morcan.html
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/02/blog-tour-feature-contemporary-young-adult-fiction-the-battle-of-the-bullies-by-fenyx-blue-and-giveaway.html
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/new-release-feature-michael-aronovitz-the-sculptor
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/book-feature-a-look-at-ya-fantasy-novel-fairest-by-sophia-zaccaria
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-ivy-nelsons-forever-plus-a-giveaway
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/new-release-feature-francis-h-powells-anthology-together-behind-four-walls
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-love-and-other-sins-by-emilia-ares
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-the-trials-of-adeline-turner-by-angela-terry
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-and-release-blitz-takedown-by-evelyn-sola
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/new-release-feature-fiona-tarrs-romantic-suspense-deadly-deceit-and-sale-on-book-1
Blog Tour Features
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/02/blog-tour-feature-contemporary-young-adult-fiction-the-battle-of-the-bullies-by-fenyx-blue-and-giveaway.html
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-ivy-nelsons-forever-plus-a-giveaway
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-love-and-other-sins-by-emilia-ares
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-the-trials-of-adeline-turner-by-angela-terry
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-and-release-blitz-takedown-by-evelyn-sola
Guest Posts/Articles/Writing Tips
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/05/how-writing-blog-posts-can-make-you-a-better-fiction-writer-by-desiree-villena-of-reedsy.html
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/seven-ways-to-recover-your-writing-motivation-by-marie-lavender
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/explore-the-a-to-zs-of-writing-by-marie-lavender
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/5-tips-on-how-to-avoid-author-burnout-by-dave-chesson
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/six-methods-to-find-your-own-unique-writing-style-by-joel-foster
Giveaways
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/02/blog-tour-feature-contemporary-young-adult-fiction-the-battle-of-the-bullies-by-fenyx-blue-and-giveaway.html
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-ivy-nelsons-forever-plus-a-giveaway
Marie’s Personal Posts/Other News
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/seven-ways-to-recover-your-writing-motivation-by-marie-lavender
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/were-on-followit
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/explore-the-a-to-zs-of-writing-by-marie-lavender
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/09/office-relocation.html
Author Interviews/Character Interviews/Director Interviews
https://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/01/film-and-book-feature-natalie-rodriguez-the-extraordinary-ordinary-director-interview.html
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/01/character-interview-dillon-mccoy-from-mountain-blaze-by-debby-grahl-western-holiday-contemporary-romance-plus-chat-with-author.html
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/01/new-release-feature-and-brief-questions-steamy-contemporary-small-town-romance-jinx-by-r-v-asher.html
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-love-and-other-sins-by-emilia-ares
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-the-trials-of-adeline-turner-by-angela-terry
New Release/Book Features
https://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/01/film-and-book-feature-natalie-rodriguez-the-extraordinary-ordinary-director-interview.html
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/01/book-feature-cassies-secrets-inspirational-romance-by-seralynn-lewis.html
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/01/new-release-feature-and-brief-questions-steamy-contemporary-small-town-romance-jinx-by-r-v-asher.html
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/02/anno-2020-psychological-fiction-novel-by-james-morcan.html
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/02/blog-tour-feature-contemporary-young-adult-fiction-the-battle-of-the-bullies-by-fenyx-blue-and-giveaway.html
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/new-release-feature-michael-aronovitz-the-sculptor
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/book-feature-a-look-at-ya-fantasy-novel-fairest-by-sophia-zaccaria
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-ivy-nelsons-forever-plus-a-giveaway
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/new-release-feature-francis-h-powells-anthology-together-behind-four-walls
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-love-and-other-sins-by-emilia-ares
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-the-trials-of-adeline-turner-by-angela-terry
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-and-release-blitz-takedown-by-evelyn-sola
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/new-release-feature-fiona-tarrs-romantic-suspense-deadly-deceit-and-sale-on-book-1
Blog Tour Features
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/02/blog-tour-feature-contemporary-young-adult-fiction-the-battle-of-the-bullies-by-fenyx-blue-and-giveaway.html
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-ivy-nelsons-forever-plus-a-giveaway
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-love-and-other-sins-by-emilia-ares
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-the-trials-of-adeline-turner-by-angela-terry
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-and-release-blitz-takedown-by-evelyn-sola
Guest Posts/Articles/Writing Tips
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/05/how-writing-blog-posts-can-make-you-a-better-fiction-writer-by-desiree-villena-of-reedsy.html
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/seven-ways-to-recover-your-writing-motivation-by-marie-lavender
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/explore-the-a-to-zs-of-writing-by-marie-lavender
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/5-tips-on-how-to-avoid-author-burnout-by-dave-chesson
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/six-methods-to-find-your-own-unique-writing-style-by-joel-foster
Giveaways
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/02/blog-tour-feature-contemporary-young-adult-fiction-the-battle-of-the-bullies-by-fenyx-blue-and-giveaway.html
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/blog-tour-feature-ivy-nelsons-forever-plus-a-giveaway
Marie’s Personal Posts/Other News
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/seven-ways-to-recover-your-writing-motivation-by-marie-lavender
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/were-on-followit
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/explore-the-a-to-zs-of-writing-by-marie-lavender
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2021/09/office-relocation.html
Well, there it is. Not too bad really, considering I had to redesign the entire Writing in the Modern Age blog this year, and then stick it on a new domain.
There were many featured guests and books, as well as additional info that readers and aspiring writers could use throughout the year. WritModAge would be nothing without all the hard work from those participating authors. Also, of course, the blog would mean very little without the fans who stop by all the time. Thank you so much for visiting this blog!
There were many featured guests and books, as well as additional info that readers and aspiring writers could use throughout the year. WritModAge would be nothing without all the hard work from those participating authors. Also, of course, the blog would mean very little without the fans who stop by all the time. Thank you so much for visiting this blog!
Image by Prawny from Pixabay.
I wish you all the best for 2022.
Image by Anja from Pixabay.
Word of advice? Try something new this year. Pursue the dreams you were hesitant about, or afraid to chase in the past. We often regret the actions we didn’t take rather than those that we went for. And life is way too short for regrets.
Image by Tumisu from Pixabay.
Happy New Year and happy reading! Most of all, stay safe and take care of yourselves.
Warm Regards,
Warm Regards,
Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age blog post here.
Hi, readers! We have a real treat in store for you today, a new release by Fiona Tarr, a talented author!
Congratulations on your latest book!
Let's check out the details, shall we?
Book Info
Title: Deadly Deceit - Book 3 - Foxy Mysteries Series
Author: Fiona Tarr
Genre: Mystery/Crime Fiction/Romantic Suspense
Blurb:
How much will the truth cost?
When Liz Jeffreys changed career paths from high-class escort to PI, she knew it would be exciting. What she never expected was to be investigating the attempted murder of Detective Jack Cunningham’s powerful father—not after everything the corrupt Judge had done, especially sanctioning a hit on her.
Jack is close to cracking the case, until his apartment is raided by a specialist task force investigating outlaw motorcycle gangs. When they find drugs, Jack finds himself on suspension and under investigation. Despite their past and his father’s history with Liz, Jack must turn to her to clear his name and solve his father’s case.
With their budding relationship heating up, Liz will do anything to uncover who framed Jack and help clear his name. But is she willing to lay her life on the line to save his father, after everything he’s done?
Curl up, grab a cuppa and indulge yourself with this mystery, slow burn romantic suspense novel. For lovers of J.D Robb, Janet Evanovich and Melinda Leigh.
Release Date: December 1, 2021
Genre: Mystery/Crime Fiction/Romantic Suspense
Sounds like quite a reading experience here!
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/mlEqPW
Title: Deadly Deceit - Book 3 - Foxy Mysteries Series
Author: Fiona Tarr
Genre: Mystery/Crime Fiction/Romantic Suspense
Blurb:
How much will the truth cost?
When Liz Jeffreys changed career paths from high-class escort to PI, she knew it would be exciting. What she never expected was to be investigating the attempted murder of Detective Jack Cunningham’s powerful father—not after everything the corrupt Judge had done, especially sanctioning a hit on her.
Jack is close to cracking the case, until his apartment is raided by a specialist task force investigating outlaw motorcycle gangs. When they find drugs, Jack finds himself on suspension and under investigation. Despite their past and his father’s history with Liz, Jack must turn to her to clear his name and solve his father’s case.
With their budding relationship heating up, Liz will do anything to uncover who framed Jack and help clear his name. But is she willing to lay her life on the line to save his father, after everything he’s done?
Curl up, grab a cuppa and indulge yourself with this mystery, slow burn romantic suspense novel. For lovers of J.D Robb, Janet Evanovich and Melinda Leigh.
Release Date: December 1, 2021
Genre: Mystery/Crime Fiction/Romantic Suspense
Sounds like quite a reading experience here!
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/mlEqPW
Also, book one, Death Beneath the Covers, is on sale for a limited time until December 7th, just for 99 cents!
Check out the whole series!
Don't miss this new release...
About author Fiona Tarr
Fiona's stories are Captivating, Bold, Passionate Suspense reads no matter the genre, from her Historical Fantasy to the most recent Mystery suspense series, these themes prevail.
It turns out writing is in the blood. Fiona's Great Uncle was Australian Literary author George Johnston (My Brother Jack) and although her style is different, her Uncle's social commentary tone is evident.
Fiona lives in Noosa Australia with her husband, and not far from her two adult sons. A self-confessed people watcher, Fiona loves to interpret body language and social cues, which you'll find evident in her character development.
Recently compared to Melinda Leigh and Janet Evanovich, Fiona's mystery/romantic suspense novels have been well received.
Join Fiona's Reader Team and discover what motivates her stories, the process she uses to research and to be the first to know about future releases. Just copy and paste this link. https://www.subscribepage.com/c8s0o4_copy
Links:
Bookbub profile
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/fiona-tarr
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/fionatarr.atime2write
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/fionatarr/
Website
http://www.atime2write.com.au
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8423164.Fiona_Tarr
It turns out writing is in the blood. Fiona's Great Uncle was Australian Literary author George Johnston (My Brother Jack) and although her style is different, her Uncle's social commentary tone is evident.
Fiona lives in Noosa Australia with her husband, and not far from her two adult sons. A self-confessed people watcher, Fiona loves to interpret body language and social cues, which you'll find evident in her character development.
Recently compared to Melinda Leigh and Janet Evanovich, Fiona's mystery/romantic suspense novels have been well received.
Join Fiona's Reader Team and discover what motivates her stories, the process she uses to research and to be the first to know about future releases. Just copy and paste this link. https://www.subscribepage.com/c8s0o4_copy
Links:
Bookbub profile
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/fiona-tarr
https://www.facebook.com/fionatarr.atime2write
https://www.instagram.com/fionatarr/
Website
http://www.atime2write.com.au
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8423164.Fiona_Tarr
Wow, this looks riveting!
Thanks for stopping by to tell us about your new release, Fiona. Get your copy of this romantic suspense novel, readers!
Thanks for stopping by to tell us about your new release, Fiona. Get your copy of this romantic suspense novel, readers!
Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age guest article here.
Hi, readers! We have a real treat in store for you today, a spotlight on a book by Angela Terry, a talented author!
Angela, an author I met on my journey, has a blog tour running right now.
Let's check out the details, shall we?
From Charming Falls Apart author Angela Terry comes a story about finding the courage to face your past, be true to your heart, and live your best life.
