Category: Writer’s Notes

Information and opinions from fellow authors covering monthly topics such as Contests, Conferences, Mentors, and Writing Clubs. Even seasoned authors learn something here.

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Writer's Notes

Writer’s Notes: Three Steps to a Winning Scene

Black Cat and the Secret in Dewey's Diary

By Elaine Faber

Black Cat and the Secret in Dewey’s Diary

To draw the reader into the action as the story evolves, you must make her feels as if she actually becomes the protagonist, or is walking by her side. She must see, feel, and think what the protagonist sees, how she feels about the situation, and reacts with her dialogue or action.

To create this experience, before you start to write your intended scene, Consider the following.

What does your character see? (Describe the setting through character’s POV.)

The following is a much edited scene where Angel, (Black Cat’s sweetheart) first finds the diary that contains the clues to a lost treasure in gold, stolen during WII.

Angel stood at the door and gazed into the storeroom, her gold eyes wide. Boxes, parcels and baskets lined the shelves. She jumped on the worktable and sniffed at the scissors, packing tape, and address labels, and then sniffed an unopened parcel just received in the mail. “Why would someone send a musty package to a bookstore?” (Kimberlee enters the storeroom)

As Kimberlee cut the tape, the brown wrapping paper fell away, and a worn leather journal lay on the table. Sunlight fell across the stained cover. Was it from mud, sweat, or blood? Or all three? She ran her finger over the letters etched into the leather. “Oh. I thought it was a book written by a WWII soldier. This is just a personal diary.”  Disappointed, she tossed the diary on the table.

What does your character think or feel? After seeing the situation, how does your character react? What thoughts enter her mind? What does she feel?)

Angel sniffed the parcel again. There’s something… she jerked, jumped off the table and raced to the front of the store. “Black Cat, come quick. You must see the book Kimberlee just received. It’s odd. I sense something important inside. She needs to read it.”

What does your character say or do? (Your character speaks or reacts to what she has seen and thought/felt. This can be a simple statement or pitching a drink into someone’s face…a reaction!)-

(Black Cat follows her back to the storeroom.) “What is it?” Black Cat sniffed the book. “It smells musty. What’s so important about it? ”

“Make her read it,” Angel said. She kneaded the table with her front paws. “I feel it in my bones. There’s something she needs to see. You can do it. You’re so clever and brave.” She rubbed against Black Cat’s face. Black Cat pawed at the book. It plunked onto the floor, open to the title page. He held his breath as Kimberlee knelt, and picked up the diary.

***

By following this brief outline that describes your character seeing, thinking/feeling and reacting in each scene, allows your reader to immerse herself in the situation, to react and be personally involved with your character’s adventure. This creates a sense of ‘oneness’ with your character and a fulfilling journey for your reader.

About Elaine Faber

Elaine Faber and Boots

Elaine Faber lives in Northern California with her husband and feline companions. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, California Cat Writers, and Northern California Publishers and Authors. She volunteers with the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop. She enjoys speaking and sharing highlights of her novels at public venues. Her short stories have appeared in national magazines and multiple anthologies.

List of books:

Black Cat’s Legacy, With the aid of his ancestors’ memories, Thumper helps pursue a cold case murder.

Black Cat and the Lethal Lawyer, Thumper accompanies his family to a Texas horse ranch where they confront wild horses, embezzling, false identities and attempted murder.

Black Cat and the Accidental Angel, Black Cat and his companion are left behind following an MVA. Taken in by a family facing personal and financial disaster, Black Cat and Angel face danger and a spiritual encounter.

Black Cat and the Secret in Dewey’s Diary, a dual tale with the cats challenged in Fern Lake and mistress, Kimberlee, following clues to a treasure in gold coins in Austria.

Mrs. Odboddy-Hometown Patriot, Eccentric Mrs. Odboddy believes Nazi spies and conspiracies run amuck through her town during the beginning of WWII.

Mrs. Odboddy-Undercover Courier, Mr. Odboddy assumes Nazi spies will attempt to steal the secret war documents she carries on the train to the president.

Mrs. Odboddy-And Then There was a Tiger, Falsely accused of various crimes, Agnes sets about to restore her reputation and return missing war bond funds.

