Book Review: The Name-Bearer
Natalia Hernandez has created something truly special here. With a diverse cast and richly-imagined world, it has been a surprise stand-out for me from the past year!
Writing Tip: Be Intentional With Point of View (POV)
Being intentional with our choice of POV is crucial for crafting a story that resonates with our intended audience.
Writing Update: Querying #7
It’s been a month since the last official update, and there have been some changes!
Managing Expectations
I’m very much a “manage my expectations” kind of person, but I’m finding myself wanting to let go of it in this instance.
Book Review: Gideon the Ninth
The entire premise is wild… lesbian necromancers in space with skeletons, ghosts, immortal godlike beings, and all sorts of treacherous tasks they must complete.
Writing Update: April 2024 Works In Progress
So many projects, so little time! What does my work look like right now, and what am I doing to manage it all?
Book Review: Practical Potions and Premeditated Murder
Practical Potions and Premeditated Murder by Wren Jones is a charming tale of magic, mystery, and self-discovery… It’s a truly delightful debut novel.
Writing Tip: Write Powerful Openings
Take a look at those opening chapters. Are they doing the work they need to do in order to captivate and hook the reader?
Writing Update: Querying #6
4 requests, 17 rejections, and 14 outstanding… I don’t plan to send any more queries at this point, so here’s to hoping!
Why I Write About Mental Health
Mental health narratives play a crucial role in so many important stories, and as someone personally affected by mental health struggles throughout my life, it’s important to me that my work reflect those realities as well.
Writing Update: New WIP (+ more query responses)
It doesn’t look quite like last year, where I literally wrote one novel manuscript after another, drafting constantly even while I was editing and revising the ones I’d already finished. It’s more of a mixed bag right now, and I feel good about that.
Book Review: Howl’s Moving Castle
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones is a timeless classic full of whimsical charm and delightful characters. From the moment you step into this world, you're swept away on a magical journey.
Writing Tip: 5 Commandments of Scene and Beyond
Explore Gilbo’s 5 Commandments for Scene as well as 5 additional pieces of storytelling you can incorporate into every scene to really bring it to life.
Writing Update: Querying #5
3 requests and 13 rejections… I’m happy with those numbers! I’d like to see more requests, obviously, but I’m also not going to complain.
Why I Write Disabled Characters
My choice to write characters with disabilities is a personal statement in many ways, that our voices matter. But it is also quite simple: I believe all kinds of people, with all kinds of stories, should be able to see themselves in literature and other media.
Book Review: The Deep Sky
Perhaps what stuck with me most isn’t what other readers would get hung up on, but for some reason Asuka’s relationship with her mother got me.
Writing Tip: Create Consistency
The more often we write, and the more we train our brains to summon creativity on demand, the more longevity and satisfaction we will likely have when it comes to our writing goals.
Why I Write About My Querying Process
I’ve benefitted so much from others in the publishing industry—whether authors, agents, or editors—who have shared their experiences and expertise. I’m no expert, but I want to pay it forward by being transparent about my own process.
Book Review: The Day Death Stopped
I’ve read this book several times, so I’ll start there and you can guess what my star rating will be at the end.