Elizabeth Varadan, Jame Richards, Johnstown Flood, Sacramento Book Review

Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards — A Review

My friend Mitty – AKA Elizabeth Varadan of The Fourth Wish blog – wrote a review for the Sacramento Book Review of Three Rivers Rising: a Novel of the Johnstown Flood by Jame Richards. First, I must admit I have a kind of voyeuristic fascination with disasters. Secondly, I love historical fiction. Thirdly, if Mitty… Continue reading Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards — A Review

awards, Writing contests

Another Writer’s Contest and a Winning Week for Me!

Another quick blog today with news that may be important to you as a writer, followed by news about me as a writer, followed by blogging awards I'm handing out. First, there is another contest for writers that I think is a wonderful opportunity. I’ve read it’s harder to land an agent than a publisher.… Continue reading Another Writer’s Contest and a Winning Week for Me!

Writing contests

Writer’s Contest

Just a quick post to all my writing readers. There is a terrific contest going on right now. If you go to http://deareditor.com/2011/04/15/newsflash-a-deareditor-com-free-fiction-edit-giveaway/ you can get all the details. To celebrate the completion of her final manuscript for Writing Young Adult Fiction for Dummies, the Editor is giving away a FREE Substantive Edit of one… Continue reading Writer’s Contest

CBI, Children's Book Insider, Funds for Writers, Hope Clark, Jane Friedman

Some Helpful Places to Visit

Nearly every day something appears in my email inbox or I run across something on the internet that is helpful to my writing. I’ve been thinking about how I really need to share this with other writers, so today is my day. Make sure you read to the end for a special treat.Today I received… Continue reading Some Helpful Places to Visit

Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones

Thinking about Writing or Writing About What I’m Thinking

I so admire people who have the kind of discipline I think writers should have. My friend Morgan Mussell is one of those. He reads – no, studies – a lot of writing books, as well as studying the business of writing, and shares his knowledge with those of us lucky enough to be in… Continue reading Thinking about Writing or Writing About What I’m Thinking

Laura Ingalls Wilder, Lucy Maude Montgomery, Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones

A Book for Writers and Lovers

I’m a bit late with my post, but have been busy with out-of-town visitors and getting some writing work done. I have my first sale (YAY!!). It’s small, but still, it’s a sale. I sold two children’s poems to High Five magazine (sister publication of Highlights), and I am thrilled. I’ve also been working on… Continue reading A Book for Writers and Lovers

Beach Road, Dennis Lehane, James Patterson, John Hart, Mystic River, Shutter Island, The Given Day, The Last Child

Playing By the Rules

I remember when I took my first creative writing course at San Jose State sooooo many years ago, the professor, Robert Burdette Sweet, said to us, “If your character is going to kill himself on the last page, the gun better be hanging over the mantelpiece on the first page.” Good advice for any kind… Continue reading Playing By the Rules