Links (website and blog site) : http://www.mindcandymysteries.com  (face book) http://tinyurl.com/zm2j4n5  (Goodreads) Elaine.Faber@goodreads.com  (email) Elaine.Faber@mindcandymysteries.com

Purchase Links  (Amazon)  Black Cat and the Secret in Dewey’s Diary https://tinyrul.com/vgyp89s

Synopsis– Black Cat and the Secret in Dewey’s Diary:  In this duel tale of mystery, lost treasure, and riddles, while Black Cat narrates the exciting events in Fern Lake, Kimberlee discovers a cryptic clue in a diary. She travels to Austria to search for the stolen gold coins missing since WWII.

Black Cat and the Secret in Dewey’s Diary

When Kimberlee and Dorian arrive in Austria, they attract the attention of a stalker determined to steal the diary in hopes it will lead him to the treasure first. On a collision course, it is inevitable that Kimberlee and the stalker meet in Hopfgarten.

Back in Fern Lake, Black Cat and Angel’s lives are endangered with the arrival of Kimberlee’s estranged grandmother, and the return of a man presumed dead for 25 years. Their arrivals create emotional and financial difficulties for Kimberlee’s family.

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Writer's Notes

Taking a Break

I’ll be taking a short break this week but will be back with
action hero and mystery author Mike Black on February 21,
2020.

And Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Writer's Notes

Just the Facts, Ma’am closes

By Force or Fear, Intent to Hold, and With Malice Aforethought

This will be the last you hear from me on this site. As with all good things, Just the Facts, Ma’am (JtFM) will come to a close. It’s not for lack of stories, to be sure. A dearth of time is the culprit. I have a book to finish. And after almost losing the mister last year, family has become that much more precious. They only ask my time.

Thonie Hevron

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank LAPD alum Hal Collier—the guy who started it all. His stories emailed to other LAPD retirees became the bulwark of JtFM. Thank you to Gerry Goldshine, an early contributor. Mikey sent us his memories once a month. Sometimes we laughed; sometimes we cried. Thanks, Mikey for your moving words. Ed Meckle became the most prolific writer in the JtFM and has earned my gratitude. Ron Corbin came to the party late but gave us all a lot to laugh about. Thanks, Ron. There were other writers, to be sure. Take a moment to scan through the posts for some interesting stories from the guys who’ve been there, done that.

For two years, I hosted Writers Notes. Other authors posted themed stories with links to their work. I met some terrific folks who I’ll continue to call friends. There are some great writing tips in those posts–available for another year.

As for me, I’m still putting the finishing touches on what was Felon with a Firearm but is now Felony Murder Rule. It is off to beta readers already. My list of readers reads like a who’s who of local law enforcement: Mike Brown, retired captain and homicide detective and Will Wallman, retired sergeant (Coroner’s Office) both from Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and Mike McBride, retired Marin County District Attorney’s Investigator. Also, Karen Lynch, retired Homicide Investigator from San Francisco Police Department and author of Good Cop, Bad Daughter. These fine folks promise an authentic reading experience.

Once I get their feedback, it’ll be more keyboard time to make corrections and such. It looks like I’m closing in on the final draft of the fourth Nick and Meredith Mystery. Boy, is it a good feeling! So you won’t see me on my blog Just the Facts, Ma’am anymore but I will be at work. I’ll continue to email quarterly notes about the progress of my books, appearances, and so on. If you’re interested, sign up at www.thoniehevron.com.

Thanks for your loyal readership. It’s been great.

Thonie Hevron

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Writer's Notes

Writer’s Notes: What’s on Your Bookshelf?

By Thonie Hevron

It’s a little late for April Fools’ posts so I thought I’d take a look around my office and develop something that’s been percolating in my brain for months now. It’s called, “What’s on your bookshelf?” The literal one, not your Kindle.

The last fifteen years have held four moves for the mister and I, so paring down the load has been essential. So what’s left? What’s really important.

Upper right: note the pic of my dear horse, Casey with his buddy Bridget-a gift for me many years ago.

Starting at the upper left: My favorite book of all times is Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove. This is the second paperback I’ve had—I wore the first one out. I keep books from my favorite contemporary authors—all of PJ Parrish’s mysteries, some of Paul Bishop’s police procedurals, and Mary Stewart. To the right is a family favorite, Uncle Remus stories (from hubby’s childhood), travel books for upcoming trips and miscellaneous literature. Below that (middle right) is big books: high school yearbooks (great for finding interesting and ethnic names), a mythology book my son gave me (I use it for ideas when I get stuck—real inspiration), a few books on riding, several technical books on police procedure, and weather (what kind of clouds precede a storm?). I base all of my stories on actual locations, so I keep map books, but I also use Google Earth.

