Hotness. It’s currently a thing in romance novels. Has been for a while. So what I’m saying here isn’t new. It’s rather that the story I’m reading at the moment has prompted some thinking. Hotness: No Escalation I’m talking about stories that start: Boom. First page. Sometimes the first paragraph.... read more
As a pantser (meaning: I write by the seat of my pants), I like to discover my characters as I write. I love to get them up and running and interacting. Hearing their thoughts, listening to their dialogues. That’s great … for a first draft. However, the revision process requires... read more
One of the most basic aspects of any story is character motivation. In any given scene. Throughout the story. Character Motivation Character motivation is based on needs. The title image offers the possibilities. Psychologist Abraham Maslow proposed this five-tier pyramid in 1943 in a paper entitled “A Theory of Human... read more
My Love in the City trilogy is now available on your preferred e-book platforms. The trilogy contains two previously published books: DeMarco’s Cafe and Love After All. The third one, The Hard Bargain, is new. Love in the City: The Hard Bargain Carla Pereira is an actress who needs a... read more
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, colors and creeds. They don’t all look, talk or act alike. However, they do have a characteristic journey. They also share certain qualities. Marcus Aurelius, in the title quote, calls for deeds not idle discussion of what makes a man good. Nevertheless, for... read more
You want your characters to face realistic obstacles. You want them to encounter challenges and meet adversity. These obstacles create the conflict you need for your story to progress. Since I write mainly romance, the central conflict will always be between the hero and heroine. They will have different motivations... read more
My latest release, The Hard Bargain, is now available on your preferred e-book platforms. I love the cover. Both crisp and dreamy. It is part of my Love and the City trilogy. The Hard Bargain: The Story The Hard Bargain a modern-day marriage of convenience story. Marriage of convenience stories... read more
The Love and the City trilogy is now available on your preferred e-book platforms. It brings together three stories, two previously published and one new one, all of which are set – you guessed it – in New York City. Love and the City: The Hard Bargain The new story... read more
A beginning writer recently asked me how to create compelling openings, thus prompting this blog. I have chosen to explain what I did to write Chapter One of John Carter’s Conundrum. I chose it because my editor noted at the end of the first chapter: “You’re writing to all your... read more
Chick-lit Heroine: Her Profile The chick-lit heroine has a recognizable profile. She either possesses a fashion sense. Or she has a bestie who can trick her out when the need arises, namely for a Big Date. She is either serially unlucky in love. Or she has divorced (probably recently) a... read more
