Sometimes we
have a dream we keep on the shelf, a “someday I’ll….”. I’ve always loved writing, taken classes, and belonged
to writing groups. One day, at a writing retreat I wrote a piece and I said, “This is it. This
wants to become a book.” It was a memoir piece about a family Christmas
tradition. I realized if I kept waiting for someday, it would never happen. And
I dove in. That piece became Christmas Cake Day.
What is the
hardest part of writing for you? Starting? Creating a scene? Dialog? Tension,
etc.?
Getting through the middle of the story. I tend to be more of a pantser than a plotter even though I know where the story is heading. I let the characters come alive and help direct the writing.
What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
When I get feedback that someone enjoys or has found meaning in one of my stories, it’s quite gratifying.
Marketing is
the biggest key to getting sales. What is the best marketing source you've used
that has produced more sales rather than just clicks?
I find promo sites like The Fussy Librarian to be useful. And Facebook ads have helped.
What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
Support found through other writers, courses, coaching, and more is essential. We don’t do this in a vacuum. And get ready to juggle, because there are a lot of moving parts to this endeavor.
What is the
best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
There is a lot of help out there for people who want to hone their writing craft and become an author. Online classes, books, audiobooks, coaching. Keep learning. Keep writing. Keep reading. You can do it. Just write. As they say, you can’t revise a blank page. Get words down and clean it up later.
Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
If you have an idea for the story and really know the characters, the book will practically write itself. But getting to know the characters is huge. I use the Enneagram to help me craft characters. It’s a deep dive into psychology, archetypes, wounds, motivations and goals.
What is the
next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
Welcome to Pine Crossing is the title of the next book, planned for an August release. It’s a romance with suspense. Sarah’s husband is in jail and she’s dealing with the fallout from his financial crimes. She takes her young daughter, leaves her privileged life, and moves across the country to a small town to help run her mother’s business. Despite obstacles, she discovers inner resources and a possibility for a better life with a good man. This fade-to-black romance introduces the world of Pine Crossing and opens a month before the first book in the Pine Crossing Cowboys series. I plan three series set in the world of Pine Crossing.
Getting through the middle of the story. I tend to be more of a pantser than a plotter even though I know where the story is heading. I let the characters come alive and help direct the writing.
What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
When I get feedback that someone enjoys or has found meaning in one of my stories, it’s quite gratifying.
I find promo sites like The Fussy Librarian to be useful. And Facebook ads have helped.
What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
Support found through other writers, courses, coaching, and more is essential. We don’t do this in a vacuum. And get ready to juggle, because there are a lot of moving parts to this endeavor.
There is a lot of help out there for people who want to hone their writing craft and become an author. Online classes, books, audiobooks, coaching. Keep learning. Keep writing. Keep reading. You can do it. Just write. As they say, you can’t revise a blank page. Get words down and clean it up later.
Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
If you have an idea for the story and really know the characters, the book will practically write itself. But getting to know the characters is huge. I use the Enneagram to help me craft characters. It’s a deep dive into psychology, archetypes, wounds, motivations and goals.
Welcome to Pine Crossing is the title of the next book, planned for an August release. It’s a romance with suspense. Sarah’s husband is in jail and she’s dealing with the fallout from his financial crimes. She takes her young daughter, leaves her privileged life, and moves across the country to a small town to help run her mother’s business. Despite obstacles, she discovers inner resources and a possibility for a better life with a good man. This fade-to-black romance introduces the world of Pine Crossing and opens a month before the first book in the Pine Crossing Cowboys series. I plan three series set in the world of Pine Crossing.
Are there any additional notes you'd like to add?
I believe there’s a creative impulse inside all of us that wants, that needs, to be expressed. Find your thing, sharpen your skills, and you’ll be amazed at what you can do.
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