What’s the first thing you notice about a book?

April Michelle Davis

What’s the first thing you notice about a book?

Now imagine yourself in a bookstore. You are looking for a good book. What about a book is going to pique your interest to make you pick it up? Possibly the cover art, the title, or the author? What’s the next thing you might look at?  The opening lines?  You open the book to the first page, and guess what? The opening lines are boring; they don’t grab your attention and make you want to read the book. So you toss the book aside and look for a new one.

Finding Bailey

On guard...Mastiff Bailey (left) and Anatolian Shepherd, Mouse (lying down,right) with the author and pet parent outside the ‘dog paddock’.  Mastiffs enjoy plenty of space to roam freely.  The shelter in the background is filled with straw, making an ideal retreat on chilly mornings.

Although I consider myself primarily an author of paranormal fiction, this Thanksgiving weekend, I was drawn to think of the many animals with whom I have had the privilege to share my home and my life with.  From ducks, terrapins, cats, dogs, ponies, hamsters and rabbits, all of whom have given so generously of themselves..leaving trails of vet bills, dog hair, puppy pee and endless paw prints across my wood floor and onto my heart.  For the blessings, the smiles and the borrowed time spent among my non-human angels, i thank you all.

Finding Bailey.

I was thirteen when I acquired my first English Mastiff.  His name was Chuckles and he lived quite happily for a number of years inside my head along with an assortment of other animals I was permitted to own; including three horses, several goats, a duck named Cactus Jack, and a couple of cows.  Cheap to keep, they required no feeding, no grande mansion and no offshore bank account. 

A Cup of Encouragement: An Excerpt

An Excerpt from A Cup of Encouragement - Inspiring Stories to Fill Your Cup

by Wendy Custer

Over the past few years when I have been discouraged, I find myself heading to visit my friend, Heather.  We always sit at the kitchen table and chat, and amidst the normal chaos of her life – small children, a million projects, meal preparations, phone ringing, etc. – I always find encouragement.  There is a peace, a calm that prevails over and above the mayhem.  Without fail when I am low, Heather always makes a cup of her tea and I sip on it while I share my sorrows. 

The Value of Thanksgiving

The Value of Thanksgiving by Tina Glasneck

When I was younger, Thanksgiving was always about people being dressed as turkeys and my mother standing in the kitchen for hours preparing what would be our delicious meal. Thanksgiving was a time when family and friends would come together; it was the starting point for the holiday season filled with well-wishes and thanks. As we grow older, sometimes the idea of getting together with family isn't as simple as a piece of sweet potato pie.

My Plethora of Ideas

Carin Casey

Readers have asked me where I get the ideas for my stories. Most story lines initially come from personal memories about people, places and/or events that I've either experienced myself or knew about during my lifetime.

For example, If I would think about the first time a friend disappointed me, I'd have to go back to grade school.

Writing is Therapy, and So Is a Book!

As an author of fiction and nonfiction, plus writing under my own name and a pseudonym too, people wonder if it can all be done. I’m here to tell you, YES! It’s all about what you want to write, and what I write I enjoy reading. As a child, I never thought I couldn’t write a story, I went ahead and did it. Been doing this since age 8. I loved reading books, but I wanted to make up my own adventures. So, that’s what I did. I wrote science fiction, scary, and animal stories. Like another author, June Pair Kilpatrick posted here back on November 13^th, it’s all about the ingredients and how you cook them to make that story.

What is the Process of Writing a Novel? Part 1

Chris Sorensen

One of my readers asked me last week, "How do you get from having a simple story idea to the completed manuscript?"

I talk to people all the time who have a wonderful book idea.  Unfortunately, they don't ever see it come to fruition because they don't know where to start.  The thought of going from a small ten word sentence to 150-300 page book is daunting...for all of us.

An Interview with David Corbin from Out of the Ashes

Today, Lori Dillion interviews David Corbin from Out of the Ashes

Who are you?

David Corbin

Past Life: slave gladiator

Current Life: WWII American spy

What was the scariest moment of your life?

Which life? Death by volcano was no picnic, let me tell ya. But watching Sabina (Sera) die in my arms and there was nothing I could do to save her, that was the worst. Of all the times I faced death in the arena, I was never so scared, or felt so helpless, as I did in that moment.

Letting the Stew Simmer

June Pair Kilpatrick

Writing a memoir is like making Brunswick stew. You throw in a little of everything, but you must let it simmer until the flavors blend. Perhaps that's why it took me nearly a decade to finish my book about growing up in and around Richmond during the Depression and World War II--I was just letting the stew simmer. Sometimes words flew to the page as fast as peeling and dicing potatoes; sometimes they came slowly, like skinning and cleaning the squirrel before throwing it in the pot. (No, I never did that, but my grandfather used to.) Then you turn the fire down low and step aside for a while.

Where Do Ideas Come From?

Cynthia Ann Baldini

Readers ask me, “Where do you get your ideas?”

Everyone has probably heard the saying, “write what you know.” If you’re an expert in a particular field you can probably attract others who want to develop that skill, but hat sounds like advice for non-fiction writers. What if you write fiction, and you aren’t an expert in any field?

You can focus on what you know even when you write fiction. In Immortal Venus my protagonist has many of my own characteristics: we both hail from Richmond, Virginia, both got our degrees in art from VCU, and both traveled to Italy. I use my familiarity with the locations and with art to give a foundation of realism to what becomes an adventure into my imagination.

A moment can change everything

Mechele Armstrong

Once upon a time there was a girl who liked to write. She wrote poetry and short stories, and when she wasn’t writing, she was making adventures with her stuffed animal collection, the soap in the tub, and even the crayons in her crayon box. In college, though she had another major, she started working on a novel. She entered a couple of contests and even went to a writing seminar for a week. Then, she hit a wall where she didn’t write anything, not even poetry for a long, long time.

She was miserable.

Learn more about Donna Dalton

Donna Dalton

 1.      What is your writing routine?

Sometimes I start with a plot idea and other times, I have specific characters in mind. It’s been different with each story. But generally, I create a basic list of “what needs to happen” for the story and for the romance. Then I spec out a basic plot that includes external and internal GMC’s (Goal, Motivation, and Conflict) for the main characters.

Excited About the Book Fair!

I'm very excited to be a part of the Regency Square Mall Book Fair Event on December 15th. Both me and my sister, Regina Webster, will be sharing space as first time authors!  It's going to be a great gathering and there will be something there for kids and adults alike. This will be a great time to promote reading for your children, an educational must for children to prepare to be competitive in today's employment market.