Bottom right starts off at the right with my Wine Bible. Yes, I’m a wine lover although not serious enough to be considered a connoisseur, hence the reference tome. The rest of this shelf is stocked with books of authors I know. Most are personalized, making them more special. I have more on my bedroom nightstand. Sigh.

The bottom left is my reference shelf. All of these contain information I couldn’t have done without at some point during my writing. I use personality books-Character Traits, The Eneagram, Personality Plus as much for creating a layered character as for naming said characteristics. Sometimes I know what I want to convey but cannot find the right word. These books help. The rest of the shelf is filled with court references, police procedure, weapons, physical trauma, as well as writerly books on scene construction, dialog and plotting. Three books of note that I rely heavily on:

  • Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View by Jill Elizabeth Nelson-a small book I found by accident and love so much that I give to newbie writers.
  • The Art of Character by David Corbett-Corbett’s creds are amazing. Take a look at his fiction offerings.
  • Make a Scene by Jordan Rosenfeld-Rosenfeld deconstructs scenes and puts them back together in a readable, engaging manner.

Left middle shelf is stocked with more reference materials. My first publisher used the Chicago Manual of Style—so I do, too. It sits next to my thesauruses (I looked that one up. Turns out thesauri is okay, too)—The Synonym Finder and Flip Dictionary. Then, the Random House Dictionary, of course. I also have more technical books: a pair of books on the psychology of killing, a few good grammar books (and one terrific one, The Best Little Grammar Book Ever by Arlene Miller, who happens to be a friend and colleague. It’s a readable grammar book filled with common mistakes presented in a humorous way.

Just so you know, I have other bookshelves in my home. But this is my go-to while I’m working. I’d be hard-pressed to pare down from these.

Care to reveal some of your own special books? I’d love to see what’s on your bookshelf! We can all learn by sharing.

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Writer's Notes

Lots to Report

By Thonie Hevron

March 1, 2019

Much going on here in the Hevron household. Now that taxes are done (ugh), I’m focusing on the upcoming Spring Market in Novato. Live sales have always been productive for me. This will be the second year in Novato. Last year I set a personal record for meeting people and selling books even though it rained all day. This year the weather looks to be the same, but I’ll have a new partner: Sandy Baker is a children’s author as well as a Master Gardener. She incorporates these two loves into kids gardening books. Jeane Slone will be back again later in the year. We will be at the Margaret Todd Senior Center, 1560 Hill Rd, Novato from 10AM-3PM on Saturday, March 2, 2019. Stop by if you’re in the neighborhood!         

This past weekend, February 21-24th, I was in Ventura, California for the annual board retreat for the Public Safety Writers Association (PSWA). I was voted in as a board member. It will be my pleasure to work alongside the many club leaders who have mentored (Marilyn Meredith) and supported me through the past years. I’m proud to stand by two prominent Law Enforcement technical writers, Tim Dees and Michelle Perin-Callahan, as we map out the future of our club. Also there, Mike Black who is a giant in the publishing world and makes the annual conference better every year, Mysti Berry our IT wrangler, John Schembra (a military/thriller/paranormal author) is our very capable membership chair.  The other new board member, Scott Decker, an award-winning non-fiction writer, has volunteered to man the social media console. The board came up with some great ideas and ways to implement them. I’ll be talking more about this as time permits in the upcoming months.

If you’re wondering what my job will be, wonder no more: in 2020, I’ll be the PSWA Contest Chair. With Michelle Perin-Callahan’s help, I’ll steer writers toward the coveted PSWA Writers Club award.                 

