Writing Journey

Well, I have all my query letters sitting in draft mode in my inbox. I have gone over my manuscript obsessively, spent the last 3 months letting the first draft simultaneously sit and then working on it like a fiend. It’s gone through multiple revisions, had some really helpful feedback and rewrites put into it, many thanks to […]

So, I didn’t realize it until I started writing books, but apparently, I have this thing. This thing I’ve discovered I’m not very good at. It’s all the bad stuff: the villains, the heart-pounding action, the high stakes – the sense of true danger and risk. In fact, that was the main critique by a few

As I was looking at my blog yesterday, I realized I haven’t posted in two months! What on earth have I been up to? Well, lots of trips to the park, the playground, picnics, the beach, the pool and eating copious amounts of hot dogs, cheeseburgers and ice cream. In other words: it’s summer, and I’ve been

I’ve been quiet on the blog lately, but things are happening! I got back two recent rejections (huzzah! rejections!) from agents who were reading full manuscripts of mine. I’m taking that in stride, and while I would love for one of them (because they are both amazing and work at incredible agencies!) to say, “I

Just a quick update, for those of you who might be waiting on pins and needles, wondering what’s become of all the queries I sent for my middle grade novel, The Black Widow Project. I’ve had a few requests for more chapters and I’ve also had two requests for the full, which is exciting! So I’m

The book I’m working on right now, while my other books are being queried or languishing in peaceful naps on my laptop, is a retelling of the sleeping beauty story. I know, I know, you might think that story has been done to death. Well, guess what: I don’t! Because I had an idea to retell the story

I grew up surrounded by books. My parents were wonderful at filling our home with books – and it was a good thing, because I was a quick reader. Books from school, garage sales, the library, you name it, I went through them all. But in upper elementary school and into middle school, once every couple

I’m currently experiencing the sort of let-down I do after I finished my last two books. What do I do with all my free time? Shouldn’t I be working on something? My brain longs for a story to be ruminating on. But I think some rest is wise, so while my queries are sent out,

Borrowing from Glennon Doyle Melton’s inspiring concept – this phrase came to mind today as I hit send on my queries for my middle grade novel. Here’s a snippet of the inner monologue that happens after you press the send button: “Yes, this feels so good! Oooh, I can’t wait to see if anyone responds right away.”

This week, I’m making final edits to my middle grade manuscript, including doing something fun I’ve never tried before. In this story, food plays a special part in my little heroine’s heart – a prize-winning recipe for a Sumptuous Strawberry Tart is key to the story. So I’ve included a copy of the recipe at