One thing I’ve never lacked is a sense of humor.  Now, admittedly, my humor runs in two basic categories, either so subtle and droll that a lot of people miss it completely or else a bit over the top — the top of many people’s heads, that is.  In the latter category, usually only among friends [...]

Digging into the draft of the next novel I plan to prepare for submission, I find myself being pulled deeply into the potentials of one small, seemingly insignificant catalyst and object of symbolism.  It’s a mouse…well, mice.   These aren’t dancing mice, talking mice, or any kind of out-of-the-ordinary rodents.  These are your standard variety – small, [...]

Well, having spent a great deal of time and effort writing what I and my beta readers consider a really riveting novel, I’m now researching agents…since it has been quite a few years since I had the honor of pursuing representation.  Let me tell you, things have changed.  A lot.  So, first order of the [...]

Diane Oliver, Don Willard, Bosley Gravel — all published and professional authors, all excellent writers, with the perk that one’s an excellent editor, as well.  Then there’s Patrick, Viola, Max, Laura, and, maybe, if I’m lucky, Wayne, real world people, some of whom read fiction, some of whom prefer non-fiction, rarely cracking the cover of [...]

Deborah and William’s story is complete, now.  Short at 80,000 words – the shortest book I’ve ever written – this contemporary tale has just the slightest nod to nerve-tingling possibility.  It’s a tense and riveting read, bordering on “psychological thriller,” as you wonder, first, if Deborah is such a good choice for William.  This quickly swaps to you wondering [...]

One of the very best parts of writing a novel is being in “the deep end.”  This is where the story has so consolidated itself as something real that’s happening “now,” that your every hour — waking and sleeping, both — lives the story back to front and front to back.  No matter where you [...]

During what I call the cut and slash, or, more correctly, cut and splice process is when I start ironing out the kinks in the story time-line and the story facts.  Time-lines have always been the hardest for me because, for example, in the present manuscript, things happen in close succession, then jump months to the next [...]

I’m busy working through the final cuts and slashes on a manuscript before I hunker down and begin the editing phase that brings it author final.  One of the interesting things about this process is the objectivity I get about the story flow.  I can see where this part needs to be put earlier, and [...]

I have a book…that has two tails — two ends to one question.  And my question is, do I end it chilled hope or with chilled terror?  That’s the conundrum.  I’m leaning…well, more than leaning…toward ending with chilled hope where the protagonist wins with the antagonist under her control, alive.  On the other hand, we [...]

In one of my present manuscripts, I’ve let the question of marriage dangle without settling the question quite yet.  Here’s why.  If I go ahead and have my protag marry in this book, it changes the character in the mind of the reader.  Some of the character’s ”edge” is dulled; the character becomes more mundane, less interesting, and [...]