View from the Ventura Pier during an early morning walk.

~~~

In May, the Mister and I will be taking a well-deserved break. I’m not planning on posting, appearing or even writing for most of the month.

As always, thank you for your support.

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Writer's Notes

TOP TEN STUPID COP MISTAKES (IN FICTION)

Re-posted from “Rogue Women Writers” from Wednesday, February 13, 2019 this post is originally intended for authors who write about cops. However, I decided to post it on Sunday’s Just the Facts, Ma’am because cop stories must be authentic for cop readers. For you coppers out there: this is the education most writers get telling your stories. I thought you might like to see it. Feel free to comment and/or visit Robin Burcell’s site. By the way, Robin is a former police officer.

by ROBIN BURCELL


You can never have too many handcuff keys.

How do you make the police procedure in your mysteries or thrillers seem authentic?

Below are some of the mistakes and overused tropes I’ve seen in books that usually pull me out of a story. The good news is that not everyone who reads mysteries are cops, so they might not notice some of what I consider my top pet peeves. More importantly, just because I’ve listed them doesn’t mean that you can’t use them. Just that if you do, know why it is they appear on my list. 
The top ten are…

10.   Long radio transmissions no cop would ever make. I’ve seen authors write a full paragraph of just one radio call. It’s just not going to happen. Some departments talk all in code, some in plain English, so feel free to throw in a bit of police lingo to mix it up. Just keep it simple and preferably short. And if you do have a long transmission, you have to add a “break” for any emergencies that might arise while you’re hogging the mike. 

9.  Not knowing the elements of the crime, or what constitutes a crime.  Imagine some cop is parked, writing reports.  He looks up, sees a man bumping into a young lady who falls to the ground as he runs away. Purse snatch? Robbery? Looks like a good pinch, so he shifts to drive, and races to the rescue.  He jumps out, sees the woman is okay, then chases after the suspect, tackles, and cuffs him.  See any problems with this?  He did not see the crime.  He assumed.  While it’s okay to assume (good cops make assumptions based on expertise), at least have your cop stop to ask the victim what happened before he gets in a foot chase.

8. The loner alcoholic cop with the rumpled raincoat, whose wife and kids were murdered by the serial killer (who was never caught) while said cop was out eating donuts.  This is a twofer. One, we’ve got to come up with better back stories. Two, back in the day, donut shops were the only thing open on graveyard shifts, and that was where the coffee could be found.  That cliché would never work in California, where there’s a Starbucks on every corner, and a bagel shop two doors down. Who eats donuts anymore? 

7. Having cops hired on a whim, or transferring from a different agency without doing a proper background investigation. Since when is it ever a good idea to hand someone a gun and the keys to the building without knowing who they are or where they came from?

6. Evil or stupid police supervisors.  Repeat after me:  Only some of the bosses are evil or stupid (and no, they didn’t all work for my department).  Even fewer fit both descriptions at once. The standing joke is that to get promoted to sergeant, you have to first have a lobotomy.  To make it to lieutenant or captain, you have to have your spine removed.  True in all cases?  No.  

5. The hated, despised Internal Affairs cop, who is usually evil or stupid.  See # 6 above.

4. Dirty cops planting phony evidence. I’m not saying you can’t use this trope, but if you surround the premise of your book around this plot point, do it better than anyone else.  One of the best examples of a well-done plant was from a (decades-old) movie, where a dirty cop was seen committing a crime on a surveillance video that was then booked into evidence by the investigator. The dirty cop set up a “window smash” of another business, using a very large and highly magnetic device to shatter the window.  The device was booked into evidence, and placed next to the surveillance tape, which it then demagnetized, rendering it useless. (Granted, this wouldn’t work in the digital age, but the set up for that time period was brilliant.)


Lee Lofland’s Police Procedure & Investigation

3. Stupid blunders by cops at crime scenes. Just knowing the basics can help, everything from keeping a crime scene log to what constitutes trace evidence and cross-contamination. To keep your cop or amateur sleuth from mucking up good evidence, consider picking up a copy of retired cop Lee Lofland’s most excellent Police Procedure and Investigation: A Guide for Writers.

