October is my natal month. As I've done for a few years now, this October I've treated myself to a new rug made by a Navajo elder, through the Adopt-A-Native-Elder program. Some years ago, while googling the cast of Into The West, a TNT historical miniseries about...

Also known as content edits, macro edits are the point in the editing process where big story changes are made, those in plot or character. In my case, for this debut novel, it's a merging of two characters (not main characters) into one to tighten and focus the...

A distant destination....  A delicious greeting.... A perfect roommate.... Me & Judy Gann A soul-soothing view.... The bay at Cannery Row A bit of luxury....  A rich decor.... A dramatic fountain....  Even more so at night.... An agent, artfully...

Where do you go when you're faced with a challenge and you feel a little overwhelmed? Or when you have some deep thinking to do? Or you need to be away from the day to day and connect more closely with the God and Creator of your being? When you need a retreat? Here's...

A week has gone by since my last post (and that sheepdog trial is starting today, I'm looking forward to watching the finale on Sunday, streaming live here). I've spent the week working on the final chapters of my WIP, a story that's posed some of the greatest...

The last time a major sheepdog trial was held in my area was back in 2009. I was privileged to attend the competition, and am thrilled it has returned to my southern Oregon area this autumn.   2012 National Sheepdog Finals September 25th - 30th - Klamath Falls,...

I posted several months ago that I was having to learn to write a Welsh character's dialogue for my novel in progress (I do keep choosing characters who don't speak like I do... unless of course they choose me, then it's totally not my fault). Since that post has...

After the Mohawk (see yesterday's blog post), the second eastern-most tribe of the Iroquois League, or Haudenosaunee, were the Oneida, or Onyota’a:ká:. Their name translates as People of the Standing Stone. Though no nation of the League was unanimously pro-British or...

e to time I write a blog post dealing with a subject I've researched for my 18th century-set novels. I like to do this for the benefit of other writers, or anyone interested in that particular subject, coming along behind me on this research path. Today I'd like to...

I've never met author/agent/blogger/speaker/teacher Donald Maass in person (though I once lured him to this blog with the mention of chocolate lava cake). But I've found his writing craft books invaluable for honing the craft of fiction writing. Especially his book...