The comic strip Pickles features an adorable 70-something couple named Earl and Opal Pickles. In Sunday’s issue, Earl asks Opal, “Why do I have to say everything twice?” This is related to one of my husband’s frequent complaints: I never listen to him. He may tell me twice that he’s playing golf on Friday, but…
Category: Blog
Kesey & Me
Who or what first inspired you to write? I’ve always believed the reading experience is not only subjective, but highly situational. By that I mean that reading The Catcher in the Rye at fifteen is a fundamentally different experience than reading it at forty. Because while books do not age, their readers, and the world…
Sisters in Arms: Female Characters in Contemporary Military Fiction
I am a U.S. Army veteran of ten years. I deployed twice to Iraq with a Combat Support Hospital (think M*A*S*H* but in today’s wars). Now I’m a 34-year-old mom of two small children. One thing I experience as a female veteran on all platforms is that many people forget women serve and have served…
Bits and Pieces Make a Whole Character
The following conversation actually took place: Coworker: “How can I submit only the first chapter of my manuscript to a contest? The good stuff doesn’t start until chapter three—maybe four.” Me: “Your story doesn’t begin where you think it begins.” CW: “Sure as the day you were born, it starts in chapter one.” Me: “As…
The Networked Economy
And now for a few harsh words about operating in the Networked Economy. The problem for most indies—particularly new ones—isn’t producing a book. Once you’ve gotten a full draft written, the rest is mechanics. Cover art is cheap. Editing is relatively cheap. Conversion from word processor to ebook, and even paper, is cheap. After you…