I’m enjoying the pleasant, breezy spring weather in Texas, with a huge debt of gratitude to my sister Joan and her terrific husband David for giving me a home away from home and a place to relax and get back in touch with my creative spirit. A few weekends ago, we drove a few hours … read more In Search of Blue Bonnets
Finally, I departed on my road trip to Texas, which I began planning ten years ago. When I was a kid, my whacko mother told me that I had a half-sister, but she died of MS. In late 2005, I discovered on Ancestry.com that my sister was alive and well in Texas, and I made … read more Road Trip to Texas!
In the writing classes I’ve taught over the years, I’ve often said that as a writer, your words can entertain, enlighten, even change the world. It’s not a new concept. Back in the mid-1500s, Martin Luther wrote, or so it’s claimed on the Web!): “If you want to change the world, pick up a pen.” … read more Your Words Can Change the World
Last night, I was hard at work getting rid of most of the stuff cluttering my office and my life. The next round of freebies to be given away on Craigslist was some software I no longer use from…holy crap…25 years ago?!? Once state-of-the-art products like Adobe Photoshop 3.0, Microsoft Quick C, and Visual Basic. … read more Wait—How Did I Lose 25 Years?!?
I didn’t use Twitter much until recently, when a writing client and good friend, Tim Allen, convinced me I should take a second look. I got more active in the Spring, and today, I hit 10,000 followers on Twitter! I’ve met some awesome people there. If you are a struggling writer looking to expand your … read more I’m Liking Twitter!
Good news for writers—sales of e-books improved this summer for the first time in two years! Publisher’s Weekly reports that e-book sales from trade publishers rose 2.4% in May 2017, led by a 3.2% gain in adult book sales, offsetting a 3.2% decline in children’s and YA books, and a 9.4% decline in the religious … read more E-Book Sales Up 2.4% This Summer
At long last, after putting it off for an eternity, my massive driveway is finished! It’s more like a road than a driveway lol — 100 feet long, 1,800 pounds of steel rebar, 40 tons of concrete. It’s one major project off my “To Do” list before I can head off on an autumn adventure … read more My Driveway Is Finished!
Opening your submission cover letter with “Dear Sirs” will bring an instant rejection slip from this Irish independent publisher. Tramp Press announced today that it is closing the door to writers who open their cover letter with “Dear Sirs” or mention that they do not read books by women. The editors say they want to … read more Writers Beware — “Dear Sirs” Will Bring a Rejection Slip!
