Be a Wholehearted Author! These articles share with you the techniques I’ve used to build my author platform and publish fiction and nonfiction books.
Thinking Like Leonardo
Thinking Like Leonardo I've been pondering the concept of a New Renaissance. I've been wondering if it's possible to think like Leonardo da Vinci. On the topic, Parade magazine's resident genius Marilyn Vos Savant once wrote she would: "... found a school for art and music, dedicated to bringing back the classical beauty in sight and
Weapon of Love
I discovered an interesting newspaper article from 1918 on the subject of women spies, and thought it might be fun to share with readers of my blog. While transcribing the article from the scanned (public domain) newspaper, I couldn't help but think the topic would make for a great short story. Someday, I may
Cold Hands, Warm Heart
Cold Hands, Warm Heart "Cold Hands, Warm Heart" is a myth that scientists have busted. According to the U.K. Telegraph, "The old adage that cold hands often conceal a warm heart has been dispelled by scientists, after they found how physically warm you are has a direct correlation to how nice you are
Why I Continue to Use WordPress
I use WordPress for my website, and when teaching college, I assigned the task to my students to create one as they earned their Media Writing minor. Perhaps you want to use WordPress, but you're not sure how to go about it? A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON WORDPRESS WordPress is a popular Content Management System
Use Google Apps for Increasing Productivity
If you're not using Google, then you need to consider all that this amazing company has to offer. Most amazing of all is that it is free, open-source and easy to use. There are literally hundreds of How-To videos available online for everything Google has to offer, so there's no excuse why you can't learn
It’s OK to Be Nosey
Few people realize that their sense of smell is an important tool when selecting a lover. Scientists have discovered that smell can attract and can repel a female, and when she is close to ovulating, that sense of smell is especially heightened. What's even more astonishing is that humans can identify 10,000 different odors, and
Hottest Love
I doubt Socrates really said, "The hottest love has the coldest end." During the past 2,500 years, something surely was lost in translation by Plato. Regardless, I'm sure many of us can agree with the logic. I recall my first "hottest love." I was 16 when I first noticed the athletic guy jogging along
Travel Writing: A Good Writer is a Good Observer
If you're into travel writing, then you had better be paying attention. Not to this article—although it contains helpful advice for gathering intel during your next trip. You need to pay attention to everything and everyone and everywhere while you're abroad because you never know what, who, or where will become fodder for a feature.
Interview: Tina Klinesmith Blog
Author Interview Posted on January 30, 2013 by Tina Klinesmith Posted in Real Work I’m really excited to have fellow romance author (Robin Van Auken, writing as Madeline Sloane) with us this week to talk about her upcoming project, Incandescent. If you haven’t read her other romance novels, be sure to check them out on
Trigger Words
Sometimes a partner says the wrong thing. They will make statements that contain trigger words such as "obsess," "scream," "always," and "never." We've all heard these words before, and the reason they drive us crazy is that they contain a trace of truth. Once, my husband advised me not to "... obsess too much
The Man Who Invented the Future: Jules Verne’s Legacy
The Man Who Invented the Future:Jules Verne's Legacy Jules Verne It's been 120 years since the world mourned the passing of Jules Verne, "the man who invented the future." He died on March 24, 1905, in Amiens, France.I've been thinking about Verne lately and have decided to explore his genre. I'm outlining a new book
Book Envy
I'm nearly there. As of today, I've read 93 books toward my goal of 104 books in the Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge. I seldom participate in online challenges because I have a problem committing. I tease my husband (of 32 years!) that I'm still not sure we're right for each other. I refuse to watch
eBook Hoarding
I’m an eBook hoarder. With so many authors offering books to promote a series, I find myself hanging out on Pixel of Ink, World Literary Cafe, Kindle Author, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords, snatching up books while they’re free. I’ll click on a free eBook link regardless of the genre and download it
DIY Writer’s Retreat
Scheduling time to write creatively is a difficult task for most authors. It’s a selfish endeavor, hiding from the world, shirking responsibilities, ignoring the family. But it’s also a necessary endeavor. Without writing time, we don’t produce books. If we don’t produce books, we don’t make money. I don’t know about you, but writing books
Behind the Scenes: Peachys
Peachys is the heart of Eaton despite its location on the outskirts of the town. (Of course, it's a fictitious place, just like Eaton, but figures in nearly all the novels in my Eaton romance series.) Peachys Grocery Once a mom-and-pop operation, Peachys opened its doors in the early 1840s, first as a feed store.
