Welcome!

Thank you for joining me on my journey as a writer!  My current work in progress is the Mel Goodman series.  It's about a witch returning to her small home town in Michigan, where she's caught up in a whirlwind of magic, romance, and murder.  The first book in the series, Punch Drunk Magic, will …

I’m Reading: Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey

Annie Cassidy is obsessed with the magic of happy-ever-afters. When a movie crew comes to her home town to film a rom-com, there's potential for two dreams to come true. She can finally work for a real Hollywood director, and maybe stumble into a real-life love story. I'll be completely honest, I didn't make it …

I’m Reading: I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella

As a writer and beta reader, I know it's tough to make your main character's life miserable. They're our friend, after all. We invest in them emotionally and spend a lot of time in their heads. But most really great books require at least some suffering on the part of the protagonist for the sake …

I’m Reading: Hands Down by Mariana Zapata

(Warning: Contains spoilers). The Wall of Winnipeg and Me was my first Mariana Zapata. It was for a lot of folks as it became the exemplar for slow-burn, enemies to lovers with a fake relationship. I went on to read almost everything in Zapata's catalog, and they continue to be comfort-food favorites I return to …

I’m Reading: Beginner’s Luck by Kate Clayborn

When I read a book I really like, I often go hunting for everything else the author has put out. In this case, Love Lettering sent me hunting for Kate Clayborn, and I was not disappointed. Beginner's Luck lacks just a little of the rich, vivid description of Love Lettering, but it's a highly engaging, …

I’m Reading: The Hating Game, by Sally Thorne

Sally Thorne's 2016 debut The Hating Game is still near the top of many romance agents' lists as the enemies-to-lovers trope done right. Lucy and Joshua are assistants to the two bitterly opposing heads of their publishing company, and the two clash at first sight. Working across from each other in the same office, they've …

Books on Writing: Rivet Your Reader With Deep Point of View by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

Ever had a reader say they just didn't feel like they were in the character's head? Deep Point of View is a vital key to engaging modern readers with your writing voice and immerse them in your story. In Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View, Jill Elizabeth Nelson gives you a crash course …

I’m Reading: Teardrop Shot by Tijan

I'm not that much of a sports person, but a few indie authors have managed to write sports romances so good they transcend subgenre and becomes just plain good books. Mariana Zapata's a perennial favorite of mine that way, but with Teardrop Shot, Tijan makes a strong bid for my list of favorite romances. Weird, …

Roll for Initiative: Keeping Your Characters in Scene

As a reader and beta reader, one of the things that stands out to me is when a secondary character does or says something halfway through a scene and my reaction is, "Huh. I forgot they were even there." We forget sometimes as writers that our readers don't have the benefit of watching a scene …

I’m Reading: Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn

This was one of those happy surprises. I picked up Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn from my library's new purchases, which can be a bit hit-or-miss. I didn't expect to fall in love and now I wonder why I'm not seeing this near the top of all the great contemporary romance lists. Meg is a …

POV Problems

One of the issues I come across often both in my beta reads and my own first drafts is violation of limited POV. Most contemporary books are written in limited POV. This means we really get into the head of the main character and experience the world through their eyes. The narrative voice is the …