WISH GIRL, by Nikki Loftin
So, it's no secret that I love Nikki Loftin's books. I've featured them previously, as well as over on Operation Awesome. And I was lucky enough to get an ARC of her newest book, WISH GIRL, in the mail. WISH GIRL is completely un-put-down-able;…
#Nestpitch2015: Is Your Manuscript Ready to Rumble?
I'm excited to take part in this year's Nestpitch Contest, debuting April 1. I'll be a "slushie," which means I'll review entries as they come in.In celebration of Nestpitch, I posted some contest tips on Operation Awesome, which I've reproduced…
SWEET TALKING MAN by Liz Talley
While writing with other authors in last month's Winter Writing Festival run by the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood, I was lucky enough to do some writing sprints with Liz Talley. When I found out more about her books, I couldn't wait to feature…
The Dangers of Quantification
This week on Operation Awesome, I posted about how quantification-only thinking impacts writers, and how it can sometimes limit possibilities.And, because it rocked my world, I have to share this great Neil Gaiman video (it's long, but worth…
THE SIN EATER’S DAUGHTER by Melinda Salisbury
I stumbled upon THE SIN EATER'S DAUGHTER on Amazon one day. The premise blew me away--and the cover's pretty snazzy too. See for yourself:Seventeen-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she’s engaged to the prince, Twylla isn’t…
How I Used my Worldbuilding Skills to Develop Characters
Character development is always something I've struggled with. I think it's because I'm a control freak--something in me is unwilling to let my characters romp around freely and show their true selves.But last week, in my MFA writing class,…
NO PARKING AT THE END TIMES by Bryan Bliss
I was fortunate to meet Bryan Bliss at a conference a few years back, and I'm happy to report that his debut novel, NO PARKING AT THE END TIMES, will release next week on February 24. I'm so excited about this book that I've already pre-ordered…
Newest Operation Awesome post, and a sneak peek into next week’s author interview!
This week, I was on Operation Awesome discussing how writing relates to music performance, and the extra strides we can take when creative pressures become onerous. For more, feel free to read the full post here.And here's the link to the Elizabeth…
MURDER MOST UNLADYLIKE (aka MURDER IS BAD MANNERS) by Robin Stevens
Robin Stevens's book, MURDER MOST UNLADYLIKE sounds like the perfect read, especially in January when the weather's cold: a cozy murder mystery at an all girls' school, with a protagonist who sets up her own detective agency. And, it takes place…
WINTER FALLS and THE FORGETTING by Nicole Maggi
I met Nicole through a Facebook group, Binders Full of YA Writers, and the premise of both her books (one published in December, the other debuting next week on February 3) got me so excited that I emailed her immediately for an interview. Have…