In Regency Romance I wrote that I love to read and write Regencies. So why not write a Regency Venus Trilogy? What’s a Venus trilogy? I didn’t know until I made it up. And I didn’t set out deliberately to write one. Instead, I became intrigued by the idea of a naked... read more
Highly successful authors develop seven habits: Seven Habits #1: They are voracious readers How often do I have to say it? All the time, I suppose. Reading for authors is like eating for athletes. You can’t run a marathon if you’re on a no-or-low-calorie diet. It’s not just about calories,... read more
This post on art form was first published on July 16 2014. Here’s a bold thought: the romance novel is an art form. Yes, it’s an art form like any other. It’s a very popular art form. In terms of numbers of practitioners, it’s at a polar opposite from, say,... read more
Backstories. First, what are they? They are akin to a suitcase an actress will pack for a scene where she needs to be carrying one. But she won’t necessarily open it. Packing the bag is one way for the actress to establish her character for herself. The underwear she chooses may... read more
Title image: Pamela George in her own illustration as a diver. Pamela George brings three firsts to our Five Questions series. First, she is a children’s book author. Second, she is her own illustrator. Third, she is an environmental artist. We are delighted that she is willing to share her experience... read more
Cover Art and Advertising The title image is a famous ad for French champagne by Publicis Conseil. When I looked it up I was surprised to see that it was from 1989. I would have thought it was much older, like from the 1930s or 40s. So I guess its... read more
For this blog on the character arc, I’ll rewrite the title quote. If you find a path with no obstacles, don’t put your character on it. We don’t want to read about someone whose path is strewn with rose petals. We do want to read about a person who has... read more
Creating a scene. Funny how you can interpret the phrase two ways. Either you’re at a fancy restaurant in the midst of a humdinger of a quarrel with your partner. Or you’re a playwright, screen writer or novelist in front of your computer. If you’re in front of your computer,... read more
I chose the title image for this blog on novels from one of the most famous movies of all time. I modeled my title on the rhythm and exclamation of one of its most famous lines. We writers derive inspiration from all sorts of places, including the visual arts. It’s entirely normal... read more
New Year’s Resolutions, ugh. Lose weight. Join a gym. Straighten out finances. These are worthy resolutions to be sure. But they’re not for me, because they feel punitive. I’d rather give myself goals that feel more like gifts. Trite but true, this time of year is perfect for recalibrating our... read more
