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 …

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 …

I’m Reading: The Revolution of Birdie Randolph, by Brandy Colbert

I don't usually read YA, but when I was browsing through the library's new acquisitions in romance, this caught my eye. I might technically call The Revolution of Birdie Randolph romance, but its breadth and depth defy genre. It reminds me of the tarot card The Lovers. While the story is about relationships both physical …

I’m Reading: Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

It's on every shelf and every agent wishlist, and for good reason. Red, White & Royal Blue had me laughing out loud one minute and leaking happy-sappy tears the next. My partner kept giving me concerned looks from the corner of his eye. The last third of the book required chocolate with my tissues. In …

I’m Reading: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Whatever you do, do not start this book right before bed. Or do, if that's as soon as you can get to it. Even though I finally put it down at 3am, blurry-eyed and probably good for absolutely nothing the next day,  I knew it was worth it.  There's a reason why this debut rocked …

I’m Reading: The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez

(contains spoilers) The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez has been taking the Romance world by storm, and for good reason. It starts with the perfect meet-cute involving an adorable lost puppy, and fulfills all our sighs and yearning for a solid romance from there.  The biggest reason this should be in your TBR …

I’m Reading: Saddled, by Linda G. Hill

I'm finding myself more and more drawn to light, uncomplicated, wholesome reads. When everything around me is bleak, I want my fiction to be escapism. That's why Saddled was such a refreshing read, both as a beta reader and a purchaser. A woman executive at a condom manufacturing company falls hard for a new temp. …

I’m Reading: Eve Silver’s Dark Gothics

When I told my partner about wanting to write some gothic elements into my current book, he asked me how many gothics I'd read and enjoyed. I'd read the classics of course, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. They weren't my favorites. Northanger Abbey was my second-least-favorite Jane Austen, although I found out later that it was intended as a parody …

I’m Reading: Mariana Zapata

If you asked me last year what romance tropes I was fairly "meh" about, the list would have included sports romance and slow-burn. Reading Mariana Zapata has reminded me once again that it isn't about the trope; it's about the writing. I started with The Wall of Winnipeg and Me on recommendations from an agent. …