"From the very first page, I was hooked on this tale of heartbreak, self-discovery, and one woman's charming determination to turn lemons into lemonade. Fans of Emily Giffin and Lauren Weisberger will love this engaging and entertaining debut!"―Meg Donohue, USA Today best-selling author of You, Me, and the Sea
"The Trials of Adeline Turner is a fast-paced tale of dating in your 30s and learning to trust your inner voice. Brimming with wit, banter, romance and heart, it has all the ingredients of the perfect beach read. I was charmed!" ―Lindsay Cameron, award-winning author of BIGLAW and Just One Look
A career-driven early thirty-something, Adeline is climbing the law firm ladder and navigating the roulette of “tall, dark and toxic” bachelors in the Chicago dating scene when opportunities new and old fall in her lap on a business trip to sunny California. Book clubs and fans of women’s fiction will enjoy cheering for Adeline Turner as she navigates the twists and turns of her newly complicated life in this fun, heartwarming novel.
The Trials of Adeline Turner: A Novel
By Angela Terry
A FUN AND CHARMING STORY OF REINVENTION, THIS CHARACTER-DRIVEN NOVEL IS THE PERFECT BEACH READ
Anyone who’s ever reminisced about their unrequited first love or longed for a shakeup just when they thought they were settled will love the charming and fun story of Adeline Turner. A career-driven early thirty-something, Adeline is climbing the law firm ladder and navigating the roulette of “tall, dark and toxic” bachelors in the Chicago dating scene when opportunities new and old fall in her lap on a business trip to sunny California. Book clubs and fans of women’s fiction will devour The Trials of Adeline Turner by Angela Terry.
Risk-averse Adeline uncharacteristically takes the leap into a new life in San Francisco. But a suddenly messy romantic life and suspicions of an office sabotage threaten to derail her high-flying future before it’s off the ground. Without the safety net of her old life in Chicago, Addie must become her own advocate and learn that people aren’t always what they seem. Does the key to having the future she desires lie in uncovering the truth of the past?
“Like my character, I moved from Chicago to San Francisco as an adult and had to go through the process creating a new life and friendships,” Terry says. “I want my stories to illuminate the importance of being true to yourself and finding what makes you happy – which often involves getting out of your comfort zone, letting go of any old stories that hold you back, and listening to your heart.”
Fans of Sophie Kinsella, Lauren Weisberger and Emily Giffin’s iconic Something Borrowed and Something Blue novels will adore The Trials of Adeline Turner.
Title: The Trials of Adeline Turner
Author: Angela Terry
Release Date: October 19, 2021
Publisher: Girl Friday Books
Genre: Women's Fiction
Pages: 277
"From the very first page, I was hooked on this tale of heartbreak, self-discovery, and one woman's charming determination to turn lemons into lemonade. Fans of Emily Giffin and Lauren Weisberger will love this engaging and entertaining debut!"―Meg Donohue, USA Today best-selling author of You, Me, and the Sea
"The Trials of Adeline Turner is a fast-paced tale of dating in your 30s and learning to trust your inner voice. Brimming with wit, banter, romance and heart, it has all the ingredients of the perfect beach read. I was charmed!" ―Lindsay Cameron, award-winning author of BIGLAW and Just One Look
A career-driven early thirty-something, Adeline is climbing the law firm ladder and navigating the roulette of “tall, dark and toxic” bachelors in the Chicago dating scene when opportunities new and old fall in her lap on a business trip to sunny California. Book clubs and fans of women’s fiction will enjoy cheering for Adeline Turner as she navigates the twists and turns of her newly complicated life in this fun, heartwarming novel.
The Trials of Adeline Turner: A Novel
By Angela Terry
A FUN AND CHARMING STORY OF REINVENTION, THIS CHARACTER-DRIVEN NOVEL IS THE PERFECT BEACH READ
Anyone who’s ever reminisced about their unrequited first love or longed for a shakeup just when they thought they were settled will love the charming and fun story of Adeline Turner. A career-driven early thirty-something, Adeline is climbing the law firm ladder and navigating the roulette of “tall, dark and toxic” bachelors in the Chicago dating scene when opportunities new and old fall in her lap on a business trip to sunny California. Book clubs and fans of women’s fiction will devour The Trials of Adeline Turner by Angela Terry.
Risk-averse Adeline uncharacteristically takes the leap into a new life in San Francisco. But a suddenly messy romantic life and suspicions of an office sabotage threaten to derail her high-flying future before it’s off the ground. Without the safety net of her old life in Chicago, Addie must become her own advocate and learn that people aren’t always what they seem. Does the key to having the future she desires lie in uncovering the truth of the past?
“Like my character, I moved from Chicago to San Francisco as an adult and had to go through the process creating a new life and friendships,” Terry says. “I want my stories to illuminate the importance of being true to yourself and finding what makes you happy – which often involves getting out of your comfort zone, letting go of any old stories that hold you back, and listening to your heart.”
Fans of Sophie Kinsella, Lauren Weisberger and Emily Giffin’s iconic Something Borrowed and Something Blue novels will adore The Trials of Adeline Turner.
Title: The Trials of Adeline Turner
Author: Angela Terry
Release Date: October 19, 2021
Publisher: Girl Friday Books
Genre: Women's Fiction
Pages: 277
BLURB:
From Charming Falls Apart author Angela Terry comes a story about finding the courage to face your past, be true to your heart, and live your best life. Fans of Sophie Kinsella and Emily Giffin will enjoy cheering for Adeline Turner as she navigates the twists and turns of her newly complicated life in this fun, heartwarming novel.
Thirty-three-year-old corporate attorney Adeline Turner has built her adult life around stability. Her professional life is thriving, but her personal life . . . not so much. Deep down she wants more, but finds it’s easier to brush aside her dreams and hide behind her billable hours. That is, until a new client and a chance encounter with her high school crush have her taking leaps she never planned. Suddenly, unadventurous, nose-to-the-grindstone Adeline finds herself moving across the country from her predictable life in Chicago to San Francisco, falling into messy romantic situations, and trying to unravel an office-sabotage plot before it ruins her career.
Without the safety net of her old life in Chicago, Adeline must become her own advocate and learn that people aren’t always who they seem. Which makes her wonder if the key to having the future she desires lies in uncovering the truth of the past.
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57934079-the-trials-of-adeline-turner
BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-trials-of-adeline-turner-by-angela-terry
Purchase links:
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Trials-Adeline-Turner-Angela-Terry-ebook/dp/B08XKJW6V9/
Universal Reader Link: https://books2read.com/u/mlEgBq
MORE ABOUT THE BOOK:
Intriguing! Let's chat with the author for a bit...
Angela, nice to have you here on Writing in the Modern Age! Glad you could stop by!
From Charming Falls Apart author Angela Terry comes a story about finding the courage to face your past, be true to your heart, and live your best life. Fans of Sophie Kinsella and Emily Giffin will enjoy cheering for Adeline Turner as she navigates the twists and turns of her newly complicated life in this fun, heartwarming novel.
Thirty-three-year-old corporate attorney Adeline Turner has built her adult life around stability. Her professional life is thriving, but her personal life . . . not so much. Deep down she wants more, but finds it’s easier to brush aside her dreams and hide behind her billable hours. That is, until a new client and a chance encounter with her high school crush have her taking leaps she never planned. Suddenly, unadventurous, nose-to-the-grindstone Adeline finds herself moving across the country from her predictable life in Chicago to San Francisco, falling into messy romantic situations, and trying to unravel an office-sabotage plot before it ruins her career.
Without the safety net of her old life in Chicago, Adeline must become her own advocate and learn that people aren’t always who they seem. Which makes her wonder if the key to having the future she desires lies in uncovering the truth of the past.
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57934079-the-trials-of-adeline-turner
BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-trials-of-adeline-turner-by-angela-terry
Purchase links:
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Trials-Adeline-Turner-Angela-Terry-ebook/dp/B08XKJW6V9/
Universal Reader Link: https://books2read.com/u/mlEgBq
MORE ABOUT THE BOOK:
Intriguing! Let's chat with the author for a bit...
Angela, nice to have you here on Writing in the Modern Age! Glad you could stop by!
Angela: Hi, thanks for inviting me!
Marie Lavender (host): Sure! So, Who do you think is the ideal reader for The Trials of Adeline Turner?
Author Angela Terry: Generally, this book is for anyone who enjoys voice-driven, contemporary escapist women’s fiction. Specifically, this book is for someone who may be like Adeline, where they might have a successful career, but want more in their personal life. And, of course, this book is for anyone who still thinks about their first crush and wonders, “What if?” (although, sometimes the dream is better than the reality!).
Marie: You’re a big fan of “chick lit”. What are your feelings about that name for the niche of fun and flirty women’s voices?
Angela: The first “chick-lit” book I read was Bridget Jones’s Diary, and it introduced me (and a generation) to books about women who were going through similar issues as I was in my twenties and thirties. I was navigating and balancing my career, dating, family and friends, and asking the question of, “What do I want my life to look like?”. These books were usually told in a light, entertaining, first-person voice, and the characters felt real to me. So, while I know the term has fallen out of favor over the years, it still has a soft spot in my heart.
My books have been called rom-com, chick lit, and women’s fiction. I personally consider my books to be women’s fiction, since they focus more on the emotional growth of my heroine towards a more fulfilled self. But I also love a good happily-ever-after. So, if my novel is hanging out on the rom-com table, I’m happy with that because I just want readers to be able to discover my books.
Marie: What books and authors have inspired you?
Angela: The first chick-lit book I read was Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding, and from there I was hooked on these lighter tone, voice-driven, confessional type of stories. From there, I read Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series, and I absolutely loved, and still love, Jane Green’s novels, which have evolved from early chick lit to women’s fiction.
Emily Giffin’s books, though, finally gave me that push to start writing my own books. When returning home from a vacation, I had picked up Something Blue at the airport and devoured it in one sitting. I love how honest and complicated her characters are, and how effortless her writing style seems. When I turned the book over to read her biography, which read, “After practicing litigation at a Manhattan firm for several years, she moved to London to write full time…”, it struck me that hers was the first “attorney bio” I read where I thought, “I want to do that!” That was the moment I decided to commit to my writing.
Marie: Where is your favorite place to read?
Angela: My favorite place to read would be my sofa with my cats. But where I get the most reading done would be at airports and on airplanes. I’m terrified of flying, and so I will save up books to read for my flight to have something to look forward to. Now I can’t wait to get to the airport and will be at my gate two hours early to catch up on my reading.
Marie: How has the pandemic affected your reading (and writing) habits?
Angela: In the beginning of the pandemic, I found it hard to concentrate on reading and writing. But thanks to my book club and being introduced to the Bookstagram community, I managed to get back my reading mojo. Though I will say, I found myself reaching for lighter, uplifting reads during this time.
The pandemic also affected my writing. Normally, whenever I get stuck on a scene, I like to go for a walk or head to a coffee shop. Seeing people on the street and eavesdropping on conversations always gives me new inspiration. With shelter-in-place, I found myself watching television a lot more to study people’s expressions, as well as voice inflections and cadence for dialogue purposes.
Marie: I know what you mean. My reading and writing habits were affected too.
In any case, it was such a pleasure to have you here today. ♥
Emilia: For myself as well. Thanks for allowing me to visit!
Marie: Of course! Hope to see you back here sometime...
