I’ve been told by readers, and some vicious but well-loved critique partners, that one of my strengths is description. I’ve also been told about my weaknesses, but I’ll save that for another column. Description: 1. a written representation or account of a person, object, or event 2. a sort, kind, or class of people or Read More →

I’m currently embroiled in editing The Middle of my current work-in-progress. Yes. That third of the book where the characters have all been introduced, the tone set, the problem introduced, and now I’m throwing obstacles into the path of my protagonists like an irate Greek god. How about a flood? Whoosh! Maybe a creepy discovery. Read More →

Authors pack a lot of baggage into their books. We’ve been influenced by friends, enemies, teachers, family, parents, public figures, and even strangers. We’ve read books we love. Movies. Places. We’ve lived through historic events: wars, catastrophes, political movements and social upheavals. As a kid, I didn’t realize the significance of these influences. Life centered Read More →

As I finish up edits on MYTH RIDER, my new historical middle grade novel coming from 4RV Publishing, I feel like I’m having constant anxiety attacks. The manuscript has been through a critique group. It has been through editors. I’ve read and reread. Finally, FINALLY I think it is done — then I see on Read More →

As 2015 looms ahead, I’m thinking about what a great year it has been for my writing career.  I had 11 nonfiction and 3 fiction books published. I’ve got 7 more nonfiction and 3 fiction due out next year. I’ve kept as busy as I wanted to be and have loved the research, the writing, Read More →

My grandson got his official school t-shirt last week: Class of 2027. I don’t want to think about how old I’ll be when he graduates from high school. It does make me think about what the world will be like as he decides what he will do for a living and what problems his generation Read More →

I am one of the rare people who like to move. I like sorting stuff. I like throwing stuff away. I like having new, clean space to fill with things I need rather than things I might need someday. I like traveling for the same reason. There is serenity in having everything you need in Read More →

Most of the time, I do months of research before even starting to write a book. I explore settings, historical characters, and historical events taking place not only where my story takes place but in the rest of the world at the time. I like to feel comfortable with my stage before my characters even Read More →

I got the opportunity of a lifetime — not my lifetime — last week. I took my 4 and 5-year-old grandsons back to Oklahoma to meet Great Grandad, their uncle, great uncles and aunts, cousins, second cousins once removed … you get the idea. There’s a lot of family. We trekked from Grand Lake through Read More →

I must admit that the first reason I was drawn to Anna was her name. I’ve been researching books set in eastern Europe for years and have a love for names that take me there. Then I discovered she had written the picture book POWER DOWN, LITTLE ROBOT – which is brilliant. I was eager Read More →