Crossword Clue Envy – I Suffer From It!

Today I discovered that I suffer from a condition I didn’t even know existed: crossword clue envy. Would I like to see my name on the NY Times bestseller list? Sure. Would I be happy if Netflix knocked on my door? Of course. But when I came to 50 Down… read more

Spices and Stern Lords – By Rose Vane

Today I’m delighted to share with you a guest post “Spices and Stern Lords” by Rose Vane. She’s here to tell us about her new release, A Stern Lord for My Lady, published by Blushing Books. She has written it under the pen name R. R. Vane. The story is… read more

Dead Body Count – My Tally So Far

“The only thing more fun than creating a character is killing one off.” I’ve said this more than once. But since I identify as a romance writer – rather than, say, a crime novelist – I’m more devoted to keeping characters alive and together. However, this week it occurred to… read more

Bodice Ripper: Thoughts on the Term (Re-repost)

I’m re-reposting a 2017 repost of my Goodreads blog from 2014: On the term Bodice Ripper. It is my response to Ross Douthat’s op-ed in the New York Times today. He uses the term to describe a wildly popular Netflix series based on a series of novels understood by their… read more

My Were World – Whys and Wherefores

I’m currently doing the research for the third book in my shapeshifter trilogy, Wealth Whispers. This involves reading up on bears in order to envision my hero who is a werebear. It also involves thinking more broadly about my were world. I am enjoying the challenge of imagining characters fully… read more

On Writing: Stephen King Inspires

I don’t find books. Books find me. The one that found me yesterday is On Writing. A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. I enjoyed reading about the events that shaped his writing life. I also admired his brutal honesty about his drug and alcohol addition. And cheered his… read more

Read for Your Brain Health – You’ll Be Surprised!

After a year of watching all the goodies on all the streaming services it’s time for me to return to my roots. That means: reading. There are two good reasons to read. One is: Read for your brain health. An article I read last week by Jessica Stillman reminded me… read more