(Waves goodbye to her guest.)
Readers, how about a look inside Angela's new release?
Let's check out an excerpt!
Since I’ll be gone for almost a week and had to bring a full lineup of suits, business casual, and sportswear, I have to go through the whole ordeal of checking luggage. After handing my suitcase to the airline clerk and receiving my luggage tag, I smile, say thank you, and turn around while readjusting my tote bag on my shoulder. As I do, I run smack into a blue shirt.
“Ow, sorry,” I say apologetically. “I should really look where I’m going.”
“No problem.” A deep male voice laughs as he places his hands on my elbows, obviously trying to stop me from running him over. “Are you okay?”
As I’m standing there rubbing the tip of my nose, something about his voice strikes a chord inside me and I look up.
Whoa! This man is beautiful, and his smile is even more so, and I stumble a little as I take a small step back.
“Yeah, thanks. Sorry again for my clumsiness!” I answer laughingly, embarrassed.
“No problem.”
He releases my elbows, and I move aside as he goes up to the check-in counter.
Away from the line, I recombobulate myself, pulling my tote back onto my shoulder. I’m a little shaky, though, and feel a flush spreading across my chest. I sneak a look at the back of the man I just bumped into. Very tall and fit-looking with a gorgeous head of hair. The most perfect shade of chestnut, it’s thick and a little wavy and flops in all the right directions. He’s running his hand through it as he waits for the airline clerk. He’s looking around now. Mmm . . . what nice, strong-looking shoulders. Oh wait, he’s looking at me! Probably because I’m staring at him. Oops! I give a half smile, and just as I turn around to head to security, the clerk says, “Thank you, Mr. Summers,” and I freeze.
I know this man!
My flush escapes my crewneck to my cheeks, and I’m freaking out—not so much that I know him, but at my reaction. Am I sweating? One half of me wants to get the hell out of here, but the other half, the deer in the headlights, is rooted to the spot. Even if I wanted to run, my legs are like Jell-O and I’m too shaken to even try to take a step.
The blue shirt appears in front of me again. “Hi,” Brad says.
Brad Summers, my unrequited high school crush, is standing in front of me eighteen years later.
***
When we reach the Starbucks, we order our coffee, and Brad kindly says, “Here, let me get this. It’s nice to see an old friend.” The fifteen-year-old girl inside me swoons. If he considers his plain former neighbor an old friend, who am I to argue?
We sit down at a table and begin firing off more questions. Would you believe that my beloved Brad is, of all things, a real estate attorney? Who would have guessed? Especially since, let’s be honest, most attorneys are pretty bland personality-wise. But Brad is nothing like that. He’s funny and charming, and his eyes sparkle when he laughs. I’m dying to ask him, And why aren’t you married? but we stay on nonromantic conversation points, such as where we went to school, why we decided to become attorneys, and what our chosen career would be if we could do anything and not worry about finances. (He’d renovate houses full-time, and I’d be a writer, and yes, we both would travel.) Throughout the conversation, I simply bask in the warmth of his smile and the full focus of his attention. At some point, though, I glance at my watch and realize I need to get to my gate now.
“Shoot. I better go if I want to catch my flight,” I say with definite disappointment in my voice.
He in turn looks at his watch. “Oh, yeah, you better get a move on.”
We both stand up at the same time. “Yes, well, it was really great running into you. Have a good flight,” I say.
“Yeah. You too.”
I’m about to reach out to shake his hand, but then I figure, what the hell? He did say earlier I was an old friend, right? So I lean in and give him a hug. A hug that lingers a little too long. But as I feel the warmth of his skin rising and catch a delicious scent of cologne/aftershave, I don’t want to let go, ever.
So...what are other readers saying about The Trials of Adeline Turner?
Marie Lavender (host): Sure! So, Who do you think is the ideal reader for The Trials of Adeline Turner?
Author Angela Terry: Generally, this book is for anyone who enjoys voice-driven, contemporary escapist women’s fiction. Specifically, this book is for someone who may be like Adeline, where they might have a successful career, but want more in their personal life. And, of course, this book is for anyone who still thinks about their first crush and wonders, “What if?” (although, sometimes the dream is better than the reality!).
Marie: You’re a big fan of “chick lit”. What are your feelings about that name for the niche of fun and flirty women’s voices?
Angela: The first “chick-lit” book I read was Bridget Jones’s Diary, and it introduced me (and a generation) to books about women who were going through similar issues as I was in my twenties and thirties. I was navigating and balancing my career, dating, family and friends, and asking the question of, “What do I want my life to look like?”. These books were usually told in a light, entertaining, first-person voice, and the characters felt real to me. So, while I know the term has fallen out of favor over the years, it still has a soft spot in my heart.
My books have been called rom-com, chick lit, and women’s fiction. I personally consider my books to be women’s fiction, since they focus more on the emotional growth of my heroine towards a more fulfilled self. But I also love a good happily-ever-after. So, if my novel is hanging out on the rom-com table, I’m happy with that because I just want readers to be able to discover my books.
Marie: What books and authors have inspired you?
Angela: The first chick-lit book I read was Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding, and from there I was hooked on these lighter tone, voice-driven, confessional type of stories. From there, I read Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series, and I absolutely loved, and still love, Jane Green’s novels, which have evolved from early chick lit to women’s fiction.
Emily Giffin’s books, though, finally gave me that push to start writing my own books. When returning home from a vacation, I had picked up Something Blue at the airport and devoured it in one sitting. I love how honest and complicated her characters are, and how effortless her writing style seems. When I turned the book over to read her biography, which read, “After practicing litigation at a Manhattan firm for several years, she moved to London to write full time…”, it struck me that hers was the first “attorney bio” I read where I thought, “I want to do that!” That was the moment I decided to commit to my writing.
Marie: Where is your favorite place to read?
Angela: My favorite place to read would be my sofa with my cats. But where I get the most reading done would be at airports and on airplanes. I’m terrified of flying, and so I will save up books to read for my flight to have something to look forward to. Now I can’t wait to get to the airport and will be at my gate two hours early to catch up on my reading.
Marie: How has the pandemic affected your reading (and writing) habits?
Angela: In the beginning of the pandemic, I found it hard to concentrate on reading and writing. But thanks to my book club and being introduced to the Bookstagram community, I managed to get back my reading mojo. Though I will say, I found myself reaching for lighter, uplifting reads during this time.
The pandemic also affected my writing. Normally, whenever I get stuck on a scene, I like to go for a walk or head to a coffee shop. Seeing people on the street and eavesdropping on conversations always gives me new inspiration. With shelter-in-place, I found myself watching television a lot more to study people’s expressions, as well as voice inflections and cadence for dialogue purposes.
Marie: I know what you mean. My reading and writing habits were affected too.
In any case, it was such a pleasure to have you here today. ♥
Emilia: For myself as well. Thanks for allowing me to visit!
Marie: Of course! Hope to see you back here sometime...
(Waves goodbye to her guest.)
Readers, how about a look inside Angela's new release?
Let's check out an excerpt!
Since I’ll be gone for almost a week and had to bring a full lineup of suits, business casual, and sportswear, I have to go through the whole ordeal of checking luggage. After handing my suitcase to the airline clerk and receiving my luggage tag, I smile, say thank you, and turn around while readjusting my tote bag on my shoulder. As I do, I run smack into a blue shirt.
“Ow, sorry,” I say apologetically. “I should really look where I’m going.”
“No problem.” A deep male voice laughs as he places his hands on my elbows, obviously trying to stop me from running him over. “Are you okay?”
As I’m standing there rubbing the tip of my nose, something about his voice strikes a chord inside me and I look up.
Whoa! This man is beautiful, and his smile is even more so, and I stumble a little as I take a small step back.
“Yeah, thanks. Sorry again for my clumsiness!” I answer laughingly, embarrassed.
“No problem.”
He releases my elbows, and I move aside as he goes up to the check-in counter.
Away from the line, I recombobulate myself, pulling my tote back onto my shoulder. I’m a little shaky, though, and feel a flush spreading across my chest. I sneak a look at the back of the man I just bumped into. Very tall and fit-looking with a gorgeous head of hair. The most perfect shade of chestnut, it’s thick and a little wavy and flops in all the right directions. He’s running his hand through it as he waits for the airline clerk. He’s looking around now. Mmm . . . what nice, strong-looking shoulders. Oh wait, he’s looking at me! Probably because I’m staring at him. Oops! I give a half smile, and just as I turn around to head to security, the clerk says, “Thank you, Mr. Summers,” and I freeze.
I know this man!
My flush escapes my crewneck to my cheeks, and I’m freaking out—not so much that I know him, but at my reaction. Am I sweating? One half of me wants to get the hell out of here, but the other half, the deer in the headlights, is rooted to the spot. Even if I wanted to run, my legs are like Jell-O and I’m too shaken to even try to take a step.
The blue shirt appears in front of me again. “Hi,” Brad says.
Brad Summers, my unrequited high school crush, is standing in front of me eighteen years later.
***
When we reach the Starbucks, we order our coffee, and Brad kindly says, “Here, let me get this. It’s nice to see an old friend.” The fifteen-year-old girl inside me swoons. If he considers his plain former neighbor an old friend, who am I to argue?
We sit down at a table and begin firing off more questions. Would you believe that my beloved Brad is, of all things, a real estate attorney? Who would have guessed? Especially since, let’s be honest, most attorneys are pretty bland personality-wise. But Brad is nothing like that. He’s funny and charming, and his eyes sparkle when he laughs. I’m dying to ask him, And why aren’t you married? but we stay on nonromantic conversation points, such as where we went to school, why we decided to become attorneys, and what our chosen career would be if we could do anything and not worry about finances. (He’d renovate houses full-time, and I’d be a writer, and yes, we both would travel.) Throughout the conversation, I simply bask in the warmth of his smile and the full focus of his attention. At some point, though, I glance at my watch and realize I need to get to my gate now.
“Shoot. I better go if I want to catch my flight,” I say with definite disappointment in my voice.
He in turn looks at his watch. “Oh, yeah, you better get a move on.”
We both stand up at the same time. “Yes, well, it was really great running into you. Have a good flight,” I say.
“Yeah. You too.”
I’m about to reach out to shake his hand, but then I figure, what the hell? He did say earlier I was an old friend, right? So I lean in and give him a hug. A hug that lingers a little too long. But as I feel the warmth of his skin rising and catch a delicious scent of cologne/aftershave, I don’t want to let go, ever.
So...what are other readers saying about The Trials of Adeline Turner?
Image by Tomislav Kaučić from Pixabay.
"This novel has a delightful rom com tone which is fun and easy to read, but doesn’t let itself be boxed into common tropes. Adeline Turner has no life-balance and a less than perfect romantic life, but other than that she has it all together—the sought after legal job on a track to partnership, a father who’s proud of her, a client who’s impressed, and soon a job offer to move to San Francisco.
So she’s well-grounded, that is until she runs into her unrequited high school crush, who reappears in real life. She’s way too old (in her thirties) and is too much of a professional to be blushing and flushing over a fellow lawyer, but yes, she is. And she’s embarrassed about it and trying hard to keep her professional and personal lives separate.
Add in a subplot of corporate intrigue and backstabbing, and leaving her best friend and confidante behind in Chicago and Adeline has plenty to deal with.
I enjoyed the balanced tone of this book. It covers real questions around regrets and whether we take chances on love, but in a lighthearted way that’s enjoyable to read.
