I was discussing the tracking down of research material with a friend and fellow historical writer today, and while explaining why I prefer to have a physical book for reference over a website link (even if they contained the exact same material) I wrote the following...

Where do story ideas come from? Unlike actual babies, there are many different answers. I'm story weaving two books just now, one of them since the beginning of January. That one I've actually begun to write. There's a plot. I know more or less how it will end. I know...

Here it is at last, the cover of my debut historical novel. It was designed by Kristopher Orr. It was great working with him on the design (not that I contributed much, but we had some good conversations about various story and design elements, going back to August of...

Every year I find a new daily devotional to read through in the mornings. For this year I've chosen Jesus Calling, Enjoying Peace in His Presence, by Sarah Young. The above excerpt is taken from this past week's reading. These passages resonated with me, in...

Line edits to the left of me Copy edits to the right, here I am Stuck in the middle of you This morning I waved at my monitor while the finished manuscript for my second novel, to be published in 2014, scooted out the door through my inbox and went off into the world...

Not that I didn't buy and read more than my fair share of historical nonfiction in 2012. I did. And I'm not ashamed of it. But it's a new year now, I have more novels to write and edit, and always I'm on the look-out for sources to supply the solid historical...

Here we are at the closing of the year, so I thought I'd bring to the blog page that reading log I've been keeping all year, up in the pages tabs. Not sure if I'll be keeping a public one next year. There will be some exciting additions to the pages here on the...

Are you a fan of Colonial or Early American fiction? If so, come visit us at Colonial Quills today, where we're discussing what drew us to stories set during this time period. Come and add your voice to the discussion. A comment will enter you to win a copy of...

On Monday of this week I turned in the content edits for the debut novel, which used to be called Willa (I did announce it as the final title. And it was. Until it wasn't. So I'll be announcing another title. Eventually.). Anyway, the content edits for The Novel That...

Sometimes an author will communicate stuff about the fiction writing craft that, while it isn't new in concept, is put into language that suddenly clicks on a deeper level, and I can better put it to use.  Wired For Story by Lisa Cron did that for me. If you'd...