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…
CROW’S REST by Angelica R. Jackson: A Sneak Peek
Last year, I interviewed Angelica R. Jackson about her forthcoming book, CROW'S REST, which debuts this coming May. I'm happy to report that her book trailer is out! She also allowed a behind-the-scenes look at making a book trailer here. Avery…
Operation Awesome: Pixar and High-Impact Fiction
So in an effort to not over-exert myself this year, my first order of business is to better divide my time between my two blogs--this one, and the group blog I'm a part of, Operation Awesome.So every other week, when I have a new Operation Awesome…
THE ETERNA FILES by Leanna Renee Hieber
Happy New Year, everyone! We start off 2015 with a Gaslamp fantasy, THE ETERNA FILES, by Leanna Renee Hieber. I met Leanna at Phoenix Comicon last year, which I posted about here. Here's more about THE ETERNA FILES:London, 1882: Queen Victoria…