A truly satisfying read." -- L Cameron, Amazon
"A Charming Slice-of-Life Read. Give me a delightful heroine, an engaging journey of self-discovery, and a healthy dose of romance and I’ll give you my undivided attention. That’s exactly what happened when I picked up Angela Terry’s new novel, The Trials of Adeline Turner.
I’m always craving those delicious slice-of-life tales of women finding their way through new friendships, work drama, and the complex world of dating, and The Trials of Adeline Turner perfectly satisfied that sweet spot. Angela Terry’s writing is fresh, funny, and sharp, and in Adeline, she has created a character that I not only rooted and felt for, but that I wanted to hang out with. Like Adeline, I never knew what was going to happen, and through all of the ups and downs, I just loved being along for the ride.
If you’re looking for a book about finding your way, coming to terms with the past, and braving the way towards a new future, don’t miss out on The Trials of Adeline Turner." -- Stephanie Burns, Amazon
"I took to Adeline immediately. She’s a Chicago lawyer, merely existing, but asking too much from life. Suddenly, she has a career opportunity and also a potential crush turns real. While a good attorney, Adeline has a lot to learn in the People department. Adeline finally comes to realizations in her life and takes action. She doesn’t just settle, although that would be the easy way out. I liked that she was a Midwesterner and it was home for her. It’s a great read." -- J.K., Amazon
Wow, this book sounds so compelling!
Readers, you'll have to check out this read! Or, add it to your Goodreads bookshelf or save it to your BookBub wishlist!
Looks awesome to me! :)
Thanks so much, Angela!
Let's also give kudos to Angela's sponsor:
Grab a copy of this one, everyone.
Thank you for letting us know all about your women's fiction novel. It sounds like quite a read!
So she’s well-grounded, that is until she runs into her unrequited high school crush, who reappears in real life. She’s way too old (in her thirties) and is too much of a professional to be blushing and flushing over a fellow lawyer, but yes, she is. And she’s embarrassed about it and trying hard to keep her professional and personal lives separate.
Add in a subplot of corporate intrigue and backstabbing, and leaving her best friend and confidante behind in Chicago and Adeline has plenty to deal with.
I enjoyed the balanced tone of this book. It covers real questions around regrets and whether we take chances on love, but in a lighthearted way that’s enjoyable to read.
A truly satisfying read." -- L Cameron, Amazon
"A Charming Slice-of-Life Read. Give me a delightful heroine, an engaging journey of self-discovery, and a healthy dose of romance and I’ll give you my undivided attention. That’s exactly what happened when I picked up Angela Terry’s new novel, The Trials of Adeline Turner.
I’m always craving those delicious slice-of-life tales of women finding their way through new friendships, work drama, and the complex world of dating, and The Trials of Adeline Turner perfectly satisfied that sweet spot. Angela Terry’s writing is fresh, funny, and sharp, and in Adeline, she has created a character that I not only rooted and felt for, but that I wanted to hang out with. Like Adeline, I never knew what was going to happen, and through all of the ups and downs, I just loved being along for the ride.
If you’re looking for a book about finding your way, coming to terms with the past, and braving the way towards a new future, don’t miss out on The Trials of Adeline Turner." -- Stephanie Burns, Amazon
"I took to Adeline immediately. She’s a Chicago lawyer, merely existing, but asking too much from life. Suddenly, she has a career opportunity and also a potential crush turns real. While a good attorney, Adeline has a lot to learn in the People department. Adeline finally comes to realizations in her life and takes action. She doesn’t just settle, although that would be the easy way out. I liked that she was a Midwesterner and it was home for her. It’s a great read." -- J.K., Amazon
Wow, this book sounds so compelling!
Readers, you'll have to check out this read! Or, add it to your Goodreads bookshelf or save it to your BookBub wishlist!
Looks awesome to me! :)
Thanks so much, Angela!
Let's also give kudos to Angela's sponsor:
Grab a copy of this one, everyone.
Thank you for letting us know all about your women's fiction novel. It sounds like quite a read!
Angela Terry is an attorney who formerly practiced intellectual property law at large firms in Chicago and San Francisco. She is also a Chicago Marathon legacy runner and races to raise money for PAWS Chicago—the Midwest’s largest no-kill shelter. She resides in San Francisco with her husband and two cats and enjoys throwing novel-themed dinner parties for her women’s fiction book club. Her debut novel, Charming Falls Apart, is a 2021 Independent Press Awards Winner, 2021 IPBA Benjamin Franklin Awards Finalist, and 2020 Best Book Awards Finalist.
Author links:
http://www.angelaterry.com/
http://www.facebook.com/angelaterryauthor
http://www.instagram.com/angelaterryauthor
http://www.twitter.com/angelaterrylit
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20487515.Angela_Terry
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/angela-terry
Thanks for stopping by to let us know about your new release, Angela! ♥
Author links:
http://www.angelaterry.com/
http://www.facebook.com/angelaterryauthor
http://www.instagram.com/angelaterryauthor
http://www.twitter.com/angelaterrylit
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20487515.Angela_Terry
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/angela-terry
Thanks for stopping by to let us know about your new release, Angela! ♥
Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age guest article here.
7 Ways to Recover Your Writing Motivation:
an admin article by Marie Lavender
There are times when life just gets in the way. At the least, the chaos of it can interfere with a writer's creativity. Getting caught in the daily grind will sap a writer of his or her energy over time, eventually leading to that dreaded situation we call 'writer's block'.
Big life events can sometimes block your creative juices. Whether the dilemma comes from grief from losing a family member, significant depression, or just a general malaise after being too busy, all of these might contribute to an artist feeling like there's just no point to writing. Or, that they can no longer get things going on their own. One would consider the Covid crisis a serious motivator, but for some of us...that just didn't happen.
Yet, it is not a weakness to ask for help, at any time. There are numerous resources that can refuel your creativity, to try to get you back on the right path.
No matter which genre you usually love to write, if you're desperate to regain that motivation you used to have, some options are within reach. I will list several below.
1. Take a Break.
Jonnelle Yankovich, Unsplash.
If you're stuck on a certain scene or chapter of your work in progress, perhaps it's best to get some much needed distance and gain a little perspective. Go for a nature walk. The solution will come to you in time.
Another option would be to switch projects, even focus on another story for a while just so that you're not wracking your brain with limited results.
2. Do Writing Exercises.
If you've taken any writing workshops or classes (even if you're a self-taught writer), you are probably familiar with this approach. And at this point, it might even seem a bit sophomoric. But I would urge you to go always go back to the basics if you're struggling with writer's block. It's not that you've forgotten how writing works. That's just not possible. No, it's more important to keep an open mind, to consider different ways of thinking if you intend to regain your writing motivation.
By using an option such a writing prompt, you're retraining your fingers to write based on an idea which is given to you rather than going after a project you came up with in the first place. You're actually letting those creative juices flow instead of getting all bogged down in the notion that there is an end goal to it, such as publication. In all likelihood, most writing exercises are for your benefit alone. Maybe now and then, you'll find a snippet you can use for a future project. But this is more to practice writing, to get your head out of the game. Stop thinking and start writing. See where it takes you. You might be surprised at what comes out of a writing prompt. Or maybe you would like to take a writing class. In any case, I hope you find the joy for writing again. So I would suggest that any writer have a journal on hand, even if all you do is write down the random things that you think about.
There are other types of writing exercises as well - brainstorming, freewriting, and the list just goes on. Do various approaches, and stay open to trying different mediums or genres. If you usually write fiction, write an essay one day. Or write a poem. Doing something so out of the ordinary may make you uncomfortable, but keep in mind that other people likely won't see it, so you don't need to feel exposed. The point here is that you're trying something new, which opens your mind further and helps you regain your writing motivation.
Use these links below to learn more about some exercises you can do to jumpstart your creativity again.
www.pw.org/writing-prompts-exercises
thewritepractice.com/short-story-ideas/
blog.reedsy.com/short-story-ideas/
blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/general/
www.servicescape.com/blog/301-short-story-ideas-guaranteed-to-kick-your-writing-into-high-gear
www.odysseyworkshop.org/writing-tips/
blog.prepscholar.com/creative-writing-prompts
getfreewrite.com/blogs/writing-success/writing-prompts-60-ideas-you-can-use-today
Another option would be to switch projects, even focus on another story for a while just so that you're not wracking your brain with limited results.
2. Do Writing Exercises.
If you've taken any writing workshops or classes (even if you're a self-taught writer), you are probably familiar with this approach. And at this point, it might even seem a bit sophomoric. But I would urge you to go always go back to the basics if you're struggling with writer's block. It's not that you've forgotten how writing works. That's just not possible. No, it's more important to keep an open mind, to consider different ways of thinking if you intend to regain your writing motivation.
By using an option such a writing prompt, you're retraining your fingers to write based on an idea which is given to you rather than going after a project you came up with in the first place. You're actually letting those creative juices flow instead of getting all bogged down in the notion that there is an end goal to it, such as publication. In all likelihood, most writing exercises are for your benefit alone. Maybe now and then, you'll find a snippet you can use for a future project. But this is more to practice writing, to get your head out of the game. Stop thinking and start writing. See where it takes you. You might be surprised at what comes out of a writing prompt. Or maybe you would like to take a writing class. In any case, I hope you find the joy for writing again. So I would suggest that any writer have a journal on hand, even if all you do is write down the random things that you think about.
There are other types of writing exercises as well - brainstorming, freewriting, and the list just goes on. Do various approaches, and stay open to trying different mediums or genres. If you usually write fiction, write an essay one day. Or write a poem. Doing something so out of the ordinary may make you uncomfortable, but keep in mind that other people likely won't see it, so you don't need to feel exposed. The point here is that you're trying something new, which opens your mind further and helps you regain your writing motivation.
Use these links below to learn more about some exercises you can do to jumpstart your creativity again.
www.pw.org/writing-prompts-exercises
thewritepractice.com/short-story-ideas/
blog.reedsy.com/short-story-ideas/
blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/general/
www.servicescape.com/blog/301-short-story-ideas-guaranteed-to-kick-your-writing-into-high-gear
www.odysseyworkshop.org/writing-tips/
blog.prepscholar.com/creative-writing-prompts
getfreewrite.com/blogs/writing-success/writing-prompts-60-ideas-you-can-use-today
Jazmin Quaynor, Unsplash.
3. Start a Writing Schedule.
I know this sounds rather ambitious, especially when you're suffering from writer's block. But it does help to schedule a slot which is dedicated to your writing. Even if all you do is freewrite a bunch of nonsense or only focus on the research portion of your project, you will feel a greater sense of accomplishment by checking this one off your weekly list.
Try to schedule in at least some writing time. Experiment to determine which time of the day best fits your life, and especially your creativity. Perhaps you feel more of a spark in the evening. Or maybe it comes in the morning after your first cup of coffee. Some of you have probably done this before. Assume nothing. It is okay if your preferred time has changed after so many years. Whichever works for you, go for it.
Can't do it twice a week? No problem. Try for once per week, at a twenty-minute sprint. Don't push yourself too much if you're not ready yet.
I know this sounds rather ambitious, especially when you're suffering from writer's block. But it does help to schedule a slot which is dedicated to your writing. Even if all you do is freewrite a bunch of nonsense or only focus on the research portion of your project, you will feel a greater sense of accomplishment by checking this one off your weekly list.
