Category: Contemporary Women Writers
Never Jump From A Moving Novel
Novel writing is a journey. We authors are the advance team who scout locations before the readers make an appearance. But we’re travelers first and foremost – into foreign lands, if we’ve the nerve to leave the familiar landscape of memoir. When I began writing, agents and editors cautioned that the craft had strict rules. […]
Taking Risks with Co-Writing Diversity
My two most ‘risky’ cultural projects have been co-writing ‘f2m: the boy within’, the first Young Adult novel about transitioning gender co-written by an ftm, and ‘Hijabi Girl’ a fun, junior chapter book which had 41 rejections from traditional publishers before I self -published. I’m not trans and I’m not Muslim. But I do take […]
On Openings
After digging deep into the recesses of my mind and pouring out of ideas on a blank page or screen, what next? The gestation period is not completely over. I continue to create characters and plot as I write. That continual creative experience is vital to the way I work. For many writers, after this […]
From Sculpture To Writing
Being born into a family of special effects wizards in Hollywood, I knew early on that I would follow in their footsteps as a creative person. I lived and breathed visual art. After art school, I got a studio on Los Angeles Skid Row where I also taught art to homeless men and women and […]
Five Unique Ways to Market Your First Book
I gave birth to a book recently. It may sound cliche or ridiculous, or both, but to me it was real. Every stage of writing the book, from conception to publication, I likened to when I had my own babies. I felt the rollercoaster of emotions: excitement, anxiety and the flat out exhaustion to point […]
Diversity in Publishing
Just over two years ago, I went on a hunt around my house for our dusty old laptop. I rarely used computers or laptops outside of the office, hence it took me a couple of hours to dig out, and I eventually found it buried under heaps of odds and sods in the spare room. […]
How To Find “The End”
I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged. – Erica Jong Starting things is easy, right? Relationships, diets, runs, New Year’s resolutions – we dive in, full of enthusiasm. Of course we’ll stick to it. Of course we’ll see it through. Sadly, the finishing bit […]
Tips for Author Blogs
Last year, I wrote a column with three golden rules for author blogging. Here they are, in order of importance: (1) create relationships, (2) entertain your readers, and (3) sell books. The first rule is, by far, the most important. (Most of) Your blog posts must have as their main goal to create relationships with […]
Library Guilt
Like almost every other writer I know, I love to read. A good book recommendation from a good friend is better than chocolate (at least for me). And I can become quite annoying talking about said book to anyone willing to listen. I love holding books in my hands. I love sitting on the sofa […]
Uncovering Family Secrets
Survivor guilt is a force that endures, whether within the context of the tragic wars of yesterday and today, or the ongoing trauma experienced by families. As a second generation American, whose relatives immigrated from Eastern Europe before WWII, it would take decades to uncover the details of their intricate pasts─ the dark secrets they […]
Recent Comments