Writing

Tuxedoed Writing

Will Rogers, Jr. once advised a fellow actor, “Don't ever take a dramatic lesson. They will try to put your voice in a dinner jacket, and people like their hominy and grits in everyday clothes." The actor – Dale Robertson – followed Rogers’s advice and became a highly...

The Joys of Language Evolution

No one likes change. Or so they say. The English language is in a constant state of evolution. Some people think it’s a bad thing and mourn the idea of static language. I think it’s a good thing – even an exciting thing – especially for writers. Why is this a good...

What Makes Good YA (Young Adult) Fiction?

Every genre has its own characteristics, and characters in novels each have their own personalities, accents, speech patterns, etc. It’s what distinguishes them from each other and makes each character unique, turning them into believable people. YA writing goes a bit...

Falling In Love Can Be Dangerous

As writers, we love what we do. Let’s face it – if we weren’t passionate about it, would we pour our hearts and souls onto page after page, into book after book, not knowing if anyone else will share our passion? Of course not. We also tend to fall in love with our...

The Absence of Writing

Dennis Quaid said, “Good film is the absence of acting.” What a great point. If you notice the acting, you’re removed from the depth of the film itself. Actors need to be natural and to fit their roles, not to deliver a series of choreographed lines and moves that...

Art Inspiring Art

We all go through those times when the writer in us yearns to come out, but our brains just won’t cooperate. It’s frustrating, to say the least. At those times, you can help break through the creative Wall of Silence by letting someone else’s art inspire your art. No,...

Be Careful How You Flash Those Descriptives…

I was reading a take-out restaurant menu when I came across this description - look at the orange word on the first line: "Homely" vegetarian food? In America, that would insinuate "plain, unattractive" food. I'm sure that's not what they were inferring! But in...

National Day Of… (Go Ahead, Fill In The Blank)

As a writer, it’s fun to include some unusual facts in your books or short stories – things that make your readers say “I didn’t know that!”, “That’s SO cool!”, or just make them smile with new knowledge. And if you’re writing a series, they’ll come to expect – dare I...

Book Launch: Norse gods, vampires, shifters, and the shock of a lifetime

Fate is a twisted, spiteful thing—and I’m starting to understand why. I thought surviving a supernatural prison would...

Our Website Got a Redesign!

We're thrilled to reveal our fully refreshed website, designed by Konn Lavery! Our site is now easier to navigate,...

How to Choose Comp Titles: Mix and Match Multiple Aspects of Your Novel

Sell your book without giving readers the wrong idea. by Margaret Pinard, historical fiction & fantasy author...

Book Launch: Dark and Twisted Dystopian Science Fiction Anthology

Four short stories from the desolate and tempestuous imagination of Jessica Halsey. Originally published on Kindle...

Book Launch: Danger lurks in every corner of space when hocking crappy merchandise

Saving an alien planet is nothing compared to meeting your sales quota. Untrained tag-along, Marcus Aimond, aboard...

Book Launch: When espionage exposes a hidden world, war threatens its safety

A hidden people not so hidden anymore. The Hidden Realm of Angolin has existed in peaceful isolation for centuries,...

Book Launch: The king of medieval TV is dead, and the game is afoot

“A pitch-perfect combination of action, mystery, and humor.” ―Anthony Award-winning author Gigi Pandian for Jove Brand...

Book Launch: Is Daphne crazy, or is the Brotherhood of the Raven real?

Beware the Brotherhood of the Raven When two boys vanish from her hometown, Daphne Gauge notices uncanny parallels to...

Book Launch: She’s risking her dream of joining the FBI for four gorgeous criminals

Stalker ex? ✔ Four hot roommates? ✔ An illegal secret? ✔✔✔✔✔ I, Clara McElroy, always have a handle on things. List it...

Book Launch: Coming home 11 years later was the worst thing she ever did

When I ran out of Poca eleven years ago, I never planned on seeing the confines of this small town again. Now, it’s...