Try to schedule in at least some writing time. Experiment to determine which time of the day best fits your life, and especially your creativity. Perhaps you feel more of a spark in the evening. Or maybe it comes in the morning after your first cup of coffee. Some of you have probably done this before. Assume nothing. It is okay if your preferred time has changed after so many years. Whichever works for you, go for it.
Can't do it twice a week? No problem. Try for once per week, at a twenty-minute sprint. Don't push yourself too much if you're not ready yet.
Kelly Sikkema, Unsplash.
4. Break It Down and Battle Your Fear.
Pare your project down into much smaller, more manageable tasks. This works for other parts of your life as well. Sometimes looking at the bigger picture can overwhelm you, which hinders rather than helps.
If I'm in the writing zone, the last thing I want to do is to look up all the finer details of a character's career or life. Instead, I jot down a few notes in parentheses. That way, I know to go back later and do some research. Unless those little facets which you need to fill in motivate you to write more (some historical photographs can be motivating for a historical writer, for instance), make a note to look it up at a future time, perhaps after the bulk of your writing is done. The muse will thank you, I promise.
But let's focus on the smaller tasks. How can we avoid letting fear paralyze us into a standstill? That's right. Some of writer's block is caused by fear of the unknown, or fear that we're not good enough. We must stop thinking of that project in terms of 'I need to finish my novel', but more along the lines of announcing these small, manageable details aloud. "Today, I will get one paragraph done on that scene I've been putting off." We also have to stop trying to be perfect. Don't edit right now, just write.
Wow...did you give yourself permission to write a paragraph? How about just a sentence? Whatever is possible for you that day, try it. If you're motivated to keep going, then write until you feel the taut string has broken. A spurt of creativity can be exhausting. It's time to rest and start all over again the next day. Or even next week. The key is to avoid placing so much pressure on yourself that you can't function. Ballooning too many goals as a writer can cause it to happen.
I tend to make lists, just to remind myself of what needs to be done. And once I've marked off two or three, I realize that I'm actually making more progress than I realized.
Pare your project down into much smaller, more manageable tasks. This works for other parts of your life as well. Sometimes looking at the bigger picture can overwhelm you, which hinders rather than helps.
If I'm in the writing zone, the last thing I want to do is to look up all the finer details of a character's career or life. Instead, I jot down a few notes in parentheses. That way, I know to go back later and do some research. Unless those little facets which you need to fill in motivate you to write more (some historical photographs can be motivating for a historical writer, for instance), make a note to look it up at a future time, perhaps after the bulk of your writing is done. The muse will thank you, I promise.
But let's focus on the smaller tasks. How can we avoid letting fear paralyze us into a standstill? That's right. Some of writer's block is caused by fear of the unknown, or fear that we're not good enough. We must stop thinking of that project in terms of 'I need to finish my novel', but more along the lines of announcing these small, manageable details aloud. "Today, I will get one paragraph done on that scene I've been putting off." We also have to stop trying to be perfect. Don't edit right now, just write.
Wow...did you give yourself permission to write a paragraph? How about just a sentence? Whatever is possible for you that day, try it. If you're motivated to keep going, then write until you feel the taut string has broken. A spurt of creativity can be exhausting. It's time to rest and start all over again the next day. Or even next week. The key is to avoid placing so much pressure on yourself that you can't function. Ballooning too many goals as a writer can cause it to happen.
I tend to make lists, just to remind myself of what needs to be done. And once I've marked off two or three, I realize that I'm actually making more progress than I realized.
Goxy Photography, Unsplash.
Try to celebrate each of those smaller tasks that you accomplish. Reward yourself if you can. Maybe by getting that paragraph - or even three - written, you have allowed yourself more time to go read a book for fun. And enjoying the simple pleasures in life will contribute to regaining your motivation in general.
5. Use Your Powers of Observation.
People-watching can be an inspiring pastime, and you don't have to be a stalker in the process. Covertly observing others, perhaps when you're at a coffee shop or shopping in a mall or grocery store, can offer numerous rewards. You will learn about how people actually talk and behave. Therefore, you can add these fascinating details to your story. Casually listen in on conversations - without being creepy, of course. Just observe the way people act, their gestures, and especially any emotions. Maybe they become more elated while talking about something which excites them. Or they raise their voice when they're angry. Little details such as these can inform your manuscript, and it can't hurt to make a note of them.
Try a writing exercise...
Take a conversation you heard or at least that person's behavior, and write a small scene about it. To avoid any awkwardness, you should probably pick something you noticed about a stranger. Describe everything in full detail. See where it takes you next.
6. Don't Be So Stubborn.
Try not to assume you know everything about the latest project you're obsessed with. Maybe what blocked you in the first place is a major plot hole, or you just don't know enough about your main characters to see beyond the spot where you stopped writing. Do some brainstorming to see where else the story can go from here. List possible scenarios. Listen to your characters, see what they're telling you. I find that helps immensely. Maybe the main character is trying to pull you in a specific direction. I am often not fully in control of the whole story, and I know to keep an open mind.
Just don't get bogged down in the 'what if?' syndrome. Trust your gut and your characters.
In any case, I often found that most of my bouts of writer's block had more to do with getting in my own way. And that can be debilitating. It's especially tough when your stubbornness has more to do with those little insecurities we don't like to think about.
"I can't write because I don't know what I'm doing."
Who does? We all start from scratch with writing, and learn along the way.
"I can't write because this genre is too new to me, and readers will notice that."
So? Don't think about the end product right now. Just get the story out. If you really feel blocked, do some research about the genre to give yourself a little background, then try all over again.
"I can't write because I don't have the time."
Make the time, even if it's five minutes out of your all-too-busy schedule.
The truth is that you're making excuses, and letting the dumb devil on your shoulder do all the talking. Get out of your own way, and jump into the story. Let your fingers write with your favorite pen, or just type without any pressure. Don't even think about where it's all supposed to go. Focus on the task at hand. Eventually, you'll get to the next page, and then the next, and so on and so forth.
7. Practice, Practice, Practice.
Keep practicing with writing prompts or other techniques (or use the story ideas you currently have) off and on until it becomes old hat, until those random ideas for scenes or books start popping back into your head again. Don't focus on just one yet, at least until you're ready to go full force into it. And you'll know when it's time to return to your manuscript, unless you already have. The trick here is to try to recover your passion for writing again.
If you're still at a loss, I'll throw out another writing prompt here.
You discover your new neighbor is actually from another planet. How did you find out, and what will you do next? Use first person or third person point-of-view. Feel free to write a story, an essay, a poem, or whatever medium you like to answer this prompt. Add the piece to your journal. Wait a week, then go back and reread it to see if you notice anything worth saving for a story idea.
Hope that helps! :)
Feeling stuck? Consider the aforementioned solutions to bring back your writing mojo.
5. Use Your Powers of Observation.
People-watching can be an inspiring pastime, and you don't have to be a stalker in the process. Covertly observing others, perhaps when you're at a coffee shop or shopping in a mall or grocery store, can offer numerous rewards. You will learn about how people actually talk and behave. Therefore, you can add these fascinating details to your story. Casually listen in on conversations - without being creepy, of course. Just observe the way people act, their gestures, and especially any emotions. Maybe they become more elated while talking about something which excites them. Or they raise their voice when they're angry. Little details such as these can inform your manuscript, and it can't hurt to make a note of them.
Try a writing exercise...
Take a conversation you heard or at least that person's behavior, and write a small scene about it. To avoid any awkwardness, you should probably pick something you noticed about a stranger. Describe everything in full detail. See where it takes you next.
6. Don't Be So Stubborn.
Try not to assume you know everything about the latest project you're obsessed with. Maybe what blocked you in the first place is a major plot hole, or you just don't know enough about your main characters to see beyond the spot where you stopped writing. Do some brainstorming to see where else the story can go from here. List possible scenarios. Listen to your characters, see what they're telling you. I find that helps immensely. Maybe the main character is trying to pull you in a specific direction. I am often not fully in control of the whole story, and I know to keep an open mind.
Just don't get bogged down in the 'what if?' syndrome. Trust your gut and your characters.
In any case, I often found that most of my bouts of writer's block had more to do with getting in my own way. And that can be debilitating. It's especially tough when your stubbornness has more to do with those little insecurities we don't like to think about.
"I can't write because I don't know what I'm doing."
Who does? We all start from scratch with writing, and learn along the way.
"I can't write because this genre is too new to me, and readers will notice that."
So? Don't think about the end product right now. Just get the story out. If you really feel blocked, do some research about the genre to give yourself a little background, then try all over again.
"I can't write because I don't have the time."
Make the time, even if it's five minutes out of your all-too-busy schedule.
The truth is that you're making excuses, and letting the dumb devil on your shoulder do all the talking. Get out of your own way, and jump into the story. Let your fingers write with your favorite pen, or just type without any pressure. Don't even think about where it's all supposed to go. Focus on the task at hand. Eventually, you'll get to the next page, and then the next, and so on and so forth.
7. Practice, Practice, Practice.
Keep practicing with writing prompts or other techniques (or use the story ideas you currently have) off and on until it becomes old hat, until those random ideas for scenes or books start popping back into your head again. Don't focus on just one yet, at least until you're ready to go full force into it. And you'll know when it's time to return to your manuscript, unless you already have. The trick here is to try to recover your passion for writing again.
If you're still at a loss, I'll throw out another writing prompt here.
You discover your new neighbor is actually from another planet. How did you find out, and what will you do next? Use first person or third person point-of-view. Feel free to write a story, an essay, a poem, or whatever medium you like to answer this prompt. Add the piece to your journal. Wait a week, then go back and reread it to see if you notice anything worth saving for a story idea.
Hope that helps! :)
Feeling stuck? Consider the aforementioned solutions to bring back your writing mojo.
Blogger Bio
Multi-genre author of Victorian maritime romance/family saga, Heiresses in Love, and 18 other books. Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and two cats. She has been writing for a little over twenty-five years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands. Since 2010, Marie has published 21 books in the genres of historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, romantic comedy, dramatic fiction, fantasy, science fiction, mystery/thriller, literary fiction and poetry. An avid blogger on the side, she writes adult fiction, as well as occasional stories for children, and has recently started some young adult fiction. She also contributed to several anthologies. Though Marie has standalone titles on the market, her current published series are The Eternal Hearts Series, The Magick Series, The Code of Endhivar Series, The Misfits Series, The Blood at First Sight Series, and The Heiresses in Love Series. but she has many others planned. Her Victorian maritime romance sequels are returning, and the second editions of the trilogy will be released soon under her new publisher, Foundations Books. Discover more about her and her work at the following links.
List of Links:
https://linktr.ee/marielavender1
Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age book spotlight here.
Six Methods to Find Your Own Unique Writing Style:
a guest post by Joel Foster
Writing does not come easy to many people, and it can be hard to write down thoughts on paper. As prolific writer Stephen King said, “The scariest moment is always just before you start.”
For extra inspiration, we highly recommend any writer reads On Writing by Stephen King. Many of his films can also be watched online to get a collective taste of his style of plot writing.
Where to start is always the biggest hurdle writers face. As you begin, set the intention to write in your own voice as if you are speaking to someone instead of writing.
In this article, we’ve put together some methods that will help anyone find their unique writing style.
