Category: On Writing
Writing “High Five Your Spirit Guides” by Katherine Marie
No one was more surprised that I wrote the spiritual self-help book High Five Your Spirit Guides than I was. In fact, if someone had told me ten years ago that I would not only write but also publish and market a non-fiction book about using intuition, finding connection, and experiencing guidance, I probably would […]
Characters Interviewing Authors: Mimi Wahlfeldt
DARE After Jewel Diamond, 28, wakes in the ER with no memory of the trauma that brought her there, she must face the many ways her life will change. Bearing a hideous scar on her cheek that affects her speech, Jewel’s instinct is to isolate and withdraw into her sadness. As memories of the incident […]
Writing Aside: How I Spend My Time Between Projects by Donna Carbone
I retired from full time teaching in June–my other full time job when I’m not writing. For the past five years, I’ve been anticipating this decision to tip the scale toward writing more and teaching less. True to my nature as an organized plotter, I meticulously outline my writing at the onset, always knowing full […]
Welcome the Truth When Writing Fiction—Just Brace Yourself
By Catherine Marshall-Smith My novel, The Resilience of Red Thread, tells the story of a woman escaping an abusive relationship—and the essential role female friendship plays in making that happen. Writing it required deep research: interviews with social workers, time in family court, listening to survivors, and studying case files. It was inspiring but often […]
From Damsel to Warrior: How Disney Princesses Shaped My Memoir by Deb Miller
Once upon a time, women were taught to wait. Wait for Prince Charming, for the shoe to fit, for the happily ever after. But what happens when you realize life doesn’t come with a fairy godmother to wave her wand and grant your dreams? You grab a sword, get on a white horse, and get […]
An Imagined Interview Between Meryl Branch-McTiernan and the Fictional Dr. Melfi from The Sopranos
A Conversation between the Writer and Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi Me: Hi Dr. Melfi… Jennifer? Dr. Melfi: Dr. Melfi is fine. Me: I’m thrilled you were willing to come out of retirement after—what—nearly twenty years, to work with me. Dr. Melfi: What brings you to therapy? Me: I’m having trouble deciding what to […]
From an Idea to a Bestseller: Why You Should Never Wait to Write Your Book by Janine Lowe
If someone had told me a few years ago that I would be writing books, presenting on UK Health Radio, speaking to people around the world about Feng Shui and manifestation, and launching my own publishing company, I would probably have smiled politely and thought, “That’s for someone else.” But isn’t that exactly how so […]
Why the Romance Genre is Raising the Bar for Modern Relationships
How does romance fiction reflect the changing expectations around communication, masculinity, and emotional safety? Romance has maintained a poor reputation over the years across every medium. Books, movies, TV shows—life in general, I’d argue. Why? Because it’s painful. Love hurts. It’s obsessive and toxic and one-sided. It doesn’t let you sleep. It doesn’t let you […]
Authors Interviewing Characters: Grace Helena Walz
PRETTY AS A PEACH A rising star in Southern fiction, Grace Helena Walz returns with Pretty as a Peach, another story full of charm, sass, wit, and characters you’ll want as friends. A group of life-long friends. A secretive MLM cosmetics company. Some opportunities cost more than they’re worth. Delilah Thomas has a stellar track record […]
Not Every Book Easily Finds its Spot on a Bookstore Shelf by Janet Roberts
It began when I checked the wrong box on the Novel-in-a-Year application to The Story Studio in Chicago. I’d written and self-published two books by then, both women’s fiction with domestic suspense, instinctively mixing genres with little understanding of the craft of writing. Sales were minimal. The class seemed like a good way to improve […]
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