Ever notice if you look off to the side while driving that your car starts to go in that direction? At least that’s what happens to me. A quick glance is all right, but if I look to the side too long, I head that direction. My best driving is when I keep my eyes […] [ ... ]
Don’t talk about your book? That sounds like I’m giving advice opposite to what all the PR gurus tell us. Right? Well, I don’t mean AFTER your book’s been published but BEFORE. The more you talk about the story you’re going to write, the greater the chance you’ll lose that initial enthusiasm. I remember a […] [ ... ]
This morning on CBS I watched a segment highlighting how a school in California has incorporated yoga into its daily curriculum. The result, the school administrator said, was fewer dropouts and higher test scores. The students claimed doing yoga helped them concentrate, think things through, and feel more relaxed. I’ve been taking yoga classes since […] [ ... ]
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I have much to be thankful for: family, health, and financial security. Sure, I wish I had gobs of money, no aches and pains, and a book on the New York Times best sellers’ list, but what truly brings happiness? As we once again approach the Holiday Season, I’m worried about […] [ ... ]
I often use real events as jumping off points for my fiction. News articles and reports about two hunters who were killed not far from where I lived were what started me plotting THE CROWS, and then, just a few years later, the home owner who wouldn’t let the fire department on his land to […] [ ... ]
It’s much more fun to be an author than a writer. Authors give talks, autograph their books, advise new writers, and greet fans with a smile and a nod. Writers sit at their computers (or with their pads of paper), try to decide how a character would act and speak in a particular scene, try to […] [ ... ]
For two and a half days I was an author. I mingled with other authors, committee chairs and staff, fans of mystery/suspense novels and short stories, and a few spouses. I smiled, made small talk, sat on a panel, and tried to sound like I knew what I was talking about. The book store present […] [ ... ]
Thursday I’ll be heading for Muncie, Indiana, for the Magna cum Murder conference. Magna cum Murder XVII October 28-30, 2011 This conference is for fans as well as writers so there’s less emphasis on the writing process (How to) and more on the creating process (Why? Where do you get your ideas?) The panel I’m on […] [ ... ]
Saturday morning I’ll be in Grand Rapids giving a talk on writing the mystery. (If you’re at the Grand Rapids Region Writers Conference: I’ve Always Wanted to Write a Book do say hello.) Later that morning, award winning author Lisa Childs will be speaking on writing the romance. Two separate genres that, in my opinion, […] [ ... ]
Today I returned from an overnight trip to Manistee, Michigan. The trip came about from postcards I mailed to libraries last January announcing my second P.J. Benson mystery, AS THE CROW FLIES. Soon after Five Star (which is part of Gale/Cengage Learning) released AS THE CROW FLIES, I was contacted by one of the librarians […] [ ... ]
Last month I signed up for a Continuing Education class on the topic of Creativity. I was really looking forward to the class, but Monday I received a call that “Due to lack of enrollment” the class had been canceled. Now, in the past I’ve taught a class titled “Tapping into Your Creativity” and conducted a session […] [ ... ]
Leave it is a command I give my dog when I want him to ignore something. It might be another dog, something on the ground, or a tree he’s sniffing. Leave it is also something I tell myself when I reach a point in my writing where I’m not quite sure where I’m headed or […] [ ... ]
Today I’m feeling sorry for and worried about my dog, Zuri. Tomorrow morning he goes to vet’s for surgery. He’s had a growth on his right elbow for about four months, and it has one area that occasionally breaks open and bleeds. Not just a little, but a lot. Although he’s had calluses on his […] [ ... ]
Over the years I’ve been amazed whenever I meet wannabe writers who proudly tell me: “Oh I don’t read.” Especially when they tell me they don’t read the type of book they want to write. I simply don’t understand that sort of logic. Some say they’re afraid they might “accidentally” plagiarize a story, think it […] [ ... ]
Every so often I’m asked to read and critique someone’s work. What most want to know is: Will this story sell to a publisher? And beyond that question is: Will this book be a best seller? It would be nice if I or anyone could answer those questions. I know I can’t. I can point […] [ ... ]
Today my blog will be short. As you can see, I have a new format. It’s one I still need to learn about, and this weekend my daughter (the computer guru) is coming over to show me all the bells and whistles that will make this site better than the one I had. Last week […] [ ... ]