Write about What You Know
The best way to finesse your own unique way of writing is to write about something you know well. It can be about a hobby, work, friends, or anything you are knowledgeable about.
Write about subjects that you know best. You won't have to research the topic, and the words will flow from your mind to the paper. This way of writing ensures that your voice will be the only one in the article.
You can use this as practice until you find your own writing style. Just like we all don’t speak the same way, we don’t all have the same voice when we write. When writing about a hobby, pick a very specific part of that hobby and write about it in detail.
Photo by Rirri on Unsplash
Write about Experiences
Writing about experiences is another excellent way to practice writing and finding a unique writing style. Pick any experience from your life and write about it. It can be a non-fictional account of something you experienced with all of the details.
It can also be turned into a creative fictional story. Just by picking an experience from your past, you can embellish the story, add characters and write what you feel. When it comes to writing, imagination can be a powerful tool.
Many successful fiction writers take parts of their life experiences to use in their creative writing. Use people that you have known and use them in your stories. For example, J.K. Rowling based Professor Snape after a chemistry teacher she had in school years before she wrote the Harry Potter series.
Photo by Lucas Vasques on Unsplash
Describe a Scene
Everyone sees a scene or a picture differently. Write about a scene outside the window, or find an image and describe it in your own words. Describing a scene or picture helps you find your own unique way of writing.
Photo by Pat Whelen on Unsplash
A picture might evoke different memories or emotions in each person. When a writer describes a picture or scene, that person's emotions and memories will be a part of the description. Make it as descriptive as possible. The better the description, the more a unique writing style will emerge.
Talk in Your Writing
Writing should be just like talking to someone. Just because it is a written work doesn’t mean the tone of vocabulary has to be changed. When you write about your experiences or describing something, write about it as if you were explaining it to someone sitting across the table from you.
Photo by Jessica Da Rosa on Unsplash
Write as if you were talking to a friend. You wouldn’t talk down to them, be dull or feel you have to use complex vocabulary for the sake of it. The narrative would be descriptive. Most people don’t talk to a friend or a group of people using big words that have to be looked up in a dictionary. And writing should be the same way.
Freewriting
Freewriting is sitting down and writing whatever comes to mind. It can be fiction or nonfiction. The point of this exercise is to sit down and write. Most writers like to set a time limit, but other writers write until they finish their thoughts. Those that use a timer use freewriting as a warm-up, before more focused writing. Freewriting can be done every day. A great resource is Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, which encourages a practice called Morning Pages where you freewrite in the morning as a way to unlock creativity.
Photo by Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash
Writers use this freewriting technique to come up with new inspirations and ideas. What you write can be as crazy as you like. It’s amazing how many new ideas can come out of this exercise! Freewriting is usually fast since there is no pre-planned topic to write about, just what comes to mind.
Freewriting is also an excellent way to overcome writer’s block. There is no need to worry about grammar or spelling. When finished, look over what was written. There could be nuggets of gold in there! Or, you might find you like the way you've used certain words in sentences. Using free writing will help writers find their own unique style of writing.
Read Out Loud
Reading your work out loud is much better than just seeing the words on paper. You will hear your style of writing and how you formed the sentences and the words you use. When you hear something you don’t like, change it until you do.
By hearing your words, you will learn to recognize what sounds good and what doesn’t. Experiment with different sentences, phrases and words. This is how to develop a unique writing style. Read books to see how other writers have developed their own particular style of writing. Some of the best writers are also avid book readers.
Guest Blogger Bio
Joel is a freelance writer who writes about entertainment, novels, technology, business and film.
Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age blog article here.
As the new year approaches, it's hard not to look back on what occurred in 2013. At least with regards to my own writing career and the Writing in the Modern Age blog, a lot has happened. Reflection is my topic for today.
My writing journey really began years ago, but the turning point was in August of 2012 when Solstice Publishing accepted the manuscript for Upon Your Return, a historical romance. The book is available now, and I recently signed a contract for a paranormal romance with them as well. I am very lucky to still be with such a talented group of professionals and authors at Solstice. I have also done quite a bit of self-publishing in my career. I have published 17 books total. This year, I went back and redid all of the covers on my books. I also released a new book, Leather and Lace, a romantic suspense, in November. Some of my books are shown on the right side of the blog here, but you can see a whole list along with the covers on my website.
Let's move on to the blog! Though Writing in the Modern Age had its roots in 2010, the true idea for the blog didn't really take shape until after Upon Your Return was published in February. I always knew I should have a blog. I actually had two, Writing the Modern Age, of course, and Marie Lavender's Books. I didn't use them too often, just blogged whenever the idea struck me, whenever I had a message to impart about writing or publishing. I think I always had a clear plan for Writing in the Modern Age, however. The goal was to have a place to talk about writing, to encourage would-be authors to keep at it.
I have learned a lot about writing both from practice and from my courses through school, especially when I pursued Creative Writing in college. I also learned about the necessity for community, a group of people willing to encourage one another in their own talents. Since I started self-publishing in 2010, I have learned a lot about that as well, but that is a discussion for another time.
With Writing in the Modern Age, I wanted to create a haven for authors and even writers who hadn't been published to come for advice. But, let's broaden that a bit, shall we? A blog should target a bigger audience. When my publisher suggested I start a blog, I only had to choose which one to focus on since they were already launched. When I read about the idea of guest blogs and author interviews, I realized it could be for the readers of books too. I wanted readers of any genre to come to the blog. The project became really exciting. I put the word out, hoping I would get a bite. In the meantime, I started writing ablog post or two of my own.
Then suddenly, I had a stroke of luck. People wanted to be heard. And why not? Everyone wants to feel like they have something useful to tell the world.
In any case, my blog schedule began to fill up pretty quick. I am so grateful to Stefan Vucak for being the first guest author on the blog. Since then, I have found his articles and interviews both on the blog and elsewhere to be very helpful. As I started gathering more writers for the blog, the advice they offered became exponential. From the first guest author this year, Stefan Vucak, to the last one we just had, Murray Alfredson, we have had writers from all walks of life and writers from numerous genres. I don't know how many times people approached me and said, "I want to do something on the blog, but I don't write romance." So? We're all writers! Let's band together.
I want to go back to that word "community" again. In running the blog, I have met so many fellow authors and writers, many I have created friendships with. I guess that is the nice thing about social networking. You meet people you wouldn't have met otherwise. I have always respected my fellow writers. There is room for all of us in the marketplace. We all have different journeys and backgrounds, but we want the same thing - to be published, of course, but also to gain some kind of community with other writers and readers. I think we need support in any profession. Why not with writing as well?
Before I digress any further, I want to say that Writing in the Modern Age has come a long way since its inception. We offer author interviews, articles about writing, book promotions and poetry spotlights.
As the blog took shape since the first guest author post in March of 2013, I have truly enjoyed reading all of the articles, responses to interview questions and poetry appearing on the blog. Writing in the Modern Age would not have been the success it is without its authors and contributors. So, thank you all for making this a wonderful venture. It has been such a lovely ride. All of your advice to fellow writers has been just as useful to me, and I have discovered some new favorite authors in the process.
In June, I opened the blog up to poetry. I had always dabbled in poetry a bit and I loved reading it. After connecting with a few poets and joining a Facebook poetry group, I suddenly saw a need to exhibit such lovely work on the blog as well. Since then, our poetry spotlights have really taken on a life of their own. Some poets have even offered to explain their poetry styles and I didn't hesitate to include that in their posts.
I really have to thank you all again. Each time I post a new interview, article or set of poems, I get a little thrill of excitement. The experience of being an administrator for Writing in the Modern Age has been truly rewarding for me. I think the whole purpose of the blog for me has been to give back to readers and fellow writers in some way. What better way is there to do that than to give everyone a moment of their own? This is also one of the reasons I only do interviews on Mondays and guest posts on Fridays. It gives readers a chance to see each post if they missed it the day it posted, and time to comment. That is one more thing I have enjoyed. I love to see readers commenting on authors' posts. It tells me I have done my job trying to promote the author.
I can't say enough how rewarding this experience has been. It has also helped me keep up on my alternate blog, Marie Lavender's Books. I have met so many fascinating people through the process of maintaining the Writing in the Modern Age blog. My close writer friends know who they are. I'm sure we might have met somewhere down the line, but to meet through this kind of venture was so fun. There are so many talented people appearing on the blog.
As the year comes to a close, I want to draw attention to some wonderful, gifted writers. You have all made the blog a complete success. People are joining and looking at the blog all the time. Writing in the Modern Age is your creation too!
Readers, feel free to subscribe for future posts and look back through the archives for all the posts from our fascinating writers. For a faster search, look up the hashtag #WritModAge on Twitter for past posts.
Here is a list of our spotlighted writers this year as well as links to find them and their books:
My writing journey really began years ago, but the turning point was in August of 2012 when Solstice Publishing accepted the manuscript for Upon Your Return, a historical romance. The book is available now, and I recently signed a contract for a paranormal romance with them as well. I am very lucky to still be with such a talented group of professionals and authors at Solstice. I have also done quite a bit of self-publishing in my career. I have published 17 books total. This year, I went back and redid all of the covers on my books. I also released a new book, Leather and Lace, a romantic suspense, in November. Some of my books are shown on the right side of the blog here, but you can see a whole list along with the covers on my website.
Let's move on to the blog! Though Writing in the Modern Age had its roots in 2010, the true idea for the blog didn't really take shape until after Upon Your Return was published in February. I always knew I should have a blog. I actually had two, Writing the Modern Age, of course, and Marie Lavender's Books. I didn't use them too often, just blogged whenever the idea struck me, whenever I had a message to impart about writing or publishing. I think I always had a clear plan for Writing in the Modern Age, however. The goal was to have a place to talk about writing, to encourage would-be authors to keep at it.
With Writing in the Modern Age, I wanted to create a haven for authors and even writers who hadn't been published to come for advice. But, let's broaden that a bit, shall we? A blog should target a bigger audience. When my publisher suggested I start a blog, I only had to choose which one to focus on since they were already launched. When I read about the idea of guest blogs and author interviews, I realized it could be for the readers of books too. I wanted readers of any genre to come to the blog. The project became really exciting. I put the word out, hoping I would get a bite. In the meantime, I started writing ablog post or two of my own.
Then suddenly, I had a stroke of luck. People wanted to be heard. And why not? Everyone wants to feel like they have something useful to tell the world.
In any case, my blog schedule began to fill up pretty quick. I am so grateful to Stefan Vucak for being the first guest author on the blog. Since then, I have found his articles and interviews both on the blog and elsewhere to be very helpful. As I started gathering more writers for the blog, the advice they offered became exponential. From the first guest author this year, Stefan Vucak, to the last one we just had, Murray Alfredson, we have had writers from all walks of life and writers from numerous genres. I don't know how many times people approached me and said, "I want to do something on the blog, but I don't write romance." So? We're all writers! Let's band together.
I want to go back to that word "community" again. In running the blog, I have met so many fellow authors and writers, many I have created friendships with. I guess that is the nice thing about social networking. You meet people you wouldn't have met otherwise. I have always respected my fellow writers. There is room for all of us in the marketplace. We all have different journeys and backgrounds, but we want the same thing - to be published, of course, but also to gain some kind of community with other writers and readers. I think we need support in any profession. Why not with writing as well?
Before I digress any further, I want to say that Writing in the Modern Age has come a long way since its inception. We offer author interviews, articles about writing, book promotions and poetry spotlights.