2. Cops handling major felony investigations alone.  These guys are assigned partners for a reason. Safety is one of them, but so, too, is having a second set of eyes and ears for investigative purposes, as well as for testifying later in court.

And the number one pet peeve…?  1. Throwing officer safety out the window. If you’re going to put your cop in danger, at least give them a very good reason why they’re now ignoring every basic rule they were ever taught from day one in the academy. Just because they do it on TV or on the big screen, it does not make it okay for your book. It makes the story unbelievable. For instance, if a cop knows he is going to contact a bad guy in person, or going on any sort of call with the possibility for a confrontation of any type, he/she always waits for back up or takes a partner. And hot call or not, they never pull out their guns and check to see if they’re loaded—or rack a round into the chamber—just before they go chasing after the bad guy. (Yes, you can have your bad guys do this. But not the police.) A cop’s weapon is always loaded and the safety is OFF. And yet, the cops do this in 90% of the TV shows and movies. It sounds cool, and definitely looks cool, but it’s stupid. When the bad guys are firing at you, last thing you want to do is stop to load your weapon then turn off the safety. Wasted seconds equals wasted lives.
No doubt, those of you in other professions have noticed big mistakes in books (and I’ll bet I’ve made a few of my own). 

So, Rogue Readers and Just the Facts readers, do you have any professional pet peeves in fiction?

(From Robin: Due to a deadline, this post has been updated and recycled from this 2009 blog post from Mystery Fanfare for this month’s Rogue post. Hope you enjoy!)

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Writer's Notes

Killing Your Darlings: by Glenda Rosen

Dead in Bed Cover Updated Final Jan 2019The Gangsters Daughter

by

M. Glenda Rosen (aka Marcia Rosen)

Author: The Senior Sleuths Mysteries

BOOK TWO: DEAD IN SEAT 4-A, FEBRUARY 5, 2019

Published by Level Best Book the delightfully humorous antics and serious crime-solving of “The Senior Sleuths.” Book One: Dead in Bed launched, February 6, 2018, Book Two: Dead in Seat 4-A launched February 5, 2019. Book Three: Dead on the 17th of the Month, will be published in 2019.

 Our history and experiences can define us, inspire our actions and as writers impact our words and stories.  Mine most definitely has, my father was a small-time gangster.  Really.

I grew up in an unusual, and sometimes outrageous, environment.  It wouldn’t take a genius, a psychiatrist or a palm reader to figure out the geneses of my fascination with crime and criminals. In my series, “The Senior Sleuths,” Zero the Bookie is a version of my dad and several other characters are based on his associates.

I actually met Doc, The Gimp, Johnny the Jig, Fat Lawyer and others in Buffalo, New York, where we lived. What a wealth of material there was for me to claim! Believe me, I saw and heard a lot.

I visited my dad’s gambling hall, where a card room was hidden behind closed doors. In our kitchen at home, I saw my dad count “the take” from football and baseball bets. He was a fancy dresser and some of my friends described him as a Damon Runyon character. I wrote a story about him and my mother, in which I called her his “gun moll.”

There were advantages. If I was out on a dinner date and one of my dad’s cronies was there, he picked up the bill.  The waiter would tell us, “The man over there took care of it. Said you’re Vic Barr’s daughter!”  I was equally safe from the pawing hands of any young man. All I had to do was ask, “Do you know who my father is?”  All of them knew who my father was.  My dad taught me incredible life lessons about generosity, trust, taking risks and to never be a quitter.

I was always fascinated by how Film Noir characters acted and interacted. My all-time favorite is “The Thin Man,” where Nora Charles was certainly equal to Nick Charles, her charming husband.  Nick adored her. Now what woman doesn’t want that?

In my series, “The Senior Sleuths,” Dick and Dora Zimmerman, Zero and others take on similar roles. Still in their early sixties, they not only have the time—but the money, the smarts and the chutzpah—to get involved even when they are warned by police and criminals to stay away. It seems murders fall in their laps, sometimes on them. Even when facing danger in the course of solving a murder, they mix wit and humor and are accompanied by a colorful cast of cohorts. They strive for justice, not an easy thing to accomplish when the bad guys are determined to do evil.

None of us are innocent. We all keep secrets about who we are and things we know.  In my case, I have been able to put these past family peccadilloes and experiences to use. No doubt, thanks to my father, writing mysteries is in my DNA!

