National Storytelling Week (February 1-9, 2025) is an annual event that celebrates the art of storytelling. I come from a long line of storytellers. For as long as I can remember, my Irish grandmother would share stories about her childhood. One of my favorite stories was about her “bellyflopping” in the snow on Halloween! I loved listening … Read more
Reviewing 2024 is an opportunity for this author to look back at her writing life for the past year. A look back at what I have accomplished, big or small, helps me to plan next steps for the new year. It is important to focus on the positives – what you were able to do … Read more
November is for writing and it is not too late to start. Maybe you’ve never thought of yourself as a writer. But you have been thinking about giving writing a try. Here’s the good news. You do not need a college degree to be a writer and author. What you do need is to write. … Read more
November 15th is I Love to Write Day and I love to write. It is a day for people of all ages spend time writing. You can write a poem, a love letter, a greeting card, an essay, a short story, start a novel, finish a novel … the possibilities are endless. John Riddle, started … Read more
One of my author friends, recently shared she has an author coach to help her with her books. I mistakenly thought an author coach was the same as a writing coach. But there are slight differences. Which coaching is right for you? Author or Writing? Only you can decide. Author Coach An Author Coach coaches you through … Read more
As a former teacher, I believe that there is a lesson in most things. The lessons I have learned from writing Gertie Saves the Day and Two Wins for Wiley could fill a notebook or two. It has been just over two years now since my books were published. My life changed for the better and I … Read more
Many of today’s workers worry that artificial intelligence (AI) will replace their jobs, leaving them out in the cold while robots take over the world. Writers are no different. We worry that AI will replace us too. That is until, I learned that artificial intelligence is just a tool. Recently, I attended a workshop with … Read more
You have ideas for stories, but when you open a document to write, you stare helplessly at a blank page. Every time you try to write, you end up spending your time doing anything, but writing. I call it Destination Procrastination. All authors have been there. It is not a preferred destination, but there are … Read more
To note or not to note? That is the question on the minds of most writers. I am referring to illustration notes. With my books Gertie Save the Day and Two Wins for Wiley I could not be happier with the illustrations. Did I use illustration notes? Illustration Notes If you write picture books, you’ll … Read more
When revising one of my picture book drafts, I like to spend time checking my page turns. I ask -Have I created a reason for the reader to turn the page? In my research, I found many techniques authors use to create an irresistible page turn. Feel free to try one or more. Pose A … Read more