As the blog took shape since the first guest author post in March of 2013, I have truly enjoyed reading all of the articles, responses to interview questions and poetry appearing on the blog. Writing in the Modern Age would not have been the success it is without its authors and contributors. So, thank you all for making this a wonderful venture. It has been such a lovely ride. All of your advice to fellow writers has been just as useful to me, and I have discovered some new favorite authors in the process.
I really have to thank you all again. Each time I post a new interview, article or set of poems, I get a little thrill of excitement. The experience of being an administrator for Writing in the Modern Age has been truly rewarding for me. I think the whole purpose of the blog for me has been to give back to readers and fellow writers in some way. What better way is there to do that than to give everyone a moment of their own? This is also one of the reasons I only do interviews on Mondays and guest posts on Fridays. It gives readers a chance to see each post if they missed it the day it posted, and time to comment. That is one more thing I have enjoyed. I love to see readers commenting on authors' posts. It tells me I have done my job trying to promote the author.
I can't say enough how rewarding this experience has been. It has also helped me keep up on my alternate blog, Marie Lavender's Books. I have met so many fascinating people through the process of maintaining the Writing in the Modern Age blog. My close writer friends know who they are. I'm sure we might have met somewhere down the line, but to meet through this kind of venture was so fun. There are so many talented people appearing on the blog.
As the year comes to a close, I want to draw attention to some wonderful, gifted writers. You have all made the blog a complete success. People are joining and looking at the blog all the time. Writing in the Modern Age is your creation too!
Readers, feel free to subscribe for future posts and look back through the archives for all the posts from our fascinating writers. For a faster search, look up the hashtag #WritModAge on Twitter for past posts.
Here is a list of our spotlighted writers this year as well as links to find them and their books:
Our Posts from this Year
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/the-benefits-of-social-networking-by-marie-lavender
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/practical-advice-for-beginning-fiction-writers-by-stefan-vucak
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-stefan-vucak
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/the-teething-problems-of-becoming-a-writer-by-laura-graham
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-kc-sprayberry
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/how-to-write-a-book-by-dj-swykert
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-friday-abumere
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/social-networking-part-2-beware-by-marie-lavender
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-gail-picado
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/a-review-by-olga-sonia-davila
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-laura-graham
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/when-does-reality-affect-your-writing-by-marie-lavender
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-katemarie-collins
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/writing-is-a-choice-by-cj-heck
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-nancy-wood
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/why-do-we-write-fiction-by-andy-ruffett
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-tj-banks
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/changing-genres-by-robin-leigh-morgan
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-sarah-baethge
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/the-power-of-names-by-rebecca-l-frencl
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-penny-estelle
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/what-does-it-take-to-be-a-writer-by-katemarie-collins
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-branka-cubrilo
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/poetry-spotlight-pam-handa-on-hope-and-optimism
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-sally-carpenter
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/a-review-by-kathryn-elizabeth-jones
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-jessica-tornese
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/reflections-on-shameless-ambition-by-robert-fanshaw
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-rebecca-l-frencl
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/book-review-etiquette-by-paula-hrbacek
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-susan-mac-nicol
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/poetry-spotlight-pam-handa-on-love
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-steve-christie
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/poetry-spotlight-cj-heck-on-gentle-sensuality
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-dj-swykert
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/how-to-make-your-characters-believable-by-stefan-vucak
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-elaine-c-pereira
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-dyspraxic-writer-by-rosemary.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/interview-with-author-cj-heck.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/poetry-spotlight-pallavi-pissay-on-love.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/interview-with-author-aubrey-brown.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/white-magic-results-from-speaking-your.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/interview-with-author-lois-w-stern.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/developing-believable-characters-by.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/interview-with-author-michele-harvey.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/poetry-spotlight-jeffrey-gonell-on-love.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/interview-with-author-mira-prabhu.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/descriptions-by-catherine-y.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/interview-with-author-ann-morris_6447.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/writing-without-worry-by-kathryn.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/interview-with-author-edie-hart.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/poetry-spotlight-lance-sheridan-on.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/interview-with-author-kristal.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/how-to-avoid-slush-pile-by-stefan-vucak.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/interview-with-author-linda-lee-williams.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/book-review-for-mira-prabhu.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-with-author-nina-soden.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/book-review-for-rita-plushs-alterations.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-with-author-shannon-macleod.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/learning-to-let-go-of-our-characters-by.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-with-author-stefan-vucak.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/poetry-spotlight-michele-harvey-on.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-with-author-adra-young.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/reality-and-fiction-by-dj-swykert.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/interview-with-author-marianne-petit.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/poetry-spotlight-michele-harvey.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/interview-with-author-katemarie-collins.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/poetry-spotlight-pam-handa-on-dreams.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/interview-with-author-rita-plush.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/five-tips-on-creating-believable.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/interview-with-author-dj-swykert.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/point-of-view-by-catherine-y.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/interview-with-author-lannah-sawers.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/secrets-inside-and-outside-mystery-box.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/poetry-spotlight-jeffrey-gonell-on-love_13.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/interview-with-author-maxine-flam.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/poetry-spotlight-murray-alfredson-on.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/interview-with-author-l-anne-carrington.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/poetry-spotlight-mark-randolph-conte.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/interview-with-author-murray-alfredson.html
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/practical-advice-for-beginning-fiction-writers-by-stefan-vucak
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-stefan-vucak
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/the-teething-problems-of-becoming-a-writer-by-laura-graham
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-kc-sprayberry
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/how-to-write-a-book-by-dj-swykert
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-friday-abumere
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/social-networking-part-2-beware-by-marie-lavender
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-gail-picado
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/a-review-by-olga-sonia-davila
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-laura-graham
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/when-does-reality-affect-your-writing-by-marie-lavender
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-katemarie-collins
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/writing-is-a-choice-by-cj-heck
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-nancy-wood
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/why-do-we-write-fiction-by-andy-ruffett
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-tj-banks
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/changing-genres-by-robin-leigh-morgan
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-sarah-baethge
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/the-power-of-names-by-rebecca-l-frencl
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-penny-estelle
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/what-does-it-take-to-be-a-writer-by-katemarie-collins
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-branka-cubrilo
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/poetry-spotlight-pam-handa-on-hope-and-optimism
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-sally-carpenter
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/a-review-by-kathryn-elizabeth-jones
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-jessica-tornese
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/reflections-on-shameless-ambition-by-robert-fanshaw
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-rebecca-l-frencl
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/book-review-etiquette-by-paula-hrbacek
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-susan-mac-nicol
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/poetry-spotlight-pam-handa-on-love
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-steve-christie
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/poetry-spotlight-cj-heck-on-gentle-sensuality
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-dj-swykert
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/how-to-make-your-characters-believable-by-stefan-vucak
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-elaine-c-pereira
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-dyspraxic-writer-by-rosemary.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/interview-with-author-cj-heck.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/poetry-spotlight-pallavi-pissay-on-love.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/interview-with-author-aubrey-brown.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/white-magic-results-from-speaking-your.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/interview-with-author-lois-w-stern.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/developing-believable-characters-by.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/interview-with-author-michele-harvey.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/poetry-spotlight-jeffrey-gonell-on-love.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/interview-with-author-mira-prabhu.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/descriptions-by-catherine-y.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/interview-with-author-ann-morris_6447.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/writing-without-worry-by-kathryn.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/interview-with-author-edie-hart.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/poetry-spotlight-lance-sheridan-on.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/interview-with-author-kristal.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/how-to-avoid-slush-pile-by-stefan-vucak.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/interview-with-author-linda-lee-williams.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/book-review-for-mira-prabhu.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-with-author-nina-soden.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/book-review-for-rita-plushs-alterations.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-with-author-shannon-macleod.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/learning-to-let-go-of-our-characters-by.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-with-author-stefan-vucak.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/poetry-spotlight-michele-harvey-on.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-with-author-adra-young.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/reality-and-fiction-by-dj-swykert.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/interview-with-author-marianne-petit.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/poetry-spotlight-michele-harvey.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/interview-with-author-katemarie-collins.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/poetry-spotlight-pam-handa-on-dreams.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/interview-with-author-rita-plush.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/five-tips-on-creating-believable.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/interview-with-author-dj-swykert.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/point-of-view-by-catherine-y.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/interview-with-author-lannah-sawers.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/secrets-inside-and-outside-mystery-box.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/poetry-spotlight-jeffrey-gonell-on-love_13.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/interview-with-author-maxine-flam.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/poetry-spotlight-murray-alfredson-on.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/interview-with-author-l-anne-carrington.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/poetry-spotlight-mark-randolph-conte.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/interview-with-author-murray-alfredson.html
Once again, thank you all for making this year on Writing in the Modern Age amazing! :)
Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age blog post here.
Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age blog post here.
How to Make Your Characters Believable:
a guest post by Stefan Vucak
People are quirky, unpredictable, emotional, and often cannot be relied upon. Governed by the environment within which they live, knowledge accumulated over years of learning, whether formal or through personal endeavor, and simply interacting with others, an individual is a complex matrix of what it means to be human. Above all things, people are self-centered, always looking for that angle which will make them come ahead—that quick fix to bypass the necessary hard work in-between. That’s why we gamble.
Standing on a busy street corner, waiting for the lights to change so I can cross, I am bemused by the sight of pedestrians hurrying, dawdling, or completely distracted with faces buried in a smart phone crossing the other way. There are tall people, skinny ones, some not so, Caucasian, Asian; all sorts. Some are wearing smiles, while others scowl, and there are those who seem to be stooped like they are bearing the load of the world on their shoulders. The teens skip gaily, chatting to each other and laughing, looking on us oldsters as incomprehensible cubes, wondering what all the fuss is about.
So, what’s with the philosophical sideline? Believe it or not, there is a point. Purse your lips and ask yourself if you have really looked at a stranger lately, and simply from his appearance tried to work out his personality, social status, mannerisms, identifying marks? If you can see them, does he have brown eyes or blue ones or green? Is his face round, square, long, gaunt, plump? Does he walk with confident strides or is he hesitant, his eyes darting suspiciously as he pushes through the crowd? Is he carrying anything? If so, what is it? Does it help you identify him? On an instinctive level, do you like him or do the hairs on the back of your neck tingle at the sight of him?
Are you starting to get the broader picture? Do you observe people or does the mass of humanity simply slide past your consciousness as you hurry across the street, your mind focused on whatever it is you need to do? Finishing that chapter you’ve been struggling with, perhaps? The struggle caused because your main character, and maybe the whole cast, is somewhat two-dimensional, a nobody, and you cannot quite figure out why? Then again, you might be thinking: I don’t need to describe my characters; the story is good enough to carry them. You could be right. You could also be wrong, you know.
Deciding how to portray characters in your writing can be a contributing factor in producing a great book, or something that’s okay for a once off read. Every book has two basic components: action sequences and characters who do the action or have action done unto them. Many books rely on action alone, and some do it with superb craftsmanship. Others get into a character’s mind and never let you leave it. That can be entertaining and enthralling—if done well. But how can you tell whether your characters are genuinely alive and real? Simple, really. Think of a recent book you have read and ask yourself this. Do the characters stand out? If so, why? Or are they cardboard cutouts who cannot utter a coherent sentence? It is an instinctive thing anyone can spot. Unfortunately, many writers can spot it in someone else’s book, but are unable to see it in their own writing.
