Image courtesy of Joel Dinda, via flickr.com. License information linked here. When writing fiction, choosing a solid character name is important. (See my last post for details on THAT struggle.) Developing a solid background for that character is just as essential—if you don’t know who your characters are, how can you write about them? As… Continue reading Mining for WWII History (and Character Backgrounds)
I first shared this post in 2018, but as "Jeannie's" story is nearly ready for launch (and is currently up for pre-order!) it seemed like a good time to share it again. Launch Date: Nov 1, 2021! Choosing the right name is a difficult task- at least it is for me. As a child, the… Continue reading Musical Interlude: “I Dream of Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair”
Photo by Emanuela Picone on Unsplash Hello Readers, Writers, and History lovers! I'm travelling today—or at least my writing is! I was invited to guest blog over at JPC Allen Writes, an excellent site full of writing tips and prompts. As JPC's theme for September is "Plot," I'm sharing ways in which real history influences the plot of… Continue reading I’m Guest Posting Today
This looks a lot like my TBR pile.... I avoid picking up novels for nine months out of the year. It's not from any reluctance to read them, but it's a practical measure I've learned I have to take. You see (deep breath) I'm a story addict. Once I pick up a book and get… Continue reading Summer Reading!
Hello Readers and Writers! I'm so pleased to announce that my second novel is almost ready for release! Barring any disasters or unforeseen circumstances, I'm planning on a launch date of November 1, 2021. Where Shall I Flee? takes place in the Italian theater of World War II. I'll be sharing more updates on the… Continue reading Cover Reveal!!!
"The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Kidd (DD-661) underway, circa at the time of her commissioning in April 1943" Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. With busy schedules and finding babysitters, getting out to the movies in a normal year is tricky enough. The last year added its own complications, so I'm really quite pleased that I was able… Continue reading Crossing the Atlantic With the Movie GREYHOUND
Being a parent, a teacher, and a writer, I've received my fair share of unsolicited advice. I've tucked some of the helpful bits into my memory. Others I've let slip away. As I began to prepare for this post, one came piece of advice came to mind from waaaaaay back in my dating days. I… Continue reading Revealing Traits of The Brothers Karamazov Through Secondary Characters
Hello Readers and Writers. Remember me? I'm not sure where the last weeks went. August rolled in with a wave of busyness—school preparations in the midst of new regulations, kids' swim lessons, a broken dishwasher and microwave, reading through my new book's final copy, and all of the other things-and-stuff in the world. But, with… Continue reading The Brothers Karamazov: And You Thought YOUR Family Had Drama
Our travel route- roughly. 🙂 Map image courtesy Wikimedia commons: links here. I added the red and black arrows. Avoiding the craziness of flying with a family of five, the Clare family embraced the alternative craziness of driving across more than half of the U.S. It was a long haul—about 2300 miles each way— offering… Continue reading Road Trip!!! Part 2: From Wisconsin back to Washington
Photo by Israel Palacio courtesy of Unsplash.com Good morning Readers and Writers! If you didn't get enough of hearing my melodious(?) voice on Our American Stories last week, today author Ari Meghlen is hosting me on the podcast that she and Rachel Poli host: The Merry Writer. After years of chatting with Ari online, it… Continue reading I’m Talking About Writing Historical Fiction on the Merry Writer Podcast