~~~

Marcia Rosen head shotBio:  Marcia Rosen (aka M, Glenda Rosen) is the author of “The Senior Sleuths Mystery Series,” and  “Dying to Be Beautiful Mysteries.”  Rosen is also author of “The Woman’s Business Therapist” and “My Memoir Workbook. ” She was founder and owner of a successful Marketing and Public Relations Agency for many years, often speaking on successful strategies,  and received numerous awards for her work with business and professional women.  She currently resides in Carmel, California. For more information, visit www.theseniorsleuths.com.

 

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Writer's Notes

An Exciting Book Event For Southern California Readers

From Thonie: Dave Freedland is a colleague and friend who’s written two police procedural thrillers. This is a great opportunity to meet a law enforcement leader and author.

Retired Irvine Deputy Chief of Police, Dave Freedland, will be discussing his new book next week, Thursday, January 17th, at the Huntington
Beach library. “The Pepper Tree” will be out soon when the cover art is
finished, and the book launch date and location will be announced in the coming weeks.
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Writer's Notes

Writer’s Notes: Emergencies Magnified

By Janet Greger

Public safety workers — police, fire fighters, EMTs — face emergencies daily. They must go home with headaches lots of days. However, one problem that few have faced (except in practice drills) is solving problems after the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act has been invoked.

This law allows states to invoke legally enforceable quarantines to control epidemics and to respond to acts of bioterrorism. This legal quarantine would only be invoked in the U.S. when there are no effective treatments or preventative measures, e.g. vaccines, for a contagious disease or organism released by a bioterror attack.

Basically, the rights of a few individuals are lost (They’re isolated.) to protect the larger population. Pretty scary and a real headache for public safety workers. They can’t enter the isolated area (except with extensive gear) unless they’re willing to be isolated, too. Thus, I thought a quarantine was the perfect situation for my new novel — The Flu Is Coming.

In The Flu Is Coming, a new type of flu — the Philippine flu — kills nearly half of the residents in an upscale, gated community in less than a week. A quarantine is invoked. It makes those who survive virtual prisoners in their homes. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recruits Sara Almquist, a resident of the community, to apply her skills as an epidemiologist to find ways to limit the spread of the epidemic. As she pries into her neighbors’ lives, she finds promising scientific clues but unfortunately, she also identifies the criminal past of several of her neighbors. Violence erupts when they try to escape the quarantine.

The Flu Is Coming has an exciting plot and sympathetic and villainous characters. It will also make you think about the limits of modern medicine and what can occur when those limits are reached. Why not read it now during flu season?

The paperback version of The Flu Is Coming is available at: https://www.amazon.com/Flu-Coming-Science-Traveler/dp/0578423251. The Kindle version at:

Bio: J.L. Greger is a scientist and research administrator turned novelist. She likes to include tidbits of science in her award-winning thriller/mystery novels: Murder: A Way to Lose, Riddled with Clues, and others. To learn more, visit http://www.jlgreger.com

JL Greger
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Writer's Notes

Writer’s Notes: Just Do It

January 2019

Thonie reading at Redwood Writers Club

By Thonie Hevron

As it’s already January 4th, I’ll bet you’re getting pretty tired of “the year in review,” “turn a new leaf” style posts. I can only hope this one will be different. I’m not going to impart any organizational wisdom, teach you a new mystical path to follow or suggest that, in any way, I know something that you don’t.

The thing is: you already know what you need to do be a better you-financially, professionally, spiritually, and physically. You just need to do it. No excuses. If now really isn’t the time, schedule it for later. But schedule it.

2018 was the worst year of my life. I’ve heard that from many others, too. 2019 is more promising but some lingering issues are already casting shadows over my bright shiny new year. To add a note of optimism, the mister and I have several exciting trips planned this year–a wonderous prospect in itself. This time last year, the only trip we could plan was to the Emergency Department. Things are SO much better today. And, I keep plugging along. One thing I learned from 2018’s trials is wallowing in misery gets me nowhere—fast. Sure, my workload has grown, external pressures push at my patience but isn’t that the way of life? It’s always something—the body doesn’t discern between good and bad stress. Here, I have to thank God for my faith. He is what propels me onward, striving to be better at this human thing.

My Boomer generation bought into an idealism that is, in my opinion, unattainable, an illusion. It’s caused many of us to become embittered, maybe even helped foster the divisiveness that separates our great nation. Is it possible I missed the boat on idealism? I like the beauty of sunset, cute puppies, and warm, fuzzy moments. In fact, I LOVE all those things. But after the sunset, comes dark; puppies grow up; and moments are gone in a heartbeat. Utopia does not exist. Life is not a Magnolia magazine spread. It’s fine and gritty, sweet and sour, sometimes both at the same time.

Recovering from my self-indulgent moment, I’ve come to realize that moving forward, keeping after my goal (dream? prize? it is whatever you want to call it) is the only thing I can do. I can finish that fourth book, I can get back in the saddle, I can stretch my marketing wings. They may be baby steps, but I’ll be moving forward. Standing still isn’t for me.   

In conclusion, I want to say my purpose is to pat you on the back for showing up and let you know you’re not in this alone.

Keep it up.