All right, how do you make your characters believable? Before you even start writing that epic, you need a detailed outline, a story skeleton on which you’ll hang the words. Part of writing that outline will require that you line up your cast and stare at them, then pick those that will star in your book. Think of a casting director for a movie. Your cast will be determined by the type of book you are writing. Is it a love story, a techno thriller, a murder mystery, a convoluted spy thriller, a tearjerker? Are you looking for action men, sleuths, hard-boiled gumshoes, sleazy womanizers, or just mean guys? What does this process do for you? Whether you realize it or not, and you should, you are taking a first step toward making your characters believable. You are thinking of them as individuals with personalities.
To make every member of your cast a living person, you need a police profile that goes something like this:
- Height
- Weight
- Complexion
- What color eyes
- Does he chomp his food, or is he a dainty gentleman
- Does he swear
- What is his normal behavior: tense, relaxed, awkward, sharp…
- Special mannerisms, use of phrases, habits…
I think you are starting to get the idea. Why such a profile you might ask? For one thing, it will crystallize that character in your own mind. Whenever you write about him, the character will always behave consistently, true to himself. Any deviation will not be looked on favorably by your readers. There is nothing more irritating than reading on one page the character is five foot ten, and later, he is six feet two, or something like that. You may never employ all of the character’s profile in the book, so why bother? What this does is makes the character live, which is the important thing. He becomes a close friend, or an enemy. You will like him or you won’t. Either way, you will know this character, and so will your readers. If someone asks you to describe your sister, brother, mother or friend, you can readily spew out the words with hardly a pause. In the same way, you must be able to handle your characters in your writing.
Remember that cardboard cutout? He is a cutout simply because the writer doesn’t know him. He is a complete stranger, and he comes across as such to readers. That’s all there is to it. Well, there is a bit more, of course. That more being the dialogue.
You cannot handle a novel with a character not having to say anything—unless he is a Robinson Crusoe. Since there are no more unoccupied coral islands where someone can get away from it all and clam up, your characters will have to say something sometime. What they say and how they say it will go a long way toward making them real and believable, or two-dimensional cutout dummies. Some writers can handle dialogue with natural skills, while others agonize. How do you master dialogue? Grab one of your favorite books and check the dialogue. Why do you like it, and does your dialogue come anywhere close? If not, what can you do about it? That’s simple, but involves some sweat on your part. You are a writer, right? So, practice writing dialogue until it becomes second nature. Never mind about what, just write. Think of the last conversation you had with someone and write the ensuing dialogue. When you read it, does every aspect of that episode come through? And I am not talking only about what was said, but how it was said, what emotion was displayed, gestures, tone of voice, hidden meanings. If what you have written doesn’t match your memory, you obviously haven’t got it right. Give the piece to the person you had the conversation with and get his feedback.
If you have read this far, you are right to point out that there is much more to making your characters believable, but I hope I got you thinking and looking at your characters in a new light. By the way, get a professional editor to go over your writing. An impartial pair of eyes can do wonders for your novel.
Guest Blogger Bio
Stefan is an award-winning author of eight techno sci-fi novels, including With Shadow and Thunder which was a 2002 EPPIE finalist. His Shadow Gods Saga books have been highly acclaimed by critics. His political thriller, Cry of Eagles, won the coveted 2011 Readers Favorite silver medal award, and his All the Evils was the 2013 prestigious Eric Hoffer contest finalist.
Stefan leveraged a successful career in the Information Technology industry and applied that discipline to create realistic, highly believable storylines for his books. Born in Croatia, he now lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Links:
Website: http://www.stefanvucak.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StefanVucak
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stefanvucak
Shadow Gods Saga: Series Link
Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age blog article here.
My guest today is DJ Swykert. Hello, DJ! Welcome back to Writing in the Modern Age! It’s such a pleasure to have you here again.
Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book? When did it come out? Where can we get it?
My new book, The Death of Anyone, introduces readers to a DNA search technique not in common use here in the U.S., Familial DNA. A lot will be written on this subject as the real life trial of Lonnie David Franklin, The Grim Sleeper, unfolds in California this year. The book also introduces a new character for me, a female homicide detective. It's not the first time I've written from a female POV, but she's the first in this role. I’m hoping the book will appeal to an even broader audience than Children of the Enemy, or Alpha Wolves. There is a romance along with the mystery in the plot and some real science.
The Death of Anyone was released by Melange Books in Minneapolis the end of February. It’s available at: Melange Books, Lulu, Amazon, and Bookwire.
Is there anything that prompted your latest book? Something that inspired you?
I first heard about Familial DNA Searches while working as a 911 operator in 2006. It came up in a conversation with officers. I thought at the time it would make an interesting premise for a book. I began writing the mystery some three years later after leaving the department. I had just finished editing a first draft of The Death of Anyone in the summer 2010 when news of The Grim Sleeper’s capture in Los Angeles was released. I read with interest all the information pouring out of L.A. regarding the investigation and the problems confronting prosecutors. All of which are explored in The Death of Anyone.
This sounds fascinating!
So, when did you know you wanted to write? Or has it always been a pastime of yours?
I don’t know if I ever actually 'decided' to be a writer. I remember the first thing I wrote, a bad poem to a pretty girl, I was a teenager, and Tennyson’s "Flower in the Crannied Wall" gave me the idea to try my hand at poetry. I still recite Tennyson’s poem. I think my desire to try writing novels came from reading them, in particular Hemingway and Fitzgerald, and when I was younger, Mark Twain. I simply enjoyed the storytelling, and think I inherited a little storytelling ability from my grandfather, who was really good at spinning a tale.
My grandmother did the same thing. LOL.
Do you have any favorite authors?
I’ve already kind of answered this; Tennyson, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Mark Twain. You can add Byron, Auden, Chekhov and Annie Proulx to the list. Oh, hell, there’s a host of great writers, my list could go on for pages. But these always have stuck in my head.
I know what you mean. I have WAY too many to count.
So, do you write in a specific place? Time of day?
Currently, I write mornings on a desk in the garret, as my girlfriend calls it, on the third floor of our townhouse. But I’ve written just about anywhere I can find something to write with, even on a bunk in the Houghton County Jail, er… that was just once, for a short while on a traffic violation.
Are there any words you'd like to impart to fellow writers? Any advice?
Keep typing, and submitting. I believe in the old Hindu saying: Given enough time, coincidence is inevitable. There is a measure of coincidence in finding a home for your writing. You have to have skill, a good story, but also some luck. You can improve your odds by applying The Law of Large Numbers, which allows prey species to survive by reproducing in large numbers. Your writing can survive in the same way, get it out there, and keep putting it out there. Be productive. And keep your fingers crossed.
Good advice.
So, readers, here is the the blurb for The Death of Anyone.
Detroit homicide Detective Bonnie Benham has been transferred from narcotics for using more than arresting and is working the case of the killer of adolescent girls. CSI collects DNA evidence from the scene of the latest victim, which has not been detected on the other victims. But no suspect turns up in the FBI database. Due to the notoriety of the crimes a task force is put together with Bonnie as the lead detective, and she implores the D.A. to authorize an as yet unapproved type of a DNA Search in an effort to identify the killer. Homicide Detective Neil Jensen, with his own history of drug and alcohol problems, understands Bonnie’s frailty and the two detectives become inseparable as they track this killer of children.
Here's an excerpt from The Death of Anyone.
Benham arrived first, no sign of Russo or Jensen. She got a table and told the maitre de to send them over when they arrived, and that there would be a third party, a Detective Lagrow. As he seated Benham, the maitre de informed her, “The show starts at about 12:30 pm. We have a couple of new dancers."
Benham screwed up her nose, gave him a curious eye. “Dancers?”
The maitre de nodded. “Yes, belly dancers. We have a new one I’m sure your friends will appreciate. She’s very good-young, friendly.”
Benham just shook her head. ”I’m sure they will,” she said as she sat.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
Whoa, the brake in her head told her. You know you, you know your history. You know what a slip can do to you. Doctors, psychologists, treatment, rehab, counselors, AA, each and every one of them flashed across her head as her mind absorbed the offer. “Just a coke, or, actually, would you just bring me a black coffee.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Benham sipped her coffee and looked through her brief notes of the case. They were very brief, there was little to put in them. A young girl, perhaps ten, dead, strangled, almost for certain assaulted, lying in an alley for a few hours. And it had only been a few hours—Pierangeli seemed pretty sure she hadn’t been there long. She was found at around nine-thirty am, so she died maybe around eight am. She lay there, choked, defiled, beautiful, and dead, and nobody was looking for her. She had to have been taken pretty early this morning, so it’s been about five hours she’s been gone, and nobody loves her enough to miss her. Benham could feel the anger rising from within, from the source where feelings come from, from deeper but inclusive of the stomach, from the birthplace of emotion.
A hand touched her shoulder and startled her. “Me and Jensen are here, bring on the dancing girls,” Dean Russo bellowed, joyous almost, and that irritated Bonnie a little. There was nothing to be happy about this day.
“You’ll get your wish. The belly dancers will be here in a few,” Benham said, with a bit of obvious disdain that Russo picked up on.
“You picked the place.”
“Yeah, I know,” Bonnie answered, feeling a little sorry now she sounded so disapproving. “Yeah, I picked it. Didn’t think about belly dancers, but, hey, we’re here, and I love pastitio, and they have the best. Sorry if I sound pissy, it’s only because I am. Once you see the girl, you won’t be dancing in the street either.”
Russo quit laughing. “How long you been in homicide, Benham?”
Bonnie could see she rubbed something, “A couple of months.”
“You were in narcotics?”
“Yeah, I was in narcotics. I was in it and it—I was narcotic.”
There was a pause. Jensen looked across at Russo, glared a little, trying to shut him up with a look. And out of the corner of his eye let Bonnie know he saw her, too. He wanted her to keep this cool.
But it was a little late, and Bonnie was a bit volatile. “You know fucking well I was in narcotics. And you fucking know why I’m in homicide. I got myself transferred out for becoming more narcotic than narc. Quit beating around the bush. What’s your point?”
Universal Reader Link: https://books2read.com/u/4A52gA
Author Bio
I’m a blue collar person from Detroit. I’ve worked as a truck driver,dispatcher, logistics analyst, operations manager, and ten years as a 911operator, which was the very best job of them all. I write stories like you’d watch a movie and put them down on paper. I have written in different genres; crime, romance, literary and The Death of Anyone, which is a
mystery/suspense story with romance and science in it.
The last sentence in my writing bio is always: He is a wolf expert. I am not a biologist. I raised two arctic hybrids, had them for eleven years, and have written two books in which the wolves join the other protagonists.
I have been fortunate enough to have my writing appear in: The Tampa Review, Monarch Review, Sand Canyon Review, Zodiac Review, Scissors and Spackle, Spittoon, BarbaricYawp and BULL. The other books I have written are Children of the Enemy, a novel from Cambridge Books, and Alpha Wolves, a novel by Noble Publishing.
Links:
Blog: www.magicmasterminds.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/david.swykert?ref=ts&fref=ts
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=193494247
Other Links: http://www.gypsyartshow.com/2013/03/the-death-of-anyone-by-dj-swykert.html
http://www.omnimysterynews.com/2013/01/please-welcome-novelist-dj-swykert.html
Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age blog article here.
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