Monthly Archives: August 2012

Do you find that you rarely if ever play tourist in your own backyard? With Hollywood and the Pacific so close by, it seemed to me high time to take more time to explore the many small enclaves that make … Continue reading →

Northern California’s Wine region has the reputation of being one of the premiere romantic destinations in the world for good reason. The narrow Napa Valley is a nursery for exceptional wine grapes and beautiful vistas. In spite of the multi … Continue reading →

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming the inimitable Grecco/Brit author Viviane Brentanos.  Now don’t try to tell me I am prejudiced just because she is my critique partner. If that were the case I would have thrown her out roundly, with the … Continue reading →

” On August 5, 2012, a mass shooting took place at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, with a single gunman killing six people and wounding four others.[3][4] The gunman, Wade Michael Page, a known white supremacist, shot eight people at the temple, then shot a responding … Continue reading →

Smashword founder, Mark Coker, spoke to authors at the recent RWA National Convention. He reminded us that to “throw technology at it” is not the way to win hearts and influence readers. His publishing platform gives writers access to publish, … Continue reading →

It’s not expensive or gourmet, but there is nothing better this side of the Continental divide than a salad made from fresh fridge dwelling leftovers. Oh sure, I keep romaine lettuce around for the occasion. There is always some kind … Continue reading →

Goodreads community manager and head of author programs, Patrick Brown, addressed how to get the most out of Goodreads at the recent RWA National Convention in Anaheim, California.   Goodreads is the largest reader based platform on the internet with … Continue reading →

The legal aspects of self publishing may not sound like a glamorous topic for a workshop, but it is essential information for all authors, self published or traditional. Jon Tandle of Ryley Carlock & Applewhite specializes in intellectual property law … Continue reading →

Four writers spanning the spectrum from NY Times best seller to newly published gave tips on using social media. Andrea Laurence, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Rhonda Nelson and Kira Sinclair share ideas from statistics to nitty gritty.   What’s best to … Continue reading →

Redeeming the irredeemable character might at first seem an oxymoron, but in the world of popular fiction it is the stuff of great reads. “Well behaved characters are boring” states the workshop blurb. Harlequin editor Johanna Raisanen and…     … Continue reading →