Writing for the Love

Halloween is Coming Soon... Photo by Felipe Vieira on Unsplash Spooky Stories of Real Night Terror Here in Florida, it's hard to tell that Autumn has arrived because the average temperature is still pushing ninety degrees. I had the chance to experience some true Fall weather on a trip to visit my in-laws who live in another state, and I enjoyed having a break from the heat. (Flights are cheap right now! There are some positives in 2020). Still, October feels like the right month to talk about things that are a little bit spooky. Photo by  Neven Krcmarek  on  Unsplash I'd like to share some personal stories about my Night Terrors . I'm calling them Night Terrors because I honestly don't know what else to call them. The fact is, I'm basically a sleepwalker, and over the years, it's gotten a little bit worse. I don't write much non-fiction. Typically, I write science fiction, fantasy, and inspirational stories, although I have written two horror stories. See ...

Free Story Download The Eyes of Mona Lisa Get your free ebook today through 8/21/2020 The Eyes of Mona Lisa Featured in The Masters Reimagined Vol. 2 SINGLE STORY KINDLE EDITION What Happened 109 Years Ago This Week?

It's Launch Day! The Eyes of Mona Lisa Now in the Kindle Store Sneak Peak: Story Excerpt Below The Eyes of Mona Lisa Featured in The Masters Reimagined Vol. 2 SINGLE STORY KINDLE EDITION You're Invited Tonight! RSVP to the Facebook Virtual Launch Party From the Comfort of Home (6-9 PM) The Masters Reimagined Vol. 2 Speculative Twists on Classic Works of Art Join the authors of the Alvarium Experiment as we celebrate the launch of our newest project--all from the comfort of your home! Enjoy giveaways, Q&A's with the authors, and discussions about the eight stories inspired by classic works of art. So grab a drink, a snack, and all your burning questions for a fun night of winning prizes, connecting, and talking stories and art! Excerpt from The Eyes of Mona Lisa Lanea’s great-great-great-grandmother had been vague about the result of looking into 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘢 𝘓𝘪𝘴𝘢’s eyes except on one point. In the diary, she claimed to have seen ...

Which Line Hooks You? The Book: Little Angel Helper 1) A recently fired, down-on-his-luck accountant prepares to gamble the last of his savings in a desperate bid to pay off a loan shark. Meanwhile, a woman helping his special needs sister arrives in the wake of their parents’ death. She has limited time to persuade him to become his sister’s guardian. OR 2) After losing his job and his parents, a gambler must choose between abandoning his special needs sister or putting her in harm's way when loan sharks call in his debt. The first example was my first attempt, and the second example is where I ended up after reworking the line and receiving feedback from other writers. On a side note, if you're interested in the inspiration behind the book, here is a BLOG POST about how I originally wrote the story live on my blog and based one of the characters on my sister with special needs. The Evolution of the Logline for Little Angel Helper What is a Logline? Ph...

Official Launch 7/31/2020 The Eyes of Mona Lisa Featured in The Masters Reimagined Vol. 2 SINGLE STORY KINDLE EDITION If the entries in her great-great-great-grandmother's diary are true, twenty-year-old Lanea will see the future if she gazes into the eyes of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. When a special exhibit of the famed painting arrives at the National Gallery of Art in D.C., Lanea brings her best friend along on her quest to see if the visions are true, and what they may foretell. You're Invited! RSVP to the Facebook Virtual Launch Party 7/31/2020 from 6-9 PM The Masters Reimagined Vol. 2 Speculative Twists on Classic Works of Art Join the authors of the Alvarium Experiment as we celebrate the launch of our newest project--all from the comfort of your home! Enjoy giveaways, Q&A's with the authors, and discussions about the eight stories inspired by classic works of art. So grab a drink, a snack, and all your burning questions for a...

Saying YES If you read my last blog post called 20 Things For 2020 you probably noticed that I had one item (#4) regarding realistic writing goals. That includes saying "Yes" when I can. When a local author friend reached out to me about Blanton Elementary School's "Fall in Love with Reading" event, I was thrilled to be invited to give a presentation. This was my very first time coming to an elementary school as an author. A Special Night My presentation focused on the stars of my children's book, Lance the dog and Ringo the cat. I talked about how writing inspiration can come from real people (and pets!). The kids seemed to really enjoy my talk. And to my surprise, I sold several copies of Lance & Ringo Tails that night. Having never done an event like this before, I had no expectations regarding book sales, but was pleasantly surprised. BUY THE BOOK LISTEN TO THE PODCAST Another local author also gave a presentation. Davon...

A Fresh Start While I firmly believe that every morning is the opportunity for a fresh start, that sentiment is especially strong at the beginning of a new year. And I do realize the month of January has already come and gone. It's already February! One of the things I love about February is that it's my birthday month. This year for my birthday, I requested a writers retreat as my present. I signed up for the Realm Makers Winter Retreat here in Florida. I can't wait. What Does 2020 Have in Store? Things like writing retreats aren't necessarily easy to plan with a 2 year old, a husband, two pets, etc. But that's one of the reasons I came up with a list of 20 things that I'd like to focus on, accomplish, or even dream about in 2020. Most importantly, this list is limited to what I can control, not things that are out of my control. You said... It was so wonderful to hear from two of my dearest friends who responded to my email newsletter (which ...